Laura Barnett (1) (1982–)

I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did, but it ended up being ridiculously hard to follow which version I was reading.

This book was told in three versions and chapters alternated in various orders focusing on one of two characters. While each chapter was clearly marked with which version it was about, I had to write down a quick description of which version referred to which plot in order to keep track of where I was.

Additionally, remembering which characters were doing what became challenging. In all three versions, children were born and each had a distinct personality, and three different sets of spouses and divorces and friends came along with three different lives. I felt like this book should have been a pleasant read, but instead I was juggling names constantly.

Though I normally adore books written in present tense, it felt finicky here. I was constantly aware of it and it was constantly jolting me out to reread sentences to check for congruency.

I did think the concept of this book was fabulous, how one minor decision could completely and utterly change a life, and I enjoyed the way certain threads of the stories stayed constant throughout all three. However, it wasn't enough to really captivate me.

The concept of this was great and I did enjoy the ultimate ending, but getting through this book was a serious struggle at some points.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
… (mere)

I think This Beating Heart is my favourite of all of Laura Barnett's books. It's a slim volume yet packs in so much emotion and heart-rending depth. It's also beautifully observed and based around the author's own experiences.

'What if the family you want…..isn't the family you need?' Christina is 43 and has longed for a child with her husband, Ed. Several rounds of IVF have either failed or have resulted in a miscarriage and Christina and Ed are broken. They're going their separate ways, the toll of the treatment and losses too heavy for them to bear.

The story is told from Christina's point of view and I really felt for her. At one point the unthinkable happens and I didn't know how she would cope with it but she found an inner strength from somewhere and what's so wonderful about this book is the hope for the future, the sense that if Christina can move on she can come out the other side stronger and happier, like a flower that has closed its petals to weather a storm, only to blossom in the burgeoning sunshine.

The writing is sublime, so real and compelling, the everyday life of Christina drawing me in completely. I was enthralled by the way her relationships with her family and friends helped her deal with what happened to her, enriched by new friendships and new experiences.

This Beating Heart is entrancing in every way and I highly recommend it for its perfectly descriptive prose and its moving but ultimately uplifting story.… (mere)