The Best Man

Starred review from January 7, 2013
The path to love is bumpy and strewn with landmines in this surprisingly deep charmer from rom-com queen Higgins (Somebody to Love). Jeremy Lyon admits to Faith Holland that he’s gay—moments before they were supposed to be wed. It takes three years of self-imposed exile from her upstate New York hometown for heartbroken Faith to recover. She returns to find her grandparents feuding and her father embarking on a wholly inappropriate romance. She also runs into police chief Levi Cooper; she thinks he’s super-hot but resents him for never telling her Jeremy’s secret. As she navigates the perils of dating again, family drama, and an identity crisis, perky Faith is slowly revealed as deeply human, deeply troubled, and deeply in need of self-forgiveness and love. Levi is a stalwart and appealing good guy rounded out with an Afghanistan-scarred psyche and a constant struggle to fully accept his working-class background. Emotional resonance balances zany antics in a powerful story that feels completely real.

When she was jilted on her wedding day, Faith Holland fled to San Francisco to move on with her life. Now, back in her hometown after three years, she's ready to pick up where she left off. Amy Rubinate narrates in a playful manner that matches the initial characterization of Faith--as a little princess who never grew up--but her reading of Faith sounds more mature as the story progresses and the listener learns more about Faith and her secrets. The male characters, including Faith's new love interest and assorted family members, are given slightly deeper voices while the other women each have a unique voice such as the deep, accented voice of the housekeeper; the slightly pinched, more formal tone of Faith's older sister, Honor; and the mature yet relaxed tone of her oldest sister, Prudence. Rubinate hits the perfect notes with her reading of this fun-filled romance. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine