Reminiscent of novels by Nick Hornby, Muriel Barbery, and Jonathan Tropper, internationally acclaimed novelist David Foenkinos delivers a heartfelt and deftly comedic tale of new love brightening the dark aftermath of loss?and of wounded hearts finding refuge in the strangest of places. After her husband?s unexpected death, Natalie has erected a fortress around her emotions?and Markus, clumsy and unassuming, will never be her knight in shining armor. Yet slowly but surely, an offbeat romance begins between these two mismatched, complex souls, and contrary to everything Natalie knows of affection, her perfect suitor may turn out to be love?s most unlikely candidate?the fool, not the hero, who is finally able to reach her heart.