A Love like This

This gimmicky romantic epic from Duffy (One Wish) vacillates between poignant charm and an excess of coincidence. Donna and Will’s lives have intersected in strange ways from the day they were born in a Dublin hospital. Their paths converge many times, but never quite meet: for example, Donna makes the cake for Will’s father’s retirement party. As they face the vagaries of life, both are inexorably drawn toward each other—and kept apart by events that include deaths and an earthquake—until the time is finally right for them to remain together. The romance is sweet but shallow, particularly compared with the book’s sweeping scope and the pure, true emotional connections Donna and Will form with other people. A touch of mystery and some beautifully rendered explorations of human connection ensure that this will be a thoughtful, though repetitive, experience for readers. (June)