It is a rare treat indeed to find a new epistolary novel in 2024 and an even greater pleasure to find it is the best one since The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society.
In the same way as Alexander McCall Smith brought Botswana to life, almost as an extra character, Ali Simpson does likewise for Zambia.
This is a powerful, thrilling, emotional story and the characterisation lifts it above just about every other book in the shops at the moment. Grace, Anna, Izzy, Dann and Henry all have unique voices and had my empathy without any apparent effort on their part.
It's heartbreaking and heartwarming and shines a spotlight on all the best aspects of human nature and love.

Sadly this is a DNF review. I liked the premise of the book but it is only told in emails between far too many people to keep it all straight in your head. I am sad I can't find out who the man from Maastricht is but sadly this book just wasn't for me. It would have worked better if there were some emails and actual story parts but this just isn't it.

I liked the premise and the story development, but I found the way it was told, (using emails etc throughout the book) and the multiple POVs somewhat disjointed and irritating at times. .

I struggled with that approach. I’ve seen other books which used this style in parts of the book - even whole chapters. But they reverted to the usual first or third person narrative for other parts of the book.. Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic is a good example.

In the end I skimmed large chunks. The author can write and her use of language is skilful. I’m sure others will like this stylistic choice but it’s simply not for me.