A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
Making a mistake may affect your mood or even ruin your day, but making a fatal mistake can change the course of your life forever. That is what this novel explores in a heartbreaking tale of loss, bereavement and guilt. When Nathan accidently runs into and kills a pedestrian, his life as he knows it is irreversibly changed. We follow Nathan’s story as he comes to terms with the emotional and legal consequences of his actions.
The novel’s dual perspective also puts us into the mind of Cara, the sister of the victim. We feel the visceral sense of loss as Cara and her family struggle to process the death of her brother. The author does a great job of highlighting that loss may feel all-encompassing – you see fragments of a person in everything around you, even the smallest things.
There is an interesting dynamic created by the relationship between Cara and Nathan. It is fascinating to see their two stories brought together as they navigate the connection between them, though the focus on their relationship may seem at times to overshadow the rest of the story and its pacing.
The novel deals with heavy topics such as death and mental health in a poignant and realistic way. Yet it also has moments of humour, joy and even hope. It stresses that life keeps going, even when it seems impossible, and that we should make every moment count.
Due to the nature of the topics, this novel might be more suitable for older readers.
