Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A fiendishly clever, emotionally resonant novel about three women who come to see how the forces of gender, money, power, and the human need for intimacy have subverted their lives--from an author who "makes a particular female experience vivid, centered, seen" (Elle). Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirtysomething lives don't look quite like what they'd expected. Struggling to make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, whose affability, salt-and-pepper hair, and affection for their one-eyed cat charm Joy. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Senselessly desperate, Joy resolves to do whatever it takes--anything Theo may ask of her--to maintain the homelife they've built. But Joy doesn't understand that appearances can be deceiving: Celine is haunted by her past, so much so that she can't access the ease and confidence she seems to exude.
Annie is worried about Joy's devotion to Theo, but she has her own troubles. Caught up in maintaining the equilibrium of her boyfriend's favor, she can't stop parsing his texts and pretending to be the easy-going, cool girl he wants. At work, where she leans into her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But then an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, and Annie is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
How to Fall Out of Love Madly is a laser-sharp exploration of conformity and resistance, internalized misogyny and empowerment, self-protection and vulnerability. Unfolding along intersecting paths, it tells the story of three women who followed all the rules, but still can't seem to build the lives they've been promised. As Joy, Annie, and Celine grapple with the ways that their ambitions, relationships, and self-perceptions have been shaped by forces outside their influence, they realize that their futures will depend on how hard they'll fight to reclaim control.
Synopsis
A razor sharp, emotionally resonant novel about three women who have followed all the rules but still can't seem build the lives they've been promised--from an author who "makes a particular female experience vivid, centered, seen" (Elle). Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirtysomething existences aren't exactly what they'd imagined for themselves. Struggling to make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, who charms Joy with his salt-and-pepper hair and adoration of their one-eyed cat. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Joy resolves to do whatever it takes to nurture the bond she and Theo have forged. Anything Celine might deny him, Joy will grant. Distracted by her need to please Theo, Joy fails to see that Celine's beauty doesn't protect her from her own insecurities. Celine is so haunted by an event in her past that she can't access the confidence she yearns to exude.
Annie is worried about Joy's senseless devotion to Theo, but she has her own troubles. Eager to please her commitment-phobic boyfriend, she can't stop parsing his texts and pretending to be the easy-going, cool girl he wants. At work, where she leans into her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But then an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, and Annie is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
Perceptive, mordantly funny, and full of heart, How to Fall Out of Love Madly tells the story of three women who believe in equality, yet inexplicably tolerate terrible behavior from men, equating being desired with worthiness. As Joy, Annie, and Celine grapple with the ways their lives have been subverted by the forces of gender, money, power, and the need for intimacy, they realize that their futures will be determined by how hard they'll fight to reclaim control.
Synopsis
A razor-sharp, emotionally resonant novel about three women who struggle to set their own rules, create their own boundaries, and listen to their own hearts as they define who they are and what they hope to be--from an author who "makes a particular female experience vivid, centered, seen" (Elle) Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirtysomething existences aren't exactly what they'd imagined. To make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, who charms Joy with his salt-and-pepper hair and adoration of their one-eyed cat. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Joy resolves to do whatever it takes to hold onto Theo, delving ever deeper into an emotional hellscape of her own making, too obsessed to see that Celine's beauty doesn't protect her from her own pain. Celine is haunted by an event from her past; she can't escape her shame and finds herself in a cycle of self-sabotage.
Annie is baffled by Joy's senseless devotion to Theo, but she can't stop parsing her commitment-phobic boyfriend's texts in an all-consuming mission to maintain his approval. At work, where she fully embraces her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But when an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, she is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
Perceptive, mordantly funny, and full of heart, How to Fall Out of Love Madly tells the story of three women who inherited the language of equality yet tolerate terrible behavior from men. As Joy, Annie, and Celine grapple with the ways they've been influenced by the forces of gender, sex, and power, they realize that their futures will be determined by how hard they're willing to fight to reclaim control.
