Claire Cook

When her interfering sister writes a personal ad for her, divorced preschool teacher Sarah Hurlihy finds herself plunged into the often riotous world of dating where she learns valuable lessons in life, love, and canine care. Reprint. (A new film, written, directed, & produced by Gary David Goldberg, releasing August 2005, starring Diane Lane, Christopher Plummer, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, & Stockard Channing) (General Fiction)

Must Love Dogs

By the bestselling author of Must Love Dogs, the story of two grown-up sisters who fight like cats andd dogs -- but call each other at least twice a day When Must Love Dogs was published, the Chicago Tribune called it "pitch-perfect" and the Washington Post declared, "Readers will hope that Claire Cook will be telling breezy summer stories from the South Shore of Massachusetts for seasons to come." Luckily for her legions of fans, Cook returns with another sparkling romantic comedy that's reminiscent of Must Love Dogs in all the right ways, but very much its own animal -- about a relationship-challenged single woman, her quirky-to-put-it-mildly extended family, and the summer the shark movie came to town. Life's a bit of a beach these days for Ginger Walsh, who's single at forty-one and living back home in the family FROG (Finished Room Over Garage). She's hoping for a more fulfilling life as a sea glass artist, but instead is babysitting her sister's kids and sharing overnights with Noah, her sexy artist boyfriend with commitment issues and a dog Ginger's cat isn't too crazy about. Geri, her BlackBerry-obsessed sister, is also nearly over the deep end about her pending fiftieth birthday (and might just drag Ginger with her). Toss in a dumpster-picking father, a Kama Sutra T-shirt-wearing mother, a movie crew come to town with a very cute gaffer, an on-again-off-again glassblower boyfriend, plus a couple of Red Hat realtors, and hilarity ensues. The perfect summer read, Life's a Beach is a warm, witty, and wise look at what it takes to move forward at any stage in life.

Life's a Beach

Best Staged Plans

"The women of THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB are a delightful trio, full of heart and determination. As they - literally - put one foot in front of the other, the three new friends find unlikely paths that point them toward more fulfilling lives. Their journey left me genuinely inspired (and with the curious urge to go out and buy a clothesline)." -- Jean Reynolds Page, author of The Space Between Before and After "The Wildwater Walking Club reminds of us what's important in life--the joy of friendship, the power of a brisk walk, and of course the importance of a good book. This exhilarating novel made me want to call my friends and lace up my shoes. I couldn't put it down." -- Anisha Lakhani, author of Schooled Just put one foot in front of the other. Sounds simple, doesn't it But when Noreen Kelly takes a buyout from her job of eighteen years and gets dumped by her boyfriend in one fell swoop, she finds it hard to know what that next step is--never mind take it. At first Noreen thinks maybe her redundancy package could be an opportunity, a chance to figure out what to do with the rest of her life while her company foots the bill. Sure, she may have gotten high to "Witchy Woman" and grooved to "Sweet Baby James" back when James Taylor had hair, but she isn't ready for her AARP card. Not yet. But it's the first time in a great many years that Noreen has time to herself--and she has no idea what to do with it. When she realizes that she's mistaken her resume for her personality, Noreen knows that she has to get moving, so she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks. She doesn't get very far at first--just to the end of her street, Wildwater Way--but she perseveres, and when she's joined by her neighbors Tess and Rosie, Noreen realizes that walking is not an extreme sport. It can actually be fun. As the Wildwater women walk and talk, and talk and walk, they tally their steps, share their secrets, and learn what women everywhere are finding out--that time flies and getting fit is actually fun when you're walking with friends. Throw in a road trip to Seattle for a lavender festival, a career-coaching group that looks like a bad sequel to The Breakfast Club, a clothesline controversy that could only happen in the 'burbs, plenty of romantic twists and turns, and a quirky multigenerational cast of supporting characters, and the result is an experience that's heartfelt, exuberant, and above all, real.

The Wildwater Walking Club

The story of a woman who emerges from the shadow of her overbearing family and finds herself voted on as a last-minute replacement on "Dancing with the Stars."

A Novel

Wallflower in Bloom

Sarah Hurlihy wishes for a successful relationship and wonders if she should take John up on his suggestion of canine camp.

