I was a huge fan of Julie Highmore’s last release The Message so it’s quite an understatement to say I’m looking forward to her next book! Her next book The Birthday is due out on 9th December 2010 and sounds like another fantastic and emotional read. Here’s the synopsis:

It’s easy to make mistakes. The hard part is keeping them hidden. Emily spends a few precious hours with her lover, then picks up her children and returns to normal married life. Her brother Ben’s career has crashed with the banks, and suddenly he has nowhere to go. But they must both put on a brave face for their mother’s sixtieth birthday. Fran doesn’t feel old. Mostly, she’s worried about her increasingly depressed husband Duncan, and his slightly odd behaviour. Why did he think they’d been to Florence? Who is Alexa? And she doesn’t really want a fuss over her birthday, but her daughter insists they must celebrate. Holding tight to their own secrets, the family gathers around Fran, but as one small revelation follows another, no one can foresee the huge repercussions of this birthday.

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