The Actor and the Housewife, by Shannon Hale, is a charmer. It took me a long time to read and not because I disliked the book but because it was deceivingly long! While the paperback looked completely normal, the paper was thin and the font was small. That's my theory anyway.
The story is about a housewife, Becky, who loves her husband and children fiercely. She loves being a wife and mother. You can feel how much while reading. She's so satisfied and happy. It was nearly unrealistic, but Becky is such a real character that it was hard to find fault. Felix, the actor, is Becky's best friend. They meet while Becky is in Los Angeles selling a screenplay. They become enamored of each other in a strictly platonic way - at least on Becky's part. Felix is British, charming, successful, and terribly witty. I fell in love with him. I confess.
The dialogue between the two main characters made me smile. It was fun, quirky and you could feel the chemistry. I wanted this story to be a romance so badly! But maybe at heart it really was. If this story has a weakness, it's that Becky and Felix weren't together enough. The two were magical together. When they were apart, when Becky was going on and on about how happy she was with her family, it got a little long. That's minor though.
Becky is a Mormon so there are several mentions of her faith and her relationship with God. This doesn't bother me in the slightest but let that serve as a warning for those who would be bothered. This is a great story of friendship that I highly recommend.
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