The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom and Party Girl
Audrey Corcoran is struggling to keep her life together in the wake of her divorce. Editor of a schlocky restaurant review journal and the mother to two girls, she s having trouble managing her complicated life and keeping her feelings of inadequacy in check. Then the hip owner of a local greasy spoon talks her into going on a date and introduces her to both jazz and cocaine. Still deeply wounded over the collapse of her perfect suburban family, she feels that her previous efforts to be a good girl have come to naught and that it s time for her to loosen up. Suddenly she s willingly contemplating doing some drug dealing on the side with one of her coworkers as a way to bring in some much-needed cash. In addition, she finds that her fractious relationship with her ex s much-younger girlfriend becomes much easier to handle after a few lines of coke. This debut offers both a satiric look at our consumer culture and a poignant portrait of addiction, but it s the very funny dialogue, which sounds both authentic and contemporary, that is the true showcase for Schuster s talent." ----BooklistEngrossed from the very first page, I found myself unable to put the book down and would highly recommend The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom & Party Girl to everyone. This was hands-down the most believable, terrifying and friendly novel I have read in quite some time and I look forward to seeing more by Marc Schuster in the future. --Luxury ReadingFast-moving, funny, and very smart. Marc Schuster is that rare sort of writer who knows how to laugh and think at the same time. --Charles Holdefer, The Contractor"What happens when an average suburban mom decides to start a casual cocaine habit? In this debut novel, Audrey Corcoran finds out. A divorced but loving mother and editor of a crummy newspaper, Audrey has always been a good girl. When the charmingly unreliable Owen enters her life, he introduces her to the joys of jazz and cocaine. Schuster builds Audrey's drug habit with humor and authenticity, letting the dark reality of her addiction seep quietly into the story. The end result is a perfect blend of the sweet and the awful, the hilarious and the horrible. VERDICT This is an amazing read; truly funny, genuine, and compelling. It's gut-wrenchingly intimate, showing the realistic detail of a decaying life as filtered through a likable but unreliable narrator. It is dark without punishing the reader, and the characters, even the gross ones, are fascinating. For a wide variety of readers." -----Library JournalFast-moving, funny, and very smart. Marc Schuster is that rare sort of writer who knows how to laugh and think at the same time. --Charles Holdefer, The Contractor