📚 Anne Michaels’ latest novel, Held, pulls you right in and refuses to let go. A Booker Prize nominee, this novel is a masterful addition to the Canadian poet and novelist’s oeuvre, known for its deep and emotional storytelling. In her most recent book, Michaels offers us an unforgettable story of love, survival, and resilience — exploring how we stay connected through even the darkest of times.

The novel opens on a battlefield during World War I in France. John, an English soldier who once worked as a portrait photographer, finds himself surrounded by the haunting quiet of post-battle devastation. His mind, fractured and fading, clings to memories of Helena, a woman he met by chance. Their love story begins when Helena accidentally steps off a train in an unfamiliar town and spots John in the window of a nearby inn.

What follows is a romance that’s haunting, with the two protagonists’ relationship marked by an inevitability that makes it feel like a rom-com. Michael’s portrayal of this intimacy is so intense that it almost hurts. As the story progresses, we’re introduced to their grandchildren and others who wrestle with the same timeless questions about love, trauma, and the endurance of identity over time.

Why pick it up? Michaels’ exploration of love and loss feels both universal and deeply personal. Structurally, the novel is a bit of an adventure too, divided into short, almost poetic segments that steer away from the typical storyline. It’s more of an experience that’s about atmosphere and emotion than traditional plot, perfect for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a story.

You can find the book on Amazon and at Diwan .

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