Let Me Be Like Water

Perry’s moving debut follows a woman moving on after a loss by concentrating on the small but important aspects of daily life. Holly has moved to Brighton from London after the death of her boyfriend, Sam. At the beach, Holly randomly meets retired magician Frank and, although he is much older, they form a fast friendship. Holly is flooded by memories of Sam, and Frank provides Holly with a shoulder to cry on, as he can relate to her in a way that many others don’t as he has also experienced the loss of a former lover. When Frank has a stroke, Holly faces a crossroads: will she refuse to get over Sam’s death, or will she find a way to move on? The story unfolds over the course of a year, slowly revealing the details of Holly and Sam’s relationship as she processes her loss. While sections jumping between Holly’s present with Frank and past memories of Sam can be disjointing at first, by the book’s satisfying conclusion, readers will feel they have grown alongside loving and resilient Holly. (Aug.)