’This almost chicklit plot is transmuted to literarygold by the sheer qualityof Shriver’s writing, the thoughtfulness and accuracy of her observations onlife and relationships, and some sublime structuring... For the last fivehours I didn’t stop reading for a moment; the last author who achieved thatwas probably Enid Blyton" Daily Mail

One night in London, Irina McGovern’s destiny hinges on a single kiss.Whether she leans into one alluring pair of lips will determine whether she stays with her long-term partner Lawrence, or runs off with Ramsey, a hard-living snooker player.

A parallel-universe structure allows us to follow Irina’s competing futures with two drastically different men. An intellectual and fellow American, Lawrence is smart and supportive, but rigid and emotionally withdrawn. A British celebrity, Ramsey is passionate and spontaneous, but jealous, undereducated, and prone to pick fights. Irina’s choice of partner will have ramifications for her relations with friends and family, for her career, and, most importantly, for the texture of her daily life.

If all love is about trade-offs - if every romantic prospect is flawed - how can we ever know which to choose? The Post-Birthday World displays all the perception, originality and drama that made We Need to Talk About Kevin an international bestseller.