All the Way to Summer

All the Way to Summer is a thing of exquisite beauty, both the physical book and, of course, the stories inside. . . In four sections, Circling, Longing, Awry and As it Was, Kidman wields her trademark piercing observation of domesticity, feminism, illicit liaisons, loneliness, and, of course, love. "Does it ache like a tooth?" she asks in the preface. "Do hearts really break?" It turns out they do. It also turns out that the ordinary people of her stories are not so ordinary - they are intense and deep thinking, and often unrequited in some aspect of their lives, be it love, work, or domestic situation. There are also a lot of exquisite, sexually-charged moments. . . Similarly, symmetry and synchronicity play a role in these stories, as Kidman deftly investigates the sliver of life between what is, and what might have been . . . Kidman's subtlety and her trust of the reader's intellect is a vein that runs through her work. . . It feels as though there is a deep love at the centre of this book, and also devastating grief. . . But even in her love-grief, neither story is overemotional or indulgent; they are trademark Kidman to their core: insightful, restrained in parts, and always beautiful. They do not make a fuss, but they will sure as hell make you cry.

Caroline Barron, Otago Daily Times

Kidman has honed the knack of not only crafting words with consummate skill but with the addition of that elusive thing called love. All the Way to Summer powerfully encapsulates love in all its forms. Not the soppy sentimental kind that is romance writing at its worst, but the deep-felt love that springs from her acute powers of observation, a tight-knit family and enduring friendships. . . . Kidman simply tells it as it is.

Jill Nicholas, Daily Post

This is a thoroughly good read.

Elizabeth Heritage, Sunday Star-Times

It's true that these stories are primarily character-driven, but each one shines a light on women's long and continuing struggle for autonomy - socially, sexually, politically. . . .These stories span close to a century, and we can trust entirely that Kidman's portrayal of our country through the ages is spot on. . . . Drama, laughter, sex and black moments. This is the truth about love.

Catherine Robertson, Landfall