Louis & Louise: The emotional new novel from the Richard and Judy bestselling author of 'Together'

Written by Julie Cohen

Narrated by Patricia Rodriguez

'It's BRILLIANT. I enjoyed it hugely' Marian Keyes

*****

Two people.
Two lives.
One chance to see the same world differently.

Louis and Louise are the same person born in two different lives. One was born female, and one male.

They have the same best friends, the same red hair, the same dream of being a writer, the same excellent whistle. They both suffer one catastrophic night, with life-changing consequences.

Thirteen years later, they are both coming home . . .

A tender, insightful and timely novel about the things that bring us together - and those which separate us, from the author of Richard & Judy recommended book Together

*****

A NOVEL PEOPLE CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT...

'Not often does a story remind us of what beautifully complex creatures we are. Julie Cohen has given us that rare gift' Christina Dalcher, author of VOX

'Louis and Louise is Julie Cohen at her absolute best. So cleverly done and authentic, and you feel as if you live in the town with the characters and have been in the story with them.' A J Pearce

'Louis & Louise is moving and beautiful, but it will also make you wonder and question, and it will stretch out your thinking so very beautifully' Joanna Cannon

'Elegant, thoughtful and powerful' Daisy Buchanan

'Fierce, intricate and intriguing' Fanny Blake

'Hugely original and heartbreakingly real' Rosie Walsh

'A timely read that will stay with you long after you put it down' Libby Page

'What a brave, warm and wise book this is. I loved it' Tamar Cohen

'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' Kate Eberlen

'A cobweb of a book: beautifully intricate and delicate' Veronica Henry

'Wow. What a beautiful, ballsy and brilliant book' Sinead Moriarty

'A beautifully written, heartbreaking and important novel about gender, self, family and, ultimately, love' Claire Frost, reviewer

'A powerful and memorable story of small town secrets, family dynamics and the sense that some things are just meant to be' Sunday Express

'Emotional and seriously powerful' Fabulous

'An engaging, moving novel, at its most arresting in the pivotal scenes when she explores the personal fallout of industrial and class conflict in Louis/Louise's beleaguered hometown' Sunday Times

'A modern take told with heart' Grazia

'The premise here is radical, but worth the effort... this elegantly written novel also examines much that is universal' Daily Mail

*****

* Fabulous pick for 2019's Best Books *
* Woman & Home Pick of the Month *
* Good Housekeeping Book of the Month *
* Emerald Street January's Best Books *
* Stylist 2019's Hottest Books *
* THE POOL Recommended Books 2019 *

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orion
• Release date: Jan 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781409179863

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 Louis & Louise

[nicx27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of Julie Cohen's work. She's a beautiful writer and Louis and Louise is no exception to that.

The story begins with Peggy and Irving, about to have their first, and only, child. But in one reality they have a boy named Louis and in the other they have a girl named Louise. I must admit that I was expecting something quite obviously gender specific about each story, as in I thought that Louis would have all sorts of opportunities that Louise didn't have. And I suppose that he does, but ultimately the difference between them is down to something else, something that happens to them on their graduation night (a different something for each of them) and really I think it is only Louise's story that is particularly about the difference gender makes.

After many years away Louis/Louise returns to their small home town of Casablanca, Maine. Whilst some aspects of their lives have followed a certain pattern, others have diverged according to which protagonist's story we are reading.

I think I've made it sound rather complicated but rest assured, this is a book that never confused me. I never had to flick back to see whether it was a Louis or Louise chapter. The writing is clear and I was well able to see where their lives were similar and where they were not. I thought Julie Cohen did a great job at showing us the direction both lives went in and how they dealt with coming home to a town where something momentous happened to them, the kind of town where everybody knows who you are and where everything revolves around a paper mill.

What I particularly enjoyed were the crossover sections relating to their friend, Allie and I found this storyline rather moving as old feelings returned. Actually, I found the whole book moving and emotional, a beautiful study of a life. I've honestly never thought about if my life would have been different if I had been born a boy but this book does make me wonder. It's not as though I would have been completely different or even have achieved more, but more that I wonder if society's views would have shaped my life differently. Who knows, but if it's something that has got you thinking then I can highly recommend this gorgeous novel.