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The heartbreaking novel from the author of CHOOSE ME, about the sacrifices parents must make and the anguish that can befall them.
When Monica is offered a three-month placement in LA, she knows that for the sake of her career she must accept it – even though it means leaving behind nine-year-old Ruby, toddler Luca and her husband Daniel.
She hires Ursula as a housekeeper and nanny during her absence, although the older woman is oddly reluctant to agree to a childcare position. What is the dark secret in Ursula’s past, which has left her so closed-off and reserved? Will her growing attachment to Ruby bring it to the surface? And will Monica regret leaving the children in her care?
When Monica is offered a three-month placement in LA, she knows that for the sake of her career she must accept it – even though it means leaving behind nine-year-old Ruby, toddler Luca and her husband Daniel.
She hires Ursula as a housekeeper and nanny during her absence, although the older woman is oddly reluctant to agree to a childcare position. What is the dark secret in Ursula’s past, which has left her so closed-off and reserved? Will her growing attachment to Ruby bring it to the surface? And will Monica regret leaving the children in her care?
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Reviews
I just finished Away From You and I am a mess of tears on the train. Can't remember the last time a book broke my heart so much... This haunting and beautifully written novel about love will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final, satisfying page.
Langdale's psychological intelligence informs every angle of a thoroughly contemporary tragedy.
Atmospheric and provocative, Kay Langdale's novel is a masterpiece in the art of disquietude... and in it Langdale touches on an extremely challenging, but worthy subject.... The end result is a deft portrait of acceptance and salvation.
A compelling exploration of the nature of grief. Like Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, the novel is imbued with an insidious sense of evil countered by the redemptive nature of love... A moving tale of motherhood and morality.
Reading it on a train, I had to fight not to sob in public... Langdale is a wonderful writer, plots beautifully and is brilliant at showing her characters' inner worlds.
Readable, poignant . . . the author's skill is to woo the reader into empathising with conflicting viewpoints
'Thought-provoking' *****
An endearing child-heroine and a controversial moral question make HER GIANT OCTOPUS MOMENT a must-read.
Poignant novel about parenthood
A poignant, at times funny, at times saddening book about morals and motherhood.
The sympathetic understanding of her characters, the even-handed exposition of different types of mothering and the beauty of her crystal-clear prose all come together to make this a must read.
This book was so powerful and emotional at the same time. The characters were well developed and believable and the conclusion was beautiful - I would totally recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a book which shows hope should never be lost.
The characters were all well-written and believable and my heart broke a little for Ursula as we found out more about her story. Ruby came across as a very inquisitive child trying to find her way in the world without her mother, whilst she was working away.
She has tackled an emotive and extremely challenging subject with sensitivity and apparent ease. She continues to create characters that the reader will love and admire.
It is rare that a book can cause my emotion to bubble to the surface. The story must be not only real and believable, but also written with some empathy and respect. This is one of these rare books. It may not have you turning the pages at break neck speed, but rather, slowly turning each page. Savouring the words. Anticipating the next poetic paragraph. Wanting, badly, for it to last forever. A beautifully written novel, that will remain in your thoughts for a long time to come.
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I have no idea why I haven't come across her before. This book has sailed straight into my best of the year and quite possibly a contender for the top spot. I cannot enthuse about it enough.
A truly beautiful piece of writing, with wonderful characters that captured my heart, and left me hoping for a happy ending.
Kay Langdale's writing is like a breath of fresh air. She writes sensitively in this book about grief and finding a reason to live through it. I was annoyed when I reached the last page and had to put it on the bookshelf.