Elinor Lipman Books

It's 1962 and Natalie Marx is shocked when her mother receives this reply to her enquiry about summer accommodation in Vermont: 'Our guests who feel most comfortable here, and return year after year, are Gentiles.' It was not complicated, as her mother pointed out. 'They had a hotel; they didn't want Jews. We were Jews.' For the intrepid twelve-year-old Natalie, the words are an infuriating, irresistible challenge. She manages to wangle an invitation to join a friend on holiday there - and, as her obsession begins with the family that has excluded her, she sets in train events which will change her life, and which will tie her forever to the eccentric family who run the Inn at Lake Devine

Faith Frankel buys a sweet but dilapidated bungalow in the hope of a peaceful life. When a policeman knows on the door, she discovers that the history of her new home is anything but tranquil. A madcap comedy from one of America's most acclaimed novelists.

Isabel is a glamorous blonde with a sensational past; Harriet is a bookish single would-be writer who never takes risks - except once. That risk is to answer an advert; Isabel wants to tell her story and only a ghostwriter, constantly on-hand in her luxurious Cape Cod hideaway, will be able to do it for her. The job goes to Harriet, who quickly discovers that living with Isabel is a lesson - in sex-appeal, in secrets and in seizing the moment - she's needed all her life.

Everyone in King George, New Hampshire, loved Margaret Batten, part-time amateur actress, full-time wallflower, and single mother to a now-distant daughter, Sunny. But accidents happen. The death of Margaret, side by side with her putative fiance, brings Sunny back to the scene of her unhappy adolescence, to the community that remembers her solely, nervously, as "the girl who golfed." Reentry is to be dreaded; there's no hiding in a town with one diner, one doctor, one stop sign, one motel. Yet allies surface: The country club opens its doors to its former Orphan Annie caddie. High school classmates, even the tormenters, have grown up nicely, matured in unforeseen and gratifying ways. Maybe, Sunny begins to think, she wasn't as beleaguered as she felt she was; maybe her mother's life was richer than anyone suspected; and maybe the man at the funeral-the one with her face, her flyaway hair, her golf swing-is the halfbrother she doesn't know she needs. Elinor Lipman writes with the wry authority of a latter-day Jane Austen. The Dearly Departed is another perfect blend of social comedy, pointed wit, and precise pacing from our last urbane romantic.

Will Rachel Klein bring down the President? Or will he manage to do that all by himself?

The contents of a discarded high-school yearbook take on a new urgency in this light-as-a-feather comedy

"Jane Morgan is a valued member of her law firm--or was, until a prudish neighbor, binoculars poised, observes her having sex on the roof of her NYC apartment building. Police are summoned, and a punishing judge sentences her to six months of home confinement. With Jane now jobless and rootless, trapped at home, life looks bleak. Yes, her twin sister provides support and advice, but mostly of the unwelcome kind. When a doorman lets slip that Jane isn't the only resident wearing an ankle monitor, she strikes up a friendship with fellow white-collar felon Perry Salisbury. As she tries to adapt to life within her apartment walls, she discovers she hasn't heard the end of that tattletale neighbor--whose past isn't as decorous as her 9-1-1 snitching would suggest. Why are police knocking on Jane's door again? Can her house arrest have a silver lining? Can two wrongs make a right?"--

A delightful blend of romance and crime unfolds in this comedic narrative, showcasing the author's signature humor. The story promises to entertain with its engaging characters and clever plot twists, making it a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. The author, known for their wit and charm, delivers a tale that balances love and mischief, ensuring readers will be both amused and captivated throughout the journey.

Set against a backdrop of darkly romantic comedy, the story explores the complexities of relationships and the pursuit of happiness among intelligent, opinionated characters. The author’s wit and elegance shine through as the narrative unfolds, drawing comparisons to Jane Austen's sensibility. With a blend of humor and insight, the book captures the nuances of modern social interactions and the often convoluted path to personal fulfillment.

Everyone in King George, New Hampshire, loved Margaret Batten, part-time amateur actress, full-time wallflower, and single mother to a now-distant daughter, Sunny. But accidents happen. The death of Margaret, side by side with her putative fiance, brings Sunny back to the scene of her unhappy adolescence, to the community that remembers her solely, nervously, as "the girl who golfed." Reentry is to be dreaded; there's no hiding in a town with one diner, one doctor, one stop sign, one motel. Yet allies surface: The country club opens its doors to its former Orphan Annie caddie. High school classmates, even the tormenters, have grown up nicely, matured in unforeseen and gratifying ways. Maybe, Sunny begins to think, she wasn't as beleaguered as she felt she was; maybe her mother's life was richer than anyone suspected; and maybe the man at the funeral-the one with her face, her flyaway hair, her golf swing-is the halfbrother she doesn't know she needs. Elinor Lipman writes with the wry authority of a latter-day Jane Austen. The Dearly Departed is another perfect blend of social comedy, pointed wit, and precise pacing from our last urbane romantic.

Alice Thrift, a socially inept surgical intern at a Boston hospital, is pursued romantically by shady social climber Ray Russo, until her roommate and her neighbor decide to guide Alice through the social complexities of life.

Gibt es ein Leben vor der Familie? Normale Eltern? Fehlanzeige! Fredericas Eltern sind ein durchgeknalltes Professorenpaar. Sie wünscht sich nichts sehnlicher, als dass die beiden sich ein einziges Mal angemessen konventionell benehmen. Aber als sich herausstellt, dass ihr Vater schon einmal verheiratet war und seine Ex auftaucht, wird es für Frederica endlich interessant.

Alice Thrift, eine junge Ärztin in Boston, hat ein tristes Leben und wird von ihrer Mutter als unvermittelbar angesehen. Als der Schokoladenvertreter Ray Russo in ihre Sprechstunde kommt, verändert sich ihr Leben plötzlich, und sie findet sich schnell verlobt. Was nun?

Harriet Mahoney, eine erfolglose Romanautorin, wird nach der Trennung von ihrem Freund von der exzentrischen Isabel Krug angesprochen. Isabel, die aus einem Skandal einen Bestseller machen möchte, fordert Harriet heraus, was zu zahlreichen Hindernissen und Verwirrungen führt.

April Epner ist Mitte Dreißig, Lateinlehrerin, alleinstehend, kleidet sich gern vernünftig und hat viele freie Abende. Noch ahnt sie nicht, dass das Schicksal eine schwere Erschütterung für sie in petto hat: Ihre leibliche Mutter (April ist ein Adoptivkind gewesen) hat über all die Jahre das Leben ihrer Tochter aus der Ferne mitverfolgt und hält es jetzt für angebracht, sich ihr zu offenbaren. Und sie ist nicht irgendwer: Bernice Graverman ist Fernsehstar, liebt Glitz und Glamour und hält nicht viel von vornehmer Zurückhaltung, kurz, sie ist das, was April ohne Zögern als "unmögliche Person" bezeichnen würde. Mit Aprils ruhigem Leben ist es vorbei.

Eine kleine Universitätsstadt in Massachusetts: Melinda (30) stürzt sich in ihre Arbeit als Floristin und begnügt sich damit, Brautsträusse für ihre ehemaligen Klassenkameradinnen zu binden. Dass die grosse Liebe gleich nebenan zu finden ist, merkt sie erst sehr spät.