Melissa Rochelle's Reviews > The After Party

We know at the beginning that the beautiful Houston socialite Joan Fortier is going to go missing again. It drives the story forward, this upcoming mystery. Telling us the story is Joan's best friend from infancy, also named Joan, but she's stripped of her name when the two start school and is now Cece. Cece goes back and forth between her childhood with Joan and 1957 when they are 25 and Cece is married with a young child. Cece almost comes across as a tad obsessed with Joan, but she also recognizes this and tries to reign it in. Joan is the type of person that can easily take over a person's life. Their friendship is even a point of contention with Cece's husband Ray.

I'm talking about these characters like they're real. I could easily sit around gossiping about these wealthy, glamorous Houston women for hours.

Anyway...Joan has gone missing before, when they were seniors in high school. The bulk of the book is Cece trying to explain their complicated relationship and her trying to unravel the complexities of Joan.

I was completely wrapped up in their world and want to go to Houston just to drive around River Oaks. I'm a little sad the Shamrock isn't still around.

Wonderful book.