This is Matthews’ first book – it’s not one of her best but
she manages to craft a good tale exploring the beginnings of an affair and the
repercussions it has for everyone involved. There are no unlikeable characters
at all, which is surprising in a story – usually there is some sort of bad
character, but whilst these characters are flawed, as a reader you don’t really
hate anyone. There are times however, when you dislike Teri and Jamie’s actions
as they are immoral due to the situation.
The meeting at the train station is quite romantic and sets
the beginning of what is a beautiful relationship between the two main characters.
Yet nothing is easy in romance, and there are complications – in the form of a
wife and two kids. Normally with these types of stories you expect an happy
ending, and as you read further towards the end, you can’t imagine how Teri and
Jamie will end up together, and they don’t. In the end, Jamie moves away with
his family. The ending is quite bittersweet as they part for the last time, and
it makes you wonder if the story were to continue what would happen to the
characters. Would Jamie being in love with another woman cause him to get
depressed, or stop his marriage from ever being a happy one? Teri falls
pregnant at the end – would she tell Jamie, and if Jamie’s family ever found
out what would happen. The story seems to end at a unusual point, and it
doesn’t feel resolved. Or perhaps that was Matthew’s idea – to end it in a way
that would still ask so many questions, exploring how an affair doesn’t always
end so clear-cut. 3 stars.
