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A review by jessorella
The Two Lives of Louis & Louise by Julie Cohen
5.0
Julie Cohen's LOUIS & LOUISE tells the story of Lou, who is born into a mill-owning Maine family in the 1980s. The main twist in the story, however, is that in one life Lou is born male, and in the other, female. This book explores Lou's childhood, their family and friendships, and tracks the arc of their life story through their teens, twenties and thirties in both timelines.
It's a beautifully written look at how people's lives can change in a minute, and how expectations we place on ourselves and others can affect not just how we feel and what we do, but sometimes whole chunks of our time on earth. The issues explored in both Louis and Louise's lives are sensitively written, with many echoes between each of Lou's timelines. The sense of place in Maine, USA, is wonderfully evocative, and I would in several places compare it to the writing of Stephen King.
I read this book over the course of just a couple of days, keen to find out what happened to Lou in their teen years that affected so much of their later life and, in more than one case, their relationships with those who were closest to them.
I've been reading Julie Cohen's books since she was published by Mills & Boon, through Little Black Dress and beyond. Her writing has always been sharp and yet soothing, illustrative and thoughtful. She just gets better and better, and I think that LOUIS & LOUISE may just be her best book yet. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
It's a beautifully written look at how people's lives can change in a minute, and how expectations we place on ourselves and others can affect not just how we feel and what we do, but sometimes whole chunks of our time on earth. The issues explored in both Louis and Louise's lives are sensitively written, with many echoes between each of Lou's timelines. The sense of place in Maine, USA, is wonderfully evocative, and I would in several places compare it to the writing of Stephen King.
I read this book over the course of just a couple of days, keen to find out what happened to Lou in their teen years that affected so much of their later life and, in more than one case, their relationships with those who were closest to them.
I've been reading Julie Cohen's books since she was published by Mills & Boon, through Little Black Dress and beyond. Her writing has always been sharp and yet soothing, illustrative and thoughtful. She just gets better and better, and I think that LOUIS & LOUISE may just be her best book yet. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.