First published 1991
Stuart, a shy banker, meets Gillian, a picture restorer, and improbably wins her heart. Their marriage seems stable until Oliver—Stuart's chaotic, verbose best friend—enters their orbit. What begins as playful friendship gradually transforms into a dangerous emotional triangle. Each character narrates their version of events, revealing shifting allegiances and raw vulnerabilities. As attraction and betrayal intertwine, Stuart, Gillian, and Oliver must confront the fragile boundaries between friendship, desire, and possession.
Genres: drama, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: emotional-triangle, unreliable-narrator
Setting: England
273 pages · Hardcover · Jonathan Cape