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The Literati
An unexpected catastrophe of literary proportions . . .
Aspirant, bookish, and close to broke, 26-year-old Clemi steps into her dream job at a prestigious literary nonprofit and finds herself in the bull's eye of a financial, legal, and existential calamity. The executive director has disappeared, leaving behind an inscrutable cat to which she is highly allergic. Meanwhile, the bank accounts have been overdrawn, the FBI is asking questions, and she has three days to pull off the annual fundraising gala, a glamorous affair filled with famous writers and local literati.
On the upside, she will get to meet her all-time favorite writer, who has won the award. Clemi has read and reread her novels, pouring over her every word. But the author proves difficult, demanding luxurious travel accommodations and leaving Clemi in charge of her devious five-year-old son. Clemi's fraught interactions with the author and with the foundation's board members leave her wondering whether certain writers are better on the page than in person.
All the while, Clemi is trying to sort out her own her current boyfriend is, like every boyfriend before him, a pompous poseur, and the clock is running on her apartment-sitting gig. She finds herself wondering what all the goings-on in this dysfunctional, scandal-plagued nonprofit have to do with literature. And if it's time to let go of her literary aspirations and apply to law school.
In the four days in which this madcap story unfolds, USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Coll weaves together a charmingly witty and warm comedy of manners that offers a peek behind the literary curtain--one that anyone who's ever been a little bit uncertain of what the future might hold can relate to.
Aspirant, bookish, and close to broke, 26-year-old Clemi steps into her dream job at a prestigious literary nonprofit and finds herself in the bull's eye of a financial, legal, and existential calamity. The executive director has disappeared, leaving behind an inscrutable cat to which she is highly allergic. Meanwhile, the bank accounts have been overdrawn, the FBI is asking questions, and she has three days to pull off the annual fundraising gala, a glamorous affair filled with famous writers and local literati.
On the upside, she will get to meet her all-time favorite writer, who has won the award. Clemi has read and reread her novels, pouring over her every word. But the author proves difficult, demanding luxurious travel accommodations and leaving Clemi in charge of her devious five-year-old son. Clemi's fraught interactions with the author and with the foundation's board members leave her wondering whether certain writers are better on the page than in person.
All the while, Clemi is trying to sort out her own her current boyfriend is, like every boyfriend before him, a pompous poseur, and the clock is running on her apartment-sitting gig. She finds herself wondering what all the goings-on in this dysfunctional, scandal-plagued nonprofit have to do with literature. And if it's time to let go of her literary aspirations and apply to law school.
In the four days in which this madcap story unfolds, USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Coll weaves together a charmingly witty and warm comedy of manners that offers a peek behind the literary curtain--one that anyone who's ever been a little bit uncertain of what the future might hold can relate to.
400 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
54 people are currently reading
9147 people want to read
About the author
Susan Coll
12 books153 followersSusan Coll is part of the events team at Politics and Prose bookstore, and the president of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. She is the author of the forthcoming Bookish People (Aug. 2022), as well as The Stager, Beach Week, Acceptance, Rockville Pike, and karlmarx.com. A television adaptation of Acceptance, starring Joan Cusack, aired in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 30, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
One word is enough to describe the plot of this book: chaos. From the very beginning, the main character, Clemi, is running around trying to simultaneously take care of herself and organize a gala evening without the help of her boss, who disappeared without a trace, leaving only his cat behind.
I didn't like that the book was a bit repetitive and a bit boring, the gala evening was described too much, there was really no need to describe it that much.
I especially liked Immanuel the Cat.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars.
One word is enough to describe the plot of this book: chaos. From the very beginning, the main character, Clemi, is running around trying to simultaneously take care of herself and organize a gala evening without the help of her boss, who disappeared without a trace, leaving only his cat behind.
I didn't like that the book was a bit repetitive and a bit boring, the gala evening was described too much, there was really no need to describe it that much.
I especially liked Immanuel the Cat.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars.
September 22, 2025
2-⭐
Ok I didn't like this at all.
it was chaos and I didn't find it fun.
I admit I skipped a lot in the second half..
it wasn't badly written by the style and plot weren't my cup of tea
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
I tend to love books about the book world, which is why I requested this ARC. It seems like a fun read, exactly what I need atm. 🫶🏼
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
❁ Thank you to Netgalley and Susan Coll for the opportunity to read the ARC of this in exchange of my honest opinion — ARC provided by Harper Muse ❁
Ok I didn't like this at all.
it was chaos and I didn't find it fun.
I admit I skipped a lot in the second half..
it wasn't badly written by the style and plot weren't my cup of tea
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
I tend to love books about the book world, which is why I requested this ARC. It seems like a fun read, exactly what I need atm. 🫶🏼
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
❁ Thank you to Netgalley and Susan Coll for the opportunity to read the ARC of this in exchange of my honest opinion — ARC provided by Harper Muse ❁
August 25, 2025
This was going to be a 3.5 star rating, but the last 30% of the book managed to bring it up. The beginning of the book was kind of hard for me to get into and I couldn't really tell where the story was going.
Clemi's life is chaotic, to put it lightly. The literary nonprofit she just became employed by appears to be falling apart at the seams and Clemi is left to keep it held together. The characters she encounters along the way are quirky and entertaining, as is Clemi herself. Some of it was just a little too quirky for my taste. It was lighthearted and quick to read. A nice palate cleanser from the dark things I normally read.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did great with the adult, female voices. I didn't love her voice for a couple of the male characters (mostly River), and I'm sorry, but the young boy's voice was hard to listen to in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the chance to listen to and review this book.
Clemi's life is chaotic, to put it lightly. The literary nonprofit she just became employed by appears to be falling apart at the seams and Clemi is left to keep it held together. The characters she encounters along the way are quirky and entertaining, as is Clemi herself. Some of it was just a little too quirky for my taste. It was lighthearted and quick to read. A nice palate cleanser from the dark things I normally read.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did great with the adult, female voices. I didn't love her voice for a couple of the male characters (mostly River), and I'm sorry, but the young boy's voice was hard to listen to in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the chance to listen to and review this book.
