Only You

 

Only You by Eva Jordan- Women’s fiction

A book that drew me in and left me reeling. In the 1980’s Ben and Leora watched Live Aid as they grew up. (as did anyone who was around at the time as it was so ground breaking). In the present day they are very different people and have made lives for themselves, sadly which parts of, have come crashing down. Ben has been in the forces and seen things he’d rather not remember. Leora is just picking up her dream of being a TV presenter but has had a tough life losing several of those close to her in one way or another. When they were young they were torn apart by betrayal. Leora is still feeling hurt by it all and Ben can't remember most of it. Then something dramatic happens to Leora. Can they get together where they belong after everything that’s happened and put the past firmly behind them?

This is a book that slowly draws you in. Chapters initially alternate between the 1980’s and onwards, and present day. There’s a slight mystery to some of it, I won’t give anything away and anyone who remembers the eighties will reel at the description of a certain advert from TV that shook most of us at the time. I took to Ben and Leora, each having their own insecurities in differing ways, each a kind of vulnerability. This is as ever with Eva’s books far more than “just” a story. There are messages, and hope. There’s cruelty and kindness, love and abuse. Thank you Eva for putting in the description of Narcissism which some find themselves at the hands of, not always from partners but those closer to home and the story around the brave and inspirational person that is Katie Piper in real life. A book I won’t forget and one that made me appreciate the little things. Stunning. 

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