Ruben is by all means a broken man. Distraught after uncovering his wife’s infidelity, he finds himself licking his wounds in a hotel room far away from home. A chance encounter with Paul, the best friend he hasn’t seen in ten years, gives his spirits a temporary lift. But when the man reveals he’s living the final few months of his life, Ruben makes a choice to join the man to death’s door and see him off with a journey to remember. Guilt and regret bind the two in a sudden and passionate whirlwind romance. Will the coming heartbreak cement their love as a tragedy, or will Paul’s numerous secrets reveal a different intention behind their spontaneous voyage?
Severity reflects intensity, not value — “central theme” means a warning is a core part of the book, not that the book is bad.