June 12, 2025
Daughter of a literary agent and a poet, Clemi has absorbed bookishness by osmosis. In her mid twenties and casting around for a direction, Clemi accepts what should be a dream job at a literary non profit. The ensuing chaos - her boss has disappeared, the prize winner is demanding upgrades and baby sitting services and the bank accounts have been drained - sees Clemi planning a new career path in the law. The Literati is an entertaining screwball comedy although I found myself anxious for Clemi in all that chaos. Clemi is a likeable lead character- her honesty and persistence make you enjoy being inside her head. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
September 13, 2025
I did immersion reading with this one (audiobook + print) and it definitely added to the chaos in a fun way. The narration worked well overall, the adult female voices were great, though some of the male voices didn’t totally land for me. Still, the performances helped keep the story moving even when things got over the top.
And wow, this book is chaotic. Clemi is barely hanging on at her new job, her boss is missing, the office is falling apart, and somehow she ends up juggling a cat she’s allergic to, clowns popping up everywhere, an 8-year-old genius, and a gala on the verge of disaster. It honestly felt like a fever dream, quirky, bizarre, and one crisis after another.
For me, it was funny at times and definitely entertaining, but not a book I’ll rave about. The randomness and nonstop tangents sometimes lost me, but I can absolutely see it being a hit with readers who enjoy lighthearted workplace chaos, quirky humor, and books that lean into absurdity thanks to Harpermuse for the gifted audio and book.
And wow, this book is chaotic. Clemi is barely hanging on at her new job, her boss is missing, the office is falling apart, and somehow she ends up juggling a cat she’s allergic to, clowns popping up everywhere, an 8-year-old genius, and a gala on the verge of disaster. It honestly felt like a fever dream, quirky, bizarre, and one crisis after another.
For me, it was funny at times and definitely entertaining, but not a book I’ll rave about. The randomness and nonstop tangents sometimes lost me, but I can absolutely see it being a hit with readers who enjoy lighthearted workplace chaos, quirky humor, and books that lean into absurdity thanks to Harpermuse for the gifted audio and book.
August 27, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for providing me with an ALC.
I know this book was meant to be chaotic but it was a bit too much chaos for me. Some parts were definitely funny but most didn't click with me because it kept going on random tangents and I lost track of what was happening in the main storyline. The whole Vlad thing should have been cute but I found it a bit annoying. Clemi kept obsessing over random things all the time, especially clowns and potentially writing the LSAT. I think contemporary books are really not my thing. The ending was nice and wholesome but it didn't make up for the rest of the book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted contemporary novel about the chaos in one's work life, especially in publishing.
The narrator did a great job making Clemi's life sound extra chaotic but I didn't really like the shrill voices given to kids/toys etc.
I know this book was meant to be chaotic but it was a bit too much chaos for me. Some parts were definitely funny but most didn't click with me because it kept going on random tangents and I lost track of what was happening in the main storyline. The whole Vlad thing should have been cute but I found it a bit annoying. Clemi kept obsessing over random things all the time, especially clowns and potentially writing the LSAT. I think contemporary books are really not my thing. The ending was nice and wholesome but it didn't make up for the rest of the book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted contemporary novel about the chaos in one's work life, especially in publishing.
The narrator did a great job making Clemi's life sound extra chaotic but I didn't really like the shrill voices given to kids/toys etc.
August 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
In the book we meet Clemi who gets her dream job at a prestigious literary non profit. What would’ve been the best first week imaginable, turns into a nightmare when her boss disappears, the accounts are overdrawn, the police are investigating the non profit and she has to organize a gala.
The book was entertaining with dark humor, and great main character. She is relatable and resilient.
It’s a great palate cleanser without much depth or character development but entertaining nonetheless
In the book we meet Clemi who gets her dream job at a prestigious literary non profit. What would’ve been the best first week imaginable, turns into a nightmare when her boss disappears, the accounts are overdrawn, the police are investigating the non profit and she has to organize a gala.
The book was entertaining with dark humor, and great main character. She is relatable and resilient.
It’s a great palate cleanser without much depth or character development but entertaining nonetheless
June 16, 2025
4/5
📖 Contemporary Fiction
💓A chaotic literary adventure
💬 Try to keep up with Clemi as she navigates week two in her new literary non-profit job!
💓 Read if you like💓:
Women’s Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Novels about bookish people/jobs
Fast-paced books with lots of details
The Literati is my first Susan Coll book. I had no idea what to expect, and only read a small blurb before diving in. If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I tend to mostly live in the romance/rom come world, but at times I step out and try other things and this came at the perfect time- I needed a palate cleanser!
The female main character is a solid girl with a good head on her shoulders who is trying to step out from under her mother’s shadow. She is entering week two at her new job, when she arrives to the office and finds her boss missing, his cat suddenly present, and the contents of the shelves and drawers are everywhere.
She knows that she should probably call the authorities, because something most definitely is not right, but suddenly one thing after another happens and she can barely breathe, let alone think logically.
Clemi spends the entire novel responding to fires, which sends her into a tailspin of questioning what she wants to do with her life.
The cat keeps getting lost, there are clowns everywhere, she’s nannying an 8-year-old boy genius, and there is absolutely no money to pay all of the vendors involved in the big gala she is now in charge of throwing. And yet- this girl keeps her cool. I am blown away by her even-keeled temper!
This book was funny and crazy and at no time did I have any idea where it was headed next!
Thank you to Susan Coll, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
📖 Contemporary Fiction
💓A chaotic literary adventure
💬 Try to keep up with Clemi as she navigates week two in her new literary non-profit job!
💓 Read if you like💓:
Women’s Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Novels about bookish people/jobs
Fast-paced books with lots of details
The Literati is my first Susan Coll book. I had no idea what to expect, and only read a small blurb before diving in. If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I tend to mostly live in the romance/rom come world, but at times I step out and try other things and this came at the perfect time- I needed a palate cleanser!
The female main character is a solid girl with a good head on her shoulders who is trying to step out from under her mother’s shadow. She is entering week two at her new job, when she arrives to the office and finds her boss missing, his cat suddenly present, and the contents of the shelves and drawers are everywhere.
She knows that she should probably call the authorities, because something most definitely is not right, but suddenly one thing after another happens and she can barely breathe, let alone think logically.
Clemi spends the entire novel responding to fires, which sends her into a tailspin of questioning what she wants to do with her life.
The cat keeps getting lost, there are clowns everywhere, she’s nannying an 8-year-old boy genius, and there is absolutely no money to pay all of the vendors involved in the big gala she is now in charge of throwing. And yet- this girl keeps her cool. I am blown away by her even-keeled temper!
This book was funny and crazy and at no time did I have any idea where it was headed next!
