See you in September

by Charity Norman, Allen & Unwin.

Cassy and her boyfriend Hamish are off on an adventure – two months in New Zealand before heading home to London in September. But only Hamish makes the return flight. When the pair’s relationship falls apart, hitchhiker Cassy accepts a lift from a vanload of friendly people who invite her to their home on the shores of Lake Tarawera. What she finds is “Gethsemane”, a self-sufficient community where negativity is banned and love abounds. Finding solace there, Cassy decides to stay. On the other side of the world her family is increasingly concerned – why hasn’t Cassy been in touch, why won’t she return their calls? This is the fifth novel from Hawke’s Bay writer Charity Norman and like previous works The Son-in-Law and The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone, it puts her characters in circumstances that are beyond ordinary yet could potentially happen to anyone. Her compassionate approach leads us to understand Cassy’s choice, while also feeling the heartache and desperation felt by her family. And through it all, a subtly built suspense predicts a dreaded outcome. Another great read from this talented storyteller.