Stephanie Gertler

'Jimmy's Girl' is built on a couple of interesting premises: first that fantasy of chasing down your first love and finding out what might have been; second, telling that story in alternate chapters with his and her version of events, differently remembered moments and alternative interpretations. For me it dragged around about two thirds of the way through. But that it was an early reviewer copy I would not have finished. But Gertler handles the former sweethearts' meeting and its fall out with real skill. A sensitive, believable ending that didn't feel compromised.… (altro)

Gertler’s prose aptly captures the memories and emotions of a first love looking back after thirty years. She deftly guides the reader through the experiences of Emily Hudson and Jimmy Moran by juxtaposing each character’s narration in separate chapters. It is an engaging novel with a unique but not strident feminine perspective that one can tune into. Each character has changed. Both are married but reaching out to capture the past, Emily as mother and artist and Jimmy as Vietnam veteran and parent. In the end Emily remains “Jimmy’s girl” but neither leave their current families.… (altro)