Book Spotlight: My Best Friend's Girl

My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson is a poignant tale about love, lost friendship and the depths a person will venture in search of redemption. Set in England, two girls meet in college and despite their differences (in personality and background) they become fast friends.

"Kamryn and Adele thought nothing could come between them – until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn’s fiance. Two years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter."

My Best Friend's Girl is introspective and clever, mixing the right amount of heartfelt and heart-breaking. It's ripe with components for a character-driven drama and I'd actually like to see two adaptations: an American and British version.

It would be interesting to see how screenwriters Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married) or Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) could orchestrate the script. Or how directors Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy), Ava DuVernay (I Will Follow) or Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) could bring the story to life. If any of those filmmakers got attached to this project I'd be extremely pleased. As for actors... Tracey Heggins (Medicine for Melancholy) and Greta Gerwig (Greenberg) would top my list as leads. 

This would be the kind of movie that plays at Sundance and gets distributed by IFC Films or Focus Features in order for it to be done right. The worst thing that could happen is for it to fall into the hands of someone who would go for over-the-top sappy. In that case, I rather see it stay as a novel.

I really enjoyed reading My Best Friend's Girl and it's fitting for Reel Artsy to include books to the quest of spotlighting all things quirky and awkwardly cute.