Katarina West

The Thousand Tiny Miracles of Living Twice Katarina West

Meet Irene Nylander, a frumpy housewife from Finland ... and a yo-yo dieter. She feels trapped in an unhappy marriage, looking after her domineering mother-in-law and living vicariously through romantic movies.
Meanwhile, in Florence, Mimi Kavanough's star is rising. She has the body of a Barbie princess, the iron will of an army sergeant - and Hollywood in her sights.
On her fiftieth birthday, Irene discovers her husband is having an affair. Devastated, she prays for a way out: she wants to die.
In heaven, a mischievous angel called Aaron hears her prayers. He decides to make Irene and Mimi swap bodies.
How will the two women cope with their unexpected, and very different, second lives? And will Aaron's meddling get him evicted from heaven? What will happen if he has to transform into a human being and live on Earth?
'Who among us has not wondered what it would be like to live someone else's life - preferably someone richer, better looking and more successful? In her enchanting novel, Katarina West explores this compelling idea, weaving together the stories of three very different characters: a mischievous angel, a depressed Finnish housewife, and a Hollywood diva. From the icy shore of a Lapland lake to the warm idyll of a Tuscan village, West takes us on a wild and wonderful ride through friendship, love and the quest to become a better self. Exuberant, funny and open-hearted, with many twists and turns, this cleverly crafted story never flags and will leave you begging for more.' MARK LAMPRELL, 'The Lovers' Guide to Rome'