... sweet and engaging ... manages to be both a pandemic love story and a thoughtful look at the ups and downs of a long marriage ... Though Wilde's narrative tone is light, she deftly captures the odd panic of early pandemic days: the hours of silence, the constant worry about virus transmission and the desire for even a bit of in-person company. She also paints a nuanced picture of two people who have always deeply loved each other but who have lost the former joy they took in each other's presence. Wilde captures the mixture of grief, longing, nostalgia and attempts to move forward through small moments.
This is a refreshing change of pace from the usual contemporary fare, as Wilde sets up her middle-aged characters to face their failing marriage during the current pandemic that is no stranger to any of us. This heartwarming tale will appeal to fans of Jasmine Guillory’s Royal Holiday, minus the steaminess.
This is a quiet, thoughtful novel and an important look at life during a pandemic and the effect it has on relationships. Wilde tells this story in just the right low-key but powerful way, with winning characters and the surprising rediscovery of lost joys.
