Things We Have in Common
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By Tasha Kavanagh
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2015
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2016
‘Unsettling, deeply moving and very, very readable. I loved it’ NATHAN FILER, The Shock of the Fall
‘A striking and highly enjoyable debut’ SOPHIE HANNAH
Yasmin would give anything to have a friend . . .
And do anything to keep one.
The first time I saw you, you were standing at the far end of the playing field. You were looking down at your brown straggly dog, but then you looked up, your mouth going slack as your eyes clocked her. Alice Taylor. I was no different. I used to catch myself gazing at the back of her head in class, at her silky fair hair swaying between her shoulder blades.
If you’d glanced just once across the field you’d have seen me standing in the middle on my own, looking straight at you, and you’d have gone back through the trees to the path quick, tugging your dog after you. You’d have known you’d given yourself away, even if only to me.
But you didn’t. You only had eyes for Alice.
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I enjoyed this book which seemed like a kind of alternative crime novel. I did feel the pace of the story a little slow at times although there was enough to keep me wondering what would happen next. I felt very sorry for Yasmin who was vulnerable and needed help but the right help just wasn't there for her leading to her comfort eating and yearning and fantasising about relationships. Yazmin and Mr. Caldwell were similar in that they were both lonely and needing to belong. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting and did leave me wondering what did happen to Alice and what would happen to yasmin and Mr Caldwell.
