A fabulous new Everywoman voice-the hilarious, skewed, rueful misadventures of a forty-something, in-recovery-from-everything bad girl/good girl in her search for love, sex, sanity . . . and herself.

"Merrill's debut collection of essays — which details her many troubled relationships, struggles with bulimia and alcoholism, and sexual adventures — tries too hard to entertain the reader and ends up disappointing instead. Merrill sets the stage as she warns that these essays are 'embarrassingly honest tales, some of which I have been reluctant to admit, even to myself, until now.' Her essay 'First Born' explores her family background, providing some history to Merrill's bulimia and alcoholism, which took over her life by the time she was 18. She excessively describes her binging, purging and bathroom obsession, and wanders into clichd sentences ('Johnnie Walker was a devoted and attentive lover who followed me around like a shadow'). As she emerges from rehab with a clean slate, it is evident to Merrill that she has replaced her addiction to alcohol with an addiction to men; unfortunately, it proves to be equally unhealthy. Despite her intuition that most of the men she engages with are nothing but trouble, Merrill continues to date ones who take her money, cheat on her, string her along and stand her up. Merrill's best essays are not about dating: in 'Behind Bras,' she volunteers to play tennis with inmates at San Quentin prison, and in 'Still Born,' she writes about growing up with her mother and her mother's death when Merrill was 16." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Wendy M. is a wonderful new voice, smart, funny, and wildly real."

Anne Lamott, author of Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

"I loved Falling Into Manholes. I adored it. How could I not? I identified totally. I laughed, I cried, I thought, [Oh, I did that.' It was like being at the best meeting in the world, with the funniest, most honest sharer."

Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There? and The Other Side of the Story

"She tells you she's a [divorced, sober alcoholic over forty with abandonment issues,' I'm tell you Wendy Merrill is one of the funniest, wisest writers ever to take on the subjects of love, loss and hope. If all our lives are journeys, then this is one book you absolutely need to take along for the ride."

Linda Ellerbee, producer, broadcaster, best-selling author

"A starkly hones and haunting memoir. Emotions are laid bare, but where other authors might have drifted into sentimentality, Merrill tempers it all with a biting wit that at times had me laughing out loud. Intelligent, provocative, graphic and heart-rending, this book is a refuge for anyone who's been a Lost Girl (and for anyone who's ever been involved with one)."

Martha O'Connor, author of The Bitch Posse

"Funny, frank, honest, unseemly, endearing and challenging all at the same time, Wendy Merrill is everything a man could want in a girlfriend and Falling Into Manholes is everything girlfriends want from each other; a manifesto for the modern woman."

Hollis Gillespie, author of Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch: Tales From a Bad Neighborhood

"Wendy Merrill is a west coast Carrie Bradshaw whose version of Sex in the City includes our heroine's often hilarious struggles with commitment, bulimia, addiction, and men, men, men. Manholes is an E (for estrogen) ticket ride. Let go of the rollbar and enjoy that feeling in the pit of your stomach &odds are that you recognize it!"

Kim Addonizio, author of Little Beauties and My Dreams Out in the Street

"You'll say, [Oh no, Wendy! Don't! Stop! Not again!' more times than you care to, but the fact is you'll find yourself caring, as Merrill slowly gains insight after insight that eventually become powerful enough to weave a net to cover the manholes she's spent her life falling down. She is tenacious, observant, funny and self-deprecating &a true inspiration."

Jennifer Lehr, author of Ill-Equipped for a Life of Sex and Ill- Equipped to be a Mom

"Wendy Merrill has [been there, done that' and she knows how to write about it &with engaging wit and refreshing originality. Prepare to be charmed by this revealing, engaging, and honest new voice."

Kathi Kamen Goldmark, author, And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You

"Wendy Merrill infuses her pages with both poignancy and hilarity &a tough balancing act to pull off! Searingly honest about her pain yet refreshingly undaunted by it, Wendy is at once Sisyphus, rolling the boulder of addiction recovery up the mountain, and Everywoman, just looking for love like the rest of us. Rock on, Ms. Merrill!"

Jane Ganahl, author of Naked on the Page

"Reading Falling Into Manholes was a gift! Wendy Merrill [keeps it real' in this heartfelt, often witty, at times painful, always impressive debut."

April Sinclair, author of Coffee Will Make You Black

"Courageous and heartbreaking, this book is like talking to your wittiest, crazy-enough-to-be-interesting best friend. You'll want to shake her, holler at her, wave a wand over her, pray for her, and champion her heart-wrenching growth, but most of all, as you are laughing through your tears, you will end up loving her. Take this book to coffee with you and you'll have the friend date of the year!"

Diane Conway, author of What Would You Do If You Had No Fear? Living Your Dreams While Quakin' in Your Boots

"Falling Into Manholes" chronicles the hilarious, skewed, rueful misadventures of a 40-something, in-recovery-from-everything bad girl/good girl in search of love, sex, sanity--and herself.

Wendy Merill runs WAM Marketing Group, a marketing communications company based in Sausalito, California, where she lives above ground and beyond her means. Two of her autobiographical essays have previously appeared in Single Women of a Certain Age, edited by Jane Ganahl, and Single State of the Union, edited by Diane Mapes.