Madeleine Gray’s first novel, Green Dot (2023), was a witty account of a messy office affair, whose fans included Nigella Lawson and Gillian Anderson. Eve – who is short-haired and self-possessed – arrives at the school and Nell is fascinated by her. In 2024, Eve is raising Lake, the seven-year-old daughter she shares with Nell, as a single parent, unsure where Nell is or even if she is alive. The narrative builds to revealing the betrayal in adulthood, which has led to Eve bringing up Lake alone. There is more than a nod to Armistead Maupin here; yet how satisfyingly complicated the central relationship is in this lively exploration of female attachment.