2020 Audie Winner - Best Female Narrator
An Earphone Award Winner
Audiobook performed by Marin Ireland
A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!
"I can't believe how good this book is.... It's wholly original. It's also perfect.... Wilson writes with such a light touch.... The brilliance of the novel [is] that it distracts you with these weirdo characters and mesmerizing and funny sentences and then hits you in a way you didn't see coming. You're laughing so hard you don't even realize that you've suddenly caught fire." --Taffy Brodesser-Akner, New York Times Book Review
Kevin Wilson's best book yet--a poignant and often humorous novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable abilities.
Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they've barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.
Madison's twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there's a catch: the twins catch fire when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it's the truth.
Thinking of her dead-end life at home, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other while also staying out of the way of Madison's buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her--urgently and fiercely. Couldn't this be the start of the amazing life she'd always hoped for?
With sharp humor and genuine warmth, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet--a most unique story of parental love.
About the Author :
Kevin Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including Now Is Not the Time to Panic, Nothing to See Here, and The Family Fang, as well as two story collections. His work has received the Shirley Jackson Award and been selected as a Read with Jenna book club pick. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife and two sons.
Marin Ireland is a voice artist who has won five Earphones Awards as well as the prestigious Audie Award for Best Female Narration in 2020. She is an award-winning actress known for her starring role in the Broadway show Reasons to Be Pretty, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. She has appeared in a number of off-Broadway shows and television series, including Homeland, Unforgettable, The Killing, The Following, and others.
Review :
"Breathtakingly wonderful."
-- " Miami Herald"
"Funny, raw and beautiful."
-- "NPR"
"Hands down my favorite book of the year."
-- " Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author"
"It's wholly original. It's also perfect."
-- "New York Times Book Review"
"Narrator Marin Ireland flawlessly introduces listeners to Lillian and Madison...Drawing from a seemingly endless supply of character voices, Ireland immerses listeners in this magical yet weird family, exquisitely capturing every unusual layer of the story. With an amazing variety of timbres and an assortment of Southern accents, Ireland confidently gives each character--from quirky Roland and Bessie to acerbic Lillian--a memorable voice. Ireland and Wilson leave a lasting impression and provide a thoroughly entertaining experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."
-- "AudioFile"
