The Forever Girl

March 3, 2014
Smith (Trains and Lovers) sets his latest novel in Grand Cayman's community of wealthy expatriates. Amanda raises two children, Clover and Billy, while her husband David shows " in figures and money and not much else." Though tempted to begin a love affair with local doctor George Collins, Amanda chooses to move to Scotland instead, where she enrolls her children in boarding school. The novel's first half devotes an occasional chapter to young Clover, who asserts that George's son, James, is "the one want." The second half essentially abandons Amanda's story and follows her daughter to university in Edinburgh. Smith makes nothing of that the connection between Amanda and Clover falling for different generations of the same family, and the novel suffers greatly from its commitment to restraint. There is much talk of passionâGeorge describes love as "discovering the map that you've been looking for all your life and have never been able to find"âbut there is little evidence of that passion in the characters. Readers never have a clear sense of anyone's physicality, and Clover's love for James is largely founded on the fact that he is "kind." The prose is cool and reserved, though the storyâa story of love that leads a woman all over the globeâbegs for more warmth and intensity. Agent: Robin Straus, Robin Straus Agency.

September 15, 2013

No, not another "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" novel. This touchingly conceived stand-alone features the story of childhood playmates Thursday and James, whose lives become a star-crossed love affair. Thursday falls for James as a six-year-old, but he drifts off--about the time Thursday's mom falls out of love with her husband and notices James's father noticing her. Thursday follows James to college and eventually around the world--to London, Sydney, and Singapore--each time remaking her life in a bid to recapture James's attention. In the end, we see that love unfulfilled still makes a difference. Look for a big prepublication tour.

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