Not really for me. Although well written, the lack of speech marks stopped the flow of the story and I never settled into it. Thank you though Neygalley for the opportunity.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s so well written and the relationship between the two main characters is beautiful. Absolutely recommended.

It took me a while to get into the writing style of this but once I did, I fell in love with it. I've seen comparisons to Normal People and One Day which both ring true for me. There's an ache throughout all of this, a longing for things to be different. For the tragedies of life to have not gotten in the way. It all tugged at my heartstrings. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I'll be seeking out this author in the future.

It starts the night of the bonfire. Teenagers Will and Rosie hadn’t really been friends before that but that night, they’d spoken all night. He’d never met a girl like that before, who wanted to talk. Will is friends with Rosie’s twin, Josh and it’s through their friendship that the two get to know each other. But then tragedy strikes and everything changes.

Weeks, months and years go by and Will and Rosie speak sometimes but can go a long time without a word. But no matter what, they will always be linked, not just by the tragedy that happened so long ago, but by everything in between.

This is a story of a love over the years, of a never forgotten connection between two people. It is definitely a journey that’s for sure. It tells a very in depth story of love and loss and all the human emotions it takes to deal with those things and how sometimes it can take a long time to move forward.

It was quite a sweet story that I enjoyed although I think at times Rosie’s character was kind of frustrating. I really just wanted her to stop people pleasing and do what she wanted but obviously without her quirks, there would’ve been no story.

Huge thank you to @michaeljbooks for my proof copy! Talking at Night releases 6th July.

“He has found it to be true, what people say: that time can heal, but he has also found that it cannot wipe muscle memory.”

Will and Rosie meet as teenagers. They're opposites in every way, but over secret walks home and late-night phone calls they become closer, destined to be one another's great love story. Until, one day, tragedy strikes and any possibility of them being together shatters. But that tragedy, and their history, is what will connect them forever.

I absolutely adored the whole childhood friends to (sort of) lovers? (It’s complicated). It actually reminded me of Normal People in more ways than one, so if you are a fan of that then you might enjoy this!

Although Talking at Night starts off pretty slow, a couple hundred pages in it, it takes a turn you won’t expect and it really gets going from here. It’s a slow burner but please stick with it. There’s a lot of sadness in this book, so I’d recommend looking up the content warnings beforehand, or feel free to message me!

The characters were so well written and developed that you really get to know them, the long spanning timeline also really helps with that. From starting as teenagers, the characters grow to adulthood and even though they are undoubtedly flawed, and infuriating at times they are also so incredibly endearing.

I’m not sure how else to describe this book that does is justice but the last 100 pages is what made it for me. The writing is beautiful and the story is so painfully touching that I just sobbed for ages afterwards. I loved it so much. I still can’t believe this is a debut?!

This certainly isn’t a run of the mill romance. I loved the characters and complicated relationship between Rosie and Will. There were times I wanted to give Rosie a good shake and was worried about the way things were going. If I have any criticism it would be that it’s a little too drawn out. Overall a great read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.

Talking At Night is Claire Daverley’s debut novel. A powerful love story between Will and Rosie, two teenagers that meet at college and, despite a terrible accident when they are young, they cannot let each other go, circling around each other as the years progress. The story takes place over two decades and is told from both their points of view as they deal with the incident that links them together but also tears them apart, unable to truly give up on each other.

Daverley’s prose is poetic and captivating throughout as she produces a beautiful character-driven novel about being unable to let your first love go, filled with missed chances and deep undeniable longing. The novel doesn’t shy away from serious topics, showing that both characters struggle with the event that happened years ago.

All in all, Daverley’s offering is a beautiful love story filled with characters that feel realistic as they deal with the realities of life.

This was an unusual character read about two teens who both have issues in their lives, Rosie has a difficult relationship with her mother and tries to resolve it by being good and toeing the line but not without impact on herself; Will’s mother left when he was younger and he was raised by his grandparents but when his grandfather died the impact of losing another person brought out his destructive side. They get to know each other through Rosie’s brother Josh but the person that brought them together also proves to be the thing that keeps them apart.

I liked the dual perspective of this and both were great characters although my favourite character has to be Will’s grandmother. This is told over a number of years but is quite slow paced which might not be for everyone but if you stick with them you’ll find Rosie and Will are quite memorable characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph (Penguin) for sending me this advanced copy for review.

