Rise and Shine, by Kimberley Allsopp

Noah and August have been together for 17 years, but their marriage has reached its natural end. They barely communicate; the small things they used to love about each other are now sources of irritation; and there is little joy in life for either of them. August bites the bullet and ends the relationship and they manage the kind of amicable separation that seems rare. Having no children undoubtedly helps. This allows each of them the room and space to evolve and pick up the creative ambitions that had been stifled by an unsatisfying partnership. But can this growth and change make space for a new kind of relationship, where they meet each other’s needs and their own? This is an interesting take on the progress of a marriage between two flawed but likeable characters. There are some nice moments, particularly to do with grieving, male friendship and women balancing creativity and ambition. But the story feels a bit like a fairy tale; all just too good to be true. The voices of the characters don’t come across as authentic, especially towards the rather syrupy end.