Goodnight, Beautiful - Dorothy Koomson

Title: Goodnight, Beautiful
Author: Dorothy Koomson
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 433
Date read: May, 2009

Eight years ago, Nova Kumalisi agreed to have a baby for Mal and Stephanie Wacken. Halfway through the pregnancy, the couple changed their minds and walked away, leaving Nova pregnant, scared and alone.

Eight years ago, Stephanie was overjoyed at the thought of becoming a mother - until she found a text from Mal to Nova saying, "Goodnight, beautiful". Terrified of losing her husband to his closest friend, Stephanie asked him to cut all ties to Nova and their unborn child.

Now, Nova is anxiously waiting for her son, Leo, to wake up from a coma, while childless Stephanie is desperately trying to save her failing marriage. Although they live separate lives, both women have secrets that will bind them together for ever...

If you want to try out Dorothy Koomson get hold of "My Best Friend's Girl" instead and give this one a pass. It's not that it's bad, it just doesn't live up to the expectations set by MBFG.

I think it's my lot to read depressing novels at the moment. Where "My Best Friend's Girl" was what we in Danish call life-confirming and positive, this one made for very difficult and sad reading. I liked the depths of it, but it frustrated me in that so much of the heart-ache could have been avoided if the characters had just talked bout their thoughts and fears, instead of pretending to be "10 feet tall and bullet proof" all the time.

Well written but very sad. Definitely not the book to pick up if you're in need of some comfort reading. It did end on a somewhat upbeat note, but had me feeling very bummed out at times.

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