Infidelity for First-Time Fathers

This is the author's second novel. Like the first, Girlfriend 44, it is a contemporary comedic novel with plenty of drole asides in the style of Nick Hornby, PG Wodehouse, and columnist-author Dave Barry. Stewart Dagman, a mid-thirtyish management consultant, has to choose between duty to his pregnant fiancee and housemate for the past ten years, Andrea, with whom he shares a comfortable and familiar, if not exciting life, and Cat his exhilarating new paramour, with whom he is falling in love. There are tons of interesting complications, all plotted skilfully --- this is actually a page-turner ---- and throughout there are endless wickedly funny takes on contemporary London life that made the first novel so engaging. I had a little trouble with some of the London slang and place references, but no great distraction. I have to say I enjoyed it thoroughly. Three strangers approached me on a plane trip to ask about the book that was making me laugh to myself like a psychotic. All three were sufficiently interested to look past the somewhat off-putting (for American tastes) title to record the ordering info. I look forward to the next with impatient enthusiasm.

If I hadn't already read Girlfriend 44 by the same author while in Scotland, I might have been turned off by the title of the book (although it does get your attention). However, the sinister premise is a set-up for an avalanche of conflict and wild situations described by hilarious banter from the main character. He is not really a bad guy, he just does a bad thing and suffers throughout the book for it. The result is a wild, off-the-wall second novel, a more fast-paced and direct improvement over Girlfriend 44, which I also enjoyed. It was amazing to me that Barrowcliffe resolved the main character's messes so cleanly in the end! I am looking forward to his next.