Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor most of his adult life, the only place he felt at peace was at home in Silver Lake, Ohio with his parents—but after their sudden death, he is left on his own. Eager to help their brother, Steve’s siblings, Scott and Sylvia, who both live in Los Angeles, scramble to find someone reliable to live with Steve. The answer to their problem comes in the form of Sylvia’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is desperate to find a place to live; within days, she moves in with Steve. This is the story of Steve and Nancy, who, as virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity, forge a way to live in fragile harmony. Sometimes dark, sometimes humorous, Just in Time is a hopeful, firsthand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic.Trade Review2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in Second Novel 2018 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary "Jackson effectively represents the overwhelming nature of caring for a loved one with schizophrenia, which is seldom seen in fiction. She offers readers an expert understanding of the pitfalls of such a life: the revolving-door culture of caregivers, a mental health system that often leaves families at a loss, and the social stigma that constantly threatens to derail healing progress.” —Kirkus Reviews “Finally, finally, our culture is talking about mental illness and the suffering it brings to those it strikes and those who love them. In this addictively readable, well-written novel, based on her own true story, Joan Jackson humanizes—and even humorizes—the impact of schizophrenia.” —Meredith Maran, author of The New Old Me “I loved it. An honestly told story of a family coping with a situation that they have inherited. So beautifully written. It will resonate with many readers.” —Liz Murphy, former owner of The Learned Owl Book Store, Hudson, OH “What a lovely book! Your characters jump off the page and into our hearts. Steve lives and breathes. Thank you for letting me read it.” —Carol Burnett, author, comedienne, and actress “Joan Jackson delivers a pitch-perfect account of a family in crisis and the complex challenges of mental illness. With delicate intimacy, humor, and heart, Jackson seamlessly weaves reality into fiction in this moving document of the resiliency of the human spirit.” —Alexia LaFortune, MA Developmental Clinical Psychology, MARI, FAMI, author of Sex, Love, and Spirit: A Memoir “This remarkable book is an illuminating experience that brings a schizophrenic’s world to life. Bold and uplifting, Just in Time is a heartfelt, valuable contribution for families and professionals dealing with mental illness as well as an entertaining read for all.” —Ellen G Ruderman, Psychotherapist, Encino, CA "An intimate and lovely book about the messiness of a life lived with schizophrenia; filled with kindness, and quirkiness and a generosity of spirit; at times you feel like a voyeur; other times a family member. Joan L. Jackson weaves the story with a precise needle and thread; you feel exasperated, joyful, hopeful, worried, a bit anxious, and in one exquisitely drawn chapter toward the end of the book - waiting to exhale as you hold on to the seat of your pants. But, mostly, because of the beauty in Ms. Jackson's writing, you feel the power of resilience and love.” —Amy Ferris, author, Marrying George Clooney, Confessions from a Midlife Crisis, and editor of Shades of Blue "Just In Time is both a compelling & sensitive narrative, an emotional roller coaster that chronicles the journey of a family confronted with a loved one diagnosed with a mental disorder—in this case schizophrenia. Jackson is a good storyteller and Just In Time captures the emotions, challenges, successes, and failures that are part of siblings Steve & Sylvia’s complex relationship that evolves over the years. Its underlying premise is uplifting, because it is a story about hope. Sometimes it's not about tough love – it's just about love – that can make that which seems impossible, possible." —Jim Vidakovich, media strategist and best selling author "As the novel moves forward, it feels like reading a diary. The moments are intimate, the dialogue sincere, and the conflicts real . . . The book is a perfect read for anyone interested in the authentic struggles of a family trying to move forward, because, as Nancy says, eventually, “We’re all moving on.” —San Francisco Review "Joan L. Jackson has written an important and realistic novel about schizophrenia and its impact on a family. The characters were well developed, and the plot, though simple, kept the story moving with brisk pacing throughout the novel. Its strength was the depictions of Steve's symptoms and thought processes." —Storybook Circle Reviews