Thank you to Susan Coll, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 25, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The premise of this book really interested me. In the end, though, I didn’t feel like this book was particularly memorable, and I couldn’t stay engaged in the story.
The positives: mysterious clowns and cats appearing everywhere, Vlad, and the last ~15% of the book had some funny moments.
The negatives: the main character was intentionally naive (I have to believe Clemi was choosing this, otherwise I would scream), and it felt like nothing happened during the whole book until around the 70% mark.
I was so interested in the mystery that was set up (slowly) in the first few chapters, and that’s what kept me reading: the idea that eventually pieces would be put together and I’d have explanations. But the getting there was slow and uneventful, in my opinion, that the solving of the mystery just wasn’t worth it.
I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book and that I had to give it a negative review.
The premise of this book really interested me. In the end, though, I didn’t feel like this book was particularly memorable, and I couldn’t stay engaged in the story.
The positives: mysterious clowns and cats appearing everywhere, Vlad, and the last ~15% of the book had some funny moments.
The negatives: the main character was intentionally naive (I have to believe Clemi was choosing this, otherwise I would scream), and it felt like nothing happened during the whole book until around the 70% mark.
I was so interested in the mystery that was set up (slowly) in the first few chapters, and that’s what kept me reading: the idea that eventually pieces would be put together and I’d have explanations. But the getting there was slow and uneventful, in my opinion, that the solving of the mystery just wasn’t worth it.
I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book and that I had to give it a negative review.
September 21, 2025
Marni Penning’s narration is warm and lively, making this audiobook easy to settle into. The story itself is a madcap comedy about Clemi, a young woman who lands her dream job at a literary nonprofit only to be swept into financial chaos, missing leadership, a suspicious cat, and the pressure of hosting a glittering gala for famous authors.
I enjoyed the clever premise, the bookish setting, and the quirky humor woven throughout. However, so much happens in such a short time that I occasionally had to backtrack to keep up, and Clemi’s scattered choices sometimes made her a little hard to root for.
Overall, The Literati is a light, offbeat listen that readers who enjoy workplace hijinks and literary satire will likely appreciate. For me, it was a pleasant but not quite unforgettable listen—3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy; all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the clever premise, the bookish setting, and the quirky humor woven throughout. However, so much happens in such a short time that I occasionally had to backtrack to keep up, and Clemi’s scattered choices sometimes made her a little hard to root for.
Overall, The Literati is a light, offbeat listen that readers who enjoy workplace hijinks and literary satire will likely appreciate. For me, it was a pleasant but not quite unforgettable listen—3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy; all opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
Clemi is just two weeks into her role at WLNP, a struggling nonprofit in the literary world, when her boss mysteriously disappears, leaving her in charge of planning the upcoming gala… and also his cat. With no guidance, no team, and a company on the verge of collapse, Clemi is left to figure it all out on her own. Can she pull it off, or will it all come crashing down?
The story aims for chaos, and it definitely delivers, but not in a good way. The plot is all over the place, the writing is repetitive, and the pacing makes it hard to stay engaged. Clemi is frustratingly clueless, spending way too much energy obsessing over things that don’t matter. I found myself skimming whole sections and still didn’t feel like I missed much.
Overall: a chaotic concept that sadly turns into a chaotic read.
Tanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The story aims for chaos, and it definitely delivers, but not in a good way. The plot is all over the place, the writing is repetitive, and the pacing makes it hard to stay engaged. Clemi is frustratingly clueless, spending way too much energy obsessing over things that don’t matter. I found myself skimming whole sections and still didn’t feel like I missed much.
Overall: a chaotic concept that sadly turns into a chaotic read.
Tanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 6, 2025
*Audiobook ARC courtesy of Netgalley*
2.5⭐️
I felt just as confused reading this as Clemi must have felt living it...
While I typically don't read much that is marketed as comedy, I do however expect the content to at least be funny. This felt like drinking a La Croix (I do not like La Croix), there was an essence of comedy but it left me craving sooooo much more.
We follow Clemi as she navigates the crumbling remains of a literary non-profit riddled with controversy and secrets, but nothing particularly exciting happens.
There was a heavy dose of clowns mentioned in this book which didn't really make all that much sense either. Was it symbolism? I have no idea, but it felt a lot like "oh look a clown! they're funny, right?!"...
All in all, not really doing it for me.
2.5⭐️
I felt just as confused reading this as Clemi must have felt living it...
While I typically don't read much that is marketed as comedy, I do however expect the content to at least be funny. This felt like drinking a La Croix (I do not like La Croix), there was an essence of comedy but it left me craving sooooo much more.
We follow Clemi as she navigates the crumbling remains of a literary non-profit riddled with controversy and secrets, but nothing particularly exciting happens.
There was a heavy dose of clowns mentioned in this book which didn't really make all that much sense either. Was it symbolism? I have no idea, but it felt a lot like "oh look a clown! they're funny, right?!"...
All in all, not really doing it for me.
October 14, 2025
E-ARC and ALC provided by publisher via Netgalley
I can't get into this, at all. It feels more like random scenes happening than any kind of cohesive story. I can't get a feel for the main character, nor any of the surrounding ones, besides her demanding mother. And that's only because the mother is such a stereotype of "demanding mother" that it's easy to identify her. The plot is all over the place, which is supposed to be similar to Clemi's life, but it just made me not care about anything that was happening.
The narrator did a fine job with what she had. I have to say she speaks very quickly, this was the only book in recent memory I listened to at 1x speed.
I can't get into this, at all. It feels more like random scenes happening than any kind of cohesive story. I can't get a feel for the main character, nor any of the surrounding ones, besides her demanding mother. And that's only because the mother is such a stereotype of "demanding mother" that it's easy to identify her. The plot is all over the place, which is supposed to be similar to Clemi's life, but it just made me not care about anything that was happening.
The narrator did a fine job with what she had. I have to say she speaks very quickly, this was the only book in recent memory I listened to at 1x speed.
October 27, 2025
Won in a giveaway - ridiculous and her choices only make any sense if you assume she’s still under the effects of allergy meds. But cute and funny and a good distraction from the world. I vote we need more farces.
November 16, 2025
this made me miss dc like a mf-er
December 5, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an audio copy of this book.
The story matched the description, but I struggled with this one. The "voice" really grated on me. It's hard to tell if it was the way it was written/authorial voice for the main character (where I would also struggle with the print version), or if it was mainly the literal voice the audiobook narrator used. It had a cadence and tone that felt whiny and constantly sarcastic.
