Fantastic book that I could not put down about three independent women who have been friends since college: Indrani is a single professor and a perfectionist, Josie is a married Manhattan psychotherapist with an adopted tween, who has just decided to separate from her husband, and Raquel lives in Los Angeles and is a famous rock star who hasn’t put out a hit album in years. Indrani, who has long struggled with her own relationships with men, disapproves of Raquel’s affair as well as Josie’s decision to just “let” her marriage go without trying to work things out. They are now all in their mid-forties.

After Raquel is in the tabloids for being with an actor in his twenties (who has a pregnant girlfriend), she escapes to Mexico City and begs Josie to join her. She’s upset and needs her old friend down there for support. Josie sees it as a great opportunity for an escape from New York and to catch up with her close friend. The two women have a wonderful time exploring the city, drinking and eating, and catching up. But Raquel’s depression and addiction return and the vacation takes a traumatic turn. Trouble is about strong, unconditional love and female friendships. It is also about lifelong dreams and career goals and what makes us happy. Christensen [The Great Man] is a brilliant writer who creates believable, empathetic characters to whom you can instantly relate and bond with throughout her novels. When Trouble ends, you will still think about the characters.

GRADE: A-