Just last night

Eve has a comfortable, if predictable, life in Nottingham: a deadly boring job and weekly pub quizzes with her best friends Ed, Justin, and Susie. Her biggest problem is her mostly unrequited love for Ed, who, unfortunately, just got engaged to his nightmare girlfriend, Hester. Then the unimaginable happens: Susie is killed in a car accident. Eve can't quite come to terms with the Susie-shaped hole in her life, made worse by visits to Susie's father, who has Alzheimer's and does not know Susie is dead. Then Finlay, Susie's brother, shows up with, despite years of estrangement, strong opinions about Susie's funeral and possessions, especially her diaries. Eve knows Susie was not totally forthcoming about Finlay, but after a devastating secret is revealed, Eve and Finlay end up on a rescue mission in Edinburgh. McFarlane (If I Never Met You, 2020) deftly balances the weight of grief and secrets with the lighthearted banter of both long friendships and surprising new connections. There is a romantic plot line, but the real love story will be between readers and Eve as she tries to figure out how to put her life back together, or if she even wants to. Charming, emotionally satisfying, and unforgettable.

A woman's rose-colored view of her tight circle of friends is shattered in this heartfelt and funny story of loss and recovery from McFarlane (If I Never Met You). Thirty-something Eve Harris's life is turned upside down after the death of her best friend, Susie Hart. As Eve struggles to adapt to life without Susie--and contends with the sudden presence of Susie's estranged brother, the gorgeous but gloomy Finlay, in her life--she discovers that Susie and their dear friend Ed Cooper were keeping a secret from her. Eve has always secretly loved Ed and believed they had a special connection, so the betrayal is doubly difficult. Now a reeling Eve must reevaluate their relationship and what she wants for her life. McFarlane balances sensitive observations on love, death, and friendship with an intoxicating sense of humor as Eve imagines Susie's witty asides in her head. Eve has a way with words and her ebullient narration delights, but the extensive dialogue threads between Eve and her friends can become over-the-top and unbelievable. Still, Eve is an engaging protagonist whose complex emotions keep the pages turning. This dynamic story of friendship, forgiveness, and finding love where it's least expected is perfect for Sara Desai fans and lovers of chick lit. (May)