Forever, Interrupted

Starred review from April 22, 2013
In her touching and powerful debut, Reid masterfully grabs hold of the heartstrings and doesn’t let go. A mere six months after their chance meeting at a pizza joint, Elsie Porter and Ben Ross impulsively elope, confident in the knowledge they’ll be happy forever. Nine days later, happily-ever-after evaporates when Ben’s bike collides with a truck, killing him instantly. Soon, Elsie is navigating the shoals of planning a funeral with Ben’s initially hostile mother, Susan, and learning how to live without her true love. The author beautifully weaves Ben and Elsie’s courtship throughout the narrative, showing the reader the deep love that has bloomed—and the utter capriciousness of the fate that has taken that away. As Elsie and Susan begin to heal, they offer each other strength borne of their shared experience—which helps each of them open doors, once again, to the possibility of love. A stunning first novel. Agent: Carly Watters, the P.S. Literary Agency.