At first I wasn't sure what to make of this book. I kept reading and found myself turning the pages with anticipation. It's definately a parody in places but it also manages to combine philosophy, humor and even Jesus into a rich soup of suburban life. It's one of those books you pick up and can't quite put down. The title character of "April" is the ray of light in this crazy mixed up household. It's a great vacation/beach read.

Ellen Kaplan has returned to her family in Philmont, PA after 2 years in Europe. She means it as a surprise, but gets a surprise herself: James, her academic brother who has NEVER had a girlfriend, now has a girlfriend named April, and she's moved into the house and seems to have taken Ellen's place.

Ellen instantly starts plotting to remove April so life can go back to how it used to be -- her father has insisted Ellen get a job for once in her life and stop asking for hand-outs (must be April's doing!), James gives all his attention to April and not her (definitely April's fault!) etc etc

Ellen's father gives her the task of using her journalism degree from Columbia to write one article for the local newspaper. Ellen starts to uncover an intriguing story with April's help. Along the way, she is not sure how she feels about April or why April loves her so unconditionally. You can't guess the reason --but it is an interesting plot twist when it comes up!

The book is supposedly American but has British spellings, which threw me off, but then I just attributed it to the fact that the main character is back from Europe. You have to suspend your belief in reality a little to read this book -- it seems to be part science fiction, what with the scene with the monkey in the library --- but it all makes for a fresh, entertaining read, rife with interesting characters and a heroine who gets on your nerves with her arrogance (and don't those make for the best reading anyway?)

Reading this book is like eating lemon sherbert washed down with champagne. The dialogue fizzes along, risking aching stomach muscles at evey page.
There is some startling imagery, for instance: 'April has curled up like a crayfish prodded with a stick'. And I love the visual detail. When she talks about the hospital with its 'crocheted afghans which lie complacently against mustard yellow vinyl couches' you can almost feel them 'tearing your skin off when you stand.'
Yet the story of snobby, smart arse Ellen's coming home to find the sugar and spice April in her bed, is much more than a witty ,well written take on family life.
Lemaitre's surreal touches lift this book into another dimension. Only the most assured and original writer could give us the monkey in the library scene for example!
I loved this book. Not only did it make me laugh out loud, it did what all good books should do, it surprised, unsettled and fascinated me.