Little Vanities by Sarah Gilmartin
An intense psychological study of relationships, this tells the story of four friends who have known each other since university days. Dylan, an ex-footballer, struggling with long Covid, harbours a secret attraction to Stevie, his friend Ben’s rather wild girlfriend, even though he is married to uptight Rachel and has a daughter. Rachel is trying to get pregnant. When Ben obtains a prime role in Harold Pinter’s play Betrayal , the old jealousies and rivalries come to the fore, transforming each of the characters. This may sound unsubtle, but the play is used in a very clever way. I was sorry to finish this - it was such a clever portrayal of long friendships, long relationships and hidden feelings. The university days seemed more vivid than the present but I think that the author may have intended this to show the disillusionment and regrets of the characters. Dublin is almost like a fifth character in the book - it really made me want to revisit the city! I’ll read Sarah Gilmart...
