Since I Don't Have You

Love, Grief, and Second Chances

Since I Don’t Have You by Louise Candlish (2007, Sphere) is a taut exploration of love’s fragility and the desperate lengths we go to reclaim happiness. When Will Mackay loses his wife Sarah in a tragic accident, he is left alone to raise their young daughter, Alice, and nurse a heart that refuses to heal. Candlish’s sharp prose captures his raw grief—and the cautious hope that blooms when he meets Emma, a spirited teacher who understands loss all too well.

Unraveling Truths and Hidden Regrets

As Will and Emma forge a tentative new life, unexpected revelations begin to surface: Sarah’s last days may not have been as peaceful as everyone believes, and Emma harbors secrets that could shatter his fragile world. Candlish builds mounting tension through deceptively ordinary moments—an unread letter, a changing alibi, a child’s innocent question—until each twist forces Will to confront the truth about love, loyalty and the choices that bind us.

Heart-pounding and emotionally charged, Since I Don’t Have You is a masterful domestic thriller that refuses to offer easy answers. It lingers long after the final page, reminding readers that moving on can be the greatest risk of all.