Thirtysomething lifelong friends, Mattie and Jane, have been in love with the same man since college. Being the more dazzling of the two, Jane wins the marriage lottery and Mattie moves on to be a fine arts appraiser living in Chicago. From Mattie’s envious, unmarried viewpoint, Jane has it all: two kids, husband Mike, and a house in California.

While visiting to appraise Jane’s deceased grandmother’s art collection, things take an interesting turn when Jane jumps into granny’s Jag and takes off for parts unknown, leaving the emotionally detached Mattie to explain the unexplainable to Mike and the kids. Putting their friendship to the test, over the span of a few weeks Jane and Mattie switch places and it seems Mattie wears it well: she’s always been secretly in love with Mike, and wastes no time hitting the sheets of the marriage bed mere hours of Jane’s departure on an adventure-seeking quest to pick up men.

Both Mattie and Jane live out what-could-have-been and really, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to do that?

This novel is all about the characters, and the author uses a deft hand with flashbacks and conversation to keep them real, but the nagging carpe diem mentality doesn’t leave much room to like the needy Mattie and narcissistic Jane. But then, I’m not here to judge moral character but to enjoy this strangely compelling drama as Mattie takes over Jane’s life.

And the lovers of drama would do well to pick up this sexy, smart and very perceptive take on family life. Great for that one last beach read!

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Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Unbridled Books (August 10, 2006)
ISBN: 1932961275
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