The Day We Left

Caroline Bond

A powerful and moving novel about how far a mother can shape the lives of her children.

Beth Truman gives birth to her twins at thirtythree weeks, then checks out of the maternity hospital with them and leaves her old life behind.

Beth’s sons are identical but very different: Oli is big, strong and healthy; Joe is small and weak, his future inexorably altered by the trauma of his birth.

By the time the boys are grown, Beth has a new name and a thriving business, and has successfully raised two happy and fulfilled sons alone.

But when the truth about their past emerges, Oli and Joe will be forced to reassess everything they thought they knew about their mother, their upbringing and themselves.

Praise for Caroline Bond: ‘Sharply observed and empathetic.’ Elizabeth Buchan

‘Caroline Bond writes with a keen eye for human frailty, bringing her characters vividly to life, flaws and all.’ Charity Norman

‘Ideal for book groups.’ Woman’s Own

Caroline Bond was born in Scarborough and studied English at Oxford University before working as a market researcher for twenty-five years. She has an MA in Creative Writing and lives in Leeds with her husband and three children. Her debut novel, The Second Child, was a Radio 2 Book Club pick.