Last of Something

September 15, 2006
Old college friends Bess, Claire, and Shotsie still stage reunions that include their families, 20 years after graduation. Shotsie narrates the story of their latest meeting: five days on the North Carolina coast one summer. The shadow of an approaching hurricane hangs over the gathering but no more so than the absence of their friend Ian. As Shotsie recalls the group's college days, she shares the memories they each treasure of their respective relationships with Ian. Ian has finally married, and his young wife, Nina, arrives, but Ian continues to be delayed. Shotsie's introspective story reveals that at age 42, each one of these women has regrets. But they also cherish their secrets and Ian stories, stories that are caught up in the longing for a time when they were all young with a world of possibilities ahead of them. Kelly ("How Close We Come" has written a thoughtful, bittersweet novel of female bonding, though it's not a necessary purchase, as the premise is better executed in other novels. Still, this is enjoyable enough to be recommended for public libraries where women's fiction is popular." -Lesa M. Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ"

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