Mike Gayle merupakan male author ke-3 yang berjaya menarik minat aku baca novel hasil karya penulis lelaki. Penulis lelaki pertama yang berjaya menarik minat aku mestilah R.L. Stine (pernah baca Fear Street tak?) diikuti pula dengan Nicholas Sparks (aku baru tahu dia ni hensem rupanya).
1. Jim dan Alison ni kenal dari zaman universiti lagi. Tapi, masa zaman universiti tu, Alison ni dah ada pakwe, Damon. Damon ni kawan Jim, merangkap pemain gitar dalam band Captain Magnet.
2. Dah habis belajar, Jim dan Alison ni jumpa balik. Alison putus dengan Damon, bercinta pula dengan Jim.
'Anyway,' I continue, 'we're getting off the point. What I was trying to say is that love isn't just about the cute staff---'
'Like making up rubbish pet names?'
'Yes, like making up rubbish pet names,' I say.'It's about the tough times when things get difficult. When it's not all hearts and flowers. When it's about two people staying together, no matter what. And the fact is Damon and I haven't got that. And if I want anything from life it's-a special kind of love. A love that can stand anything you throw at it. Surely that's the only kind worth having'
3. Bandmate Jim ni semua ambil haluan yang berbeza lepas habis belajar. Captain Magnet pun dah tak wujud dah. Tapi, Alison dan Jim semakin rapat dan akhirnya, berkahwin.
4. Jim tiba-tiba rasa dia menyesal kahwin dengan Alison. Dan, dorang pun bercerai.
'This. Us. This whole thing. I'm really sorry but it's not working any more. At least, not for me. I think we need to spend some time apart.'
I can't believe what I'm hearing. 'You're not making sense, Jim.'
There's a long silence.
'I just need some space to get my head together, that's all.'
'You can't do this,'I say, fighting back tears. 'We've made a home together. We're happy. Whatever 's going on with you it's just a blip..we'll be okay.' I put my arms around him and squeeze tightly as the tears roll down my face. 'We still love each other,' I tell him. 'I still love you.'
'That's just the thing,'he says. 'I'm not sure I do love you any more.'
5. Jim dan Alison bercerai setelah 6 tahun lalui hidup bersama. Macam-macam dah dorang kongsi. Jadi, bila dorang bercerai, banyak benda yang kena bahagikan termasuklah sofa, kucing peliharaan, Disco dan juga flat.
6. Dipendekkan cerita, setelah 3 tahun tak dengar cerita, tiba-tiba dorang jumpa balik. Itu pun sebab Disco, kucing peliharaan dorang dah mati. Kira macam, kalau bukan sebab Disco, dorang takkan jumpa balik. Alison akan kahwin dengan Marcus, Jim akan semakin serius dengan makwe baru, Helen.
'Regret is a terrible thing,' continues Marian. 'I can't think of anything much worse than knowing you had the power to change a sad event into a happy one and choosing not to do so.'