Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts (34 page)
Read Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts Online
Authors: Claire Lazebnik
—Gigi Levangie Grazer, author of
Queen Takes King
and
The Starter Wife
“What a wonderful, witty story! You laugh and cry and truly identify with Rickie as she discovers who she is and finds the best out about herself.”
—BestsellersWorld.com
“A sweet, surprising story about coming home, growing up, and moving on.”
—Beth Kendrick, author of
Second Time Around
“I really enjoyed it…a fun read about a woman finding herself while she finds love.”
—MamaKittyReviews.com
“An affecting and entertaining novel, which I read in a weekend (from me, there is almost no higher praise). Rickie is a great heroine, flawed and funny, maybe drinks too much, but still an awesome mom. I love this book.”
—Mindy Kaling
“A thoroughly charming tale about an authentically-crafted family of believable characters…with conflicts and traumas with which average readers can relate.”
—Jhsiess.com
“Fierce, funny, and full of surprisingly heartbreaking twists and turns. LaZebnik roped me in with compelling characters but I stayed for her delicious storytelling.”
—Annabelle Gurwitch, coauthor of
You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up: A Love Story
“Rating: five out of five! This book reminded me of why I love reading so much!”
—StephtheBookworm.blogspot.com
“I loved this book…such a real story and clearly is something that so many young mothers go through…Claire LaZebnik is a wonderful writer.”
—DebiTrentBrown.com
The Smart One and The Pretty One
“A witty romp.”
—
Marie Claire on The Smart One and the Pretty One
“Winning…moments of real depth combine with witty dialogue as LaZebnik deftly spins each turn convincingly to avoid easy answers.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“This sparkling novel about two sisters is both witty and stylish. You won’t be able to resist LaZebnik’s charming take on modern relationships. Read it!”
—Holly Peterson,
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Manny
“A funny and endearing novel that truly captures the devotion and rivalry between sisters…whether they relate to the smart one or the pretty one (or both), readers will find this book irresistible.”
—
Booklist
“Another alluring tale of two seemingly different sisters…Recommended.”
—
Library Journal
“A deliciously intimate portrait of sisters.”
—W. Bruce Cameron, author of
8 Simple Rules for Marrying My Daughter
and
A Dog’s Purpose
“A fun novel…perfect for reading on a beach.”
—WomansDay.com
“Claire LaZebnik explores the sister bond with warmth, wit, and honesty. I loved this novel.”
—Jill Smolinski, author of
The Next Thing on My List
“Sisters everywhere will recognize themselves in
The Smart One and the Pretty One
. Claire LaZebnik has written a touching take on love, longing, and the ties that bind.”
—Heather and Rose MacDowell, authors of
Turning Tables
“Claire LaZebnik has written a wonderfully smart and funny novel about the complexity of love and friendship between sisters. Filled with real warmth and astute observations, it made me wish I had a sister of my own. You’ll enjoy every heartfelt page.”
—Leslie Schnur, author of
Late Night Talking
and
The Dog Walker
Knitting Under the Influence
“At turns hilarious, at times heartbreaking, and so, so honest about life, love, and friendship. I loved it.”
—Melissa Senate
“Charming…smart, engaging characters, each of whom is complicated and real enough to be worth an entire book on her own.”
—
Chicago Sun-Times
“LaZebnik juggles periods of personal crisis while maintaining her characters’ complex individuality. Social knitters, especially, will relate to the bond that strengthens over the click-clack of the girls’ needles.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[A] funny and heart-tugging story about three twenty-something Los Angeles women who drink, cry, and, of course, knit together whenever they can.”
—Arizona Republic
“The characters and problems here are more realistically portrayed than in many chick-lit books, which makes this a nice combination of humor and heartache. Recommended.”
—Library Journal
“Fantastic…has great, believable, and well-written characters that bring the story to life. This is a story that no one will want to miss!”
—TCM Reviews
“A hilarious tale, sometimes sweet and touching and sometimes out-loud laughable. But mainly it is honest and hits home about life, love, and dating.”
—BookLoons.com
Novels
Knitting Under the Influence
The Smart One and the Pretty One
If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home Now
For Young Adults
Epic Fail
Non-fiction (with Lynn Kern Koegel, PhD):
Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope
That Can Transform a Child’s Life
Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning
for Teens and Young Adults with Autism and Asperger’s
Contents
Praise for Claire LaZebnik’s Previous Novels
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Claire LaZebnik
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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Hachette Book Group
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First eBook Edition: September 2011
ISBN: 978-1-455-50550-0