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Semi-Gloss - Joe Barrett

Semi-Gloss

By: Joe Barrett

Hardcover | 19 May 2023

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Hardcover

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"Funny as hell, brilliant dialogue, great characters who I just want to hang with forever and an air-tight story-line that thinks of every contingency and plans accordingly." -Tom McCaffrey, bestselling author of The Claire Trilogy

What sucks about waking up next to a dead girl on a Saturday is, more than likely you're gonna miss brunch.

Just ask Sammy Junior-full-time house painter, part-time street artist and, as of Saturday morning, prime suspect in a South Tampa homicide investigation. One more hassle he simply does not need.

Then there's Penny Sullivan, a fifteen-year-old runaway who shows up in South Tampa that same Saturday morning with only her dead sister's street smarts, a whole lot of survivor's guilt, and a Canada backpack.

Misunderstandings lead to Penny joining Sammy's crew, giving her a glimpse of the house painting business-where mind-numbing boredom inspires an acid-trip world of distraction, art and healing relationships.

A funny, fast-paced story about friendship and love, tragedy and redemption, and the always intriguing business of house painting.

Industry Reviews

"Read Joe Barrett's wonderful book Semi-Gloss, which features a missing teenage girl, a dead woman found in bed, Tuesday's competition, and a little bit of wisdom about life along the way." -NetGalley Reviewer

"An absorbing tale of friendship that's endearing as often as it's unabashedly riotous." -Kirkus Reviews

"A lively, warmhearted, intelligent book that will reward the thoughtful reader with new perspectives and a great deal of entertainment in a warm, thought-provoking, even tender story about unexpected connections, found family, and new beginnings after loss." -IndieReader

"Funny as hell, brilliant dialogue, great characters who I just want to hang with forever and an air-tight story-line that thinks of every contingency and plans accordingly." -Tom McCaffrey, bestselling author of The Claire Trilogy


Managed Care:

Maxy Awards "Book of the Year" 2019

Pencraft Awards "Best Fiction Book of 2019",

Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Shortlist, Eric Hoffer Award "General Fiction" Honorable Mention,

#1 Best Seller Amazon "Fiction Satire", #1 Best Seller Kindle "Humor and Entertainment",

#1 Best Seller Kindle "Satire", #1 Best Seller Kindle "Humor", #1 Best Seller Kindle "Humorous Dark Comedy", #1 Best Seller Satire (Amazon Canada), #1 Best Seller Humorous (Amazon Canada), 

#1 Best Seller Humorous Dark Comedy (Amazon U.K.)

Unplugged: 

2020 Maxy Awards Best Literary/Humor

2020 Pencraft Award Winner Humor

#1 Best Seller in multiple categories in the UK, Australia and Canada.