I already know Talking at Night is going to be my most recommended book of 2023. I couldn’t put this book down and found myself thinking about the characters for days after finishing it because it resonated with me so much.

The story follows the very realistic and frustratingly beautiful love story of two characters, Will and Rosie, from their teenage years to adulthood. It’s raw and intense and deals with a number of issues and dark themes, which constantly broke my heart and then mended it along the way.

The writing style isn’t something I would normally enjoy but it made perfect sense for this story, highlighting how Will and Rosie’s thoughts often flowed between them without them having to communicate at all.

I really can’t believe this is Claire Daverley’s debut novel because it’s honestly a masterpiece to me!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Compulsive reading – even though it is heavily character focused and has a lot of dark themes with grief and self-destructive behaviour, this ticks along at a pace. Like an improved version of David Nicolls’ One Day, the circling of Rosie and Will around each other builds with ebbs and flows that feels realistic to two flawed individuals. This is not my usual read but I couldn’t put it down, finishing in a single day, even with eyes burning and an occasional tear shed. Not a light hearted read but very worth the time.

TW: grief, suicide, death, alcohol and drug abuse, OCD and mental health struggles, cancer

A wonderfully captivating character-driven novel that is sure to make it to a lot of “best of the year” lists.

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley is a powerful and tender love story that will leave readers feeling a range of emotions. The chemistry between Will and Rosie is undeniable, and their secret walks and late-night phone calls are a reminder of the intense connection that can be formed between two people. And how the heart-wrenching tragedy they face both haunts and keeps them connected throughout the years.

The story of Will and Rosie is one of missed opportunities, but also how the different paths we choose can lead us to self-discovery. Daverley’s writing is poignant and emotional, capturing the raw intensity of young love and the longing that comes with said missed chances.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to become invested in their story. The setting, the nineties music, sideways glances, sunsets, bonfires, amongst others, adds to the romantic and nostalgic feel of the novel.

Overall, Talking at Night is a must-read. It’s truly an achievement that Claire Daverley managed to capture the complexities of love and relationships, interwoven with complex themes of family and mental health. It will leave you feeling hopeful, heartbroken, and ultimately satisfied.

Talking at Night by Claire Daverly

This is a beautiful read. I found i was drawn to both Will and Rosie.
It’s a timeless romance that had me pulling at my chest. It spans across teenagers years and through young adults into more complex relationships.
It’s a reflective, thoughtful and, heart shattering read. It highlights how love can be found but it’s not enough if you don’t take the opportunity.

Absolutely brilliant, I got lost in this book. Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

It took me a while to get into this book but when I did I couldn't stop reading and enjoyed the writing style which was well written.

I enjoyed reading about the characters and overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph (Penguin) for this ARC which I can thoroughly recommend.

It took me a few goes to get into the writing style but as soon as I was immersed, I swallowed it whole. A unique, stunning debut.

Having worked with Claire for a few years, I was so excited to get my hands on this and read her debut and it was every bit as lovely as I was expecting.

I read it in one day and I really loved it. Go Claire!

I'd read a lot of positive advance reviews for Talking at Night so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this.
Will and Rosie meet as teenagers in Norfolk, a terrible tragedy separates them but it's also what keeps them connected as we follow their stories and their relationship over the years.
I absolutely loved this. It's an intense and emotional read that I was completely drawn into. I really connected with both characters, I loved the Norfolk setting and I was rooting for them and invested in their lives and their relationship throughout. I felt bereft when I finished this and would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

Beautiful book, with echoes of One Day, this one was an emotional novel, romantic and touching.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get lost in a realistic romance book. Claire Daverley has a unique writing style,dont get me wrong it is beautiful but im not sure if it was the best for a romance book such as this because it was hard to feel what the characters feel.Still it was one of the best modern romance books that i have read in a while.

All the stars for this amazing book. These kind of stories are the reason I read. To find that all consuming all you can think about kind of characters kind of writing that money can't buy. This story is so much more than a love story between Rosie and Will. The plot was so realistic. From teenagers into adulthood and the ways they feel they can't be together just beautiful. Highly recommend picking this piece of art when it hits the shelfs in July 2023