Book Review and Giveaway: A Little in Love by Susan Fletcher

‘I can see stars through the smoke – too many to ever count, millions and millions. What are they thinking as they look down? Perhaps they’re sad because Paris is burning. Because so many good people are dead. The stars… They’ve always felt like my friends. They’re like tiny, shining faces I’ve known all my life. When I’ve been scared or can’t sleep, they’ve been there to keep me company. I’ve done so many bad things in my life but the stars always forgave me. I whisper to them now: ‘Can you hear me? I’m so scared. Please don’t let it hurt so much…’ But how can they stop me bleeding? No one can.’

Paris 1818 and street-girl lies alone, dying in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart. A letter which will right all the wrongs of a life too short and keep promises made in love and forgiveness.

Eponine remembers being a child: her swing and the peach tree, and the baby brother she loved. But mostly, it was a miserable time. Taught to lie and cheat, and to hate the one girl, Cosette, who might have been her friend.

Now grown up at sixteen, their paths have crossed once more and Eponine has a second chance. But what is the price of friendship and forgiveness – love?

Taking up the story of the tragic heroine of Victor Hugo’s literary classic, A Little in Love is a mesmerising story of love, sacrifice and redemption.

What I Thought:

I love to read these types of books, more about much-loved characters and information that rounds them out just a bit better. There are some good examples (Longbourn by Jo Baker) and some terribly bad ones (Pemberley by Emma Tennant). Thankfully, A Little In Love falls into the former category.

I can’t confess to having read Les Miserables, the source material for this book, in fact I think I only made it a few chapters in, so what I know about Eponine really comes from the musical, but she’s always struck me much more than Cosette. Yes, Cosette had a terrible start in life, but was plucked out of poverty by Jean Valjean. But Eponine on the other hand, was an ordinary girl, with an extraordinary unrequited love. And what teenager can’t relate to that!?

Susan Fletcher’s book is completely written through Eponine’s eyes and expands on her life with her criminal parents, the Thernardiers and her scant relationship with Cosette when they were young – something that would come back into play later in the book. I have always loved Eponine and to be able to understand her better is really rewarding.

The book itself is just beautiful. I was sent the paperback edition, and it’s a thing of beauty but I have also just ordered the hardback, as both books are incredibly designed and produced, so well done publishers Chicken House for giving such a lovely book such a lovely exterior.

In short, A Little in Love is a book that I would recommend and, in light of this, I have been given two copies to give away! Just fill out the Rafflecopter widget below and you could have one of these lovely, lovely books all to yourself!

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Please Note: I was sent a copy of A Little in Love in return for an honest review and as part of a blog tour. The opinions in the review are, as ever, my own.