Other than that, I felt there was a lot going on in the story, but without much depth or meaning to pull from each scene. It was lighthearted and aiming for humor, which landed sometimes, but I think there could have been a little more to grab onto emotionally. It started to pick up as things were revealed toward the end, but the final scene was not for me. It seemed to aim to wrap up a story that wasn't about romance with a random
The story matched the description, but I struggled with this one. The "voice" really grated on me. It's hard to tell if it was the way it was written/authorial voice for the main character (where I would also struggle with the print version), or if it was mainly the literal voice the audiobook narrator used. It had a cadence and tone that felt whiny and constantly sarcastic.
Other than that, I felt there was a lot going on in the story, but without much depth or meaning to pull from each scene. It was lighthearted and aiming for humor, which landed sometimes, but I think there could have been a little more to grab onto emotionally. It started to pick up as things were revealed toward the end, but the final scene was not for me. It seemed to aim to wrap up a story that wasn't about romance with a random
September 7, 2025
It's sad how relatable this book is LOL. At least in terms of the nonsense our MC Clemi has to endure with from higher-ups at work.
Clemi is—she herself admits—naive and a bit of a pushover. She complains about River (her former? flame) getting a book and attributing it to him having it easy because he's handsome and charming, but girl, isn't your mom an agent? Don’t you KNOW people? You can only blame yourself for doing things the hard way. It's noble, sure, but it’s also stupid.
Maybe it’s because she lets her mom boss her around a lot, and she doesn’t need her bossing her around about her book?
Maybe Clemi just lives too much inside her own head? or is she...flighty?
I dunno, but she IS funny.
Speaking of which, there’s an entire subplot with clowns that feels like a fever dream.
After some online digging, I see this is (sort of) a sequel to Bookish People, so I may have to check that out now.
Some of my favorites in this book were Vlad and (NOT!) Malcolm Gladwell, who I feel is the very definition of “true neutral”.
As the story unfolds, we start to see that all the chaos is causing her to clutch onto some agency to make sense of the whirlwind around her, and she grows! Huzzah for a dynamic MC! I’ve been reading too many MCs built to serve as static stand-ins for the reader.
The Literati will be published September 9, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Susan Coll for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
----------------
3.5 stars rounded to 4 (I'm feeling generous but may percolate back to a 3). Partially stars awarded solely on the merits of this being peak absurdist (surreal??) humor.
Full review to come.
Clemi is—she herself admits—naive and a bit of a pushover. She complains about River (her former? flame) getting a book and attributing it to him having it easy because he's handsome and charming, but girl, isn't your mom an agent? Don’t you KNOW people? You can only blame yourself for doing things the hard way. It's noble, sure, but it’s also stupid.
Maybe it’s because she lets her mom boss her around a lot, and she doesn’t need her bossing her around about her book?
Maybe Clemi just lives too much inside her own head? or is she...flighty?
I dunno, but she IS funny.
Speaking of which, there’s an entire subplot with clowns that feels like a fever dream.
After some online digging, I see this is (sort of) a sequel to Bookish People, so I may have to check that out now.
Some of my favorites in this book were Vlad and (NOT!) Malcolm Gladwell, who I feel is the very definition of “true neutral”.
As the story unfolds, we start to see that all the chaos is causing her to clutch onto some agency to make sense of the whirlwind around her, and she grows! Huzzah for a dynamic MC! I’ve been reading too many MCs built to serve as static stand-ins for the reader.
The Literati will be published September 9, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Susan Coll for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
----------------
3.5 stars rounded to 4 (I'm feeling generous but may percolate back to a 3). Partially stars awarded solely on the merits of this being peak absurdist (surreal??) humor.
Full review to come.
September 30, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this opportunity!
Overall I rated this book 2 stars. I appreciated the fast pace of the story- it was definitely a rollercoaster from the get go. I had requested this book because I like the cover, and the synopsis sounded interesting! I thought some of the things from the synopsis would play a bigger part in the overall structure of the story. By the time it wrapped up I was just as discombobulated as when it started.
The Literati had some quippy dialogue, and I can see the appeal for other readers… it just wasn’t for me.
I did like the cat, and not-Malcolm!
Overall I rated this book 2 stars. I appreciated the fast pace of the story- it was definitely a rollercoaster from the get go. I had requested this book because I like the cover, and the synopsis sounded interesting! I thought some of the things from the synopsis would play a bigger part in the overall structure of the story. By the time it wrapped up I was just as discombobulated as when it started.
The Literati had some quippy dialogue, and I can see the appeal for other readers… it just wasn’t for me.
I did like the cat, and not-Malcolm!
September 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so full of chaos that I am not sure what I even read. The characters in this book were annoying and made so many dumb decisions that this book was so outlandish. I did not enjoy how chaotic the events of the book were because they were so outlandish that it was not believable. Clemi should have just left this job from day one as it was a crazy environment.
This book was so full of chaos that I am not sure what I even read. The characters in this book were annoying and made so many dumb decisions that this book was so outlandish. I did not enjoy how chaotic the events of the book were because they were so outlandish that it was not believable. Clemi should have just left this job from day one as it was a crazy environment.
October 26, 2025
Humor is really hard and subjective, so while this book at a few good moments for me, overall it just felt like it was trying so hard to be funny and ~quirky~ without really nailing it. Valiant effort of course!
September 8, 2025
Funny business that’s serious (Washington, DC, present-day): Laughter is infectious. In this madcap pair of contemporary novels, Susan Coll’s literary skills match those of a stand-up comedian: nonstop pulling-out-all-the-stops jokes and absurdities, couched in social commentary on a subject she knows well. The book business. In a town she knows well. Washington, DC.
Coll is the former President of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. She was also the Program Events Manager of the venerated, independent Politics & Prose Bookstore on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. Today, she advises on author events for their chock-full calendar.
Disclaimer: I live nearby the city, so I can personally vouch for the real P & P. The fictional one in Bookish People, unrecognizable (except for the crammed parking lot).
For starters, missing is the offensive odor of a tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr. the protagonist, twenty-something Clemi, has hid from the imagined, frazzled owner, Sophie Bernstein. Recently widowed, mourning, and having a tough time keeping up. No resemblance to the co-owners, Bradley Graham and his wife Lissa Muscatine, former journalists for the Washington Post and award-winning writers in other formats. See their message proclaiming, “A bookstore is a precious thing": https://politics-prose.com/message-pp....
