The synopsis: Annie Adams is days away from her thirty-second birthday and thinks she has finally found some happiness. She visits the world's most interesting places for her syndicated travel column and she's happily cohabiting with her movie director boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. But when Nick comes home from a meeting with his therapist (aka "futures counselor") and announces that he's taking a break from their relationship so he can pursue a woman from his past, the place Annie had come to call home is shattered. Reeling, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin-a grounded, charming chef who seems to be everything Annie didn't know she was looking for. Within three months, Griffin is Annie's husband and Annie finds herself trying to restart her life in rural Massachusetts.

My thoughts:  One of the first things I do is judge a book by it's cover.  With Laura Dave though,  I judged by her book's title.  When I saw London is the Best City in America on BN's annual clearance sale two years ago, I had to have it.  The synopsis sounded vaguely enticing but the title, and the cover (the hardcover edition with the girl in a dress standing pigeon toed-love it!) are what sold the book for me.  It sat on my shelf for entirely too long before I picked it up.  The end result upon completion of the novel?  1)  I could kick myself for waiting so long to read something so eloquent and compelling.  2)  D is one of the first sections I go to now to see if she's written anything new.  The First Husband, her third novel has it all:  her as the author, the intriguing title, an awesome and quirky cover, and an enticing synopsis.  I loved it, was upset when I finished it, read it again, was upset again.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  All told,  I've had this book now for three months and I've read it 5 times.  It's on my nightstand because I love it so much that I probably will read it again soon.  I fell in love with each and every character.  From Nick to Annie to Griffin's brother.  I don't see that I'll ever fall out of adoration with this book, though I think it probably would like a break from me.  For me, Laura Dave has done something very hard to do.  While I can watch movies that I love forever, it's very rare that the element of happiness that comes with a surprising twist or conclusion in  a novel can stay with me through more than a couple of reads.  The story and characters are so effusive and charming in this novel that I can pretty much guarantee that this book will not become one that just sits on my shelves collecting dust.

Fun note:  It looks like London is the Best City in America has not only been optioned with movie rights, but they've cast Reese Witherspoon as the lead (not surprising since her production company bought it).  The Divorce Party, her second novel, has also been optioned and purchased by Jennifer Aniston's production company.  It looks like Gwyn Lurie will be adapting both to screenplay.  I hope she stays true to the novels, they were so beautifully written.  Here's hoping they're in talks for The First Husband also!