The Hope Family Calendar

I didn't move a muscle for a whole afternoon in my eagerness to finish this book. Gayle writes with such warmth and wisdom about the human condition, at the same time creating a page-turner in this charming family tale which centres so movingly around unbearable loss. His easy, confident writing style draws you in to become another member of the Hope family and share with them the – often humorous – ups and downs of learning to live again after bereavement. Neither Tom nor Linda – the main characters – are perfect, but both are endearingly real. I highly recommend this novel – I know it will stay with me for a long time.