Sophie hired Clemi to manage the bookstore and its events with quirky authors (like the alcoholic poet she becomes obsessed with, for good reason) seeing herself when she was young, “intense and serious and fiercely literary.”
Clemi hasn’t changed in 2025 in The Literati. Except other than making it explicitly clear she has a rather “overactive imagination,” which might lead you to wonder if she’s exaggerating the mess she’s gotten herself into when she accepts a new job as the Program Director of WLNP (Washington Literary Non-Profit.)
Why did conscientious Clemi fail to do her due diligence before leaving her bookstore community? Two words: Sveta Attais. Her literary diva, soon to be awarded the WLNP Chestnut Prize for Prescient Fiction. Fiction that’s prescient, what does that cover? Among a myriad of questions and unknowns Clemi is in the dark about.
On the first week on the job, the Executive Director, Howard, interviews her and supposedly gave her the rundown. By the second week, when the novel opens, it’s wildly apparent he omitted a litany of crucial things. When she enters her new “discombobulated” – as in the “one-room office” on the third floor of a Georgetown townhouse looked like it was robbed – he’s nowhere to be found. The only living soul is a cat on top of Howard’s desk, she quickly learns she’s badly allergic to.
Where’s Howard? A question she keeps asking the moment she discovers someone has cleaned out all the nonprofit’s bank accounts. Followed by his “soon-to-be-ex-wife” barging into the office raging, alleging, he’s drained all their personal accounts. There to serve him a subpoena Clemi accepts on his behalf. Did she have to, legally? Funny we should ask as Clemi is considering maybe she should become a lawyer since she’s been struggling to write a novel since her bookstore days. The lawyering idea instigates a clever, laughable obsession seeing clowns appearing everywhere after an LSAT prep guide tests her logic involving clowns, vexing her.
Clemi, short for Clementine, with her “orange” hair, is a “people pleaser,” so she volunteers to find out what happened to all the finances. The first obstacle, when she tracks down the board’s treasurer, is he’s in name only appointed because he’s a math teacher tutoring the children of other board members. Conflict-of-interest? She wonders, particularly since she might become a lawyer. No worries. There’s also a Financial Advisor named Dr. Jolly. Not a Ph.D. but an MD, who’s also “OOO.” DC is a city of acronyms. This one you can guess at. Out of the Office.
Thank goodness the WLNP is a figment of Coll’s satire. Plagued by a history of scandals that’s never funny: racism and antisemitism. Explaining the nonprofit’s aspiration to reshape itself, signaled by the new hire Clemi, whose famous literary agent mother gives her credibility.
Meanwhile, the phone rings and it’s her literary idol with an urgent demand to rebook her flight to “first class” having injured her back, otherwise she’ll be a no-show to accept the prize at the gala Clemi is in charge of. Sveta is a package deal. Her unruly, spoiled yet highly gifted eight-year-old son Vladislav, who runs circles around adults, needs an upgrade too. From Casablanca (“in Morocco?” she asks stupefied) to DC. With what funds?
The “public intellectual” scheduled to give the keynote has suddenly passed away, adding to Clemi’s woes. Before she can find a suitable replacement at the last minute, she better figure out what is a “public intellectual”?
Both novels hit their marks in roughly the same timeframe: The Literati under a week, Bookish People over a week. Scrunching timelines contributes to the chaotic sense of overwhelming. Plotting differs in the sense that the off-the-wall, morally disturbing 2025 events are connected to the enigmatic actions and legacy of the WLNP, whereas the plotting in Bookish People revolves around the bookstore more broadly.
Consequently, the prose elicits two degrees of laughter. One responding to the overly embellished, comedic antics at the for-profit bookstore. The other, over-the-top yet sobering dishonorable and questionable scandals by a literary group disgracing their own profession.
Coll doesn’t steer away from the Politics in the name of the popular bookstore, so expect plenty of political digs. Suggesting why her 2025 novel comes across as witty, but not as hysterical as three years ago. There’s truth in delivering comedy.
Both novels are smartly entertaining. In this case, the two are even better than one.
Clemi isn’t having just one bad day, but a string of exasperating days. Charmingly broken up by an unexpected bond with young Vlad. Clemi’s perceptive and deft handling of him when asked, no begged (“Darling, Clementine”), she babysit him while running around attempting to keep everything under control at the award-giving festivities is delightful. Pointedly, the celebrating will be held at the history-making Washington Hotel where President Reagan and Jim Brady were shot.
Of course, there’s more outrageous characters, such as Herring, not to be confused with, but is, the fish, supposedly advising on finances; a yoga class Clemi signs up for, her mat next to someone she and everyone mistakes for Malcolm Gladwell; confusion over a life-or-death allergy to ice? (rice?), pushing the buttons of a respected caterer’s fury about a sizeable, unpaid bill.
The deceased “public intellectual” was Javier-Jiménez-Jiménez, author of On Totalitarianism and The End of Democracy. Ring a bell? Timothy Snyder, expert on the Holocaust and an inspiring voice on the war in Ukraine, wrote similarly titled bestsellers. Another not-so-subtle political viewpoint.
In light of the recently reported dismal numbers that only 16% of American adults read for pleasure, could a campaign to put these two novels into the hands of the afflicted breakthrough, encouraging more people to seek a fun escape from the chaotic world Susan Coll depicts? Caveat: Steer clear of the WLNP!
Coll is the former President of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. She was also the Program Events Manager of the venerated, independent Politics & Prose Bookstore on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. Today, she advises on author events for their chock-full calendar.
Disclaimer: I live nearby the city, so I can personally vouch for the real P & P. The fictional one in Bookish People, unrecognizable (except for the crammed parking lot).
For starters, missing is the offensive odor of a tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr. the protagonist, twenty-something Clemi, has hid from the imagined, frazzled owner, Sophie Bernstein. Recently widowed, mourning, and having a tough time keeping up. No resemblance to the co-owners, Bradley Graham and his wife Lissa Muscatine, former journalists for the Washington Post and award-winning writers in other formats. See their message proclaiming, “A bookstore is a precious thing": https://politics-prose.com/message-pp....
Sophie hired Clemi to manage the bookstore and its events with quirky authors (like the alcoholic poet she becomes obsessed with, for good reason) seeing herself when she was young, “intense and serious and fiercely literary.”
Clemi hasn’t changed in 2025 in The Literati. Except other than making it explicitly clear she has a rather “overactive imagination,” which might lead you to wonder if she’s exaggerating the mess she’s gotten herself into when she accepts a new job as the Program Director of WLNP (Washington Literary Non-Profit.)
