The No-Show by Beth O’Leary

QUERCUS, £14.99 (EBOOK, £8.99) REVIEW BY ALISON KERSHAW

Beth O’Leary’s latest novel marks a move away from her previous efforts, which have focused on two main characters. This opens with three women – Siobhan, Miranda and Jane – who have all been stood up by the same man. The question is, why? O’Leary’s characters are usually easy to connect with, but that bond seems harder to form in this novel. Initially, the women’s decision-making and willingness to forgive can feel frustrating. As in her previous books, individual chapters are told from different perspectives. As the story unfolds, the lives of the main players draw the reader in until the tale builds to its unexpected, but ultimately satisfying ending.