Books Read: Shirley Benton - Can We Start Again?

Source - Received from publisher to review

Is it ever too late for a second chance? 

Tammy and Alvin had mapped out their entire lives together, including a pre-parental plan - a list of everything they wanted to do as a couple before they had children. But no amount of planning could have anticipated the heartbreaking problems that lay ahead problems that shattered their once-perfect relationship and led to a traumatic break-up. 

Then, after years of trying to move on, Tammy's world is turned upside down when Alvin comes back into her life asking for a second chance - with a difference. He proposes that they spend time together, doing the things they had once so eagerly planned, in a bid to remember why they felt they'd have children together some day, and ultimately recapture what they had. 

Still in love with Alvin, Tammy finds herself powerless to say no, even though their problems are still simmering in the background and threatening to boil over at any moment. Still, what they once had is surely worth trying to save. 

But can something that's broken ever truly be whole again?

Tammy gets the shock of her life when she answers her door for standing there is her ex-fiance Alvin, someone she had not seen or spoken to since he'd left to go to Australia a couple of years before.

He admits to Tammy that he's still in love with her and would like to get back together with her.  But first he reminds her of the pre-parental plan that they had compiled of things that they were going to do before they had kids and suggests that they plan these activities now to see if they are still compatible after all of this time apart.

What follows is a rollercoaster of events that bring emotions to the surface, good and bad, so will it bring them closer together or will they realise that they are better off apart? 

I'd been looking forward to reading this book ever since I knew Shirley had finished writing it and I wasn't disappointed.  It had everything you'd expect from a story about a modern relationship, it had emotional highs and lows as well as interesting and likeable characters in Tammy and Alvin.  Although I enjoyed her debut novel Looking for Leon, I would say that this was her best novel to date so am already looking forward to her next book which should be released next year. 

I'd like to thank Shirley and Poolbeg for sending me a copy of this book to review.  Fancy a copy of Can We Start Again? for your holiday reading, why not head to Amazon to order your copy today.