Why did conscientious Clemi fail to do her due diligence before leaving her bookstore community? Two words: Sveta Attais. Her literary diva, soon to be awarded the WLNP Chestnut Prize for Prescient Fiction. Fiction that’s prescient, what does that cover? Among a myriad of questions and unknowns Clemi is in the dark about.
On the first week on the job, the Executive Director, Howard, interviews her and supposedly gave her the rundown. By the second week, when the novel opens, it’s wildly apparent he omitted a litany of crucial things. When she enters her new “discombobulated” – as in the “one-room office” on the third floor of a Georgetown townhouse looked like it was robbed – he’s nowhere to be found. The only living soul is a cat on top of Howard’s desk, she quickly learns she’s badly allergic to.
Where’s Howard? A question she keeps asking the moment she discovers someone has cleaned out all the nonprofit’s bank accounts. Followed by his “soon-to-be-ex-wife” barging into the office raging, alleging, he’s drained all their personal accounts. There to serve him a subpoena Clemi accepts on his behalf. Did she have to, legally? Funny we should ask as Clemi is considering maybe she should become a lawyer since she’s been struggling to write a novel since her bookstore days. The lawyering idea instigates a clever, laughable obsession seeing clowns appearing everywhere after an LSAT prep guide tests her logic involving clowns, vexing her.
Clemi, short for Clementine, with her “orange” hair, is a “people pleaser,” so she volunteers to find out what happened to all the finances. The first obstacle, when she tracks down the board’s treasurer, is he’s in name only appointed because he’s a math teacher tutoring the children of other board members. Conflict-of-interest? She wonders, particularly since she might become a lawyer. No worries. There’s also a Financial Advisor named Dr. Jolly. Not a Ph.D. but an MD, who’s also “OOO.” DC is a city of acronyms. This one you can guess at. Out of the Office.
Thank goodness the WLNP is a figment of Coll’s satire. Plagued by a history of scandals that’s never funny: racism and antisemitism. Explaining the nonprofit’s aspiration to reshape itself, signaled by the new hire Clemi, whose famous literary agent mother gives her credibility.
Meanwhile, the phone rings and it’s her literary idol with an urgent demand to rebook her flight to “first class” having injured her back, otherwise she’ll be a no-show to accept the prize at the gala Clemi is in charge of. Sveta is a package deal. Her unruly, spoiled yet highly gifted eight-year-old son Vladislav, who runs circles around adults, needs an upgrade too. From Casablanca (“in Morocco?” she asks stupefied) to DC. With what funds?
The “public intellectual” scheduled to give the keynote has suddenly passed away, adding to Clemi’s woes. Before she can find a suitable replacement at the last minute, she better figure out what is a “public intellectual”?
Both novels hit their marks in roughly the same timeframe: The Literati under a week, Bookish People over a week. Scrunching timelines contributes to the chaotic sense of overwhelming. Plotting differs in the sense that the off-the-wall, morally disturbing 2025 events are connected to the enigmatic actions and legacy of the WLNP, whereas the plotting in Bookish People revolves around the bookstore more broadly.
Consequently, the prose elicits two degrees of laughter. One responding to the overly embellished, comedic antics at the for-profit bookstore. The other, over-the-top yet sobering dishonorable and questionable scandals by a literary group disgracing their own profession.
Coll doesn’t steer away from the Politics in the name of the popular bookstore, so expect plenty of political digs. Suggesting why her 2025 novel comes across as witty, but not as hysterical as three years ago. There’s truth in delivering comedy.
Both novels are smartly entertaining. In this case, the two are even better than one.
Clemi isn’t having just one bad day, but a string of exasperating days. Charmingly broken up by an unexpected bond with young Vlad. Clemi’s perceptive and deft handling of him when asked, no begged (“Darling, Clementine”), she babysit him while running around attempting to keep everything under control at the award-giving festivities is delightful. Pointedly, the celebrating will be held at the history-making Washington Hotel where President Reagan and Jim Brady were shot.
Of course, there’s more outrageous characters, such as Herring, not to be confused with, but is, the fish, supposedly advising on finances; a yoga class Clemi signs up for, her mat next to someone she and everyone mistakes for Malcolm Gladwell; confusion over a life-or-death allergy to ice? (rice?), pushing the buttons of a respected caterer’s fury about a sizeable, unpaid bill.
The deceased “public intellectual” was Javier-Jiménez-Jiménez, author of On Totalitarianism and The End of Democracy. Ring a bell? Timothy Snyder, expert on the Holocaust and an inspiring voice on the war in Ukraine, wrote similarly titled bestsellers. Another not-so-subtle political viewpoint.
In light of the recently reported dismal numbers that only 16% of American adults read for pleasure, could a campaign to put these two novels into the hands of the afflicted breakthrough, encouraging more people to seek a fun escape from the chaotic world Susan Coll depicts? Caveat: Steer clear of the WLNP!
August 29, 2025
✨ Initial Vibes
Picked this up because I love a good bookish caper—and the idea of a literary fundraiser going off the rails in DC sounded like the perfect chaotic escape. Sadly, it didn’t quite land for me.
📖 What It’s About
A twenty-something woman navigates chaos, ambition, and eccentric personalities as she attempts to pull off a major literary fundraiser in Washington, DC. Hijinks ensue.
❤️ What I Appreciated
• The Washington, DC setting is vivid and thoughtfully drawn—Coll clearly knows the scene.
• The premise is strong: a young woman juggling dysfunctional personalities, fundraising chaos, and high-stakes literary egos is a rich setup for satire.
• There’s something comforting about a comedy of errors where everything (sort of) works out.
🤨 What Didn’t Work (for me)
• The comedy felt too broad and rushed—less madcap and more just…frazzled. I had a hard time grounding myself in the story.
• The satire of nonprofits and the literary world felt a little too gentle. There were moments that could’ve cut deeper, but the tone stayed safe.
• I didn’t find myself laughing much or connecting with the characters, which made the stakes feel low, even when the plot sped up.
💭 Final Thoughts
While this wasn’t for me, I could see it appealing to readers who enjoy fast-paced, farcical comedy with a touch of literary glam. If you like your chaos zany, your characters offbeat, and your fiction slightly detached from emotional realism, this might hit better for you.
🧠 Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️
(2.5 rounded up for setting and premise.)
