Susie Boyt – Loved And Missed

‘Loved And Missed’ by Susie Boyt is a novel that moved me so much. Emotional and beautifully crafted, you will not want to stop reading.

We meet Ruth, who has raised her daughter Eleanor singlehandedly. Just before Eleanor is fourteen she began staying out and changed to the point that their relationship broke down. The story starts as Ruth takes her baby granddaughter, Lily away from Eleanor and her boyfriend Ben. They are both addicts and their home is not right for a baby.

As the novel unfolds we are shown how beautiful the life of Ruth and Lily is in the present. The only issue is Eleanor, she haunts Ruth’s hours waking and sleeping. She, despite outward appearances, has no confidence or self-worth. She is broken by what she sees as her failure as a mother to Eleanor. Even with the respect her friends and colleagues clearly have for her, she still can’t get past the demons in her head. Making Lily the centre of her world is her way of making it through.

This is my first time reading anything from Susie Boyt and I was hypnotised by this novel. The pure love of these generations of women poured out of the novel and the connection I felt with Ruth was real. It made me think of how I feel like I failed two of my children, even though I know I always did my best. This woman, I understood, maternal love never switches off. We don’t just see the love, we see the bad times too, every little bit of unhappiness is laid bare within this novel.

I was so much behind Ruth and urging them both to repair their bond but as life is, there is disappointment and I felt it so much. Susie Boyt has written this book with such depth of feeling and sensitivity. It is so expertly woven together I actually feel honoured to have been part of this book’s journey. A highly recommended read.

Massive thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me to the tour and Virago for the gifted copy of this moving book.