April & Oliver was the 2009 debut novel from author Tess Callahan. Her essays and stories have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Writer’s Digest, National Public Radio, Newsday, and elsewhere. Tess is a graduate of Boston College and teaches creative writing and meditation. A dual citizen of the USA and Ireland, she lives with her family and number one life coach, her dog.
April and Oliver have been soul mates since childhood, and the attraction between them has always been palpable. Now, years after being completely inseparable, they have become strangers, but the wildly different paths of their lives are about to collide once again with the sudden death of April’s brother.
Sexual tension builds as Oliver, the responsible, newly engaged law student, finds himself drawn more than ever to the reckless, mystifying April, and cracks begin to appear in his carefully constructed life. Even as Oliver attempts to “save” his childhood friend from her grief, her menacing boyfriend, and herself, it soon becomes apparent that Oliver has some secrets of his own—secrets he hasn’t shared with anyone, even his fiancée.
Yet April knows. Is it really her life that’s unravelling, or is it his own? The answer awaits at the end of a downward spiral…toward a surprising revelation.
April & Oliver is a heart-wrenching, emotional novel with a highly original storyline. Tess Callahan has written a book with some beautiful lyrical prose and a lot of vivid imagery that many readers will appreciate. The book has the feel of an independent film with its authentic, sardonic banter and unconventional storyline. This is not a book where everything comes together at the end and the characters are setup for their happily ever after. Instead, it’s one where the readers will feel all the uncomfortable angst and emotional intensity of the characters, which is both unsettling and captivating, just as authentic as our own real lives.
The characters in this book are quirky, flawed, damaged, and frustrating—but still manage to be quite compelling. There are many instances where the characters will make your heart ache by what unfolds between them, so be prepared. April has several warped belief systems about life and herself, mostly rooted in the traumatic events from her past. For much of the novels, she cannot overcome the stigma of being seen as damaged, and she allows this to dictate her decision-making and ruin her potential. Oliver is flawed in a completely contrasting way. He’s a perfectionist who tries to help others overcome their obstacles but still can’t manage to solve his own problems. The compelling dialogue and intense chemistry between these characters is one of the major highlights of the book, and although their conversations are often unpleasant, listeners will be eager to hear more of their story.
The plot of this book jumps around quite a bit, especially with all of the flashback scenes that sometimes come out of nowhere. Fortunately, Callahan’s intimate and vivid writing does a great job pulling readers into every scene and makes the characters feel familiar and relatable. After just a few chapters, it’s quite easy to get emotionally invested in the storyline and the characters’ outcomes.
Narrator Abby Craden does a satisfactory job narrating this audiobook. While narrating the non-dialogue parts of the book, her narration sometimes feels monotone and almost hypnotic, making it difficult to keep listeners engaged. As a result, it may take a while for listeners to get used to her tone. On the positive, her narration of the dialogue is quite pleasing, as she uses a greater vocal range, more emotion, and provides distinct voices for the different characters. Overall, this book may be more appreciated by reading a physical copy, but sticking with the audiobook does become more enjoyable as you continue to listen!
Overall, this book has a lot to praise, from its highly original plot to its substantial character development to its compelling dialogue, but is not for everyone. For those who appreciate authentic, dysfunctional characters and high-quality writing, this is definitely a book that should be considered! Seeing that the sequel is also now available, it’s a great time to read this book, get to know its compelling characters, and see what becomes of them many years later!