Picked this up because I love a good bookish caper—and the idea of a literary fundraiser going off the rails in DC sounded like the perfect chaotic escape. Sadly, it didn’t quite land for me.
📖 What It’s About
A twenty-something woman navigates chaos, ambition, and eccentric personalities as she attempts to pull off a major literary fundraiser in Washington, DC. Hijinks ensue.
❤️ What I Appreciated
• The Washington, DC setting is vivid and thoughtfully drawn—Coll clearly knows the scene.
• The premise is strong: a young woman juggling dysfunctional personalities, fundraising chaos, and high-stakes literary egos is a rich setup for satire.
• There’s something comforting about a comedy of errors where everything (sort of) works out.
🤨 What Didn’t Work (for me)
• The comedy felt too broad and rushed—less madcap and more just…frazzled. I had a hard time grounding myself in the story.
• The satire of nonprofits and the literary world felt a little too gentle. There were moments that could’ve cut deeper, but the tone stayed safe.
• I didn’t find myself laughing much or connecting with the characters, which made the stakes feel low, even when the plot sped up.
💭 Final Thoughts
While this wasn’t for me, I could see it appealing to readers who enjoy fast-paced, farcical comedy with a touch of literary glam. If you like your chaos zany, your characters offbeat, and your fiction slightly detached from emotional realism, this might hit better for you.
🧠 Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️
(2.5 rounded up for setting and premise.)
August 23, 2025
A quarter life crisis set against a book industry backdrop, this has plenty of relatable moments for most in a creative career. As relatable as Clemi’s plight is, I couldn’t quite attach to her enough to enjoy this, fairly quiet, story enough for a 4.
Premise - 26 year old Clemi’s dream comes true when she’s hired at a prestigious literary nonprofit, but it soon becomes clear that all is not well at the nonprofit. Her boss is MIA (leaving her a cat shes highly allergic to), the accounts are overdrawn, and the FBI has come knocking.
To try to keep the wheels on, Clemi has to single handedly orchestrate a glamorous fundraising gala featuring her favorite author who (surprise, surprise) isn’t as great as Clemi had imagined.
Clemi’s self-talk about law school, about balancing passion and profit, was so real. I found myself going back and forth between rooting for her to do the sensible thing and free herself from the agony of an artist’s life, and rooting for her to commit to writing and free herself from expectation and the pressure of achievement.
From the pitch it sounded like this could be on the edge of women’s fiction and thriller, but it’s definitely solidly in women’s fiction as a quiet book that felt surprisingly low stakes given all the drama. I didn’t really buy into her need to stay in the book industry, so it felt like quitting her catastrophic dream job and following the clowns to law school was more of an option than it’d need to be for me to fully buy into the chaos.
I listened to the audio ARC, narrated by Manni Penning. She has a great voice and delivers overthinking internal narration really well. It was a nice accompaniment for some summer travel, and I could see it being a similarly good fit as a commute listen!
Thanks, NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - 26 year old Clemi’s dream comes true when she’s hired at a prestigious literary nonprofit, but it soon becomes clear that all is not well at the nonprofit. Her boss is MIA (leaving her a cat shes highly allergic to), the accounts are overdrawn, and the FBI has come knocking.
To try to keep the wheels on, Clemi has to single handedly orchestrate a glamorous fundraising gala featuring her favorite author who (surprise, surprise) isn’t as great as Clemi had imagined.
Clemi’s self-talk about law school, about balancing passion and profit, was so real. I found myself going back and forth between rooting for her to do the sensible thing and free herself from the agony of an artist’s life, and rooting for her to commit to writing and free herself from expectation and the pressure of achievement.
From the pitch it sounded like this could be on the edge of women’s fiction and thriller, but it’s definitely solidly in women’s fiction as a quiet book that felt surprisingly low stakes given all the drama. I didn’t really buy into her need to stay in the book industry, so it felt like quitting her catastrophic dream job and following the clowns to law school was more of an option than it’d need to be for me to fully buy into the chaos.
I listened to the audio ARC, narrated by Manni Penning. She has a great voice and delivers overthinking internal narration really well. It was a nice accompaniment for some summer travel, and I could see it being a similarly good fit as a commute listen!
Thanks, NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2025
Clemi is not having a good day. When she arrives (only mildly hungover) for her fourth day on the job as the program director for a nonprofit literary group, her boss is missing, the office has been ransacked, and there’s a large cat – to which she is allergic – observing the proceedings with aplomb. And it goes downhill from there.
Susan Coll has wasted no time in setting the stage for chaos, quickly dropping a good-hearted (if somewhat naïve) young woman into the midst of it. With the annual awards banquet of the vaguely-named WLNP (turns out there’s a reason for this lack of clarity) set for just three days away, Clemi does her best to deal with a demanding award recipient, various phone calls seeking information about her AWOL boss, and the last-minute cancellation by the banquet’s star fund-raising attraction, who “has been relegated to eternal horizontality” via an inconvenient heart attack.
The fun here is watching Clemi try to muddle her way through the rest of the week, with occasional assistance from unexpected sources, but mostly trading one crisis for another. Along the way, Coll takes wonderfully sly shots at nonprofit groups willing to invest a hundred thousand dollars in a social event that might net them a fifth of that in usable donations, at the wealthy donors who see their affiliation with a “literary-adjacent” event as an excuse to drag out the diamonds and swan around being seen, as well as at wannabe writers, cutthroat agents, and prima donna authors.
The whole thing winds up with an awards banquet worthy of the Marx Brothers, complete with wandering clowns, a talking chicken, a couple of not-quite-undercover FBI agents, and a misplaced bar mitzvah.
All in all, a delightful romp.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Susan Coll has wasted no time in setting the stage for chaos, quickly dropping a good-hearted (if somewhat naïve) young woman into the midst of it. With the annual awards banquet of the vaguely-named WLNP (turns out there’s a reason for this lack of clarity) set for just three days away, Clemi does her best to deal with a demanding award recipient, various phone calls seeking information about her AWOL boss, and the last-minute cancellation by the banquet’s star fund-raising attraction, who “has been relegated to eternal horizontality” via an inconvenient heart attack.
The fun here is watching Clemi try to muddle her way through the rest of the week, with occasional assistance from unexpected sources, but mostly trading one crisis for another. Along the way, Coll takes wonderfully sly shots at nonprofit groups willing to invest a hundred thousand dollars in a social event that might net them a fifth of that in usable donations, at the wealthy donors who see their affiliation with a “literary-adjacent” event as an excuse to drag out the diamonds and swan around being seen, as well as at wannabe writers, cutthroat agents, and prima donna authors.
