MAKING HER DEBUT
American journalist Meredith Goldstein's first novel The Singles (aka The Wedding Guests in the UK) has already been optioned for film and television by Lime Orchard Productions. The story centres around five friends who attend a wedding weekend as the only guests without a plus one. The synopsis says: "One wedding. Five nightmare guests. Five ways to ruin the happiest day of someone else's life:
- Cry uncontrollably over your ex in front of the bride and mix calming herbal remedies with copious amounts of alcohol so that it's hard to stand up - especially if you're a bridesmaid.
- Dress like you are attending a funeral and look for opportunities to re-enact scenes from steamy novels.
- Turn up late wearing a T-shirt covered in mud and something that looks like blood.
- If you are the bride's uncle, who no one likes anyway, try to cop off with her friend who's way too young for you.
- Wear a suit that stinks of chicken wings and then spend the whole reception propping up the bar.
Who said going to a wedding solo couldn't be fun?" The Singles is out in April. Goldstein is an advice columnist and entertainment reporter for The Boston Globe. She is best known for her Love Letters blog.