appalonia 's review for:

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan

4.0

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April and Oliver were inseperable as children and teenagers, but Oliver went off to college and the two lost touch. Now Oliver is back in town, a newly-engaged law student. Meanwhile April is dealing with the death of her young brother Buddy from a car accident, memories of sexual abuse by a family friend, and the mood swings of a violent boyfriend. Oliver is happy with his perfect fiance Bernadette and the image of their future together. But something continues to draw him to April. This was a well told, melancholy story. You came to really know each of the characters, their strengths and their weaknesses. I couldn't help but think something was missing, though. I kept waiting for more to "happen". I liked that the ending was hopeful.