Bookish People

A perfect storm of comedic proportions erupts in a DC bookstore over the course of one soggy summer week narrated by two very different women and punctuated by political turmoil, a celestial event, and a perpetually broken vacuum cleaner.

Independent bookstore owner Sophie Bernstein is burned out on books. Mourning the death of her husband, the loss of her favorite manager, her only child’s lack of aspiration, and the grim state of the world, she fantasizes about going into hiding in the secret back room of her store.

Meanwhile, renowned poet Raymond Chaucer has published a new collection, and rumors that he’s to blame for his wife’s suicide have led to national cancellations of his publicity tour. He intends to set the record straight with an ultra-fine-point Sharpie but only one shop still plans to host him: Sophie’s.

Fearful of potential repercussions from angry customers, Sophie asks Clemi bookstore events coordinator, aspiring novelist, and daughter of a famed literary agent to cancel Raymond’s appearance. But Clemi suspects Raymond might be her biological father, and she can’t say no to the chance of finding out for sure.

This big-hearted screwball comedy features an intergenerational cast of oblivious authors and over-qualified booksellers as well as a Russian tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and captures the endearing quirks of some of the best kinds of people: the ones who love good books.

• Witty, hilarious, and heartwarming contemporary book about books
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 84,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the Author

Susan Coll is the author of six novels, including The Stager a New York Times and Chicago Tribune Editor's Choice. Her third novel, Acceptance , was made into a television movie starring the hilarious Joan Cusack. Susan's work has appeared in publications including the New York Times Book Review, the Washington Post, Washingtonian magazine, Moment Magazine, NPR.org, Atlantic.com, and The Millions. She works at an independent bookstore in Washington, DC, and is currently the president of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.