The Wakes (Dianne Yarwood, Hachette)

When Clare’s husband tells her one night that he’s unhappy, she’s not sure what to do—but helping her new friend Louisa start a funeral catering business is the last thing she expects to happen. Likewise, Chris thought he had seen everything as an emergency doctor, but when his wife still isn’t pregnant after seven rounds of IVF and he is on the side of the road mumbling ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees to a stranger because he might be having a heart attack, things don’t seem like they can get much worse. Life doesn’t always go to plan, but Clare and Chris certainly didn’t expect to see each other at four funerals in a row. These once-strangers soon become linked by grief and their lives intertwine as Dianne Yarwood’s Sydney-set novel progresses. The Wakes is a book that will stay with you long after you finish the final page, as the author accurately captures the beautifully messy nature of life, death and love in all of its forms. For readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty, Meg Mason or simply a story with interweaving storylines, this debut novel poignantly and sometimes humorously explores how the many facets of grief can so strongly bind people together. With strong dialogue, fully formed characters and outrageously delicious food descriptions, The Wakes will leave you with a renewed appreciation for life.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Lisa Schuurman is an editor, writer and book reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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