40 Love

Starred review from September 26, 2011
In this bitingly funny novel from Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella), four social-climbing British couples gather for a “friendly” weekend of tennis, but find their friendships tested by competitive­ness, scandals, secrets, and betrayals. Narrator Katherine Kellgren gives a mas­terful performance, creating distinctive character voices and alternating effort­lessly among oily salesman Patrick, smugly pom­pous Charles, sarcastic Caroline, fluttery Valerie, a German nanny, two very different little girls, and the rest of Wick­ham’s colorful cast. Kellgren’s narration is marvelous, inhabiting various characters’ states of mind, shifting among anxiety, fury, and guilt as the book’s POV changes. A delightful performance not to be missed. A Thomas Dunne hardcover.

February 15, 2011

As their children entertain themselves, four couples settle on a sunlit terrace and score off one another in veiled but clearly competitive exchanges, each couple reaching for the top spot. Wickham does this sort of thing well, and as Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella she does very well indeed. Definitely keep it in mind.

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