FICTION

The Sweetheart Deal

by Polly Dugan
Little, Brown. May 2015. 320p. ISBN 9780316320351. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780316320337. F
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Firefighter Leo McGeary wanted his family to be prepared for possible future disasters. Early in his marriage to Audrey, he convinces his best friend Garrett to commit to marrying her in the event of Leo's death. The pact is almost forgotten until years later when Leo dies in a tragic accident. Knowing that Audrey needs help, Garrett puts his freewheeling bachelor lifestyle on hold for a few months to be there for his best friend's widow and her three sons. He quickly becomes an integral part of the family as they each deal with the loss of Leo. As Audrey and Garrett grow closer emotionally, their fragile relationship is threatened when she learns about Leo and Garrett's deal.
VERDICT By alternating among the perspectives of the various characters, Dugan's first novel (after her story collection So Much a Part of You) intimately explores how grief can affect a family. The author provides a quick, unsurprising read that delves into family relationships in the wake of loss and new love, topics reminiscent of Anne Tyler's novels. [See Prepub Alert, 11/17/14.]
Reviewed by Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV , Apr 15, 2015
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