Whatever You Love

Doughty (Crazy Paving), author of several novels and a nonfiction book based on her column in London’s Daily Telegraph, tackles the loss of life, love, and rationality. Laura Needham is a single mother raising two children, nine-year-old Betty and her younger brother, Rees. On page one, police arrive at Laura’s door with the news that Betty has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. As Laura grapples with her daughter’s death, her already complicated relationship with her ex-husband grows more so. “Before” and “After” sections alternately detail Laura’s past and present with her husband, his new girlfriend, and their new baby, and chronicles Laura slowly losing control of her mind. In the process, she discovers an anger that will not go away, and moves to the brink of a breakdown that might end in violence. As Laura sinks more deeply into grief, anger, and disorientation, opportunities for healing appear unexpectedly, yielding a heartfelt and affecting story. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Company. (Apr.)