THE OCCASIONAL VIRGIN

Fans of multicultural literature will find much to admire in this novel, which features Middle Eastern characters at home and abroad, portrayed by an enthusiastic narrator. Yvonne and Huda are childhood best friends with complicated pasts. Narrator Soneela Nankani plumbs the depths of their emotional entanglements with dramatic effect. She smoothly switches between the two Lebanese women at the center of the story, the Italians they meet on holiday, and the English in London, where Yvonne lives. Using varied accents, pacing, and pitch, Nankani creates additional verisimilitude for the story's international settings. Will a man come between these friends who have overcome so many other boundaries--including being stigmatized for their religion? Nankani makes sure listeners will stick around to find out. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2018]