THE NIGHT SHE FELL by Eileen Merriman (Penguin, $40)
Ashleigh and Xander are high school sweethearts who were introduced by Ashleigh’s wealthy lawyer father. Fastforward a few years and the couple, now in their early 20s, are still together, both students at Otago University, but it’s a troubled relationship.
Ashleigh hits Xander, at one point throws
