Talking at Night: The perfect read for fans of One Day and Normal People Hardcover – 6 July 2023

You know that feeling when you get gripped by a really good book?! Well I hadn’t had that for ages and no matter how many new books I bought I just couldn’t seem to find the one to hook me in - this book is exceptional. A slow burn love story with lots of added plot twists and turns and likeable characters. I honestly do not want it to end (I have a few chapters left), and I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.

This book definitely had elements from Normal People (I haven't read One Day yet).While the book does have many similarites, from the way the characters are written, the things they experience in their lives, to the way the book is written. Despite that, there was a uniqueness to it, and it stands out on its own. In my opinion.The two main characters, Will and Rosie, were both interesting, likeable and relatable in their own ways. The way Will was set up at the beginning of the story makes you think of how he's going to be for the rest of the book. But that's not the case; as the story goes on, you see his character develop, and you end up really liking him.The same goes for Rosie. She has a lot of depth too. From her sibling relationship with Josh, her friendship with Marley, and her growing attraction to Will. As well as her relationship/marriage to Simon, which slowly starts to fade. The same goes for her distant relationship with her parents.The things they both went through over the years. All of the hardships. The various moments when they're drawn together, only to drift apart shortly after.Overall, despite a few issues with how some of the sentences were written and with the book having an ambiguous ending, I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It's a good debut for the writer. I look forward to the next book Claire Daverley chooses to write about.

Beautiful - so well written.Indie movie vibes

I’m only 12% of the way through this book, yet I feel compelled to comment. I just don’t get why the author has decided to do away with the recognisable form of punctuation known as the “speech mark”. Perhaps they missed that day of school? But if that’s the case how did it make it through all the rounds of editing and proof reading without someone passing comment on it. Perhaps there is a reason that will reveal itself later in the book, in which case I’ll feel foolish for leaving this review. Or perhaps they’re just being cool, and edgy and different.But whatever the reason I am finding the lack of speech marks is hampering my ability to judge whether I like this book. I’m having to re-read most pages to decipher whether what I am reading is being said out loud by the characters, or is merely a thought in their head. I can’t pass judgement on the story as I am too busy trying to understand the grammar, which would be much clearer with the introduction of the widely recognised speech mark!

Good book,

Tender, heartfelt and affecting, Talking at Night is a deeply beautiful love story. It follows Rosie and Will, who meet as teenagers and have an instant connection. The pair are total opposites: Rosie is the stereotypical ‘good girl’ and overthinks everything, and Will is the wild and unpredictable best friend of her twin brother. It is clear from the start that this is more than teenage infatuation, but, before their relationship gets the chance to start, tragedy strikes, destroying any chance of a future together. What follows is a memorable will they/won’t they love story that will make even the most cynical person believe in soulmates.Oh, my heart. I’d heard that this book was emotional but I was still unprepared for how it wreaked havoc on my emotions. Debut author Claire Daverley’s writing is simple but beautiful, allowing the characters and the story to shine in her exploration of love, friendship, loss and grief. Achingly human, acutely observed, and deeply moving, this character-driven romance has much more depth than your average, lighthearted love story. Real love isn’t all hearts and rainbows, and Daverley isn’t afraid to show that, exploring the flawed, painful side of love alongside the joy and laughter. But those things are still there. After all, this is a story about true love; that all-consuming, red-hot, soulful love that is impossible to resist. It feels like a very fresh and modern romance, revealing how bittersweet love can be. After all, the path to true love rarely runs smooth, and it's certainly a bumpy journey for Rosie and Will. But will it be worth it in the end?Rosie and Will are very real, three-dimensional characters who I found likeable and relatable. Their romance gets off to a rocky start after a tragedy and we wonder if they will ever truly find their way back to one another. They try not to, seeing other people and severing contact on and off over the years, but they can never forget each other or completely let go and always find themselves drawn back together. We go on this journey with them, Daverley opening them up and revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. And I felt every emotion alongside them, leaving me wrung out but heartened when it was all over.Passionate, poignant, heartwarming and compelling, Talking at Night is a glorious debut you won’t forget. Highly recommended.

I love the trope of soulmates, people who go through life with the many challenges that life offers but will always find a way back to each other. Think ‘one day’ and ‘where rainbows end/love Rosie’ .The writer Claire writes in such a beautiful way it’s like poetry. This book is what got me back into reading after a LONG hiatus and it was so easy to fly through the book. It’s such a lovely story and covers many hard hitting topics without it being heavy. Would definitely recommend to anyone who’s interested in the genre of romance novels as a whole

Really enjoyed the story and characters but the writing style took a bit of getting used to. It didn’t flow easily to me.