Bibliofemme Bookclub An Irish Bookclub

The cover of this book is deceptive. It would lead me to believe that this book was just another standard chick lit novel but it isn’t, it’s much more.

Love Hurts tells us the story of Ciara, who has been recently widowed. Her husband and childhood sweetheart Niall dropped dead of a heart attack before his time. Alone, with a daughter to raise, Ciara is naturally grieving but, when she discovers a photo of her naked husband that wasn’t taken by her, her world falls apart. Who was Niall having an affair with? How long had it being going on?

Kavanagh has used an interesting style to write this book and every second chapter is written in a different voice. This voice belongs to a woman who is somewhat of a narrator. She tells us the background to Ciara and Niall’s relationship, without every identifying herself. It is obviously somebody who was close to the couple, yet she blames Niall for a lifetime of hurt and disappointment – she is seeking revenge.

Love Hurts spans over thirty years and Kavanagh’s brilliance is in the use of a narrator who does not dominate the story but adds a certain sense of intrigue. A hard one to classify, it is a mystery, a tragedy and chick lit all rolled into one.

Put on the kettle, grab the biscuits and put up the do not disturb sign – you won’t want to stop reading.