A man collapses at the self checkout of the supermarket, spouting blood that is the indicator of a nasty new virus doing the rounds. Philippa who witnesses this event immediately escapes the city, inviting her best friend Ani and family and friends, up to her bach, in the bush, by the sea. For a time they are safe and can shut out the cruel, plague ridden world and spend their days fishing, swimming, mending things and cooking. In the evenings they sit round on the deck and while the nine of them drink wine and strum music they tell each other their own stories. True tales that are frequently macabre, sometimes sad, often bizarre and definitely romantic and which explain exactly how all these “ordinary” people have come together in this particular bay. But they can’t stay up at the bach forever and the ending is an absolute cliffhanger. Fiona Farrell writes the most lucid prose that transports you to wherever her characters are taking you. I wanted the book to go on for longer and I never normally say that. The hours will fly by until you’ve finished it.
— Laura