Switcheroo: A Novel
The First Wives Club(1992) proved how well Goldsmith could get into the psyche of the scorned wife. Here, she makes even the mistress a sympathetic character. Sylvie has the makings of a perfect life--marriage to a successful, loving man; well-adjusted children; beautiful house in the suburbs. But just when she's ready to reclaim the romance in her marriage now that her kids are in college, she realizes that Bob has a girlfriend on the side--Marla, a younger version of Sylvie. When she's finally ready to confont Bob, she is inspired to confront Marla instead, and, after meeting the ditzy blond, she discovers that each of them is seeking what the other has: Sylvie longs for romance and spontaneity, Marla for a stable family life. Sylvie convinces Marla to swap identities for two weeks to see what it's like in the other's shoes. After a retreat to alter their appearances, the charade begins. Goldsmith has a knack for telling a funny story, and she is at her best here. If readers can get beyond the operalike disguise premise, they are in for a buoyant ride through a crazy tale of love and family, betrayal and revenge. A movie version is already in the works. Stock up.Mary Frances Wilkens