Having been curious about this author for some time - he seemed to be getting a lot of mentions by different booksellers - I thought I would give him a try. And this is a lovely, slim book so it was perfect for a rainy afternoon's read.

The author has been named 'master of the modern love story' by the 'Sunday Times'.

It's a hot day in New York and a hundred people are outside court rooms, waiting to be selected as jurors. Paul is reading a newspaper and Catherine is reading a book, but they catch each other's eyes and a bit of banter ensues as they pass the time.

Later, as the selection process continues without them, they decide to have a coffee together. 

Pleased to have found good company in each other, as they undergo the dull, time-consuming process of jury service, they invest in their relationship. They are in a bubble, away from normal daily life, and they talk about where they'd rather be, the things they'd like to be doing, how they'd like their lives to be different. Very quickly something more develops.

As the court process nears its end, they must make a decision on what happens next. 

It's an easy, enjoyable read (though the different approach to legal proceedings in America jarred a little for me). It makes you think about chance, making connections, and fleeting encounters.