Synopsis
Three women confront the compromises they've made to appease the men they love in this razor-sharp, emotionally resonant novel from an author who "makes a particular female experience vivid, centered, seen" (Elle) Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirty-something lives aren't exactly what they'd imagined. To make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, who charms Joy with his salt-and-pepper hair and adoration of their one-eyed cat. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Joy resolves to do whatever it takes to hold on to him, falling ever deeper into an emotional hellscape of her own making. She is too obsessed to realize that Celine's beauty doesn't protect her from pain. Haunted by an event from her past, Celine can't escape her shame and finds herself in an endless cycle of self-sabotage.
Annie is baffled by Joy's senseless devotion to Theo, but she's consumed by her own obsessions: she can't stop parsing her commitment-phobic boyfriend's texts in an exhausting mission to maintain his approval. At work, where she fully embraces her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But when an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, she is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
Perceptive, mordantly funny, and full of heart, How to Fall Out of Love Madly examines women's many relationships--with one another, their mothers, their work, men, and themselves--to reveal their underlying power and complexity. It asks, why do so many smart, compassionate, otherwise empowered women tolerate egregious behavior from the men they love? And what will it take for them to reclaim control?
Synopsis
"Everyone who loves Sally Rooney should be reading Jana Casale "--Julie Buntin, author of Marlena "An honest and compelling look at female friendship, romantic relationships, and infatuation."--Jennifer Close, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses and Marrying the Ketchups
Three women confront the compromises they've made to appease the men they love.
Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirty-something lives aren't exactly what they'd imagined. To make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, who charms Joy with his salt-and-pepper hair and adoration of their one-eyed cat. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Joy resolves to do whatever it takes to hold on to him, falling ever deeper into an emotional hellscape of her own making. She is too obsessed to realize that Celine's beauty doesn't protect her from pain. Haunted by an event from her past, Celine can't escape her shame and finds herself in an endless cycle of self-sabotage.
Annie is baffled by Joy's senseless devotion to Theo, but she's consumed by her own obsessions: she can't stop parsing her commitment-phobic boyfriend's texts in an exhausting mission to maintain his approval. At work, where she fully embraces her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But when an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, she is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
Perceptive, mordantly funny, and full of heart, How to Fall Out of Love Madly examines women's many relationships--with one another, their mothers, their work, men, and themselves--to reveal their underlying power and complexity. It asks, why do so many smart, compassionate, otherwise empowered women tolerate egregious behavior from the men they love? And what will it take for them to reclaim control?
Synopsis
"Three relatable thirty somethings drive this ode to womanhood. Learning the hard way to love themselves, the women teach invaluable lessons."--People "Everyone who loves Sally Rooney should be reading Jana Casale "--Julie Buntin, author of Marlena
Three women confront the compromises they've made to appease the men they love.
Joy and Annie are friends and roommates whose thirty-something lives aren't exactly what they'd imagined. To make ends meet, they decide to rent their extra bedroom to Theo, who charms Joy with his salt-and-pepper hair and adoration of their one-eyed cat. When Annie goes to live with her boyfriend, Theo and Joy settle into a comfortable domesticity. Then Theo brings home Celine, the girlfriend he's never mentioned, who is possibly the most stunning woman Joy has ever seen. Joy resolves to do whatever it takes to hold on to him, falling ever deeper into an emotional hellscape of her own making. She is too obsessed to realize that Celine's beauty doesn't protect her from pain. Haunted by an event from her past, Celine can't escape her shame and finds herself in an endless cycle of self-sabotage.
Annie is baffled by Joy's senseless devotion to Theo, but she's consumed by her own obsessions: she can't stop parsing her commitment-phobic boyfriend's texts in an exhausting mission to maintain his approval. At work, where she fully embraces her natural assertiveness, Annie is a star. But when an anonymous letter lands on her desk accusing her esteemed and supportive boss of sexual misconduct, she is forced to decide who and what she's willing to stand up for.
Perceptive, mordantly funny, and full of heart, How to Fall Out of Love Madly examines women's many relationships--with one another, their mothers, their work, men, and themselves--to reveal their underlying power and complexity. It asks, why do so many smart, compassionate, otherwise empowered women tolerate egregious behavior from the men they love? And what will it take for them to reclaim control?