April and Oliver: A Novel

by: Tess Callahan

Published by: New Central Publisher

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

Okay, I have a bias here. I hate reading about women who are addicted to stupid men–or worse yet, dangerous and mean men. I almost put the book down–but was drawn in by the author’s excellent writing, her storytelling ability and well-drawn and emotionally wavering characters.

This debut novel brings together a family that is related through marriage—sort of cousins-in-law –Alice, Oliver and his brother Al. The boys’ father is Hal, now widowed and Alice’s parents are dead for some time. Now the family’s commitment to the grandmother tied them all together.

April and Oliver spent much of their childhood together, and as twelve-year-olds, often took care of April’s four-year-old brother, Buddy. Now adults, Oliver has moved away for college and has not returned until work has brought him back East–and he’s engaged to be married. Buddy is accidentally killed, and April and Oliver see each other again at his funeral.

The emotional upheavals that occur between Alice and Oliver and Al–and Oliver’s fiancée, are so strongly depicted you can’t help but root for your favorite person to come out on the good side.

There is constantly a “will he/will she,” whether it is April and her various loser men–or April and Oliver or April and Al. The sexual tension could be cut with the proverbial knife, and the author does this with great finesse.

Tess Callahan is a good storyteller, to be able to take me through a story where April makes one bad choice after another about MEN. Will she redeem herself? Will Oliver and Bernadette get married? Will Oliver ever play the piano again? Will you love this story as much as I did?

The ending, while anticipated and guessed at, was pitch perfect.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a 5-star author to watch for both quality writing and stunning storytelling.

Author’s Web site: http://www.TessCallahan.com