This book invites comparisons to the film Amélie, with both focusing on a female protagonist who views the world differently to most and makes attempts to improve the lives of those around her.

But while Amélie is ultimately comedic, A Solitary Walk on the Moon leaves us in tears.

The story follows laundromat owner Evelyn as she befriends a lonely young boy named Ben whom she sees every Tuesday when his mother comes in to do her washing. 

Evelyn sees the issues that Ben's mother June is struggling with, and her inability to be a fully present parent, and decides to step in and help.

She arranges for Ben and June to move in with a man she has been getting to know named Don, a character who it seems she is developing a romantic relationship with.

But Evelyn has longstanding issues with forming emotional attachments, stemming from her childhood upbringing, and though she forms a friendship with Don, she makes sure to keep him at arm's length.

Author Hilde Hinton

Evelyn has a patchwork history of past lives, and we are left wondering until the end whether she has finally found peace with Don, June and Ben, or whether her itinerant desire will take over again.

Author Hilde Hinton uses her uncanny insight into the real reasons we do the things we do to explore themes of loneliness and belonging, family and community, and the lifelong impact of past traumas.

This is a novel that is driven by the author's acute observations of human behaviour and skill in creating believable characters we crave to know more about.

In sum:

TITLE: A Solitary Walk on the Moon

AUTHOR: Hilde Hinton

PUBLISHER: Hachette Australia

PUBLICATION DATE: 30 March, 2022

GENRE: Contemporary

RECOMMENDED FOR: Lovers of slow-burn character-driven stories

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