First in the Frances series, a refreshingly honest and revealing sojourn in the mind of a romantically-inclined young man trying to sort out the great mystery of how to relate to women. At twenty-four, Martin is still relatively inexperienced in matters of the heart. He's had a few girlfriends but his latest one, Roxanne, the one he was desperately in love with, has left him … claiming that she is not ready to settle down. Imagine Martin's surprise when, a few months later, and still hoping for a reconciliation, he instead receives an invitation to Roxanne's wedding! Not only does this come as a shock, he now has to decide whether to stay away and confirm his bereft state, or show up and brave the sight of his beloved entering married bliss with another man. His best mate, Mike, advises him to go “with a hot chick who's all over you” and so begins a search for the perfect candidate (or candid date) via an internet dating service, something Martin dislikes profoundly. After yet another prospective instant girlfriend fails to click, Frances and Martin meet and their story begins.
The set-up is not altogether original, but what Dermot Davis does with it is rather special. A mirror image to the storyline from his other book “The Younger Man”, this is the male perspective of the same events. For me, a female, it was fascinating to be allowed inside Martin's head, although he does sound a little immature for his age. Frances (in her own narrative a depressed victim of men's bad behaviour) here emerges as cool, controlling and somewhat calculating. Despite being needy and unpredictable, she seems to have a magic effect on Martin and, while her spell holds, he is powerless to resist her, whims and all.
With “The Younger Man” still fresh in my mind, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the events I had just followed from Frances' point of view and trying to remember how things were. Martin, although a less complicated personality, seems equally inclined to mull things over and lives a lot inside his own head but he does not carry quite as much baggage as Frances. At least his relationships are working reasonably well and his effect on Frances is just as powerful. She just can't resist his cuteness.
As always with this author, the story unfolds with great timing and I found myself fully invested in the main characters, imperfect as they are. Davis has a knack for creating a very interesting supporting cast who contribute both background and vibrant interaction with the protagonists. In fact, my favourite is Steve, a relatively minor player. If you have ever been curious about what men think in romantic situations, this charming, humorous but tender insight into a man's psyche will entertain and enlighten you.
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