THE VIEW FROM PENTHOUSE B by Elinor Lipman

Margot and Gwen-Laura are sisters who have both lost their husbands, in a fashion, and are living together in Margot's ritzy apartment.  Gwen's husband, Edwin, died suddenly of a heart defect, and she is reluctant to rejoin the world of dating.  Margot's husband, Charles, is a gynecologist currently serving time for being a personal sperm donor for his patients.  Margot is also broke, thanks to Bernie Madoff, but she still has the penthouse, home not only to her and her sister, but also to a delightful gay young man, Anthony, who has a knack for making cupcakes and multi-tasking.  When Margot's husband is paroled and moves into the same building, reconciliation must be afoot, even though he's anxious to have a rapport with the son produced by one of his office liaisons.  Gwen, the narrator, is everyone's project, as they poke and prod her to get on with her life.  If there's a message here, it's subtle, and I prefer to take this type of novel at face value—just good, clean fun.  No one is completely distasteful, and no one is perfect, either—except perhaps Anthony.  I guess there are two big questions:  Should Margot forgive her husband for multiple acts of adultery, and can Gwen find love without feeling traitorous toward Edwin?  These are serious issues but treated with a light touch here, and I don't object to that at all.  Sometimes the best lessons don't have to be pounded into you with a lot of angst and hand-wringing.