Going Home
by Harriet Evans
Harper Collins, $96
You know what you're letting yourself in for the minute Going Home begins, but that doesn't diminish the pleasure of proving yourself right. Like old Aga sagas or their chick-lit sisters, Harriet Evans' debut novel whirrs around the romantic life of a woman who deserves better than she's got. London lass Lizzy is our heroine, happy to be going home for Christmas because it means being surrounded by everyone she adores in the Keeper House she loves. That includes her ex-boyfriend and neighbour, David, who, unbeknown to her, is also back for the festive season. Theirs was one of those special relationships - until he moved to New York, and, so the story goes, was cautioned for having sex at the office with a colleague. So when they meet again there are inevitable awkward moments of silence, hateful glares and attempts to have the last say. There are other distractions involving family and friends: the country house that was always Lizzy's refuge is in peril, secrets are being shared and lies are being told.
