Welcome to the Square, a privileged corner of North London - home to the wealthy and nouveau riche. But behind the shiny and expensive facades, life for the residents of the Square is like a soap opera, full of infidelity, adultery and backstabbing. Throw in a talent show and a TV feature, and it’s all going to be fun and games.
The life of the rich is always good fodder for women’s fiction and Rosie Millard hits the right satiric vein. Despite the prospect of a grand finale with the talent show and although the show certainly has its own climax, this somewhat takes a back seat in a narrative that is essentially about the bed-hopping exploits of the residents. (Well, in fact most of the couples don’t even make it to the bed. Perhaps stair-hopping or kitchen-table-hopping may be more fitting?) Interestingly, those characters who don’t bed-hop get somewhat less exposure than those who do, and unfortunately this does cut out some characters of possible interest. However, the best-character award most certainly has to go to George, the naive child at the heart of it all. This book very much lives up to its billing as a satirical romp, in more ways than one, but beyond that, there's not much to it. (JC)
