cover image Friday Mornings at Nine

Friday Mornings at Nine

Marilyn Brant, Kensington, $15 paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-7582-3462-9

Brant falls into the sophomore slump with this tale of three friends struggling through boring patches in their marriages. Tamara, Bridget, and Jennifer meet every Friday morning to discuss their mundane lives, the only hint of spice being the fantasy man each has her eye on. For Jennifer, it's college flame David; for Bridget, it's Dr. Luke, the dentist she works for; and for Tamara, it's Aaron, her younger next-door neighbor. After confessing to their crushes, the women agree to share what happens with the objects of their affection. This potentially steamy premise never picks up heat, though; it's difficult to tell the women apart, as their dull marriages and individual story lines are barely differentiated, and for a group of gossiping friends, they're awfully withholding. This is a disappointment considering the promise Brant showed in According to Jane. (Oct.)