By the international bestselling author of Billie: These seven short stories exploring modern French life are “a raw and tender ode to the human spirit” (Booklist).   Critically acclaimed and beloved across Europe, Anna Gavalda’s bestselling novels have been translated into numerous languages. In this collection of short stories, all written in the first person, Gavalda has crafted intimate and inspiring portraits of people who confront their vulnerabilities and admit their weaknesses.   These tales illustrate the importance of moving beyond the wounds of the past to embrace love, friendship, forgiveness, and family. From the trucker who puts his dog to sleep following the death of his son to the alcoholic widow who befriends a mysterious stranger, readers will meet expertly drawn characters in these seven stories of suffering and salvation.  “The voices heard in these seven stories, each entirely distinct from the others, are of the sort that permanently embed themselves in the memory.” Le Soir