Read more less

Book SynopsisVeronica thinks she’s happy. But with fight after fight, night after night, she knows that something isn’t right anymore. Then her husband busts her researching witchcraft—and her picturesque suburban life is turned upside down. As her marriage falls apart, she knows that for her own sake and for the sake of her small daughter, something has to change. The Trouble With Becoming A Witch is about what happens when a woman decides to stop living the life everyone has told her she is supposed to lead and starts living a life true to her desires. But seizing your own magic isn’t easy—and as Veronica’s marriage spirals downward, she’s forced to look deeply into who she wants to be-come. Is risking the security of life as she knows it worth becoming the witch—and woman—she knows she truly is?Trade Review“The Trouble with Becoming a Witch is funny, honest, sometimes shocking, and all about what happens when a woman decides to stop living the life everyone expects of her and seizes the magic of becoming true to herself.” —Suzanne Lang, host of KRCB-FM’s A Novel Idea “. . . an emotional journey that will resonate with you through a realistic voice that follows the journey of a woman that strives to find herself.” —Readers’ Favorite “Chic lit and women’s fiction fans will find The Trouble With Becoming a Witch a gripping story that lends not only to a beach take-along or leisure choice, but to thought-provoking insights about the sources of growth and achievement.” —The Midwest Book Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisSamantha—the fashionable wife of a successful businessman and doting mother of one—struggles to negotiate the spheres of intimacy between her husband and her family of origin. Samantha loves her husband, Richard, and she loves her sister, Elizabeth. But the two of them can barely exist in the same room, which has caused the entire family years of emotional distress. Yet it’s not until Samantha’s sister is diagnosed at age forty-three with lung cancer that her family and her marriage are tipped into full-blown crisis. A story of love, loss, forgiveness, learning to live with grief, and healing, Appearances will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced tension in their familial relationships—even as it serves as a poignant reminder that no amount of privilege can protect us from family conflicts, marital difficulty, or mortality.

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Berger excels at showing her characters to be people who were raised in old-fashioned homes who are now confronting unconventional, risky life choices—and dealing with the stresses and absurdities that follow their decisions. A smart, nuanced novel about open marriage . . .” —Kirkus Reviews “Sande Boritz Berger sets a 1970s Jersey housewife on a provocative collision course in Split-Level, a sharp portrait of female empowerment. Through sensitive insights, a woman finds an honest version of herself after realizing that her ideas on the nuclear family have made her erase vital parts of her identity.” —Foreword Reviews (five-star review) In Split-Level, set as the nation recoils from Nixon, Alex Pearl is about to commit the first major transgression of her life. But why shouldn’t she remain an officially contented, soon-to-turn-thirty wife? She’s got a lovely home in an upscale Jersey suburb, two precocious daughters, and a charming husband, Donny. But Alex can no longer deny she craves more—some infusion of passion into the cul-de-sac world she inhabits. After she receives a phone call from her babysitter’s mother reporting that Donny took the teen for a midnight ride, promising he’d teach her how to drive, Alex insists they attend Marriage Mountain, the quintessential 1970s “healing couples sanctuary.” Donny accedes—but soon becomes obsessed with the manifesto A Different Proposition and its vision of how multiple couples can live together in spouse-swapping bliss. At first Alex scoffs, but soon she gives Donny much more than he bargained for. After he targets the perfect couple to collude in his fantasy, Alex discovers her desire for love escalating to new heights—along with a willingness to risk everything. Split-Level evokes a pivotal moment in the story of American matrimony, a time when it seemed as if an open marriage might open hearts as well.Trade Review2019 Readers' Favorite Awards Finalist in Fiction (Women's) “How impressive Split-Level is: wonderfully rich with details, fluent and fluid, with an inevitable-yet-unexpected ending, inspired throughout is its portrait of a woman whose essential life is an unconscious double-ness/split-ness.” —Joyce Carol Oates, author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde “Ah, the 1970s. Miniskirts. Suburbia. Tie-dye and the freewheeling era of the so-called open marriage. Boritz Berger’s sly, smart second novel, written in prose as glorious as the era’s iconic tequila sunrise, gives us an on-the-verge-of-an-adventure heroine who comes to realize that sometimes having the life you desperately need means giving up the life you desperately want.” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow “Berger excels at showing her characters to be people who were raised in old-fashioned homes who are now confronting unconventional, risky life choices—and dealing with the stresses and absurdities that follow their decisions. A smart, nuanced novel about open marriage . . .” —Kirkus Reviews “Sande Boritz Berger sets a 1970s Jersey housewife on a provocative collision course in Split-Level, a sharp portrait of female empowerment. Through sensitive insights, a woman finds an honest version of herself after realizing that her ideas on the nuclear family have made her erase vital parts of her identity.” —Foreword Reviews (five-star review) “With humor and poignancy, Berger brings us to the depths of how frightening it is to lose all trust in those we love, and the uncertainty that all we thought we had might slide away.” —Nahid Rachlin, author of Persian Girls and Foreigner “In her latest novel, Split-Level, Sande Boritz Berger paints a vivid picture of the early 1970s, a time when the sexual revolution was making its way through the suburbs of America. With equal parts humor and heart, Berger explores the anguish of a marriage coming apart and how some go to any lengths to mend it.” —Laurie Gelman, author of Class Mom “Split-Level is a gripping, fast-paced story, perfect for readers of literary fiction who enjoy a mature, nuanced look at the complications of marital relationships.” —Betty Hafner, author of Not Exactly Love: A Memoir “A page-turning journey through 1970’s suburbia.” —Elizabeth McCourt, author of Sin in the Big Easy “In Split-Level, Berger, a keen observer of suburban angst, takes us back to the early days of the sexual revolution in the ’burbs—to the promise and reality of bed-hopping and marital bliss—as it plays out in the lives of Alex and Donny Pearl and those of a neighboring couple whose marriage is in a parallel state of decline. Hard to put down; hard to forget.” —Barbara Donsky, author of award-winning Veronica’s Grave: A Daughter’s Memoir and the international bestseller Missing Mother “A poignant look back on suburban post-war haze during the swinging ’70s, Berger has written a smart and unpredictably funny novel. Her protagonist, Alex, grappling with marriage, two small children, and the conflicting social mores of that time, is sure to win over your heart.” —Susan Tepper, author of Monte Carlo Days & Nights and The Merrill Diaries

