April & Oliver-Tess Callahan

April & Oliver
Tess Callahan
Grand Central, Jun 3 2009, $23.99
ISBN: 9780446540599

In Maine her teenage brother Buddy died in a car accident driving April’s vehicle. Despondent and blaming herself for Buddy’s death April cannot move on. Her childhood friend Oliver heard of Buddy’s death and though he has not seen either sibling he is worried about April so he seeks her out to offer sympathy and solace. He finds her crying hysterically at Bobby’s grave.

Oliver is attending law school and though engaged to someone else, he is attracted to his buddy. April feels the same, which adds to her already overwhelming feelings of guilt. April prefers rough bad boys not kind caring men like Oliver. He, in turn, has his future planned as a married lawyer. Yet the attraction between the reflective responsible Oliver and the reckless rash April cannot be ignored.

The relationship between April & Oliver changes subtly throughout this enjoyable contemporary romance yet as the attraction increases, readers remain doubtful whether this pair of opposites can find common ground yet seem fated to be together. In death as he did when they were kids, Buddy reunites the lead couple. Tess Callahan provides a profound intelligent drama that argues love is not enough so April & Oliver ponder to be or not to be together and if to be, how will their teaming truly work beyond the dysfunctional?

Harriet Klausner