The God of Good Looks

McIvor (Where There Are Monsters) shines in this pitch-perfect narrative of power imbalances. After Bianca Bridge completes her university studies in England, she returns to Trinidad and begins an affair with Eric Hugo, a married government minister who has a long track record of cheating on his wife with younger women. After a photo of Eric and Bianca is published, Bianca loses her magazine job, her freelance writing gigs, and her dignity. Reluctant to ask her wealthy father for help, she turns to topless modeling, until Obadiah Cortland offers her a job revamping his magazine, Extempo. Obadiah, who came from humble beginnings, adopts an arrogant persona and tries to keep everyone at arm’s length, but as the story alternates between Bianca and Obadiah’s points of view, the initially unpleasant Obadiah turns out to have greater depth. McIvor combines tight plotting and strong character development as Bianca—empowered by her late mother’s lessons of strength—gets the last word with those who’ve wronged her. This makes for a winning story of comeuppance. Agent: Meredith Kaffel Simonoff, Gernert Company. (May)