State of Happiness — Stella Duffy

In her accomplished and affecting novel State of Happiness, Stella Duffy has created a story as tender and captivating as Love Story about a great love challenged by illness. Jack and Cindy are immediately attracted to one another from the moment they meet at a friend's party, and in time this first infatuation develops into a passionate and enduring love affair. A celebrated cartographer, Cindy maps the contours of their developing relationship as they explore its depth and test its boundaries. Five years later, Jack and Cindy believe that they have navigated every obstacle when a sudden crisis threatens their blissful state. Cindy falls dangerously ill, and as she battles her body's betrayal, the couple must also confront their diverging paths and uncharted future. Told with wit, tenderness, and unflinching honesty, State of Happiness is an irresistible story of love and loss from a writer at the height of her powers.