Love, English-style

When a bad break-up throws Tess Tennant for a loop, she decides to return to her hometown to regroup. She hasn't seen it in over ten years, and its quaint and sleepy personality is less charming than it is laughable. But Tess is glad to reunite with her best friend Adam, whose own life has taken a turn ever since his mother died suddenly the summer before he was meant to go to university. But London has followed Tess back to Langford in the form of Francesa, a glamorous young woman who catches Adam's eye. As Tess becomes an unwilling audience member to their unfolding drama, she tries to concentrate more on her teaching job. But tensions are running high all over town, due to a deal between some land developers and the town's wealthy matron, the formidable Leonora Mortmain. As the story unravels and Leonora reveals parts of her secret self to Tess on a trip to Rome, tragic pasts are uncovered and the biggest obstacle that erupts between her and Adam will take more than an old friendship to overcome.

I don't really have a whole lot to say about this book. I like the cozy world it's set in and appreciate the effort Evans put into the background so as to make it seem like another character. It helps to ground the when-will-these-crazy-kids-get-together? story into a reality that's recognizable and playful at the same time. Some surprisingly dark turns also give the plot some meat and give life to the characters, who sometimes seem two-dimensional. There's some nice parallels to be drawn between Tess' and Adam's plot and the "water meadows" subplot, although the conflict between the human characters grows so complicated that it's almost a turn-off. I do like that this isn't just standard fluff - that Evans lets things get really muddled for Tess - but it's hard for me to accept the ending as presented, because it's just a bit too pat. Tess is so often a victim here that I just ended up feeling sorry for her, failing to see exactly how she has grown. That being said, the theme of fate is used well here; for example, it's interesting that so many of the events in the novel happen - or fail to happen - because of Leonora Mortmain's character.

I am not a chick lit sort of girl, but despite I Remember You's flaws, it's worth a look. Rating: 3.5 English cottages out of 5.