Eloise Airens. Oliver Alford. Aidan Foley.  A lonely woman who doesn't believe in love; a powerful, wealthy man who does, and a broken, but brilliant artist who has loved only one woman in silence for thirteen long, lonely years. The story opens in the scintillating world of upper class NYC, at Aidan's art exhibition. Ms Drake deftly drops us into the narrative, soaking us in delicious detail and considered moments rich in beauty and timelessness. Poignant, poetic, sharp, harsh, riven with fragility and hope, her work is addictive, relatable, and heartbreaking. Evocative of Donna Tartt, shot through with aching internalisation, languid with desire and crisp realism, the scenes shift from Eloise's and Aidan's points of view, their story unfolding, slow, tantalising, bringing us deep into their world, into their pain, their sorrow, their regrets, and their longing. Passion and fear dance together in a complex series of moves, crafted around a beautiful plot, driving us ever onward to an unforgettable, unexpected climax.

A powerful debut. Five out of five stars. If you read anything in 2018. Read this.