Utterly enticing. This book is packed full of gripping and giddy moments… [A] gorgeous story.” —Beth Reekles, author of Lockdown on London Lane
"Whenever I need my faith in humanity restored (which, let's face it: lately is often), I pick up a Phaedra Patrick book. The Messy Lives of Book People is no exception. Witty, relevant and delightful, with the perfect touch of mystery, this story is a salve to the soul—and I'm already looking forward to reading it again." —Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND
“I have consumed this book! What a masterpiece. Intriguing, moving and full of truths about writing and life. I loved it!” —Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins
“The Messy Lives of Book People is the perfect book if you need a lift, or to feel better about the world. It’s a read-in-one-sitting-while-smiling kind of a story. Just lovely.” —Claire Pooley, bestselling author of The Authenticity Project
“Fans of lively fiction will be instantly drawn into the world Patrick creates with her signature charming, breezy style which is further enlivened with nods to popular literature.” —Booklist
“A feel-good story in which hearts are mended, lives find purpose, and books are the touchstones to finding life’s secrets… [a] simply delightful read.” —Library Journal, starred review
01/01/2022
In Honey and Spice, following Babalola's buzzy debut story collection, Love in Color, young Black British woman Kiki Banjo—host of a popular student radio show and known for preaching bad-relationship avoidance—gets tangled in a fake liaison with the very guy she's been citing as big trouble. From Bays, co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning series How I Met Your Mother, 2015 New York-set The Mutual Friend features Alice Quick, mourning her mother, barely managing as a nanny, and trying to make herself sign up for the MCATs even as her tech millionaire brother experiences a religious awakening. In Blush author Brenner's latest, three sisters from a Gilt-edged family in the jewelry business are torn apart following a publicity stunt gone wrong, with one sister dying in a subsequent accident and her daughter struggling to regain traction within the family. In Coleman's Good Morning, Love, aspiring songwriter/musician Carlisa "Carli" Henton's efforts to keep her business and personal lives separate crumble when she meets rising hip-hop star Tau Anderson (50,000-copy first printing). From Egyptian-Irish BBC broadcaster El-Wardany, These Impossible Things features friends Malak, Kees, and Jenna, on the verge of adulthood as they struggle to be good Muslim women yet wanting to follow their dreams (50,000-copy first printing). In Fowler's It All Comes Down To This, three sisters—freelance journalist Beck, struggling with her marriage and a desire to write fiction; Claire, an accomplished pediatric cardiologist, recently divorced; and Sophie, leading a glamorous life she can't afford—face their mother's impending death and the fate of their beloved summer cottage on Mount Desert Island, ME. In Ho's Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic, a follow-up to the LJ-starred Last Tang Standing, a hardworking career woman gives up on finding the right guy after her fiancé calls off their marriage and signs up for an elective co-parenting website so that she can have a baby—with unexpected consequences. In USA Today best-selling Moore's latest, Maine is not exactly Vacationland for Louisa when she visits her parents one summer with her three children, as she's dealing with an unfinished book, an absentee husband, and a father suffering from Alzheimer's, plus a young stranger in town trying to get her own life in order (100,000-copy first printing). In popular Patrick's The Messy Life of Book People, Liv Green forms a tentative friendship with the mega-best-selling author for whom she works as a housecleaner but is surprised when the author dies suddenly and in her will asks that Liv complete her final book (75,000 paperback and 10,000-copy paperback first printing). In Saint X author Schaitkin's Elsewhere, an interesting departure, Vera grows up in a small town where for generations women keep vanishing mysteriously (200,000-copy first printing). Vercher follows the Edgar-nominated, best-booked Three-Fifths with After the Lights Go Out, about a biracial MMA fighter aging out of his career and facing his father's end-stage Alzheimer's when he scores a last-minute comeback fight. Already a multi-award winner, Wolfe debuts with Last Summer on State Street, about Felicia "Fe Fe" Stevens and two close-as-hugging friends—a happy threesome that expands to an uneasy foursome even as the Chicago Housing Authority prepares to tear down the high-rise in the projects where Fe Fe's family lives (50,000-copy first printing).
09/01/2022
Patrick (The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper) has written a novel about a woman's search for herself while living the life of someone else, a famous author no less. Single mother of two Liv Green is struggling to make ends meet. She loves to read and dreams of becoming a writer. When her favorite author, Essie Starling, a notorious recluse, hires her as her house cleaner, Liv is beyond excited. Then Essie dies suddenly, and Liv learns that Essie's dying wish is for her to finish her final novel. As Liv researches and begins to write, she realizes a connection the two women share. Liv is a relatable character thrust into a unique situation. Essie's final request gives her the opportunity for new experiences, allowing her to expand her horizons while pursuing her dreams. Narrator Katy Sobey brings Liv to life, giving depth to both the personal struggles and the triumphs of the main character. The ending, while not surprising, will satisfy readers. VERDICT Informed listeners will also enjoy the many novels the protagonist reads, including both classics and more recent books.—Elyssa Everling
Narrator Katy Sobey inhabits Liv Green, a house cleaner who dreams of becoming a writer. Sobey gives unique British voices to the characters in this novel. Essie Starling, a reclusive author who is one of Liv’s clients, has a demanding tone, even as she encourages Liv’s dream to write. When Essie dies, Liv is forced to keep it a secret, straining her marriage. But her compliant housekeeper’s voice begins to gather confidence as she assumes the role of personal assistant and rushes to complete Essie’s last manuscript while maneuvering to keep her death a secret from the public. Chloe, a journalist who is looking to uncover Essie’s secrets, sounds cloying as she seeks to identify the reasons behind Essie’s reclusive life. Minor characters are also given unique vocal personalities. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Narrator Katy Sobey inhabits Liv Green, a house cleaner who dreams of becoming a writer. Sobey gives unique British voices to the characters in this novel. Essie Starling, a reclusive author who is one of Liv’s clients, has a demanding tone, even as she encourages Liv’s dream to write. When Essie dies, Liv is forced to keep it a secret, straining her marriage. But her compliant housekeeper’s voice begins to gather confidence as she assumes the role of personal assistant and rushes to complete Essie’s last manuscript while maneuvering to keep her death a secret from the public. Chloe, a journalist who is looking to uncover Essie’s secrets, sounds cloying as she seeks to identify the reasons behind Essie’s reclusive life. Minor characters are also given unique vocal personalities. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine