I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I am to be welcoming Catherine Isaac to Linda’s Book Bag today to share her novel You Me Everything with us all. I absolutely adored it and have my review here. I was so lucky to meet with Catherine recently to talk with her about the book too so it feels like an old friend is staying in with me today.

In fact I loved reading You Me Everything so much that when I found myself quoted on the back cover I was so excited. I even went into my local supermarket and rearranged some of the books there so that my quotation was showing!

You Me Everything is published by Simon and Schuster and is available for purchase through these links.

You, Me, Everything

You and me, we have history.
We have a child together.
We have kept secrets from each other for far too long.
This summer, in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne, it is time for everything to change.

Staying in with Catherine Isaac

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Catherine. I’m just thrilled that you’re here. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

It’s pleasure Linda. I’ve looked forward to it ever since I read your terrific review of You Me Everything.

Tell me, why you brought You Me Everything along to share this evening? 

I’ve written ten novels altogether but I’ve brought You Me Everything because it’s such a special novel to me. After writing for a decade the pseudonym Jane Costello, I chose to publish my latest book under the name Catherine Isaac – simply because it’s bigger and more ambitious than anything I’d ever attempted before. And it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s changed my life. It’s the first book I’ve ever had published in the USA, it’s been translated into more than 20 languages and it’s been optioned for a movie by Lionsgate and Temple Hill, the team that made The Fault in Our Stars and Twilight.

(I know when we met in person we spoke about the extra dimensions to You Me Everything than in your previous work Catherine. I’m so excited for you that it has done so incredibly well as it is a truly wonderful book.)

For those yet to read it, what can we expect from an evening in with You Me Everything? 

I’ve come to think of You Me Everything as a love story in the widest definition of the term. It’s about love at its worst and best, but most of all, it’s about finding every bit of joy in life, no matter what is thrown at you. I’ve been fascinated by the response to the book from readers. Some say it’s ‘feel good’, others that it’s ‘heart-breaking’. Marie Claire said it would, ‘stay with you long after you’re done.’ I think the review that best summed it up for me though was from fellow author Isabelle Broom, who said the novel: ‘Broke my heart and made it soar!’

(And Isabelle Broom knows a thing or two herself about fabulous writing! I agree with every one of those statements.)

What else have you brought along and why?

The novel is predominantly set in a chateau in the Dordogne in France so I’ve obviously brought a very nice bottle of Bergerac and lots of delicious food. A number of scenes in the book revolve around a big dinner table on the terrace of the chateau, with tealights twinkling and children’s laughter ringing in the air.

I’d suggest we start with a glass of cold pastis, before tucking in to a charcuterie platter with dry cured meats, mousses and sliced, smoked duck breast, all served on a slate board. There would lots of lovely cheese – those gooey Cabécou goat cheeses are my favourite – and strawberries with mimosa ice cream for dessert.

Oo – you can come again! Thanks so much Catherine, for staying in with me to talk about You Me Everything. I loved having you here.

About Catherine Isaac

Catherine Isaac was born in Liverpool, England. She studied History at the University of Liverpool, then Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University, before beginning her career as trainee reporter at the Liverpool Echo.

She rose to the position of Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and wrote her first book, Bridesmaids, while on maternity leave, under the pseudonym Jane Costello. Her nine subsequent novels were all Sunday Times best-sellers in the UK.

You Me Everything is her first book writing as Catherine Isaac.

She lives in Liverpool with her husband Mark and three sons. In her spare time she likes to run, walk up mountains in the Lake District and win at pub quizzes, though the latter rarely happens.

You can visit Catherine’s website for more information and follow her on Twitter @CatherineIsaac_. You’ll also find Catherine on Facebook.

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