Read more less

Book Synopsis2019 Readers' Favorite Awards Gold Medal Winner in Fiction (Literary) 2019 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction (Literary) 2019 International Book Awards, Finalist, Fiction (Multicultural) 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Fiction Finalist in Multicultural 2019 Foreword Indie Finalist in Adult Fiction: Multicultural 2019 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner in Fiction “Infused with beauty, humor, and pain, The Alchemy of Noise is a modern American love story that asks if love can bridge the distance between two Americas.” —Laura Nicole Diamond, author of Shelter Us and Deliver Me In a world so full of lonely people and broken hearts, Chris Hawkins, a black sound engineer from Chicago’s south side, and Sidonie Frame—white, suburban-raised, the head manager of one of the city’s most elite venues—meet by work-related happenstance and fall quickly in love, convinced that by that act alone they can inspire peace, joy, and happiness in the world around them. The world, however, has other ideas. Their meeting is serendipitous. Chris, who owns and runs his company, largely spends his time surrounded by members of his own community; Sidonie, conversely, is rarely outside the environs of work and its predominantly white staff and clientele. But when the club’s sound manager goes AWOL on the night of a big event and Chris is hired to come in as a last-minute replacement, their destinies collide. Immediately drawn to each other, they fall quickly into an unexpected and thrilling relationship, inspiring myriad reactions amongst family and friends on both sides of the racial divide. But even as their love story evolves, day-to-day tensions, police disruptions, and the microaggressions Chris constantly encounters as a black man in the gritty environs of Chicago become a cultural flashpoint, challenging Sidonie’s privileged worldview and Chris’s ability to translate the unfolding events. After a random and gut-wrenching series of police encounters shakes their resilience, it’s the shattering circumstance of a violent arrest—one in which Chris is identified as a serial vandal and potential rapist—that sends their world into free fall. He claims his innocence; she believes him. But the forces pushing against them are many and oppressive. With a looming trial, the dissipating loyalties of key allies, and unforeseen twists triggering doubt and suspicion, Sidonie and Chris are driven to question what they really know of each other and just whom to trust, leading to a powerful and emotional conclusion. Lorraine Devon Wilke’s third novel, The Alchemy of Noise, ventures beyond the humor and pathos of family drama explored so cleverly in her first two novels to dig deep into the politics of contemporary culture. At its heart a love story, it explores the complexity of race in a suspenseful drama driven by issues of privilege, prejudice, police profiling and legal entanglements, and the disparities in how those provocative themes impact the various and diverse characters involved.Trade Review2019 Readers' Favorite Awards Gold Medal Winner in Fiction (Literary) 2019 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction (Literary) 2019 International Book Awards, Finalist, Fiction (Multicultural) 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Fiction Silver Medal Winner in Multicultural 2019 Foreword Indie Finalist in Adult Fiction: Multicultural 2019 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner in Fiction “Wilke’s prose is cautious and empathetic, probing at the edges of politeness, taboo, and uncomfortable truth. . . the directness and openness with which the author explores the topic, as well as its continuing relevance, make this a novel that will still read as daring to many.” —Kirkus Reviews “Wilke’s story will satisfy readers with its emotional depth and strong characters, making for a memorable novel.” —Publishers Weekly “A story on fresh beginnings marred by police brutality, The Alchemy of Noise tests the limits of love. Lorraine Devon Wilke’s sharp interracial romance strikes at the heart of contemporary race issues with thoughtful, vulnerable characters who excavate their own beliefs to reaffirm what’s worth fighting for.” —Foreword Reviews “The writing is emotive and highly descriptive, painting snippets of life for Chris as he struggles with the everyday racism and assumptions put upon young black men all across America, and Sidonie’s struggle to connect and understand is intelligently handled. Neither of them is perfect, but together they find something special of their own. Wilke’s superb pacing and frank dialogue guide us through every harrowing moment as they fight hard to protect it. Overall, The Alchemy of Noise is a highly entertaining and engaging piece of drama which shines a light on pivotal issues of today.” —Readers' Favorite “12 Can’t-Miss Books by Women to Read This Year—In this devastating and touching new novel from Lorraine Devon Wilke, two unlikely lovers find themselves in the middle of a corrupt investigation that will change their lives forever.” —Brit + Co “This is not a run-of-the-mill love story. But Lorraine Devon Wilke is not a run-of-the-mill writer. The Alchemy of Noise, a powerful interracial romance with rich, cinematic quality, is gritty, clever, and superbly crafted, sustaining a gut-wrenching level of tension until the final page.” —Jane Davis, award-winning author of Smash All the Windows and nine other titles “Every character was authentic. Sidonie and Chris have great depth; they’re real-life people, and I wanted them to overcome, for their love to prevail. The plot line