All the Beautiful Things You Love (Jonathan Seidler, Macmillan)

A romantic comedy told in reverse, All the Beautiful Things You Love charts Elly and Enzo’s relationship over 10 years, leading up to their divorce. But what happens to their shared belongings after their long-term relationship ends? Elly decides to sell them on Facebook Marketplace in an attempt to clear their house and the memories attached. In a non-linear, meandering style, author Jonathan Seidler (It’s a Shame About Ray: A memoir, A&U) writes this poignant, character-driven novel with evocative detail. Elly and Enzo grow more memorable and compelling as the relationship and their personalities are pieced together. This is achieved with the help of intriguing side characters and items—a heart-shaped record, vintage couch and eight-seater table—that prompt memories to be revealed. Set in London, All the Beautiful Things You Love alternates between an omniscient narrator and Elly’s perspective and, at times, transitions between these perspectives can feel jarring. However, once this approach becomes familiar, it adds to the tone of the book, allowing the reader to truly feel the love and heartbreak intertwined in each interaction. Although this is his first book in this genre, Seidler’s skill with words, seen in his journalistic work, is on full display in this fresh but familiar ode to love and all the messiness that comes with it. This is a touching story recommended for those seeking a character-based book similar to One Day by David Nicholls or Nick Hornby’s novels.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Lisa Schuurman is an editor, writer and book reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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