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Oli and Joe are identical twins. But they will never be the same.
Beth Truman gives birth to her sons at thirty-three weeks, then checks out of the maternity hospital with them and leaves her old life behind.
From the start, the differences between the twins are clear. Oli is bigger, stronger, healthier. Joe is small and weak, his future inexorably altered by the trauma of his birth.
By the time the boys are grown, Beth has a new name and a thriving business, and has successfully raised her sons alone.
But when the truth about their past emerges, Oli and Joe will be forced reassess everything they thought they knew about their mother, their upbringing and themselves.
About the author
Caroline Bond was born in Scarborough and studied English Literature at Oxford University. She has worked as a cleaner, a receptionist, a kitchen designer, a market researcher, a company director and a victim support volunteer. She has an MA in Creative Writing. Caroline lives in Leeds with her husband and one of her three children... the other two having grown up and escaped.
@Bond2Caroline
Summary
***A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK***
Oli and Joe are identical twins. But they will never be the same.
Lizzie Truman gives birth to her sons at thirty-one weeks. From the start, the differences between the twins are clear. Oli is bigger, stronger, healthier. Joe is small and much less robust, his future inexorably altered by the trauma of his premature delivery.
As soon as the boys are well enough, Lizzie checks out of the maternity hospital and leaves her old life behind.
By the time Oli and Joe are grown, Beth has a new name, a thriving business, and she has successfully raised her sons alone.
But when the truth about their past emerges, the twins are forced to reassess everything they thought they knew about their mother, their upbringing and themselves.
'Wonderful ... such a great read ... made me emotional' Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2 Book Club
Foreword
A powerful and moving novel about identical twins who are opposites in every way, and how far a mother can shape the lives of her children.
