cover image Wouldn't Miss It for the World

Wouldn't Miss It for the World

Tara McCarthy. Downtown Press, $13 (369pp) ISBN 978-1-4165-0325-5

McCarthy (Love Will Tear Us Apart) illustrates how weddings bring out the best and worst in people in her second novel, a mixed if overstuffed bag. Indie rocker bride-to-be June Siren; her high-strung mother, Alice; the groom's college-bound stepsister, Abby McKay; and best man Dan Eshom each share roving POV duty as Alice presides fitfully over planning the destination wedding in Belize, June mulls leaving her band (her intended, Cash, is a bandmate) to take a big money gig composing music for a kid's show, Abby struggles through late adolescent woes, and Dan is increasingly tormented by his longstanding crush on June. The bulk of the tale takes place in Belize, where a romance helps transform Alice; Abby becomes infatuated with June's brother (for better or for worse); Dan debates telling June that he's in love with her; and June weighs her career options and marries the perfect man. For a chick lit book, there's surprising depth and a finely tuned cast.