This book received mixed reviews from the Group. One member loved it whilst another gave up and didn’t even finish it. Most found the characters lacked depth and they were left waiting for things to ‘go somewhere’. The writing style is very understated but does show how mundane life was in this scenario and that the class system was entrenched. It also made us think about the fact that people generally only show you what they want you to see and to wonder how these couples came to be together at all.

This novel tells the story of two young married couples living in the British West Country during the Big Freeze of 1963 and the interactions between them, their friends and acquaintances.