Fetch you later

Your Roadmap to Reinvention

Never Too Late

As a professional home stager, Sandy Sullivan is an expert at transforming cluttered rooms into attractive houses ready for sale. If only reinventing her life were as easy as choosing the perfect paint color. She's eager to put her family's suburban Boston home on the market, to downsize, and to simplify her own life. But she must first deal with her foot-dragging husband and her grown son, who has moved back home after college to inhabit the basement "bat cave." After reading them the riot act, Sandy takes a job staging a boutique hotel in Atlanta recently acquired by her best friend's boyfriend. The good news is that she can spend time with her recently married daughter, Shannon, in Atlanta. The bad news is that Shannon finds herself heading to Boston for job training, leaving Sandy and her southern son-in-law, Chance, as reluctant roommates. If that's not complicated enough, Sandy begins to suspect that her best friend's boyfriend may be seeing another woman on the side. Filled with characters who are fresh and original, yet recognizable enough to live in your neighborhood--plus plenty of great tips and tricks for fixing up houses, and lives--this is a wise and witty story of letting go and moving on. Best Staged Plans is Claire Cook at her most humorous and heartfelt.

March Monroe endures her daughter's animosity when they wind up sharing a radio station internship, a situation that is complicated by her tired marriage, her angry adolescent son, and a mid-life crush. By the author of Must Love Dogs. Reprint.

Multiple Choice

In this witty tale of marriage and midlife longing, a taken-for-granted wife pursues a fantasy love via e-mail--like a "Bridget Jones's Diary" gone suburban, 40-ish, and wired.

Ready to Fall

“Must Love Dogs has already been a major motion picture, and now New York Times bestselling author Claire Cook’s hilarious and heartwarming book series is begging to hit the screen again.”—New York Journal of Books If you live in Marshbury, Massachusetts, that picture postcard perfect seaside town an hour south of Boston and the epicenter of the Irish Riviera, it’s pretty much mandatory to be a little bit Irish for the whole month of March. Preschool teacher Sarah probably should have warned John about that once they bought the Hurlihy family house. And she definitely should have told him that half the town would be watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade from their front yard. In her defense, Sarah has a lot on her plate. Hormones are flying every which way as she and John ramp up their fertility journey, their five rescue cats get spayed and neutered, and assistant teacher-slash-housemate Polly gets ready to give birth with Sarah’s bossy big sister as her labor coach. To add to the chaos, a new garage addition with a secret exit is about to go up, Sarah’s dad is still living and dating away in his mancave, they can’t seem to get that canned ham trailer removed from the yard, and one of the dogs needs a name change. And like that’s not enough, Bayberry Preschool is filled with malarkey and shenanigans and a wily green leprechaun is on the loose. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy another fun adventure with Must Love Dogs’ loveably quirky cast of characters, you really are lucky enough. Jump right in—you’ll be wagging your tail in no time. The Must Love Dogs series: Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8) “Reading about how life goes for this wacky marvelously lovable family becomes addictive.”— Examiner “A beach tote couldn’t ask for more.”—Kirkus “The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women’s fiction.”—The Times-Picayune "Claire Cook (Must Love Dogs) has built a brand writing light-hearted women’s fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations.—Shelf Awareness “Wildly witty."—USA Today "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle "Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune "A HOOT."—The Boston Globe "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—Book Page "[Cook's] poignancy and sassy humor resonate with readers; her theme of reinvention uplifts and inspires." -Savannah Magazine

Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough

“Wildly witty.”—USA Today “Funny and pitch perfect.”—Chicago Tribune First the much-loved novel by New York Times bestselling author Claire Cook. Then the romantic comedy movie adaptation starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. Now MUST LOVE DOGS is a tail-waggingly fun 7-book series. "Voluptuous, sensuous, alluring and fun. Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must love dogs." Divorced preschool teacher Sarah Hurlihy's first mistake is letting her bossy big sister write her personal ad. Her second mistake is showing up to meet her first date in more than a decade. Now she's juggling her teaching job, her big, rollicking, interfering south-of-Boston Irish family, and more men than she knows what to do with. And what's up with all these dogs that are suddenly galloping into her life? The Must Love Dogs series: Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8) Nobody drives you crazier than family, and nobody loves you more. PRAISE FOR CLAIRE COOK AND MUST LOVE DOGS: "Claire Cook (Must Love Dogs) has built a brand writing light-hearted women's fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations."—Shelf Awareness "The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women's fiction." —The Times-Picayune "Reading Must Love Dogs is like having lunch with your best friend—fun, breezy, and full of laughs."—Lorna Landvik "Funny and quirky and honest."—Jane Heller "Funny and pitch perfect." -Chicago Tribune "Wildly witty"—USA Today "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle "A hoot."—The Boston Globe "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—BookPage "If Must Love Dogs is any indication of her talents, readers will hope that Claire Cook will be telling breezy summer stories from the South Shore of Massachusetts for seasons to come."—The Washington Post "A laugh-out-loud novel . . . a light and lively read for anyone who has ever tried to re-enter the dating scene or tried to 'fix up' anyone else."—Boston Herald "This utterly charming novel by Cook is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach."—Library Journal "Claire Cook's Must Love Dogs, a book that's got more giggles than soda bread has raisins."—Hartford Courant

"Life after divorce for Sarah Hurlihy used to consist of juggling her job as a preschool teacher with the demands of her interfering family. But after a rocky start, Sarah and John Anderson have shared six months of dating bliss. Now their relationship is basically on hold because Sarah's brother, Michael, and his dog, Mother Teresa, are staying with her. And John's new puppy, Horatio, hates Sarah. With a passion. Michael hopes absence will, in fact, make his wife Phoebe's heart grow fonder. Sarah hopes she can do her sisterly duty and send Michael on his merry way before she ends up single again herself. John hopes Sarah and his puppy can work things out before it's too late. Sarah's bossy big sister, Carol, hopes both Michael and their father will start dating again. When Phoebe packs up their daughters and heads home to Savannah, Georgia, Michael follows her from Marshbury, Massachusetts, and the Hurlihy clan tags along for reinforcement. Including Dad, who has finally upgraded his Smith Corona to a laptop and already has a date with a woman named Sugar Butt" -- Amazon.com.

New Leash on Life

“After spending time with the gang in the seventh Must Love Dogs installment, Hearts and Barks, I’m thrilled to report that I love them even more, and I have the distinct feeling that we’ll be continuing our friendship for a long, long time.”—Book Perfume In the charming beach town of Marshbury, Valentine’s Day is in the air. But preschool teacher Sarah is feeling more relationship-challenged than ever. She just wants to survive February, the longest-shortest month of the year. John wants to elope, but it’s not exactly easy to find someone to watch their ever-growing four-legged pack, which now consists of two dogs and five cats. Teacher assistant and housemate Polly’s baby bump is growing, too, and it’s a constant reminder to Sarah that everybody else and their goat seem to be able to get pregnant like it’s no big deal at all. Cupid’s arrows are misfiring everywhere, and even Sarah’s bossy big sister Carol’s marriage could be heading for trouble. And Bayberry Preschool has declared a moratorium on Valentine’s Day candy, so who’s leaving those conversation hearts taped to the classroom door? From Claire Cook, New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of the much-loved novel turned romantic comedy movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, comes Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks, Book 7 of the hilarious and heartwarming Must Love Dogs series. The Must Love Dogs series: Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) “Reading about how life goes for this wacky marvelously lovable family becomes addictive.”— Examiner “A beach tote couldn’t ask for more.”—Kirkus Claire Cook (Must Love Dogs) has built a brand writing light-hearted women’s fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations.—Shelf Awareness “Wildly witty"—USA Today "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle "Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune "A HOOT"—The Boston Globe "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—Book Page "This utterly charming novel by Cook is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach."—Library Journal CLAIRE COOK wrote her first novel in her minivan at 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the movie adaptation of her novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of 21 fun and inspiring books. If you have a buried dream, take it from Claire, it is NEVER too late! Go to ClaireCook.com for your free gift, 41 Essential Quotes To Get Your Glow On, exclusively for newsletter subscribers. You’ll also be the first to find out when Claire's next book comes out and stay in the loop for giveaways and insider extras.

Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks

"After accompanying Melanie and B.J. on their hysterical road trip, readers will feel like they’ve made friends for life.”—Kirkus TWO BEST FRIENDS. A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. AND A ROLLICKING ROAD TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. “A spunky, lighthearted road trip down memory lane. Another delightful beach read from Claire Cook.”—Booklist Years ago, Melanie followed her husband Kurt from the New England beach town where their two young sons were thriving to the suburbs of Atlanta. She’s carved out a life as a successful metal sculptor, but when Kurt leaves her for another woman, having the tools on hand to cut up their marriage bed is small consolation. She’s old enough to know that high school reunions are often a big disappointment, but when her best friend makes her buy a ticket and an old flame gets in touch to see if she’ll be going, she fantasizes that returning to her past might help her find her future . . . until her highway driving phobia resurfaces and threatens to hold her back from the adventure of a lifetime. Time Flies is an epic trip filled with fun, heartbreak, and friendship that explores what it takes to conquer your worst fears . . . so you can start living your future. From the New York Times bestselling author of the much-loved book Must Love Dogs, made into a romantic comedy movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack and now a 7-book series, comes a feisty and fabulous novel about picking up the pieces and reinventing your life when everything falls apart. “Genuine, deftly drawn characters. . . Cook’s poignancy and sassy humor resonate with readers; her theme of reinvention uplifts and inspires . . . It’s the perfect companion for an afternoon under a beach umbrella with sand between your toes.” —Savannah Magazine “Cook’s characters are always looking for the next exciting chapter in their lives . . . Time Flies takes her trademark theme in a thought-provoking new direction . . . the resulting story is both touching and hilarious.”— The Bourne Courier “Cook delivers again . . . Past and present riotously collide and give birth to an ending as heartfelt as it is hopeful.”— Shelf Awareness “The perfect summer beach read . . . Funny, charming and downright lovable!”— Times Record News “The beach-bag-worthy story is one that may appeal to those who can commiserate with starting over.”— The Free Lance-Star “Laugh-out-loud funny . . . Time Flies is the perfect novel to read on your summer vacation or while lounging by the pool.”— The News-Gazette “More than a beach read, Claire Cook’s Time Flies is an absorbing and humorous look at lives lived during a particular era. . . . The author’s facility with setting evocative scenes past and present is refreshing. —New York Journal of Books “Full of engaging characters and humorous situations . . . This lighthearted story will have readers plumbing its hidden depths and enjoying the ride.” —Romance Reviews Today “The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women’s fiction.”— The Times-Picayune “Reading Claire Cook might be the most fun you have all summer.”— Elin Hilderbrand “Charming, engagingly quirky, and full of fun, Claire Cook just gets it.”— Meg Cabot “Claire Cook has an original voice, sparkling style, and a window int family life that will make you laugh and cry.”— Adriana Trigiani “Inimitably warm and witty . . . Tender, touching, and terribly, terribly funny!”— Mary Kay Andrews

Time Flies

Amy Newmark

We all fall into ruts at times, with our jobs, our relationships, our lives. But these 101 inspiring personal stories of change will motivate and encourage you to find your own new path to happiness. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life will inspire, invigorate, and empower you to break out of your rut. With its powerful stories of taking chances, positive life changes, and finding new paths to happiness, you will be inspired to find the courage to reboot your own life!

101 Stories about Finding a New Path to Happiness

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life

“Dust off those what-ifs and get ready to glow on.”—Book Perfume “This is exactly the book I needed right now.”—Looking on the Sunnyside “Filled with inspiring quotes and strategies.”—New York Journal of Books Packed with fun ideas and solid, practical strategies for reconnecting with your creativity and making the rest of your life the best of your life. Ditch all those worries about getting older and embrace what can be the most vibrant and empowering chapter of your life. Equal parts creativity guide, mood boost, midlife manifesto, self-help salve, and breath of fresh air. 100% witty, wise and generous Claire Cook, who shares everything she’s learned on her own journey that might help you in yours. Filled with great stories and insider tips. If you’re a forty-to-forever woman who’s interested in making your life glow on, don’t miss this inspiring and motivating book. "Whether you’re a writer, artist, or crafter in need of a boost, or someone who (incorrectly!) tells yourself you’re not creative (you are!), this book is a much-needed balm to the soul."—Book Perfume “It's a how-to 'Cook-book' filled with wonderful ideas to help you locate that spark and use that new-found innate creativity to keep yourself busy, productive—and happy—during difficult times like pandemic shutdowns and post-shutdowns.”—Pamela Kramer “From one reader to another, you can never go wrong reading one of Claire Cook's books.”—Vicky G. “Life Glows On gave me the encouragement I needed when I desperately needed it. I don't usually read nonfiction, but the great stories make this book feel as if you're reading a novel.”—Donna H. “[Cook’s] poignancy and sassy humor resonate with readers; her theme of reinvention uplifts and inspires.” —Savannah Magazine “A beach tote couldn’t ask for more.”—Kirkus “Claire Cook has an original voice, sparkling style, and a window into family life that will make you laugh and cry.”—Adriana Trigiani “Charming, engagingly quirky, and full of fun, Claire Cook just gets it.”—Meg Cabot “Claire Cook is wicked good.”—Jacquelyn Mitchard “Cook’s humor and narrative execution are impeccable.”—Publishers Weekly “Cook has a light, fun voice and always infuses her stories with great wit and heart.” –Cape Cod Times “Cook’s penchant for hitting the emotional sore spot and combining it with humor hits the mark.”—New York Journal of Books “It is never too late to find your place in the world.”—San Francisco Book Review

Reconnecting With Your Creativity to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life

