Julia Claiborne Johnson crafts narratives with a keen eye for nuance and human nature, blending a sophisticated style with accessibility. Her works delve into the complexities of relationships and the challenges individuals face in finding their place in the world. Readers appreciate her ability to create vivid characters and stories that resonate long after the final page. Johnson writes with a depth and empathy that draws readers into the heart of her tales.
Combining charm and psychological depth, this debut novel features a spirited protagonist reminiscent of Eloise, navigating a world filled with quirky challenges. The narrative captures the emotional intricacies akin to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, while maintaining the engaging pace of Where'd You Go, Bernadette. This infectious story promises to be both delightful and thought-provoking, showcasing a fresh voice in fiction.
The anticipated second novel from the bestselling author of Be Frank With Me, set in 1930s Reno, in which two very different women seeking divorces meet and form an unlikely friendship that is complicated by the handsome young ranch hand who befriends both.
Reclusive literary legend M. M. “Mimi” Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years, but now she’s writing her first book in decades and to ensure timely completion her publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress. Mimi reluctantly complies—with a few stipulations: No Ivy Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane. When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she’s put to work right away—as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer’s eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noël Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth graders. As she gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who his father is, how his gorgeous “piano teacher and itinerant male role model” Xander fits into the Banning family equation—and whether Mimi will ever finish that book. Full of heart and countless only-in-Hollywood moments, Be Frank With Me is a captivating and heartwarming story of an unusual mother and son, and the intrepid young woman who finds herself irresistibly pulled into their unforgettable world.
