On a Night Like This: Amazon.ca: Ellen Sussman: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In Sussman's heart-wrenching debut, two former high school classmates take a second chance at love, despite one partner's terminal cancer. Resisting the impulse to descend into bathos, Sussman shows remarkable restraint in her depiction of a love affair that transforms a dying woman's last days into a celebration of life. When Luke Bellingham, an acclaimed screenwriter in his 40s, agrees to become "Finder of Lost Souls" for his 25th high school reunion, the only lost classmate he really wants to find is the enigmatic Blair Clemens, whose gang rape at 17 inspired his Oscar-winning screenplay, Pescadero. Suffering from writer's block and his wife's sudden desertion, Luke is thrilled to discover that Blair lives near him in San Francisco. Bohemian Blair is now a single mom as well as chef of a chic restaurant, but beginning a relationship is definitely not on her agenda when she agrees to reconnect with Luke after first meeting his cute dog, Sweetpea. All she wants to do is work, have no-strings sex with her ever-randy ex-hippie landlord and enjoy what's left of her life with her teenage daughter, Amanda. At their initial meeting, the immediately smitten Luke informs her, "On a night like this, I could fall in love," and Blair, frightened by her own attraction, quickly retorts, "Don't bother... I'm dying." The novel's elegant denouement and Sussman's fluid treatment of tough moments make this a keeper for fans of high-caliber weepies.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Blair Clemens is dying, and although she's not in denial, she's not sure how to tell her 16-year-old daughter, Amanda. She's raised Amanda by herself, and the closest people in her life are Daniel, her boss at the restaurant where she works, and Casey, her sleazy landlord--until Luke Bellingham walks back into her life. Luke and Blair went to high school together, though quiet outcast Blair never got close to handsome, popular Luke. He is still reeling from his wife's departure three months' prior and trying to hunt her down. He gets involved with organizing his high-school reunion almost by accident, and agrees to help track down former students. First on his list is Blair. The sparks fly instantaneously between the two, but between Blair's illness and Luke's determination to locate his wife, there might be too many issues separating them. Or are there? When Luke's wife unexpectedly returns, Luke finds himself still longing for Blair. Readers should have a box of tissues handy while reading this sweet, romantic debut. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
Blair lifted the man's arm and slid out from under him. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but Wonderful, Aug 19 2007

By

Carol Paterson (N. Vancouver, B.C. Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: On a Night Like This (Paperback)

I couldn't put this book down it was so well written.I loved the main
characters, Blair, Luke, Amanda and of course Sweetpea the dog. I was rooting for all of them. Even facing death these three eventually bonded.
It was funny, sad, a great love story and I loved it.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A POIGNANT VOICE PERFORMANCE, July 4 2004

By

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: On a Night Like This: A Novel (Audio Cassette)

A seasoned performer, Barbara Goodson, has many outstanding voice overs to her credit in both film and television (most notably the Emmy-Award winning Winnie the Pooh). She gives a poignant performance of this story about the right love at the wrong time.

Another veteran of Winnie the Pooh, Michael Gough, has done outstanding work on many animated programs, and is the recipient of a pair of awards for Los Angeles theatre productions. His reading is full-bodied and strong as he brings the words of our hero to life. Once listeners hear, "On a night like this, I could fall in love...," they'll not soon forget him.

Luke Bellingham is 25 years out of high school and successful - at least as a screenwriter. His love life's a bit out of sync as his wife recently left him. It fall to Luke to find the missing among his high school classmates as preparations are made for the 25th reunion. First on his list is Blair Clemens, a woman who has been much on his mind over the years.

Blair is now a single mom who is dying of cancer. She has a 16-year-old daughter, and works as a chef at an upscale restaurant. Although Luke and Blair have not seen each other in all of the passing years, once they do meet again the attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. For Blair it seems here's the brass ring at last. But, should she catch it knowing she won't be able to hold it for very long?

Get out the tissues to listen to this one.

- Gail Cooke

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4.0 out of 5 stars A POIGNANT VOICE PERFORMANCE, July 4 2004

By

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: On a Night Like This: A Novel (Audio Cassette)

A seasoned performer, Barbara Goodson, has many outstanding voice overs to her credit in both film and television (most notably the Emmy-Award winning Winnie the Pooh). She gives a poignant performance of this story about the right love at the wrong time.

Another veteran of Winnie the Pooh, Michael Gough, has done outstanding work on many animated programs, and is the recipient of a pair of awards for Los Angeles theatre productions. His reading is full-bodied and strong as he brings the words of our hero to life. Once listeners hear, "On a night like this, I could fall in love...," they'll not soon forget him.

Luke Bellingham is 25 years out of high school and successful - at least as a screenwriter. His love life's a bit out of sync as his wife recently left him. It fall to Luke to find the missing among his high school classmates as preparations are made for the 25th reunion. First on his list is Blair Clemens, a woman who has been much on his mind over the years.

Blair is now a single mom who is dying of cancer. She has a 16-year-old daughter, and works as a chef at an upscale restaurant. Although Luke and Blair have not seen each other in all of the passing years, once they do meet again the attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. For Blair it seems here's the brass ring at last. But, should she catch it knowing she won't be able to hold it for very long?

Get out the tissues to listen to this one.

- Gail Cooke

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but Wonderful
I cried through so much of this book but I couldn't put it down. 3 lost people found each other at a time in their lives when it was most needed. Read more

Published on Jun 11 2004