Talking at night

Will White and Rosie Winters seem like quintessential opposites given Will's troubled past and Rosie's seemingly picture-perfect life, but nothing is ever that simple. When they connect at the fall bonfire of their final year in high school, they find themselves continuously drawn together despite the odds. After the accidental death of Rosie's twin brother the following fall, the tenuous grip Will and Rosie had on a future together gets weaker and their individual struggles grow stronger. Can two halves of a whole find their way back to each other, or will they only remain as shadows of their possible selves? British writer Daverley's first novel brings readers into the lives and minds of the main and secondary characters, particularly Will's grandmother, his sister, and Rosie's twin, and will intrigue those interested in thought processes and motivations versus outward expressions of that inner turmoil. An eating disorder and depression are touched on, while the will-they-won't-they question of whether Will and Rosie become a couple is as compelling and frustrating to read about as it is to watch in real life.

British author Daverley follows a young man and woman through decades of their lives as they experience love, tragedy, and heartache. At 17, Rosemary Winters hopes there will be more to life than studying for her exams and counting calories to please her mom. Her energetic twin brother, Josh, has big dreams--he hopes to attend Cambridge. He's taken to studying math with the broody Will White, a bad boy with a reputation for sleeping around, an absentee mother, and no current plans to go to university. Will first noticed Rosie singing at a bonfire, with her ever attentive doe eyes and enchanting voice, and hasn't been able to forget her since. Rosie, on the other hand, could never imagine a boy like Will being interested in her, especially with her keen attention to school and what her friend Marley calls a "vanilla virgin" personality. And yet, one midnight conversation at the Winters' house leaves Rosie noticing Will as much as he's been noticing her. The closer Will and Rosie get, though, the further Josh seems to pull away from his sister, until tragedy strikes and leaves their budding romance in shambles. Suddenly, Rosie's dream of attending music school and Will's travel plans are cut short, broken by the secrets they share and a loss they can't overcome. As years pass, the two lose touch and find each other in different stages of life, but somehow, their attraction never wanes. Daverley's moving debut outlines a lyrical story of unspoken words and one unending love: "But her voice keeps him awake that night. And again, the night after that." While Rosie and Will's love story is fraught with heartbreak and change, and although the journey is almost always tumultuous, their evolving friendship and unbreakable connection prove entirely worthwhile and real. A poignant romance perfect for fans of Josie Silver and Bethan Roberts. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.