A poignant coming-of-age story

• Book: A Heart Bent Out of Shape
• Location: Lausanne
• Author: Emylia Hall

Review Author: littlereader

I thought The Book of Summers was a beautifully written debut novel by a gifted new writer, and this captivating second novel by Emylia Hall confirms that talent.

Hadley Dunn is studying English at University, her life quiet and contented, when she discovers there is the opportunity to spend a year abroad in Lausanne, Switzerland. She’s still living happily at home, yet, realising this would be a year of freedom and opportunity for her, she grasps it. There she becomes firm friends with Kristina, an enigmatic Danish student. However, one snowy evening there is tragedy. Hadley turns in her anguish to Joel, her American Literature professor, with whom she feels a connection and a shared passion for Hemingway. As they join forces to unravel the mystery of what happened, their relationship looks set to develop beyond the bounds of friendship.

Emylia Hall writes beautiful prose and through her compelling narrative she captures that sense of curiosity and excitement experienced in spending a year overseas when you are young and eager, and the world feels so ripe for discovery and promises new experiences.

The beautiful, enchanting setting of Lausanne is vividly evoked; the lake, the mountains, the people were all conjured up as I read, and the place holds a charismatic presence over the tale.

I had a year abroad myself and I think the author captures this experience wonderfully. I believed in Hadley’s world utterly and felt her sheer delight and her terrible sadness. I was drawn into the characters’ lives, from handsome, damaged Joel, to wise old Hugo.

This is a poignant coming-of-age story of first love, desire, friendship, tragedy, grief and self-discovery in a stunning location.

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