A captivating debut novel about brothers who have drifted apart and the accident that will determine their future, written by an unforgettable new voice in fiction
Some twins communicate in a secret language all their own. For Whiskey and Charlie Ferns, the two-way alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie, delta) whispered back and forth over their crackly walkie-talkies is the best they can do. But as the brothers grow up, they grow apart. Whiskey is everything Charlie is not—bold, daring, carefree—and Charlie blames his brother for always stealing the limelight, always striving ahead while seeming to push Charlie back. By the time the twins reach adulthood, they are barely even speaking to each other.
When Charlie hears that Whiskey has been in a terrible accident and has slipped into a coma, he is shocked … although perhaps not devastated. But as days and weeks slip by, and the chances of Whiskey recovering grow ever more slim, Charlie is forced to look back on their lives and examine whether Whiskey's actions were truly as unforgivable as Charlie believed them to be.
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“Roiling with heart and soul, Whiskey and Charlie is a cleverly written journey through the mazeof family relationships. With her talent for nailing honest emotions, AnnabelSmith draws you into her tale with a deft hand. By the end, you’ll long to callyour siblings and repair any petty squabbles.”
— Mary Hogan, author of Two Sisters
“A sharp, perceptive novel about family and forgiveness, Whiskey and Charlie will stay with me for a very long time.”
— Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train“Whiskey and Charlie is a sharply observed family drama which is affecting and uplifting without being sentimental. A finely crafted novel that keeps us reading because we care about the characters. It’s a terrific book.”
— Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Effect“As the story goes from alpha to zulu, it is clear that years of repressed feelings have taken their toll, and it is Whiskey’s ability to live out loud that really gets Charlie’s goat. It’s almost too late for Charlie to learn his lesson, but he does, in a very satisfying, heart-wrenching way.”
— Booklist“A powerful, emotionally riven tale of a brother’s deep, complicated love.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Whiskey and Charlie is a clever, beautifully written book that pulls at the heartstrings and adeptly intertwines past and present.”
— Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life ListAnnabel Smith holds a PhD in writing and has been a writer-in-residence at Katherine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre and the Fellowship of Australian Writers. In 2012 she was selected as one of five inaugural recipients of the Creative Australia Fellowship for Emerging Artists. She lives in Perth, Australia, with her husband and son.
Gildart Jackson’s acting credits span the stage and screen. He is most often recognized for his roles as Gideon on Charmed and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital. He has also starred in numerous television shows, including CSI and Vegas, and he played the lead in the highly acclaimed independent feature film You, directed by his wife, Melora Hardin.