Other than being a tad too long, My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson was a very satisfactory romantic read. Kamryn and Adele were best friends until Kamryn discovers that her best friend’s daughter was fathered by her fiance, Nate. She immediately ends her engagement, moves to Leeds and ends all contact with her friend, Adele. Then two years later comes the sad news that Adele is dying from leukemia and that she wants Kamryn to be the one to take care of her daughter, Tegan.

Kamryn and Tegan are in the beginning stages of bonding when Luke enters their lives. Luke falls for both the girls and life is looking pretty sweet, when Kamryn discovers not only has her ex-fiance moved to Leeds as well, she also has to contact him and obtain his permission to adopt Tegan. This, of course, brings Nate back into her life, and he make it pretty obvious that he still loves Kamryn. A touching story about heartbreak, grief, friendship and responsibility, My Best Friend’s Girl keeps the reader guessing as to how these people are going to resolve their feelings. Tegan, being the glue that holds the story together was a little to “precious” to be entirely believable but the story was intriguing and keeps the reader guessing as to the final outcome. ( )

Count me as one of the readers who thought this would be lighter, and shallower, than it was. The other cover is much better, imo. The ending was kinda abrupt, but overall it was def. an enjoyable and provocative read, and I will be looking at more in this imprint (is that the right word?) and by this author. ( )

This novel is related by Kamryn, a young business woman who has become estranged both from her closest friend Adele, and her former fiancé Nate. The story opens on her 32nd birthday. Amidst the cards she opens - by mistake - an envelope in Adele's handwriting, and finds a note asking her to visit her friend in hospital.

Against her better judgemet, Kamryn goes to see Adele, and they begin a tentative reconciliation. They also have a discussion which ends with Kamryn agreeing to do something she has grave doubts about, and which will change her life forever.

It's impossible to say much more about the plot without giving something away; even the blurb on the back contains some spoilers. Not that they matter too much; the novel is character-based, with developing relationships through painful, sometimes tragic circumstances.

And yet it's a very good read which I found uplifting and encouraging. Kamryn is a very likeable young woman, who takes her responsibilities seriously. Adele's daughter Tegan is the 'best friend's girl' of the title; we meet her first when she is a scared, hurting five-year-old, terrified even to speak lest she get into trouble. Her terrible circumstances move Kamryn as nothing else could have done; one of the things I enjoyed most about this book was seeing Tegan's gradual transformation into an outgoing, lively girl who remains caring and thoughtful.

There are two important men in the book, too: one of them is Nate, who re-appears in Kamryn's life, and the other is her new boss Luke, who seems to dislike her on sight. They both develop special relationships with Tegan in very different ways, and I enjoyed the contrast.

Some bad language, thought perhaps not over-done, and the casual morals that seem compulsory in modern fiction - but, all in all, a very thought-provoking and powerful book. Really four and a half stars. ( )

An enjoyable read about friendship, parenting and forgiveness. Looking forward to reading something else by this author. ( )

This story she has built around Ryn and Tegan is wonderful. I love reading her stories because there is always substance, a well-built history that fits together and where the past comes back as a boomerang and is entwined in the present and makes you wonder about the future. ( )