Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married

The gorgeous Gus has potential, if he can overcome his aptitude for imbibing and his reliance on the dole. Jed, the fresh new employee at work, has his charms--and a healthy sense of co-dependency. And of course there's always Daniel, a reliable friend with a wicked sense of humour and a devilish history with women.

But before Lucy can start picking out China patterns, she needs to sort out her feelings for the first man in her life, her father. Though Lucy has always seen her father as good-hearted and fun-spirited, Lucy's mother has endured decades of his unpredictability and alcoholism with lessening patience. When her mother leaves him, Lucy steps in where her mother left off--and learns some hard lessons about relationships and responsibility.

Like Nick Hornby and Helen Fielding, Marian Keyes uses complementary touches of humour and humanity to capture the essence of singlehood in modern London. Keyes's sharp dialogue and the rich, internal development of her characters will both entertain and inspire singletons everywhere--from office gossip and erratic roommates ("I wouldn't have liked to live in her head, it must have been a dark, lonely, frightening place. You could walk for miles and miles without meeting a single intelligent thought.") to bizarre blind dates and bittersweet realisations, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married is a grand success. --Nancy R E O'Brien