FICTION

Siracusa

Blue Rider. Jul. 2016. 304p. ISBN 9780399165214. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781101621530. F
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The author, the late Nora Ephron's lesser-known sister with similar interests (rom-coms and humor essays), releases this light novel just in time for summer. It follows two wealthy married couples on holiday in Italy. They are childless New York writers Michael and Lizzie, and Lizzie's ex, Finn, with his wife, Taylor, and their unusual ten-year-old daughter, Snow. Told in first person, the narrative switches among the four points of view, which doesn't do these shallow, neurotic individuals any favors. Lizzie and Taylor are supposedly friends but are very judgmental of each other's behavior. Lizzie and Finn's long-dead romance is rekindled, and Michael is having an affair with a younger woman who follows them to Italy with disastrous results.
VERDICT This could be a quick beach read for those interested in romantic suspense or travel writing, as long as they don't mind the cast of unlikable characters. [See Prepub Alert, 2/1/16.]
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