Is This Love

(Paperback, Main)

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Description

'This is a book about the untidy, complicated underbelly of love and love's end. Funny and true, wise and utterly authentic, you will recognise yourself over and over. I loved it.' Kit de Waal

Did you mean to marry me
Did you understand the vows that we took

J's wife has left, and J is trying to understand why. How could someone you loved so much, who claimed to love you once, just walk away How could they send divorce papers accusing you of terrible things, when all you've ever done is tried to make them happy

Narrated by J in the days, weeks and months after the marriage collapses, and interspersed with the departed wife's diary entries, Is This Love is an addictive, deeply unsettling, and provocative novel of deception and betrayal, and passion turned to pain. As the story unfolds, and each character's version of events undermines the other, all our assumptions about victimhood, agency, love and control are challenged - for we never know J's gender. If we did, would it change our minds about who was telling the truth

Reviews

'A deeply unsettling, but unputdownable account of a marriage unravelling. This book held me captivated with its wit, ambiguity and complexity' - Abi Morgan

'A brilliant book about a difficult subject, compelling and disturbing in equal measure. It is dark and timely. It is needed - and very well done' - Stella Duffy

'A very honest story, showing the sensitivity and hurt that sit behind anger, and how misinterpreted desires can shape who we think we are and what we think we need' - La Roux

'Unsettling, furious & challenging ... raw - but brilliantly so' - Observer

'C. E. Riley creates a world and a scenario at once horrifying and all too familiar. When love and a marriage shatter, where do the pieces fall - and how do we apportion blame and responsibility This book traces just such an unravelling, to electrifying effect' - Neil Hegarty

Author Bio

C. E. Riley is a writer and director of the literary festival, Primadonna, which is described as 'books, with a little bit of rock'n'roll' - a festival that showcases established and emerging voices that aren't heard enough in the mainstream. She lives in London, and has previously published two works of non-fiction. Is This Love is her debut novel.