A funny, sharp and also moving first novel about a young woman -- and a whole family -- taught a lesson in life by the person they least expected to be able to teach them anything at all. Although she sees herself rather differently (a very mature feat of storytelling in itself), Ellen is a spoiled middle-class girl who has never done a day's work in her life. Returning from a trip to Europe with the intention of surprising her doting parents and adored elder brother, she is appalled to find her place in the arty, health-food-eating, politically-conscious family taken by an overweight junk-food and soap-opera fan by the name of April who introduces herself as the brother's girlfriend. Worst of all, the entire family seems very fond of April to the extent that they are all eating chocolate breakfast cereal and ignoring the exotic traveller Ellen. There follows a very funny comedy of modern manners, in which Ellen tries to get rid of April, and in so doing comes eventually to grasp some home truths about herself.