Bibliofemme Reviews
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Double Wedding by Patricia Scanlan  
(Published by Bantam Press)
Over the years, Patricia Scanlan has won herself a huge army of loyal fans. With a reputation built on the success of her brilliant earlier books, City Girl, City Women and City Lives, Scanlan has often been described as the prolific queen of contemporary Irish popular fiction, a mantle passed on by Maeve Binchy.
Double Wedding is her twentieth novel and although it will not disappoint her fans, it is a far cry from the entertaining and touching writing we have come to expect from our 'Queen'.
Carol and Jessica, the main characters in Double Wedding, are two very different women. Jessica has the perfect life, a gorgeous boyfriend Mike, a job she enjoys and a wedding to look forward to. Carol on the other hand is not so happy. Desperately uncertain of her boyfriend's love for her, she hates her job and avoids her family home at all costs.
The two are childhood friends and Jessica feels sorry for Carol, but no amount of sympathy could have prepared her for Carol's suggestion that she and her fiancé Gary should have a double wedding with Jessica and Mike.
Double Wedding is an enjoyable read, if somewhat predictable. As usual Scanlan manages to portray real life with recognisable characters, a gripping plot and plenty of humour and emotion.
Also by Patricia Scanlan
Two for Joy
February 2005
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