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"Raw, complex, and utterly unforgettable." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
The only child of a famous American novelist discovers a shocking family secret that upends everything she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her own stalled writing career in this standout debut, perfect for fans of Pineapple Street and The Plot.
Growing up in the nineties in New York City as the only child of famous parents was both a blessing and a curse for Isabelle Manning. Her beautiful society hostess mother, Claire, and New York Times bestselling author father, Ward, were the city's intellectual It couple. Ward's glamorous obligations often took him away from Isabelle, but Claire made sure her childhood was always filled with love.
Now an adult, all Isabelle wants is to be a successful writer like her father but after many false starts and the unexpected death of her mother, she faces her upcoming thirty-fifth birthday alone and on the verge of a breakdown. Her anxiety only skyrockets when she uncovers some shocking truths about her parents and begins wondering if everything she knew about her family was all based on an elaborate lie.
This "literary page-turner" (KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author) is punctuated with fragments of a compulsively readable book-within-a-book about a woman determined to steal back the spotlight from a man who has cheated his way to the top. The characters seem eerily familiar but is the plot based on fact? And more importantly, who is the author?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 14, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797150352
- File size: 318304 KB
- Duration: 11:03:07
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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January 9, 2023
In Abramson’s clever debut, the daughter of a famous novelist wants to be a writer, too. Isabelle Manning grows up in Manhattan idolizing her narcissistic father, Ward. But when her mother dies, she’s still floundering at 34, both professionally and in her personal life. Her own novels have been rejected by publishers, and she won’t allow her friendship with college classmate Brian to develop into romance. Ward is equally at sea: each of his recent books have sold fewer copies than the last, his current project is stalled, and he’s beginning to worry he might have dementia. Abramson periodically interrupts her stories of the frustrated writers with passages from a manuscript about a woman who forges her artist husband’s work after his death. Before Abramson reveals the author of this manuscript along with the source of its inspiration, Isabelle makes her way into the city’s literary scene, then wonders if it’s where she belongs after all. Though the tone shifts vertiginously from acerbic wit to heightened sentiment, the inventive structure keeps readers guessing about what the manuscript will reveal about the Mannings. It lands as a thought-provoking meditation on family. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman; Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. -
Starred review from June 1, 2023
Isabelle has spent her life in the shadow of her father, the iconic author Ward Manning. While Ward was content to bask in the spotlight, Isabelle's mother, Claire, was her source of support and affection. When Claire dies from a sudden illness, she bequeaths Isabelle a secret that will change everything she believes about her father's success and her own failed artistic attempts. Forced to reexamine her family, her friendships, and the fame she has always aspired to, Isabelle faces a choice that will either make her dreams come true or cost her everything. Abramson's thought-provoking debut is reflective relationship fiction about craving acceptance, coping with death, and coming into one's own. Narrators Mia Barron, Cynthia Farrell, James Fouhey, Adam Grupper, and Devon Sorvari are a compelling quintet, representing the four lead characters and an engaging, enigmatic novel within a novel. Their distinct voices make the multiple timelines and perspectives manageable and magnetic. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate literary fiction about authors, ambition, and acceptance. Recommended for fans of Amy Poeppel and Gabrielle Zevin.--Lauren Hackert
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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