In Love, etc Julian Barnes revisits Stuart, Gillian and Oliver, using the same intimate technique of allowing the characters to speak directly to the reader, to whisper their secrets, to argue for their version of the truth. Darker and deeper than its predecessor, Love, etc is a compelling exploration of contemporary love and its betrayals.

Stuart’s right. We have met him before, and his best friend Oliver, and Gillian, the woman they both loved. In Talking It Over Gillian and Stuart were married until Oliver - witty, feckless Oliver - stole her away.

In Love, etc Julian Barnes revisits Stuart, Gillian and Oliver, using the same intimate technique of allowing the characters to speak directly to the reader, to whisper their secrets, to argue for their version of the truth. Darker and deeper than its predecessor, Love, etc is a compelling exploration of contemporary love and its betrayals.

This is a wonderfully entertaining novel... A work as skilled and satisfying as this can be nothing other than affirming: Barnes’delicate balance between laughter and despair lifts his entertainment into art.