If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster supplies plenty of laughs.
If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster supplies plenty of laughs.
If You Were HereBy Jen LancasterNew American Library, 306 pp., $24.953 out of 4 starsIf laughter is a great tonic for the spirit, then Jen Lancaster's debut novel is a double dose of what's good for you. She's known for her blog, jennsylvania.com , and her popular memoirs, including Bitter Is the New Black, and her dive into the novel-writing pool is a perfect summer read. In If You Were Here, we follow Mia, the author of a best-selling series on Amish zombies, and her husband as they struggle in hilarious fashion through the nightmare process of buying and renovating a home. Then navigating the shark-infested waters of weird neighbors and the nonsensical rules of the neighborhood association. Even more fun: they buy the house featured in the '80s movie classic Sixteen Candles. — Carol MemmottThe Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the StairsBy Christina HopkinsonGrand Central, 352 pp., $24.993 starsMary's life is a mess. And it's all her husband Joel's fault. He's a great father and a romantic, but so what? He's a slob. He puts empty milk containers in the fridge while leaving full ones out. If only her house were tidy, she'd no longer be "Scary Mary." So Mary creates "The List," an elaborate excel spreadsheet tracking all of Joel's flaws that she plans to use as leverage for change -- or divorce. Funny and full of familiar anecdotes about family life, including a cringe-worthy, but hilarious incident with a "poo crayon," British author Christina Hopkinson's tale is a worthy summer contender for mommy book clubs. — Korina LopezThe First HusbandBy Laura DaveViking, 244 pp., $25.953 starsBoyfriends are like buses, a wise friend once said. You may miss the one you wanted, but there's always another one waiting to pick you up. In the case of Annie Adams, the heroine of Laura Dave's wry, intelligent and emotionally cohesive The First Husband, there's actually two. Annie, who traverses the world penning her syndicated travel column, returns home to find herself suddenly single when Nick dumps her for a past love. While on a bender, she meets Griffin, a chef, and decamps with him from Los Angeles to rural Massachusetts, where she attempts to restart her life. But like that aforementioned mode of transport, Nick returns, wanting Annie back and leaving her to make a tough choice. If the concept seems formulaic, it's not. Dave somehow manages to take what could have been schlocky and cliched and renders it playful, unpredictable and emotionally resonant. — Donna FreydkinBeneath a Starlet SkyBy Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khaligi HopperSt. Martin's, 292 pp., $24.992 1/2 starsOne co-author is the daughter of the late actor Dennis Hopper and the other is the offspring of film and TV producer Leonard Goldberg. Together, they've got one best seller, Celebutantes, already tucked into their Chanel bag of props. In Starlet Sky, these familiar-with-the-spotlight authors don their Laboutins and carry us down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Here, Lola Santis, fashion line CEO and the progeny of Hollywood royalty, juggles her romance with a yummy doctor, tends her best friend's broken heart and deals with her parents' all-consuming egos. The authors write with a sweet honesty and grounding that reinforces their message about what's really important in life. — MemmottFor more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.We've updated the Conversation Guidelines. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation on how to use the "Report Abuse" button. Read more.
