This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Debs Carr
This book asks what you would do if you were told that your unborn baby will be profoundly handicapped and what choices you would make. Afric Lynch is six months pregnant and her husband is away on business in China, she goes by herself for a routine ultrasound never imagining that the doctors will change everything she’d ever hoped for with what they discover. Learning that her unborn baby is ‘incompatible with life’ Afric makes the decision to protect her husband, Luke, not wishing him to have to cope with this harrowing news while he is so far away from her and resolves to deal with what she has to do next, alone.
Afric is unable to have her daughter's birth induced in Ireland, so is forced to travel by herself to Liverpool. Determined to make the most of the short period of time between this life-changing discovery and her baby’s inevitable birth and death, Afric decides to make memories for herself and her daughter in the only way open to her. She travels to the important places in her life and shares her thoughts and memories with her unborn baby while she still has the opportunity.
This heart-breaking tale was motivated by the author’s devastating loss of her own daughter and is told with infinite care and above all love. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read about such an all-encompassing loss, but I’m glad I did. The way Afric copes with these few days is told in a strangely comforting way evoking the intensity of love between a parent and child however short that child’s life may be, and depicting that there are always memories that can be shared and treasured forever.
Once I started reading this book I was unable to put it down until I’d finished and read until after two in the morning. Written with tenderness and honesty, this has to be one of the most touching books I’ll ever read.9/10