The Bordeaux Book Club

by Gillian Harvey

And yes, I did give it up, to come here for you. But I’m perfectly capable of living here without you. I’m perfectly capable of living a decent life here. And I don’t think we should give up on this without giving it a proper chance.’

Just because you decide one day that it’s not for you.’

She’d realised he hadn’t factored in that she was a living, breathing human in her own right, rather than just an extension of him. And she saw that she’d been another check on his list of life goals, rather than an equal.

loneliness can come from within.’

yes, I came here for him. But I stayed for me –

‘But that’s why it’s important to have a good relationship with yourself. To be your own champion, cheerleader. To be the person who forces you to get up, to go out and try something new. And it’s hard. But over time, you can build something… well, wonderful.’

‘You get seen as a person. Not just as an attractive woman, but a person first and foremost. It’s strange at first, but then it’s kind of amazing. Because you realise people are finally

How, when you put your trust in someone, allowed yourself to love them, you exposed yourself to potential pain.