Together: The UNMISSABLE Richard and Judy Book Club pick!

Written by Julie Cohen

Narrated by Gemma Whelan

A poignant, surprising love story told backwards over five decades, with a devastating secret at its heart.

Robbie and Emily they have been together for decades. Now, their joints are creaking and their eyesight is failing - but their love for each other is as fresh and fierce as the day they first met. They have had children and grandchildren, lived full and happy and intimate lives.

But they have been keeping a secret since the day they met, when their lives changed forever. Over the years, the sacrifices and choices they made have sealed their fates together.

Did they do the right thing? Read their story, and you decide.

Perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan, Gail Honeyman and Sarah Winman and anyone looking for a thought-provoking page-turner.

*****

Praise for Julie Cohen's TOGETHER:

'Julie Cohen's writing is powerful, moving and truly beautiful' Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

'This big, clever, tender and twisty love story reminded me of One Day & The Time Traveler's Wife' Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said

'A bold, breathtaking and truly compelling love story, one that will stay with me for a long time' Lisa Jewell, author of Then She Was Gone

'It takes a lot to tempt me from crime, but this is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I've read' Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths

'Complex, compelling and beautiful, Together is the kind of novel that will stay with you forever' Rowan Coleman, author of The Summer of Impossible Things

'Cleverly-plotted and stunningly written, Julie Cohen's Together is a page-turner with real emotional punch' Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything

Shortlisted for the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award 2018 with the Romantic Novelists' Association.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orion
• Release date: Aug 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781409171782

Julie Cohen

Julie Cohen spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book and today still reads everything in sight! She gives workshops for fiction writers all over the UK and the US, and belongs to the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK and Romance Writers of America. Her hobbies include walking, travelling, listening to loud music, watching films and eating far too much popcorn. Julie lives in Berkshire, England with her family. Visit her website at: www.julie-cohen.com

Reviews for Together

[sassybrit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am reviewing Together: An epic love story with a secret you won't see coming by Julie Cohen. This is a review of a free book supplied to me by the Amazon Vine Programme. Here are my thoughts:

^^ This book starts as a real tear-jerker and I was instantly hooked; I had to know what could have possibly gone on in their lives for Robbie to go and do what he did. (I know, I don't want to be the one who spoils it for you, so I am trying to be subtle here!)

^^ The story opens in the year 2016 and is split into five parts following the lives of Robbie and Emily through the 1990s, 1975-1977, then 1972 to finally 1962 right back to the day they first met.

^^ As the book evolves I'm drawn into their world, as their lives are unravelled, meanings are explained and the final twist is revealed. Should you do what is right, even if it means hearts are broken? Or should you go with your heart and be happy? What if they are both bad choices? If you don't make the decision, how will you ever know?

^^ Was I shocked by this epic love story's secret? Did I not see it coming, as promised in the hype? Yes! I can honestly say I did NOT see that one coming. Afterwards my mind was awash with questions and I found myself re-reading parts out of curiosity.

Overall: Well worth a read! This certainly got me thinking long after I'd finished the book. All I can say is - I would not wish this to happen to even my worst enemy. But you do hear of this happening, so it's not as rare as you may think. How we'd deal with it, well, that is the true question. One that is thoroughly dissected within the pages of this book. When you read the blurb you will see we are asked: "Is this a great love story? Or a story about great love?" To be honest, I still cannot decide. Just like Robbi e and Emily's secret, I'm torn.

[nicx27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having read and enjoyed two of Julie Cohen's previous novels I was so looking forward to reading Together. I freely admit that when I started reading it wasn't quite what I was expecting and I found it confusing but believe me when I say that those feelings soon vanished and I found this the most wonderful, heartbreakingly beautiful story.

The reason I found it confusing is because this story is told backwards. We meet Robbie and Emily in 2016 in Maine and we go right back to 1962 in Cambridge and so events that are referred to in the first, yet later, sections had a greater clarity once I read on. I found myself flipping back looking for those important bits throughout the first third or so until the book got into its stride. And when I got to the end I flipped back through the whole thing just to remind myself of certain parts.

I realise this plot device may not appeal to everybody but it works so well. We know from the blurb that this couple have a secret but the point is that this is a not a book about a secret but a book about the most amazing love between a man and a woman.

I don't want to say any more about the plot but what I can say is that from the first page I had a feeling it was going to be a heartbreaker of a story and I was right. The writing is beautiful and understated, yet full of emotion and passion (just what I would expect from Julie Cohen).

I had no idea what the secret would be and only worked it out just before I read it on the page. It's a cleverly designed plot which suddenly all made sense. And I loved Emily and Robbie - this is very much their story, with all the other characters being only supporting ones.

This is such a gorgeous story and I heartily recommend reading Together this summer.