Tessa in Love

Tessa and Matty have always been friends - Tessa's quiet introspection proving the perfect foil for Matty's gregarious nature, conventional good looks and plethora of admirers. When Tessa becomes involved in the fight to save a local wood from the clutches of the supermarket developers she meets Wolfie, a charismatic and committed green activist, and falls in love for the first time. The rather frivolous cover of this book denies the sensitivity of the writing within. The developing attraction between Wolfie and Tessa is handled with a rare grace and ranks as one of the finest evocations of young love I have read - subtle, delicate and utterly moving. When Wolfie is killed only a few months into their relationship in a road accident whilst doing volunteer work in Peru, le Vann resists the easy option of Tess's melodramatic collapse into grief and chooses instead to explore with quiet intensity the way she comes to terms with her loss and finds a positive - if tentative - route through to the future. A fine piece of writing which will help, guide and absorb anyone who has experienced love and loss.