Publishers Weekly
04/25/2022
An 18-year-old navigates first love and turbulent familial relationships in Horan’s hopeful debut, a queer contemporary interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. New Yorker Jane, who went viral after being found as an infant in “an oversized Gucci handbag in the back of the Poughkeepsie train station,” has never met her biological family. When DNA test results—compiled by 18-year-old best friend Algie without Jane’s knowledge—provide an opportunity to meet her biological aunt and cousin, Jane hesitates. She’s even more reluctant to risk rejection, and potential humiliation, by promposing to 18-year-old Gwen, her longtime crush and Algie’s cousin. Luckily, she has Algie and her own 15-year-old cousin, Cecil, whom Algie has feelings for, in her corner as she resolves to reconcile with her infamous past and take a chance on romance. Wilde’s influence is modest at best in this comedy of errors that’s light on the errors and lacks the source material’s stakes and acidity, but Horan’s snappy banter and lighthearted approach to conflict make for a breezy read. Most characters cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Elle Thompson and Uwe Stender, Triada US. (June)
From the Publisher
"How do you update Oscar Wilde for the internet age? In Molly Horan’s charming debut, the answer is to wrap the dazzling wordplay around a gentle—even earnest—exploration of new love and old wounds. Epically Earnest is a hopeful, romantic, sharply observed comedy of manners with a winning cast, and a group dance number that belongs in the rom-com hall of fame." — Amanda Sellet, author of By the Book and Belittled Women
"A delightful story that puts Ernest in the shoes of a modern girl as she navigates internet fame, first love, and the real meaning of family. With dazzling wit and heart for days, Horan’s stand-out debut would make Oscar Wilde proud!" — Kaitlyn Hill, author of Love From Scratch
"Debut-author Horan delivers a lighthearted, feel-good romp with engaging characters who are clever and well realized." — Booklist
"Horan’s snappy banter and lighthearted approach to conflict make for a breezy read." — Publishers Weekly
"A lighthearted romance with just enough drama and some sincere exploration of familial and romantic relationships." — Kirkus Reviews
"Non-stereotypical portrayals of queer identity make this a worthwhile addition to high school collections." — School Library Journal
Amanda Sellet
"How do you update Oscar Wilde for the internet age? In Molly Horan’s charming debut, the answer is to wrap the dazzling wordplay around a gentle—even earnest—exploration of new love and old wounds. Epically Earnest is a hopeful, romantic, sharply observed comedy of manners with a winning cast, and a group dance number that belongs in the rom-com hall of fame."
Kaitlyn Hill
"A delightful story that puts Ernest in the shoes of a modern girl as she navigates internet fame, first love, and the real meaning of family. With dazzling wit and heart for days, Horan’s stand-out debut would make Oscar Wilde proud!"
School Library Journal
07/01/2022
Gr 9 Up—This reimagining of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest centers on high school senior Jane Worthing, who was found in a designer handbag as an infant and adopted by loving parents—the subject of a viral video that sometimes brings her unwanted attention. Her best friend Algie goads her to search for her birth parents. Meanwhile, Algie's alluring but unattainable high society cousin Gwen Fairfax enters the scene, having recently exited a relationship because her erstwhile lover was of only modest wealth and pedigree, and was spurned by Gwen's parents. Swooning Jane pursues her eagerly; Jane's lack of aristocracy never proves to be a hurdle to their love story, and neither, refreshingly, does her gender or sexuality. Meanwhile, libertine Algie is pursued by Jane's naive, lovesick cousin Cecil. Both queer relationships evolve without the conflict that their setups would seem to predict, and crescendo around a prom night for the books. References to teen drinking, underwear parties, and porn stars land this title on the decidedly mature end of the YA spectrum. VERDICT While the plot is a bit lightweight and devoid of literary tension, non-stereotypical portrayals of queer identity make this a worthwhile addition to high school collections.—Mallory Weber
Kirkus Reviews
2022-03-16
Eighteen-year-old New Yorker Janey is blindsided by the possibility of contact with her biological family while also trying to win over the girl of her dreams.
It’s the end of senior year for Janey and her wealthy best friend, Algie. For years, Janey has been totally smitten by Gwen, a cousin of Algie’s who will be visiting for spring break. Meanwhile, Algie is pursuing Janey’s wide-eyed cousin, Cecil. Janey’s life is complicated by her notoriety as former viral internet sensation “Bag Baby,” so called due to her adoptive father’s finding her abandoned in a Gucci handbag in a train station in Poughkeepsie. Janey was happy not knowing anything about her biological family until a DNA test—submitted without her consent by Algie, a violation that is treated relatively lightly—reveals an aunt and a cousin whom Janey is not sure she wants to meet. The story, inspired by The Importance of Being Earnest, is a lighthearted romance with just enough drama and some sincere exploration of familial and romantic relationships. However, Oscar Wilde fans should be aware that it only really offers the window dressing of the play that inspired it—names, a top hat, a baby left in a handbag—and not the farcical plot, witty dialogue, or social satire. Readers who can accept that will find this to be a fun, easy, and romantic read. All of the characters read as White.
A breezy, queer teen romance that is Wilde-inspired but not Wilde-an in execution. (Romance. 13-18)