was great as well. The microaggressions, the hidden and overt racism, the passive-aggressive low-key racism—it was all in there, all very plausible and realistic. The book is a sort of Racism 101, an eye-opener for allies.” —Regina McRae, BLM activist, award-winning baker/owner of NYC bakery Grandma’s Secrets, and author of Taking the Cake: Your Ultimate Cake Guide “Beautifully written, perfectly balanced, and evenly paced, The Alchemy of Noise, Devon Wilke’s story of love, redemption, and racial conflict in the shadow of contemporary urban America, is a tour-de-force from an author at the top of her game.” —Mark Barry, author of The Night Porter and Carla “A powerful novel that wraps the love story of a mixed-race couple in a ‘ripped from the headlines’ narrative, The Alchemy of Noise is alternately touching, painful, sweet, and enraging. With its exploration of race and privilege and stunning, unexpected plot twists, it demands your attention from beginning to end.” —Susie Singer Carter, award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter of My Mom & the Girl and Soul Surfer “An impactful story about race, equality and love, The Alchemy of Noise has quickly become a highly-buzzed-about read in the vast community of female writers.” —Working Mother magazine “Reading this combination love story and page-turning legal drama, I was particularly moved by the exploration of the psychological and emotional impacts of racism on each of the characters. The Alchemy of Noise dives into those issues in new, unexamined ways, and as a professional working in the field of PTSD and family trauma, I found that element to be a powerful and authentic driver of this very topical story.” —Nancy Locke Capers, writer/producer and licensed psychotherapist “A fascinating book, really, really quite something . . . a real Chicago novel. I do find something quite courageous about this book. It’s not only terribly provocative and moves like a freight train, but it's a very, very, very ambitious book.” —Rick Kogan, senior reporter for the Chicago Tribune and host of WGN Radio's After Hours with Rick Kogan “Infused with beauty, humor, and pain, The Alchemy of Noise is a modern American love story that asks if love can bridge the distance between two Americas. Author Lorraine Devon Wilke writes with authenticity, insight, sensitivity. Her characters Sidonie and Chris (and the loved ones in their orbit) stayed with me like old friends whose success I am rooting for but is in no way guaranteed in a world where skin color may be destiny.” —Laura Nicole Diamond, author of Shelter Us and Deliver Me “The story of Sidonie, a white woman, and Chris, a black man, is a well-written and compelling tale of love that offers a glimpse into the unique experiences couples face in interracial relationships. When allegations of criminal activity are lodged against Chris, the two are forced into a confusing and frightening reality that shakes them to their very cores. The Alchemy of Noise is an intense emotional journey, and Wilke masterfully guides us through it with laughter, tears, and thought-provoking insight.” —Kimberley A. Johnson, author of Peyton’s Choice and The Virgin Diaries “The Alchemy of Noise is an honest, empathetic, and powerful look at racial tensions in modern America, explored through one interracial couple’s burgeoning relationship—and how it plays on the concerns and assumptions of their friends and families. The writing is excellent, the characters full and real and conflicted—just like life.” —Laurie Boris, author of The Call: A Baseball Novel and A Sudden Gust of Gravity “Lorraine Devon Wilke's The Alchemy of Noise includes brushstrokes of nightlife, music, the club world—true-ringing elements that too often in the lit game are swung at and missed. Her portrait of Chicago as a representation of contemporary urban culture is so vivid it stands as a character all its own.” —Junior Burke, author of A Thousand Eyes and Something Gorgeous “An entertaining while scathing commentary about race relations in America, The Alchemy of Noise is an entertaining love story and so much more. The author’s take on inherent and systemic racism, something her characters are challenged with daily, sounds authentic and credible. In that regard, it is an important book that deserves a larger audience. The book itself is a pleasure to read with believable dialogue, fully developed characters and exceptionally good diction, something that’s becoming increasingly rare. The plot is well crafted, and try as I might I couldn’t find one scene that didn’t develop character or advance the plot, or both.” —Rod Raglin, Reedsy Discovery “The Alchemy of Noise is a novel in which boy meets girl, and essentially it has a love story at its heart. But it is so much more than that . . . The exploration of all the relationships in this novel is excellent—the characters rich and rounded, the way they react and interact absorbing. It is very well written. It’s intelligent, educational, and eye-opening, though still easy to read, the prose flowing and drawing you in. The Alchemy of Noise is an excellent novel I thoroughly enjoyed and don’t hesitate for a moment to recommend.” —Georgia Rose, author of The Grayson Trilogy “Devon Wilke weaves The Alchemy of Noise with an intelligent pen of compassion and soulfulness. Her characters are all relatable, and you will find yourself transported inside the torn social fabric of our contemporary world to first-person perspectives of family matters, addiction, police brutality, and racism. . . . Deftly executed with grace and the author’s own keen sensibilities, the story left me wishing it would never end.” —JanniStyles1