Life Glows On

“As a reader, there’s nothing I love more than finding a set of characters I absolutely adore and learning that I don’t have to say goodbye to them.”—Book Perfume "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."–BookPage Sarah Hurlihy knows how to move on to the next guy. But she really, really doesn't want to do that anymore. What she wants to figure out is how to stick around and make things work with John Anderson. But John's suggestion for a romantic trip to canine camp before Sarah's job as a preschool teacher gears up for another year is sounding anything but romantic, and Sarah and her sisters are worried about their father's new girlfriend, Sweepstakes Sally. And there's a hot new male teacher at Bayberry Preschool. Could it be that what Sarah wants and what she needs are two entirely different things? "Though the third book in the series, one does not need to read the previous two, but most assuredly will want to. Funny and heartwarming, Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later reflects Ms. Cook's ability to inject comedy into every day circumstances, supplying a remarkable and compelling read."—New York Journal of Books "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle From Claire Cook, New York Times bestselling author of the much-loved novel-turned-movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack comes Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later, Book 3 of the hilarious and heartwarming Must Love Dogs series. "Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune "Wildly witty"—USA Today "A hoot"—The Boston Globe Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) Go to ClaireCook.com for your free gift, 41 Essential Quotes To Get Your Glow On, exclusively for newsletter subscribers. You’ll also be the first to find out when Claire's next book comes out and stay in the loop for giveaways and insider extras.

Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later

“Must Love Dogs has already been a major motion picture, and now New York Times bestselling author Claire Cook’s hilarious and heartwarming series is begging to hit the screen again as a miniseries or a sitcom.”-Nancy Carty Lepri, New York Journal of Books “Reading about how life goes for this wacky marvelously lovable family becomes addictive.”-Pamela Kramer, Examiner Sarah and John are buying Sarah’s family house, and they’re hoping their relationship will survive it. Sarah’s dad is part of the deal, and so is the litter of kittens they’ve discovered under the front porch. Finding a contractor isn’t as easy as they thought it would be, one of the parents at Bayberry Preschool is driving Sarah crazy, and a big nor’easter is barreling toward town. From Claire Cook, New York Times bestselling author of the novel turned romantic comedy movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, comes Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In?, Book 5 of the fun and fabulous Must Love Dogs series. The Must Love Dogs series: Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) “Wildly witty"—USA Today "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle "Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune "A HOOT"—The Boston Globe "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—Book Page "This utterly charming novel by Cook is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach."—Library Journal CLAIRE COOK wrote her first novel in her minivan at 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the movie adaptation of her novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a series. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of 21 fun and inspiring books. If you have a buried dream, take it from Claire, it is NEVER too late! Join Claire’s newsletter list to receive your free welcome gift and stay in the loop for new releases, giveaways and insider extras at ClaireCook.com.

Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In?

Summer Blowout is a USA TODAY bestseller! “As intoxicating as a seat at the top of the Ferris wheel. Reading Claire Cook might be the most fun you have all summer.”—Elin Hilderbrand “Charming, engagingly quirky, and full of fun, Claire Cook just gets it. Summer Blowout is irresistible!”—Meg Cabot “As refreshing as an icy drink on a sultry day.” —Family Circle Bella Shaughnessy is addicted to lipstick with names like My Chihuahua Bites and Kiss My Lips, an occupational hazard, since she works as a stylist and makeup artist for her family’s small chain of beauty salons in Marshbury, Massachusetts, along with her four half-brothers and -sisters. The owner is her father, Lucky Shaughnessy, a gregarious, three-times-divorced charmer with Donald Trump hair, who is obsessed with all things Italian and still carries a torch for his first wife, Bella’s mother. After Bella’s own marriage flames out spectacularly when her half-sister runs off with her husband, Bella decides she has seen enough of the damage love can do. She makes a vow: no more men. Then Bella meets a cute entrepreneur at a college fair, and despite their bickering, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. He also gives her a brilliant business idea, one that just might allow her to share her makeup expertise with the world. A small, well-tressed dog finds her way into her life, and her heart, and she decides to chance that, too. When the whole clan heads to Atlanta for a big Southern wedding, sparks fly—in a summer blowout no one will ever forget. This hilarious, rambunctious novel is pure Claire Cook: full of juicy conflict and unconditional love. “Lipstick rules in this sunny romance tucked inside a Boston family’s chain of beauty salons…Snap this one up and enjoy the makeup advice.”—Library Journal “Summer Blowout is every bit as much fun as Must Love Dogs and Life’s a Beach.”—The Times-Picayune “Laugh out loud.”—Good Housekeeping “Summer Blowout is primed, like Cook’s previous novel Must Love Dogs, to become a big-screen romantic comedy.”—Booklist “Nobody does the easy-breezy beach book with a lighter hand than Claire Cook.”—Hartford Courant

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