I think I would find Shriver confronting in person, but I do adore her novels. The fact she doesn't shy away from tough topics is exacting what I enjoy in her stories. This is the story of a married couple who plan to commit suicide when they reach 80 to avoid dementia and end life on a good note, and therein follows 12 alternate endings for Kay and Cyril.

Each story cleverly weaves in several recognisable details that are repeated slightly differently in each iteration, and yet Shriver manages to avoid feeling repetitive or monotonous. The conclusions run the gamut from utopia to dystopia and everything in between, including COVID, Brexit, health, financial and family issues and I loved all of them. I almost started reading it again from the start, and only my huge TBR pile convinced me otherwise.

I think everyone will take something different from this book, but I took a bit of comfort from the idea that best laid plans often go awry and a good life requires a little luck as well.