Talking at Night: The perfect read for fans of One Day and Normal People Hardcover – 6 July 2023

You know that feeling when you get gripped by a really good book?! Well I hadn’t had that for ages and no matter how many new books I bought I just couldn’t seem to find the one to hook me in - this book is exceptional. A slow burn love story with lots of added plot twists and turns and likeable characters. I honestly do not want it to end (I have a few chapters left), and I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.

Tender, heartfelt and affecting, Talking at Night is a deeply beautiful love story. It follows Rosie and Will, who meet as teenagers and have an instant connection. The pair are total opposites: Rosie is the stereotypical ‘good girl’ and overthinks everything, and Will is the wild and unpredictable best friend of her twin brother. It is clear from the start that this is more than teenage infatuation, but, before their relationship gets the chance to start, tragedy strikes, destroying any chance of a future together. What follows is a memorable will they/won’t they love story that will make even the most cynical person believe in soulmates.Oh, my heart. I’d heard that this book was emotional but I was still unprepared for how it wreaked havoc on my emotions. Debut author Claire Daverley’s writing is simple but beautiful, allowing the characters and the story to shine in her exploration of love, friendship, loss and grief. Achingly human, acutely observed, and deeply moving, this character-driven romance has much more depth than your average, lighthearted love story. Real love isn’t all hearts and rainbows, and Daverley isn’t afraid to show that, exploring the flawed, painful side of love alongside the joy and laughter. But those things are still there. After all, this is a story about true love; that all-consuming, red-hot, soulful love that is impossible to resist. It feels like a very fresh and modern romance, revealing how bittersweet love can be. After all, the path to true love rarely runs smooth, and it's certainly a bumpy journey for Rosie and Will. But will it be worth it in the end?Rosie and Will are very real, three-dimensional characters who I found likeable and relatable. Their romance gets off to a rocky start after a tragedy and we wonder if they will ever truly find their way back to one another. They try not to, seeing other people and severing contact on and off over the years, but they can never forget each other or completely let go and always find themselves drawn back together. We go on this journey with them, Daverley opening them up and revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. And I felt every emotion alongside them, leaving me wrung out but heartened when it was all over.Passionate, poignant, heartwarming and compelling, Talking at Night is a glorious debut you won’t forget. Highly recommended.

I love the trope of soulmates, people who go through life with the many challenges that life offers but will always find a way back to each other. Think ‘one day’ and ‘where rainbows end/love Rosie’ .The writer Claire writes in such a beautiful way it’s like poetry. This book is what got me back into reading after a LONG hiatus and it was so easy to fly through the book. It’s such a lovely story and covers many hard hitting topics without it being heavy. Would definitely recommend to anyone who’s interested in the genre of romance novels as a whole

This is a difficult one to review objectively. In a way it reminded me of one of those obscure but achingly worthy books you have to ‘do’ for an exam. Everyone tells you it’s fantastic, it will change your life, you just have to read this, but when you do you have this creeping sense of deflation, almost of loss.The author is a good, accomplished and literate writer, be of no doubt. This is a step above ninety percent of the books we buy through recommendation in terms of writing and use of language. The ‘stream of consciousness’ style and absence of quotation marks, however, do take a bit of getting used to. The ‘star-crossed lovers’ theme running through the narrative is a bit hackneyed to be honest, and I cannot be the only reader to wish, at times, that someone would metaphorically bang their heads together, tell them to stop the navel-gazing and ‘get on with it’!Anyway, I’ve read it, I’ve finished it, and I quite enjoyed it. Ive read Normal People and can see the similarities but hey, so what. If you are looking for something a little more challenging than usual, that’s well written with a satisfyingly grown up command of the language and has a strong narrative, then give this a go. I can see why so many adore it, and feel a little disappointed that it left me just a little cold.

A tremendous book from Claire Daverley in Talking at Night.I don’t tend to talk “story plots” in my reviews because plenty of people do that. I can tell you it’s one of few books I’ve read in one sitting.Beautifully written with an intensity I hadn’t expected.The characters are frustrating and adorable, the tension between Rosie and Will is maddening at times but also relatable.I’d implore anyone who will listen to give this a go.I’m a huge fan of crime thrillers and so when I deviate to another genre I really want it to be something worth deviating for.This.This was it.Amazing!