ALICE Hoffman's, 'Local Girls' is set in the dreamy backdrop of Long Island village, and is based around the dysfunctional Samuelson family, chiefly the witty and astute perspective of the novel's central character Gretel Samuelson. It builds an effigy of the pivotal events in both her and her nearest and dearests lives.

Put together in chronological order spanning the space of around a decade, 'Local Girls' auspicious opening rolls into an affluent, emotional use of prose and generally well put together story. Narrated in alternating voices (not dissimilar to Maeve Binchy's 'The Lilac Bus') Hoffman's characters are heartfelt and genuine, with particular emphasis on the extraordinary trio of women who play a major roll in the navigation of Gretel's upbringing. These being, her mother, whose spiritual influence has bearing upon them all, her best friend Jill, and her romance dependent cousin Margot.

Gretel is sadly afflicted with the shambolic divorce of her parents, the failing health of her mother, and a brother about to discard early admission into Harvard for a deli job at the Food Star and a flourishing drug habit. She herself goes on to fall for the local amphetamine dealer, and drop out of school upon discovering of her pregnancy. All of which lends toward a witty, impassioned, and at times a little disturbing experience for its readers.

However, the occasional super-natural aspects which have an unfortunate tendency to rear up (talking cats and ghosts of Grandmothers for example) struck me as ill-suited and somewhat forced in this otherwise touching and impressively written story of blood ties and powerful friendships. Review by Elizabeth King