Unlike the Frants living their quiet ordered lives in the village of Appleford, Tess and Becky are of the generation that reckons it can have everything. High flyers in the high-octane world of London's high-finance, they move through the opportunists, the short-termists, the sharks, the bullies and the very, very rich to face many choices, not least the one presented by biology: children.

How they and an older generation balance the texture of their lives is offered in a story with universal themes. Brilliantly and beautifully combined with a tender and unexpected love story and a journey to maturity, it is the work of a fine and courageous writer.

`A modern day Vanity Fair . . . brilliantly done' Mail on Sunday

`With her customary understanding and compassion, Buchan nudges [Tess and Becky] towards the recognition of what really matters when the chips are down. A satisfyingly easy but never facile read' Daily Telegraph

`She refreshes the parts other writers don't know about' Daily Mail