Vanessa Woods' Australian scientist and author' thought she had found her true love; chimpanzees. But in a reckless moment' she accepts a marriage proposal from a man she barely knows - and agrees to join him on a research trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. All she's sure of is that they will be studying bonobos' an extremely endangered species of ape with whom humans share 98.7% of our DNA.As she adjusts to newlywed life in a war - torn country' Vanessa finds herself enchanted by these remarkable animals. They live in a peaceful society in which females are in charge' war is nonexistent' and sex is as common and friendly as a handshake. She came to study their habits and habitat' but soon learns much more; they teach her about love and belonging' about building a home' and about what makes us human.