When Lives Collide by Sarah Bourne
A hit-and-run puts two women on a collision course with fate, in this mind-blowing psychological thriller from the author of Exile.
It only takes one second to change a life. Loretta Davidson learns this the hard way when, on a rainy afternoon, her car crashes into another vehicle at an intersection. Loretta survives with only a few stitches. Her four-year-old son is not so lucky. Falling into a coma, he soon succumbs to his injuries, leaving Loretta and her husband devastated.
Emma Elliot’s four-wheel drive glanced off the car she hit, and she left the scene of the accident convinced no one was hurt. She could not be late running errands for her partner—or there would be hell to pay. He had hit her before, and he would do it again.
In the months following the accident, Loretta struggles to survive her grief as her marriage crumbles. Emma gets engaged—and then pregnant. But the twists and turns life throws at the two women have a way of balancing things out, sending them straight into one another’s paths one more time.
“The novel does what fiction does best: exploring the small moments that can change lives for good.” —The Bookbag
About the author
Born and raised in London, Sarah has travelled extensively and finally settled in Sydney, Australia. She is married and has three children. She is a counsellor, yoga teacher and writer, and loves skiing, swimming, long dinners with friends and walking her two dogs.
Review
‘When Lives Collide’ is a compulsive psychological thriller that fast-paced and packed with content. Trigger warnings need to be advised of domestic abuse and child death. Both topics are dealt with empathy and understanding though. The action starts in the first chapter and doesn't let go until the last sentence! I devoured in two sittings and stayed up late to finish it as I couldn't see where it was going.
When two women are involved in a car crash their lives are changed instantly! Loretta is hardly hurt but her four-year-old son Ethan is hurt and eventually dies. Emma in the other car thinks no one is hurt and leaves the scene of the accident as she needs to pick up her partner's dry cleaning and if she doesn't there will be hell to pay. Her partner abuses her emotionally and physically and she is scared it might happen again. Loretta and her husband struggle to cope after their son’s death. Emma is still being abused but when she falls pregnant things come to a crescendo. Eventually the two women’s lives intertwine again leading to answers and surprises!
I really liked Emma’s character and felt that the author handled the topic of domestic violence brilliantly. There was a lot of empathy but also information was given on the topic which if one of her readers were in this situation would find helpful! Books can be educators and in this case they are both on domestic violence and grief. Please read Bookworm86’s review on Goodreads as she explains how good this aspect of the book is much better than I can!
Loretta, I hate to say I didn't actually like that much even from the start - I just couldn't gel with her. Yes, I found the situation to be heartbreaking but there was just something I couldn't put my finger on.
Let me know if you read this one!
