cover image The Two of Us

The Two of Us

Andy Jones. Washington Square, $16 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-5011-0951-5

In this entertaining romcom set in present-day England, Fisher and Ivy have been dating for all of 19 days when Ivy finds out that she’s pregnant. Rolling with the punches, they decide to move in together and build a shared life. As Fisher, a director of commercials, so aptly puts it, they’ve “leapfrogged the romance and gone straight to starting a family and passing out in front of the telly.” Over nine months (and slightly beyond), the author charts the course of this new relationship and instant family, which is not all smooth sailing. Fisher and Ivy are informed that they’ll be having twins; Ivy’s loutish brother, Frank, moves in with them temporarily; and Fisher is tempted to flirt with an attractive colleague. Adding poignancy to the story is the presence of Fisher’s best friend, El, who is in the terminal stages of Huntington’s disease. The premise is contrived, but Jones proves himself adept at writing sensitively about modern relationships. The story is told solely from Fisher’s point of view, which unfortunately renders Ivy somewhat opaque. His narration is charming but facile until the last chapters, which achieve a touching honesty as Fisher and Ivy are forced to deal with a tragedy that lends a dramatic aspect to this otherwise lightweight romantic novel. (Feb.)