Synopses & Reviews
From Beth Kendrick comes a hilarious and heartwarming story about bad dogs and the women who love them… Lara Madigan has a gift. She can help you find your soulmate--your canine soul mate, that is. As a dog trainer with a soft spot for strays, she’s found the perfect home for sulky Shih Tzus, broken-down Border Collies, and diabolical Dalmatians. But while she’ll always make room for one more rescue mutt, she’s not sure she’s ready to commit to another human being--especially after her long-term boyfriend drops the bomb: He’s not a dog person. Horrified and temporarily homeless, Lara and her furry pack move in with her mother, a wealthy fashionista who forbids even a single drop of drool. As word gets around the exclusive gated community, Lara is overwhelmed with demands for her services. A model wants personal training for her overweight “flabrador”; an aging socialite preps her pedigreed puppy for dog show domination.... If Lara can survive the breakup, the outrageous requests of her high-maintenance clientele, and her dogs' systematic destruction of her mother’s McMansion, she might finally find the rescue dog who rescues her in return--by leading her straight to the guy who could be her perfect match.
Review
“Kendrick writes with a wicked sense of humor and great wisdom.”
Review
“Graced with a stellar cast of captivating characters (including an adorable pack of scene-stealing canines) and written with both sharp wit and genuine wisdom, Kendrick’s latest effervescent novel is a hopelessly, hopefully romantic treat.”
Review
"Kendrick not only shines in portraying the subtleties of female friendships, but also at rendering the unbreakable bond between man (or woman) and dog….Kendrick has a…talent for matchmaking: pairing her winsome heroine and her delightful group of canines in the service of a tale of nurturing one’s true calling and rekindling relationships."
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"A fresh funny take on the search for a soulmate." —People Magazine
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"A wry, intelligent novel that is playful, unpredictable and emotionally resonant." —USA Today
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"What distinguishes Dave are her keen observations about the difficulty of creating lasting love in a freedom obsessed society. A decadent novel with an ending as satisfying as cream cheese frosting." —Marie Claire
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"Compulsively readable. The story has it all: a heroine I couldn't help but root for, a budding romance I wanted to succeed, and an ending that left me smiling." —Woman's World
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"Positively shines with wisdom and intelligence. What truly sets Dave apart from her peers is her ability to convey the contradictions and imperfections, the inherent impossibility of true love, and yet somehow still make you believe in it." —Jonathan Tropper, author of This Is Where I Leave You
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"In an honest and heartfelt tale, Laura Dave masterfully explores the big questions: Should you have said yes? Waited? Answered that call you ignored? Filled with sparkling wit and pithy observation, The First Husband is everything I love about contemporary women's fiction." —Jen Lancaster, author of If You Were Here
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"For anyone who wonders if she has found 'the one,' The First Husband is a wonderfully witty novel about love and loss, and about how to find a happy home. I loved every moment, every page, and you will too." —Allison Winn Scotch, author of The One That I Want
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"You want meet-cute? Young women and wrong men? Burgeoning careers and best friends? Dave's your gal." —Washington Post
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"Fizzy, amusing." —Entertainment Weekly
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"An inspring account of a woman who ceases her external travels to become her own compass. I have more insight into my own life after reading this book, and I thank Laura Dave for that gift." —Publishers Weekly
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"The First Husband is a witty and insightful look at love and the human dilemma of making the right choice about marriage." —Psychology Today
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"[A] page-turning story about modern love and what makes one feel safe and at home. It is sure to attract readers who enjoy Emily Giffin." —Library Journal
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"Clever, funny, relatable, and not predictable. I was completely wooed." —Yahoo Shine
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Acclaim for Beth Kendrick :
“Kendrick writes with a wicked sense of humor and great wisdom.”—Chicago Tribune
“Kendrick...shines in portraying the subtleties of female friendships.” —Publishers Weekly
“Kendrick’s latest effervescent novel is a hopelessly, hopefully romantic treat.” —Booklist (Starred Review)
“Clever, wise, and wonderful.”—Jane Porter, Author of She’s Gone Country
Synopsis
"Exceptionally entertaining and wonderfully original" (Chicago Tribune), Beth Kendrick delivers a funny story about family, self- discovery, and the pursuit of the perfect pie crust. Suburban soccer mom Amy has always wanted to stand out from the crowd. Former child prodigy Linnie just wants to fit in. The two sisters have been estranged for years, but thanks to a series of personal crises and their wily grandmother, they've teamed up to enter a national bake-off in the hopes of winning some serious cash. Armed with the top-secret recipe for Grammy's apple pie, they should be unstoppable. Sure, neither one of them has ever baked anything more complicated than brownie mix, but it's just pie-how hard could it be?
Read an Essay on The Bake-Off by Beth Kendrick.
Synopsis
"A fresh, funny take on the search for a soulmate." —People
Laura Dave has already won adoring fans everywhere from Hollywood to the heartland. Now, with a slew of rave reviews and astute insights about modern love, The First Husband is certain to deliver her breakout success. Los Angeles–based travel writer Annie Adams thinks she has it all. Nick, her longtime film director boyfriend, has finally hit the big time, her column is syndicated, and they've got a great dog. Then Nick moves out. Three months later, Annie is married to Griffin, a down-to-earth chef with a restaurant in the Berkshires. When Nick asks for a second chance, Annie is torn between her husband and the man she might have been meant to marry.
Synopsis
Beth Kendrick sweeps you off your feet with a captivating tale of how even the best-laid plans can falter at the altar. After enduring a chaotic childhood, Emily McKellips yearns for a drama-free life, complete with a white picket fence. Her dreams are about to come true: She has a stellar career, a gorgeous house, and a fiancé any woman would die for. But as friends and family arrive in picturesque Valentine, Vermont, for her wedding, an uninvited guest shows up.
Ryan is Emily’s first husband from a disastrous starter marriage. They wed on a whim, only to discover that combustible chemistry couldn’t ensure a happily ever after. But Ryan is no longer the headstrong boy she left behind. He’s now a successful film producer who just happens to be scouting a resort in Valentine with his adorable retriever in tow.
As the bridesmaids revolt and the mothers of the bride and groom do battle, Emily is surprised to discover new sides of both her ex and her fiancé. She thought she had life and love all figured out, but the next seven days might change her mind—and her heart.
Synopsis
"Exceptionally entertaining and wonderfully original" (Chicago Tribune), Beth Kendrick delivers a funny story about family, self- discovery, and the pursuit of the perfect pie crust. Suburban soccer mom Amy has always wanted to stand out from the crowd. Former child prodigy Linnie just wants to fit in. The two sisters have been estranged for years, but thanks to a series of personal crises and their wily grandmother, they've teamed up to enter a national bake-off in the hopes of winning some serious cash. Armed with the top-secret recipe for Grammy's apple pie, they should be unstoppable. Sure, neither one of them has ever baked anything more complicated than brownie mix, but it's just pie-how hard could it be?
Read an Essay on The Bake-Off by Beth Kendrick.
About the Author
Laura Dave is the author of the acclaimed novel London is the Best City in America. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, Self, Redbook, ESPN the Magazine, and The New York Observer. Cosmopolitan magazine recently named her one of the “Fun and Fearless Phenoms” of the year. Dave currently lives in California, where she is at work on a new novel.