There is nothing particularly imaginative about the concept behind Deborah Copaken Kogan’s new book; a university reunion, with all the requisite unsettled feuds, romances and resentments, is hardly breaking new ground.

The joy of The Red Book - and what makes it deserving of its spot on the longlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction - comes in the characters, and how richly painted they are. Four women, back at Harvard two decades after graduation, but now with spouses, children and heaps of emotional baggage, and not a single one is a stereotype. From actress-turned-housewife Mia, to hard-hitting journalist Jane, and from bohemian artist Addison to the steely, ambitious Clover, these are all women you’d be delighted to share a coffee with.

A former Harvard student herself, Copaken Kogan doesn’t scrimp on the details of Ivy League life, and at times the references to aspects of this are confusing. Likewise, when the characters are placed at loggerheads to create drama and tension, it can feel a little contrived - especially since the spats blow over so quickly. Far more engaging is her analysis - surely drawn from personal experience - of how female friendships can change and develop over time, yet still remain fundamentally as they were when formed.

With a likeable central quartet and a charismatic array of supporting characters - Addison’s hostile teenage daughter stands out - this is a gem of a novel, with more than a few astute observations about 21st century life. A light read, and by no means suspense-filled, yet it is still one that will stay with you. As to whether it will beat the hefty competition for the Women’s Prize - with Hilary Mantel on the list that seems unlikely - who knows, but what the novel is really crying out for is a film adaptation. A film, of course, with four fantastic lead roles.

The Red Book is available to buy online here.