It's been dubbed a uniquely intimate portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr., from his closest friend, and that pretty much tells you all you need to know. "Forever Young" by William Sylvester Noonan is either a book you will swallow in one sitting or will throw against the wall, as you wonder why you wasted your time. The two Irish-Americans became friends growing up in Hyannisport, Massachusetts. Both, it turns out, had lost their fathers at a very young age. "Forever Young" (which has already been blasted by some Kennedy family members) offers new details about John's courtship of Carolyn Bessette as well as his relationship with Jackie. There is also, of course, the sad account of the plane crash that killed John, Carolyn, and Carolyn's sister.

($25.95 / 256 pages / Viking)