X-Book

This Beating Heart

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'Barnett's well-crafted backlist is big on emotional acuity and this novel is no different, forging from Christina's grief an insistence that we think more creatively when it comes to happiness, and especially to the shapes that our families might take'
OBSERVER

At forty-three, Christina Lennox thought her future was settled: marriage to Ed, children, a house of their own.

But this is not that future: her marriage has ended, fractured by the stress of five rounds of IVF and two miscarriages. Overwhelmed by grief and disappointment, Ed has relocated to San Francisco and Christina's dream of becoming a mother rests on persuading him to let her go ahead with one final round of IVF, using the last frozen embryo they have stored at the clinic.

But when Ed drops a bombshell that threatens to undo everything Christina has strived for, she is forced, once again, to realign her plans: is this the end of her dream, or an opportunity to consider a different - perhaps happier - version of her future?

Critics Review

Barnett's well-crafted backlist is big on emotional acuity and this novel is no different, forging from Christina's grief an insistence that we think more creatively when it comes to happiness, and especially to the shapes that our families might take.
THE OBSERVER
A warm, emotional story with brilliant characters.
BEST MAGAZINE
An uplifting tale about new beginnings.
HEAT MAGAZINE
I found this beautifully told tale of disappointed motherhood moving, but the best bit for me was the lively South London scene Barnett conjures up.
DAILY MAIL
Barnett writes beautifully about relationships and the possibility of finding a very different happy ever after from the one you were expecting.
SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE
Laura Barnett weaves an inspiring story about shifting perspective and finding light in the darkness.
WOMAN'S OWN
A compelling read.
CLOSER
What makes Barnett's novel soappealing is the realistic steps taken by Christina so that she may improve her ownlife - it's not easy but, as Barnett suggests, nothing worth doing ever is.
SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
Author Laura Barnett
Narrator Helen Barford
Duration 8 hours and 29 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781474617215
Format Audiobook
Publisher Orion
Genre Birth control, contraception, family planning, Family life fiction, General practice / Family medicine, Modern and contemporary fiction, Relationships: friends / peer groups, Swimming and diving
Availability AU, GB, IE

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.