The A to Z of You and Me
-
-
5.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $15.99
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
"Beautifully constructed and hugely moving. Deserves to be a smash hit."—Lissa Evans, author of Crooked Heart
The A to Z game. For Ivo, it's a way to pass the time, a way to avoid the pain, and a way to think about what really got him here.
His hospice nurse suggested it. Think of a body part for each letter, and think of memories connected to each one. And so begins the revealing of his misspent life: the terrible teenage choices, friendships made and cracked, love he'll never get back. He remembers the girl who tried to help him, the friend who wouldn't let her, and the sickness that chases him even now. Refreshing and thought-provoking, The A to Z of You and Me shows the raw unraveling of a life lived loud and hard.
All our choices have consequences. But what happens after?
“Compassionate."—The Independent
“Wonderfully quirky and contemporary."—The Guardian
“Devastating."—Sunday Times
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hannah's debut is a humor-filled tear-at-the-heartstrings story. After taking his body and health for granted, middle-aged diabetic Ivo is suffering kidney failure. Hoping his death will be as unburdensome as possible, Ivo withdraws from friends and family, especially his sister, Laura, and arranges for hospice care, planning for a quiet end. But his enigmatic hospice nurse, Sheila, has other plans. Tasking Ivo with playing the A to Z game thinking of one body part and a story that goes along with it Sheila dramatically alters the little lifetime Ivo has left. From Adam's apple to tear ducts to voice, playing the game leads Ivo to remember all of the memories that changed him forever, good or bad, especially those of Mia, the love of his life. The movement between the present day and a multitude of moments in the past makes it hard for the reader to acclimate, which lessens the connection to some secondary characters. Regardless, the urge to hug and simultaneously shake Ivo for the poor decisions he makes, and for the way he learns, loves, and forgives make this expertly crafted story a winner.
