THE CHOCOLATE LOVERS’ CLUB

Four British women commiserate and conspire over chocolate in the latest from U.K. bestselling author Matthews (Welcome to the Real World, 2006, etc.).

Lucy Lombard has hit yet another rough patch in her on-again-off-again relationship with handsome Marcus: The dashing young man just can’t seem to commit. When Lucy stumbles upon him seducing a svelte brunette, she understands why. Lucy subsequently calls for a meeting of the Chocolate Lovers’ Club, whose members consist of Lucy and her sweet-toothed soul mates, Chantal, Nadia and Autumn. The members all harbor a deep passion for fine cocoa concoctions and possess messed-up love lives. To convene the Chocolate Lovers’ Club, a member need only send a text message to the others stating that she is having a “Serious Chocolate Emergency.” The women then drop everything to gather at their favorite haunt, Chocolate Heaven. And there are plenty of 911 messages—much like the gals from Sex and the City, these 30 year olds seem to court trouble. While trying to rebound from Marcus’s betrayal, Lucy manages to attract both her boss and a male escort—where oh where are suitable suitors? As for the others, Chantal and Nadia are suffering through tricky spots in their marriages, and Autumn is dealing with a junkie brother who moves in with her and manages to wreck her apartment and interfere with a budding romance. Matthews presents gal pals who sidestep pettiness to forge remarkable friendships. It’s a welcome sight: women banding together to help solve problems.

Calorie-free satisfaction.