A Good Man

Three childhood best friends reunite after decades of silence in Wall's latest novel (after The Girlfriends Club). Growing up in rural Texas, Rhonda, Holly and Gina Kay vowed to be best friends forever. ""But, the forever part turned out to be a pipe dream,"" and the fate of the friendship changed course the day that Gina Kay eloped with Terry, Rhonda's one and only true love. Twenty-five years later, their paths cross again at Terry's funeral, and Gina Kay convinces her old friends to trek to New York City for a five-day retreat where, she promises, she'll tell them the truth behind her marriage to Terry. The women are all on different career paths by then-Rhonda is a high-powered attorney, Holly an accomplished seamstress, Gina Kay a cattle rancher-but once in New York, the years of silence break down to reveal the many hurdles each one has faced. Rhonda's marriage is on the fritz because she's still holding onto the love she had for Terry; Holly is torn between her dream to become a hot fashion designer and her devotion to her family; and Gina Kay recovers from the brutal disappointments behind her picture-perfect marriage. Though Wall's prose style is often flat and her characters' emotions somewhat predictable, her plot lines are engrossing and her ending brings a satisfying conclusion to this reassuring tale of redemption, hope and, most of all, friendship.