London - June 16, 2009

My Best Friend's Wedding

'April & Oliver', by Tess Callahan

Not that anyone’s counting, but your BFF’s seen you in your birthday suit 4.5 times (long story). The crazy part: He’s a he — and not light in his loafers.

Sexual tension much?

In the case of recently reunited childhood besties April and Oliver — the titular characters of Tess Callahan’s brilliant debut novel — you could cut through it with a knife.

Too bad Oliver’s happily engaged (of course). But lest you think it’s another Julia Roberts-movie-in-the-making, note that April’s not only dealing with the devastating loss of her brother (whose funeral Oliver is back for) but also stuck in an abusive relationship and working in a bar.

Yet no matter how much their lives have diverged, their mutual history draws them together in a way that’s both dark and thrilling (secrets galore!).

Think of it as a summer read with benefits.

Available online at amazon.co.uk or at your local bookstore.