LA Times

Our Heroine

Irish party planner Gemma, who holds a torch for the man who got away; Lily, the writer who took him; Jo Jo, a literary agent in London with Jessica Rabbit's looks.

The Traumatic Crises

Gemma's father runs off with a secretary after 35 years of marriage, and her mother is unable to function without her moving back home.

The Evil Interloper

Slimy competitive agents; hard-faced secretaries; mothers losing their marbles; lovers losing their priorities.

Wait Just a Minute...

Despite the apparently standard setups, the stories are sweet, funny and poignant. Could it be ... this isn't actually trash?

Mr. Wrong

Owen

Words to Live By

Delicious Irish and British slang, like "scuttered," "stone mad," "doolally" and "bosh."

Satisfaction Level

May your spot on the beach have views as pleasurable as the ones here. And with a book weighing in at more than 500 pages, may your deck chair be well padded.

Publication: LA Times Date: June, 2004 Journalist:Lisa Rosen