37 - Hardcover

Maria Beaumont is 21, or 28, or sometimes 38-it depends on how good the lighting is. She writes books, and when she isn't doing that, she teaches street dance. And when she isn't doing that, she's working on improving the lighting.

British author Beaumont's American debut tells the story of a once successful London voiceover artist nearing the end of her 30s and possibly a divorce. Narrator Fran Clark, a 36-year-old stay-at-home mother of two, has been stuck in a rut for nearly 11 years. Her marketing genius husband Richard's career has taken off, and though he's spending less time at home, he wants Fran to get back into the voiceover game because he thinks it'll make her happier. Fran, however, chickens out before every audition and soon suspects Richard's cheating on her. Run-ins with gossipy mothers at the children's school, missed auditions, accusations of unfit parenting by the school principal, a dangerous flirtation with alcoholism and her friends' separate life dramas provide the obstacles to Fran's mission of getting herself sorted out. It's enjoyable mommy lit, aided by ample doses of British humor, breezy storytelling and an upbeat feel even in the down moments.
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