Animals
by Emma Jane Unsworth
I loved loved loved this! I defy anyone who, after reading this in a day (because you will), does not a) crack open a bottle of wine; b) put on trance music and have a good bop around the house. The whole book is full of drunken naughtiness - the only way the 2 main characters can get through the day is to down a least 2 bottles of wine - and the rest. Drugs, litres and litres of alcohol, relationships, friendships, family, work, clubs, bars more bars - it's a never ending rollercoaster of booze-fuelled fun!
Laura and Tyler are best friends living together in a flat paid for by Tyler's father. When they're not working in their respective low-paid jobs (Tyler is a waitress in a coffee shop, Laura is a call-centre operative) they're out getting high and drunk. But Laura is engaged to be married to classical pianist Jim (who is constantly touring the world with his concerts) and both she and Tyler know that at some point Laura will be moving out, and moving on. Tyler is not keen on Jim, they've never seen eye to eye, so when Jim stops drinking and is constantly phoning Laura to see where she is and how drunk she is, she tries her best to dissuade Laura from marrying him. Will she succeed, and what effect will it have on their friendship and their future?
Caitlin Moran has a quote on the front cover - "I wish I had written this book...Withnail with girls." A great summation of a great book.