Read more less

Book Synopsis“. . . a riveting tale of maturing womanhood and an insightful peek into the creative process.” —Kirkus Reviews “Reminiscent of Anne Lamott's works, The Elegant Out grapples with the glorious, messy intersection of real life and true art.” —Patricia Minger, author of Magic Flute “Really lovely . . . fun . . . impressionistic . . . poetic . . . evocative.” —Kate Maloney, PhD, CEO and executive producer of WeRiseUP The Movie After escaping an abusive relationship, Elizabeth finds herself struggling with immense feelings of inadequacy. Stuck in a small-town, eight to five job, she dreams of characters and plot lines—when she’s not thinking about babies. She wants another. Gabe, her love, does not. When her writing coach praises her talent and encourages her to write, Elizabeth dives in, resolved to pursue her dream of publishing once again and put her ideas about pregnancy on the back burner. But then everyone around her, from her cousin to the couple-that-never-would, starts announcing their own pregnancies, and her baby obsession comes rushing back—accompanied by a deep depression. Frustrated with Gabe’s refusal to give her another child—as well as his questioning of her motives—Elizabeth finds herself considering a separation. Writing, meanwhile, becomes a tool for beating herself up over her inability to find her voice. Ultimately, she must face an abusive past to answer a complex question: Is having babies the answer, or simply a distraction from her immense feelings of inadequacy and fear—an elegant out? If she fails to uncover her truth, Elizabeth fears she might remain strangled, her voice squelched forever.Trade Review2020 International Book Awards Winner in Best Cover Design: Fiction 2020 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Novella “. . . a riveting tale of maturing womanhood and an insightful peek into the creative process.” —Kirkus Reviews “Reminiscent of Anne Lamott's works, The Elegant Out grapples with the glorious, messy intersection of real life and true art.” —Patricia Minger, author of Magic Flute “Really lovely . . . fun . . . impressionistic . . . poetic . . . evocative.” —Kate Maloney, PhD, CEO and executive producer of WeRiseUP The Movie "Beautifully told, this story of a woman at her fertility crossroads will resonate with many readers. Choosing between the long-term commitment of having a child and the joyous fulfillment of writing a novel feels like a downside of being a liberated woman, but working out the answer can lead to insights that expand the heart." —Jenni Ogden, author of A Drop in the Ocean “An ode to creativity that combines psychological insight with the passionate pursuit of inspiration. Moving, absorbing, and honestly written.” —Jessica Levine, author of Nothing Forgotten “Deliciously funny and honest. Elizabeth Bartasius’s spirited writing draws us deeply and vividly into what is, at the core, every woman’s story.” —Kristina Hall, comedian and creator of Stand Up! “The novel of the year that you WILL NOT be able to put down.” —Abigail Skeans, Esq., cofounder of Pomona Society “The Elegant Out is a true treasure—a story you will turn to time and again for inspiration, heart, and a good chuckle when you need it.” —Monica Mehta, author of The Entrepreneurial Instinct “I love the way Elizabeth Bartasius writes. Abuse is a triggering topic but she delivers the story with such grace.” —Shelly Bell, business strategist and Technically DC Entrepreneur of the Year “Elizabeth Bartasius is on a warpath toward life. The author convincingly weaves the conflict of a thirty-six-year-old caught between the biological imperative and the desire to birth herself as a writer. She paints a heartfelt picture of a woman in the throes of urgency. Bartasius explores the yearnings for forgiveness toward self and others in this portrayal of Elizabeth, who can’t seem to ‘take those hands off her throat’ and emerge from her stranglehold. The Elegant Out offers much wisdom, inspiration, self-reflection, and love.” —Barbara Sapienza, author of Anchor Out

