The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

Synopsis (from the book cover):

We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it so we will just say this: This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again -- the story starts there! Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.

'Totally believable.' -- Daily Express '

It would be hard not to romp through it.' -- Financial Times

'Impresses as a feat of literary engineering...the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' -- Telegraph

Review:

The story is narrated by two female characters from completely different backgrounds, both of these characters are wonderfully depicted and fleshed out. Tragic events draw the two of them together and the book which starts off by describing a detention centre in Exeter slowly reveals how their lives became entwined.

I found it a compelling read and finished the book within a few days. The story was heartwarming, funny, sad, beautiful and shocking in equal measures. I found it very powerful and thought provoking.