London - August 04, 2006

Just a Second

‘The Man of My Dreams’, by Curtis Sittenfeld

If first is worst and second is best, what’s so bad about playing second fiddle? Why does the early bird always get the worm? And why do they call it sloppy seconds?

There’s nothing sloppy about The Man of My Dreams, the second novel from Curtis Sittenfeld. Her first, Prep, became a phenomenon when it was released two years ago. And this one is poised to do the same.

Say hello to Hannah Gavener, a painfully awkward twentysomething lacking in certain social graces. She’ll either evoke your sympathy or piss you off. (And she may well do both.) This makes her a little like a sister, best friend or partner — only worse.

The poor girl hasn’t got it easy. Her father has a fiery temper, her relatives are more popular than she is, and at least one beau openly admits his infidelity. She also has a whopping crush on her cousin’s boyfriend — and a penchant for criticizing her sister’s fiancé to her sister.

The Man of My Dreams will have you burning the midnight oil.

And you’ll eagerly await Sittenfeld’s next. Because, as they say, third time’s a charm.

Available online at amazon.co.uk.