Lovesick

I'm the best buddy, old best pal, faithful Jeanmarie. That means I keep my mitts off Chuck, even if he has had my heart since we were in fourth grade and he was the only one who didn't laugh when I threw up my egg salad on rye during choir. It takes about all the willpower I can muster not to blurt out my undying love. I am destined to be one of those plain Janes whose friends are always prettier and richer and who know practically from birth you never ever wear white after Labor Day.

It is 1953 and Jeanmarie Dowd is crazy about handsome Chuck Neary, captain of Rainier High School's hockey team and boy wonder musician. But he belongs to Terry Miller, her best friend, the school's reigning beauty. But Jeanmarie has a few things going for her, too. She is smart, fun loving, and energetic with a wicked sense of humor. She accepts her role as Chuck's chief confident, knowing it that might lead to betraying her best friend. She also must deal with her sister Iris, suspected of being a Communist. Can she be loyal to both her sister and Terry without betraying those she loves most?

"Lovesick is an extraordinary story. Through the eyes and heart of Jeanmarie Dowd, the author explores the meaning of love, loyalty and grief. With a skillful balance of tenderness and wry humor, Sullivan has created a time capsule of the fifties in America. The book is rich with family, friends, and romance against a backdrop of rising political tension in the nation. An excellent read!" - Q.L. Pearce, author of Red Bird Sings