Read more less

Book Synopsis1. “Second Chance Romances” are appealing to a growing number of older readers who want to read about characters their own age or about relationships between people who have years of life experience. 2. Among U.S. adults ages 50 and older, the divorce rate has roughly doubled since the 1990s.3. There is great interest in the concept of the “love that got away”. What happens if we find and have a chance to meet the person we loved early, but didn’t end up with?AUDIENCE• Women over aged 50 who have been divorced and/or widowed• People who are interested in the law and powerful men• People interested in second chances at love

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo Janie Margolis, “assistant contractor” sounds like the ideal job for a mom whose role raising kids has become routine―but her perfect plan starts to unravel when she and her husband, Wim, find themselves arguing about everything from money to masonry to man caves. Then the economy collapses, and it’s hard to surmount the reality ahead: they are about to sink their entire savings into rebuilding a new house they can’t afford while trying unsuccessfully to sell the one they already own. Will Janie back herself so far into a corner that she’ll find herself homeless before she finds herself a home?From crushes on contractors to frenzied shopping expeditions to the erection of a cupola that looks a little too phallic for her upscale new neighborhood―or really any neighborhood!―Janie navigates the pitfalls of building. Along the way, she deals with a con artist kitchen designer, a construction worker and architect who fight like schoolgirls, and a tile guy who turns her shower into a pornographic work of art, all while struggling to stay out of debt and keep her marriage going. In the end, she comes face to face with her flaws and learns that dreams can be achieved―but the only way to authentic happiness is through truth and acceptance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Crystal’s husband, Brian, suddenly announces that his company is sending him to manage its Bangkok office and that he expects her and their children to come along, she reluctantly acquiesces. She doesn’t want to leave the job she loves and everything familiar in their small Oklahoma town; it’s 1975, however, and Crystal, a woman with traditional values, feels she has to be a good wife and follow her husband. Crystal finds beauty in Thailand, but also isolation and betrayal. Fighting intense loneliness and buffeted by a series frightening and shocking events, she struggles to adapt to a very different culture and battle a severe depression—and, ultimately, decide whether her broken relationship with her husband is worth saving.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFive college friends have arrived at forty in very different circumstances, but with at least one thing in common: they are among the more privileged in society. Elizabeth and Sara are lawyers, Martha is a doctor, Carmen is a wealthy and well-educated homemaker, and Heather, the most successful, is a famous tech executive—and after more than two decades of friendship, they know one another better than anyone. Then Heather writes a women’s advice book detailing the key life “mistakes” of her four friends—opting out, ramping off, giving half effort, and forgetting your fertility—that becomes wildly popular, and Elizabeth, Sara, Martha, and Carmen all feel the sting of Heather’s cruel words. Despite their status, these women face everyday obstacles, including work problems, parenting challenges, secondary infertility, racism, sexism, financial stress, and marital woes—and as they weather their fortieth year, each one can’t help but wonder if their life might have been different if they had followed Heather’s advice. But as these friends are continually reminded, life is complex, messy, disappointing, and joyful, often all at once—and no one can plan her way out of that reality. In the end, all