BookBrowse Reviews We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

BookBrowse:

A tragicomedy exploring the joy of friendship and the pain of loss.

Edi and Ashley have been best friends for more than 40 years, their lives and families deeply intertwined. But Edi is in the final stages of ovarian cancer, her move to a hospice for palliative care a stark reminder of just how little time she has left. With honesty and bittersweet humor, We All Want Impossible Things chronicles Edi's final weeks from her friend's perspective, as both strive to accept the inevitable and prepare themselves to say goodbye.

Throughout the novel, author Catherine Newman is excellent at capturing the strange suspension of time that may occur in the face of impending death, as days in the hospice blur together for the characters, and their memories of fonder days bleed into the present. In the same vein, the author shifts seamlessly between moments of heartbreak and laughter, reflecting on the oddities of grieving for someone who is not yet gone, and highlighting the importance of humor as a coping mechanism for dealing with a terminal illness and the end of life.

Newman's humor feels natural and avoids an overly saccharine tone. It creates levity and allows space for the characters — Ashley in particular — to exist as three-dimensional and flawed in their well-meaning attempts to be there for Edi. And while the story and themes are well-worn, exploring ideas we've all seen before and hitting the narrative beats most readers will expect, the novel still feels deeply poignant. The blatantly inevitable outcome hangs over the readers as much as it does the characters; as Edi's condition deteriorates, we become reluctant to lose her and Ashley, just as they are to lose each other, which adds emotional weight to the narrative. This novel will hit home with anyone who has gone through the prolonged loss of a loved one, as it captures many of the key stages inherent in this difficult process: the sadness of watching them fade in body and mind; the tenderness of caring for them; the joy of reminiscing; the anxiety of waiting for the end; and the strange mix of sorrow and relief when it finally comes.

There's a lightness to Newman's style that feels comforting and approachable — an apt reflection of the dynamic between the lead characters — but this doesn't detract from the serious nature of the subject matter, which is given due compassion. The cast of supporting characters, meanwhile, feel well-drawn and likable in their own right; from Ashley's semi-estranged husband, to Edi's loving brother, and the doctors and nurses working in the hospice. They serve well to add further threads to the narrative about seeking physical and emotional comfort in those around us, and the uncanny ability of grief to draw people together for the better.

Universally relatable, We All Want Impossible Things is a testament to the cruel reality of terminal illness and a moving ode to the enduring beauty of true friendship.

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in January 2023, and has been updated for the November 2023 edition. Click here to go to this issue.