Cocktails for Three

June 25, 2001
Maggie, Roxanne and Candice, the heroines of Wickham's latest Brit romp, are three successful women in their early 30s working in the editorial office of the Londoner, a magazine enjoying a circulation renaissance. They meet on the first of every month at the Manhattan Bar, a posh lounge that caters to clientele sporting Prada bags. There, Wickham serves up a healthy dose of good-natured witticisms mixed with biting retorts as the trio bonds over adultery, pregnancy jitters and guilt. Freelancer Roxanne secretly dates an unknown referred to by the women as Mr. Married while jet-setting to Cypress and other foreign locales on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Maggie's stuck at home in the country on pregnancy leave from her position as editor. It is kindhearted reporter Candice, however, who is in for serious trouble. When she recognizes a waitress at the Manhattan Bar as Heather Trelawney, whose family was ruined by Candice's father, Candice decides to make amends. When Heather applies for a job as editorial assistant at the magazine, Candice supplies her with a writing sample of her own, landing her a job over 300 other applicants. Not heeding her friends' advice to leave well enough alone, Candice continues to extend herself beyond normal bounds of generosity and is surprised to discover in the end she's been duped and betrayed by Heather. In a predictable climax, Wickham delivers a nicely sewn up ending with each of the character's problems resolved, although none all that happily. Readers desiring a chatty, neatly told tale will be delighted by the author's deft handling of character development and drama.

July 1, 2001
Take three successful career women, the urbane world of London publishing, add friendship, then shake and serve this story in a cocktail glass with a slice of secrets as a garnish, and call the concoction " Cocktails "for Three. It is an entertaining tale about three friends, Candice, Maggie, and Roxanne, set in the world of sophistication, cocktails, and the " Londoner" magazine. Once a month the women meet at the Manhattan Bar over martinis to talk, laugh, and share the funny moments making up their daily lives. But there is more to this story than gin and gossip. Each friend hides a secret that she hasn't revealed to the others. As the plot pours forth, the secrets are revealed and life gets shaken up, scary for the trio. Wickham writes a witty tale that goes beyond mere gossip, fashion, and fun; she provides a wickedly insightful look at the choices women make between career, children, and relationships.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)