five women must embrace the idea that their lives are shaped not just by their choices but also by how they handle the obstacles life inevitably throws at us all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a book that champions older women’s stories and challenges the limiting outcomes we seem to hold for them. The Book of Old Ladies introduces readers to thirty stories featuring fictional “women of a certain age” who increasingly become their truest selves. Their stories will entertain and provide insight into the stories we tell ourselves about the limits and opportunities of aging. A celebration of women who push back against the limiting stereotypes regarding older women’s possibility, The Book of Old Ladies is a book lover’s guide to approaching old age and dealing with its losses while still embracing beauty, creativity, connection, and wonder.Trade Review“. . . Saxton’s beautifully fluid prose would be a pleasure to read while relaxing at the beach. A thought-provoking, informative, and valuable literary analysis.” —Kirkus Reviews “Saxton teases out the diverse ways that these aging fictional women have to reimagine and reinvent themselves, just as she did, to cope with the demands of a society that dismisses their contributions and demeans their intelligence.” —Julie A. Chappell, editor at Ink Brush Press “A marvelously curated collection of must-read stories that carve a path forward for women who have come of age—and whose time has finally come.” —Julie Shigekuni, Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, University of New Mexico “Saxton’s work will delight, inform, educate, and enlighten all who read her book.” —Viji Nakka-Cammauf, president of the Alumnae Association of Mills College and founder and president of Little Flock Children’s Homes “In The Book of Old Ladies, Ruth Saxton offers readers, through curated conversation, the opportunity to defy the sweet-as-the-day-is-long stereotype and to examine the more fully developed and—thank goodness—realistic senior woman.” —Jennifer King, director of the Downtown Oakland Senior Center “The Book of Old Ladies is an inspiration for what life can be like in my future.” —Sky Bergman, award-winning filmmaker and professor of photography and video at Cal Poly State University “With an engaging, conversational style and feminist lens, Ruth Saxton guides us through an array of twentieth- and twenty-first-century novels and stories . . . An essential read.” —Eileen Barrett, editor of American Women Writers: Diverse Voices in Prose and professor of English at California State University “The Book of Old Ladies reminds us of the true joy of reading fiction . . . Ruth Saxton is an elegant writer, and this thoughtful book is a gem for anyone who understands the meaning of lifelong connection to literature.” —Yiyun Li, award-winning author of Dear Friend and Kinder Than Solitude “. . . thoughtful and thought-provoking. . . . Her careful deconstruction of plot and character reveal more than a few misogynist literary stereotypes and provoke readers to think more generally about where our ideas and assumptions about aging come from. This can be a powerful jolt. . . . The Book of Old Ladies asks us to consider the sexism that treats old women differently, more-often-than-not painting them as doddering, ineffectual crones. Can we imagine—and then create—something less demeaning? Literature, Saxton suggests, can send us in the right direction, but it is ultimately up to us to change the world.” —The Indypendent “Surprises and delights await readers of Ruth Saxton’s The Book of Old Ladies, a fresh take on literary expectations as well as cultural stereotypes regarding ‘women of a certain age.’” —Roberta Rubenstein, Professor of Literature, American University “The Book of Old Ladies [is] essential reading for anyone invested in or intrigued by ‘old lady’ narratives, women’s perspectives in literature, and age, aging, and ageism . . .” —Kortney Stern, PhD Candidate, University of Indiana

