It's not the happiest story you will read this season, but there are lessons to be learned, even if those lessons involve cleaning products. La corsa per i regali di Natale diventa insopportabile quando la tua vita non è quella che vorresti. While doing the morning school run, Binny escapes from the clutches of another Mum (wearing a complete Xmas “ensemble” of a festive jogging suit, with matching red fur ears and gloves) who wants to know if Binny is “ready for Christmas” or maybe even the nativity play that is on that afternoon at the school. Zufällig findet sie sich in einem Laden voller Putzmittel wieder und die Verkäuferin hatte auch mit Schicksalsschlägen zu kämpfen. I thought this would be an easy way to try out her writing style to better prepare me for reading this book, and it was!

Though I gather this aversion was one symptom of her depression, resulting from repression of emotion, which becomes clear as the story unfolds.A chance meeting with her polar opposite reveals a pain she hasn't dealt with, buried deep with memories and hurt.

She has lost her parents not so long ago, but refused to cry or show her emotions at that time, then when her current "partner," Oliver ups and leaves her, confessing his affair with another woman who is now pregnant, she is beside herself yet still willing herself to remain stoic. Rachel Joyce, internationally bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect, delivers an unforgettable Christmas story of moving on from lost love, now available exclusively as an e-short. Entrare quasi per sbaglio in un negozio sconosciuto e trovare la serenità tanto desiderata, facendo pace con sé stessi.I'm not much into short stories but the author has managed to infuse this short read with depth and emotion that far longer novels often fail to achieve.