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This month鈥檚 book recommendation by Mike Philpott is 鈥淵ou, Me and Other People鈥� by Fionnuala Kearney.

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It鈥檚 a gripping first novel about the breakdown of a 鈥減erfect鈥� marriage.听

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As the book鈥檚 cover says: "Every family has skeletons in the closet. But what happens when you open the door and they won鈥檛 stop tumbling out?

For Adam and Beth the first secret wasn鈥檛 the last, it was just the beginning.

You think you can imagine the worst thing that could happen to your family, but there are some secrets that change everything.

And then the question is, how can you piece together a future when your past is being rewritten?"

The story is told - in alternating chapters - from the opposing viewpoints of Adam and Beth. Adam has embarked on his second affair and has spent years keeping secrets from the people he loves. He says he鈥檚 protecting them from the truth - but is he simply trying to protect himself from the fall-out that would occur if he revealed the truth?

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At the beginning, most readers will dislike Adam, who seems like an unsympathetic, selfish character. But as the book progresses, we discover that his inability to maintain harmony in his marriage stems from a disturbing incident in his past.

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That鈥檚 all that can be said without spoiling the plot.听

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The word听鈥渦nputdownable鈥� might have been invented for this novel. The temptation is to read it at one sitting, because the surprises keep on coming. And just when you think there couldn鈥檛 possibly be any more, the听rollercoaster starts up again. It鈥檚 a nerve-wracking trip full of heartbreak but also humour.

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