Whenever

by Sarah Connell

Christine wakes up one morning to discover that her husband, Ray, did not come home from his evening out with a friend. She waits to hear from him but has no message or news. The friend she thought he had arranged to see has left a phone message to say that he is sorry they did not meet. Ray's work believe he has gone away on sabbatical and the police are sympathetic but unhelpful. Ray is gone and there is no reason to think he might come back again soon. From being settled and content, Christine's life lies in tatters. Until she encounters a young man tending a cat injured by a speeding car. Against her instincts, Christine is drawn to the young man and strange, fragile association grows between them, one which gradually alters Christine's life.

Paperback

Published April 1, 2019

About the author

An allotment. A bench. A grieving man. An asylum seeker on the run. An intimate, sharply relevant story that unfolds in the stillness between two people who should never have met, and yet desperately need each other.
Walter and Osama aren’t just characters, they’re reflections of two worlds colliding in quiet resistance. There’s heartbreak here, but also defiant kindness. The emotional stillness, the subtle tensions, the questions of belonging, grief, and trust, readers say this is the kind of novel that lingers in the soul long after the final page.


My first novel 'Whenever' was published in 2017 on my 70th birthday when I won the Novel Prize with Cinnamon Press. My second 'Random Three' came out with the Book Guild in summer 2020. 'Where Are You Now?' is my third and is the story of an unlikely friendship between an old man and an asylum seeker.

My work is social fiction, about our contemporary lives, with a focus on characters and I write mostly but not only about the northern city where I live.
The next one is set in Ghana.

Reviews

[Gretel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella has an interesting premise and intriguing observations. Also the author is skilled at creating a sense of place, and revisiting past memories and the everyday moments that can trigger them. Sadly, the awkward dialogue is a massive distraction, which manages to be both childish and overly formal at the same time. I liked Robin a lot, but rather than being a young man who has the brains to acquire a maths degree, the dialogue makes him seem like somebody still in primary school. This manuscript would have benefitted from some proof reading, as there are inaccuracies in the text e.g. a character with a changing name (Erdogan/Erduwan), and Ray being a maths and geography lecturer yet later on we are told that he lectures in history and geography.

[Clare Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, finished in a very short time, though it is a short book. I picked it up in the library as I recognised the author as someone I knew from working at Wakefield College. She includes lots of good descriptions of Wakefield - places I recognise even if place names have been changed. Some description of how run down and depressing parts of the city have become.

A simple story. I engaged with the characters and was anxious to know the ending. Well written and it flows well. Would definitely recommend.

[Melissa (she/her/hers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written study of a woman whose life is upended

Such a warm story about loss, finding strength, and friendship. I enjoyed the writing style and the three dimensional characters. I found myself turning each page eagerly - and rooting for the protagonist, Christine.

[beyond_blue_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Ghosting is one thing, but disappearing from a marriage? Another level! The shame, confusion and sense of being suspended in limbo was well captured. Main character a bit boring, but I liked her friendships with Robin and especially Paveen, who brought some warmth to the story.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully evocative writing