A Rural Affair

March 1, 2012
Poppy Shilling does not precisely wish her husband, Phil, were dead, but she imagines it. So when he dies in a freak accident outside their tiny English village, she feels plenty guilty. She is somewhat assuaged when she meets Emma, the woman with whom Phil had been having an affair. It doesn't help that some of Poppy's neighbors seem to have known about Emma. Poppy's only defenses against a total mental breakdown (and it is close) are her sweet children, her flighty but caring father, and her three best friends. Poppy's emotional journey hits all the right notesheartbreaking and real, funny and sad. The village is filled with the usual eccentric country characters, like the elderly choir member who sings Nights in White Satin instead of Gloria. There are perhaps a few too many plot twists, but it's worth it to see Poppy find her feet, emotionally and romantically, after a terrible betrayal. There are laugh-out-loud moments but also enough emotional heft to elevate this above standard mommy-lit fare. A good choice for fans of Marian Keyes and Jennifer Weiner.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)