The Wakes

It’s winter in Sydney, and the lives of two strangers have fallen apart. Clare, newly separated and in need of a distraction, agrees to help her neighbour Louisa with a funeral catering business that has bitten off more than it can chew. Chris, an emergency doctor, has witnessed too many deaths but still finds himself compelled to attend the occasional wake.

When Clare and Chris meet, the good in their lives is slowly illuminated. Alongside Louisa (and sometimes Paul, less often Beth), they discover that catering—like life—rarely goes to plan. But with outrageously good food, unexpected friendships, and moments of startling honesty, they also learn that the most unlikely pairings can be the very best.

Funny, moving, wise and hopeful, The Wakes is an irresistible debut novel about old friends, lost love, lemon tart, and new beginnings. It asks what to do when your husband tells you he doesn’t love you anymore, or when your wife leaves after too many rounds of IVF. It’s about throwing away what you thought you knew, finding comfort in food and friendship, and remembering that, after all, the thing about death is that it makes life matter.