Changing Faces

Three performers give a warm, believable feeling to this tale of friendship. Polk is the standout here: as Whitney, she latches onto the reader like a best friend eager to spill all her news. Whether bemoaning her inability to lose weight or expressing her outrage at her mother's criticisms and personal digs, Polk makes Whitney a completely real, lovable and amusingly overexcitable character. Williams takes a more thoughtful approach to the character of Taylor, a successful lawyer who learns she may have cancer. Taylor is the calm, reasonable one of the trio—the mediator between her two volatile friends—and Williams's soothing voice suits her role perfectly. As Charisse, a woman who has coped with childhood abuse by becoming controlling and sanctimonious, Chavis captures both the character's cold and overbearing personality and the hidden vulnerability behind it. These three lively, contrasting performances bring the story to life and make this audio a most enjoyable listen. Simultaneous release with the William Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 14). (Feb.)