Read more less

Book SynopsisApril is a thoughtful yet sarcastic mother of two who tries her best to be a caring, connected mom in a middle-class culture where motherhood has become relentless. April rages at modern motherhood’s impossible pressures, her husband’s “Dad privilege,” and her kids’ incessant snack requests. She wants to enjoy motherhood, but her idealist vision and lived experience are in constant conflict with one another. Is she broken—or is motherhood? Desperate for an answer, she seeks out a therapist, and lands with an unexpected woman whose validation and wisdom gives April the clarity to reclaim herself and even start designing clothes—her pre-motherhood passion. But when the ever-elusive babysitter cancels last-minute, April finds herself back at square one. She seeks guidance, but her therapist is now dealing with her own crumbling marriage—and instead of counseling April, she convinces her to speed off to Las Vegas with her to help catch her husband cheating. With a little weed, alcohol, and topless pool hopping, plus a male stripper and some much-needed autonomy, the two find lost pieces of themselves that motherhood swallowed up. But neither one is prepared for how tested—and tempted—they will be, or for the life-altering choices their journey will force them to make. Who is guiding whom anymore?Trade Review2020 IPPY Awards Silver Winner in Humor “Laugh-out-loud funny. You will not be able to put it down, just like your children.” —Emily Liebert, USA Today best-selling author of Pretty Revenge “The great specificity with which Ferner writes about child-rearing. . . helps set this book apart in the field of comic women’s fiction. . . Ferner will likely have many fans awaiting her next irreverent volume. A clever and often caustic sendup of modern motherhood.” —Kirkus Reviews “Ferner’s book is at times laugh-out-loud/so-funny-you-have-to-repeat-aloud-to-the-person-nearest-you, and at times viscerally poignant in how accurately she portrays motherhood—as well as how tenuous working outside of the home can feel! Most of all, she reminds us that no matter how many children we have, where we live, or how we live, we as mothers are more alike than we are different: we all share a driving, intense love for our children and are at our strongest when we band together.” —Dr. Darria Long, best-selling author of Mom Hacks “This book is as important as it is hilarious–social artistry at its finest. Brandy warms the heart, blows the whistle, and helps us feel less alone in the struggle.” —Beth Barry, author of Motherwhelmed, creator of Revolution From Home “Reading Adult Conversation is like having a friend who is both funny and 100% real walking beside you on the heart-bending and life-upending path of parenthood. You will see yourself within these characters and find humor and solace on every page. Brandy has somehow captured the sometimes soul-crushing reality of parenthood in a way that makes you laugh, feel deeply seen, and provides a bit of therapy all at the same time!” —Britta Bushnell, PhD, author of Transformed by Birth “…this gripping story is so relatable you'll wonder if she pulled pages from your journal…. Adult Conversation is a much-needed antidote to today's perfect Instagram mom.” —Laura Mullane, author of Swimming for Shore: Memoirs of a Reluctant Mother “Adult Conversation might not sell you on stay-at-home motherhood, but it will make you long for more time to stay at home reading.” —Darcy Lockman, author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership

Read more less

Book SynopsisJennifer Sharpe is a divorced mother of two with a problem just about any working parent can relate to: her boss expects her to work as though she doesn’t have children, and her children want her to care for them as though she doesn’t have a boss. But when, through a fateful coincidence, a brilliant physicist comes into possession of Jennifer’s phone and decides to play fairy godmother, installing a miraculous time-travel app called Wishful Thinking, Jennifer suddenly finds herself in possession of what seems like the answer to the impossible dream of having it all: an app that lets her be in more than one place at the same time. With the app, Jennifer goes quickly from zero to hero in every part of her life: she is super-worker, the last to leave her office every night; she is super-mom, the first to arrive at pickup every afternoon; and she even becomes super-girlfriend, dating a musician who thinks she has unlimited childcare and a flexible job. But Jennifer soon finds herself facing questions that adding more hours to her day can’t answer. Why does she feel busier and more harried than ever? Is she aging faster than everyone around her? How can she be a good worker, mother, and partner when she can’t be honest with anybody in her life? And most important, when choosing to be with your children, at work, or with your partner doesn’t involve sacrifice, do those choices lose their meaning? Wishful Thinking is a modern-day fairy tale in which one woman learns to overcome the challenges—and appreciate the joys—of living life in real time.Trade Review“A quirky time-traveling adventure mixed with a treatise on the plight of the working mother . . . Wicoff has a comic touch with this amiable fantasy.” —Kirkus “With a bit of time-space-bending whimsy, Wicoff taps into every parent’s wistful dream.” —Booklist “A thought-provoking, gimlet-eyed satire of contemporary motherhood in the guise of a romantic comedy, Wishful Thinking is a Trojan horse of a novel, delivering incisive social commentary while it entertains and delights you. I devoured every word of this funny, brilliant book.” —Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train “Wishful Thinking is funny, tender, perceptive—I tore through it with delight.” —Gretchen Rubin, best-selling author of The Happiness Project and Happier At Home “Wishful Thinking is a whimsical, time-bending tale about an overextended, working single mother’s Year of Magical Living. The solution handed to Jennifer is both fanciful and practical. Who wouldn't want extra hours added to each day? If only!” —Hope Edelman, The Possibility of Everything “In Wishful Thinking, Kamy Wicoff takes a fantasy we’ve all had and turns it into a sparkling, witty, sympathetic take on the stresses, and the rewards, of motherhood, of work, and of being alive at this moment.” —Francine Prose, author of Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris: 1932

Read more less