The whole thing winds up with an awards banquet worthy of the Marx Brothers, complete with wandering clowns, a talking chicken, a couple of not-quite-undercover FBI agents, and a misplaced bar mitzvah.
All in all, a delightful romp.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
September 6, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Clemi has just got a new job working as an intern for a non-profit literary organization and it's her first week on the job. But her boss is missing, and there is a fundraiser happening at the end of the week with her all-time favorite author coming in to receive an award, and her boss's cat is left at the office and she has to take care of it though she's highly allergic and finds out that she's got asthma. And then everything else goes wrong. She will have to do her best to pull this weekend off if she has any hope of meeting her favorite author... and then maybe she'll quit.
This was probably the most ridiculous book ive ever read. I mean, it starts with her working and finding her bosses cat and receiving a cryptic message about caring for it, then the bounced check for the caterer, there are clowns everywhere, she meets a random guy who is obsessed with presidential assassinations but who alslo looks like someone famous, and then theres the whole plot of her boss and people are after him? Literally this was a bizarre book with weird plot moments that just kept coming one after another. I mean, I was certainly entertained. And I had no idea what would happen next. But from cat napping to baby sitting to crushing on a clown this was an absolute fever dream from page one. I honestly don't know what I expected, but it definitely wasn't this. Though I will suggest giving the audio a shot as the narrator does a great job with bringing this wild book to life.
Clemi has just got a new job working as an intern for a non-profit literary organization and it's her first week on the job. But her boss is missing, and there is a fundraiser happening at the end of the week with her all-time favorite author coming in to receive an award, and her boss's cat is left at the office and she has to take care of it though she's highly allergic and finds out that she's got asthma. And then everything else goes wrong. She will have to do her best to pull this weekend off if she has any hope of meeting her favorite author... and then maybe she'll quit.
This was probably the most ridiculous book ive ever read. I mean, it starts with her working and finding her bosses cat and receiving a cryptic message about caring for it, then the bounced check for the caterer, there are clowns everywhere, she meets a random guy who is obsessed with presidential assassinations but who alslo looks like someone famous, and then theres the whole plot of her boss and people are after him? Literally this was a bizarre book with weird plot moments that just kept coming one after another. I mean, I was certainly entertained. And I had no idea what would happen next. But from cat napping to baby sitting to crushing on a clown this was an absolute fever dream from page one. I honestly don't know what I expected, but it definitely wasn't this. Though I will suggest giving the audio a shot as the narrator does a great job with bringing this wild book to life.
August 30, 2025
This book overall was okay but the main character just seems a bit unbelievable and immature. So many characters come together for a whole lot of chaos.
Aspirant, bookish, and close to broke, 26-year-old Clemi steps into her dream job at a prestigious literary nonprofit and finds herself in the bull's eye of a financial, legal, and existential calamity. The executive director has disappeared, leaving behind an inscrutable cat to which she is highly allergic. Meanwhile, the bank accounts have been overdrawn, the FBI is asking questions, and she has three days to pull off the annual fundraising gala, a glamorous affair filled with famous writers and local literati.
On the upside, she will get to meet her all-time favorite writer, who has won the award. Clemi has read and reread her novels, pouring over her every word. But the author proves difficult, demanding luxurious travel accommodations and leaving Clemi in charge of her devious five-year-old son. Clemi's fraught interactions with the author and with the foundation's board members leave her wondering whether certain writers are better on the page than in person.
All the while, Clemi is trying to sort out her own her current boyfriend is, like every boyfriend before him, a pompous poseur, and the clock is running on her apartment-sitting gig. She finds herself wondering what all the goings-on in this dysfunctional, scandal-plagued nonprofit have to do with literature. And if it's time to let go of her literary aspirations and apply to law school
Aspirant, bookish, and close to broke, 26-year-old Clemi steps into her dream job at a prestigious literary nonprofit and finds herself in the bull's eye of a financial, legal, and existential calamity. The executive director has disappeared, leaving behind an inscrutable cat to which she is highly allergic. Meanwhile, the bank accounts have been overdrawn, the FBI is asking questions, and she has three days to pull off the annual fundraising gala, a glamorous affair filled with famous writers and local literati.
On the upside, she will get to meet her all-time favorite writer, who has won the award. Clemi has read and reread her novels, pouring over her every word. But the author proves difficult, demanding luxurious travel accommodations and leaving Clemi in charge of her devious five-year-old son. Clemi's fraught interactions with the author and with the foundation's board members leave her wondering whether certain writers are better on the page than in person.
All the while, Clemi is trying to sort out her own her current boyfriend is, like every boyfriend before him, a pompous poseur, and the clock is running on her apartment-sitting gig. She finds herself wondering what all the goings-on in this dysfunctional, scandal-plagued nonprofit have to do with literature. And if it's time to let go of her literary aspirations and apply to law school
September 11, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Clemi is only a week into her new job at a literary nonprofit when all hell breaks loose. The executive director has disappeared leaving his cat in the office for the extremely allergic Clemi to deal with and now she is left alone to get a huge fundraising gala in order in just a few days.
Clemi's life becomes chaos and it is reflected in this book. It is chaos to read and not necessarily in a great way.
The book was verbose and rambling. I feel it could have been half the length and just as, if not more, entertaining.
I wanted to know from the beginning what happened to Howard. Where did he go and why is he not responding to anyone? We do finally get that answer in a fun ending but it took too long to get there with too much meandering in the middle. So much happens, cats, clowns, look-a-likes, board members, money missing....it was a lot.
I kept being reminded of the children's books Amelia Bedelia. I loved those books as a kid and seeing what antics Amelia would get up to when she misunderstood an order but Clemi's mistakes and foibles didn't feel as entertaining. She seemed purposely naive instead of naturally.
The book was entertaining and the writing was good it just lost the plot a few times.
The Literati was a fun palate cleanser that I would recommend to friends that don't want to think too hard about what they are reading.
Clemi is only a week into her new job at a literary nonprofit when all hell breaks loose. The executive director has disappeared leaving his cat in the office for the extremely allergic Clemi to deal with and now she is left alone to get a huge fundraising gala in order in just a few days.
Clemi's life becomes chaos and it is reflected in this book. It is chaos to read and not necessarily in a great way.
The book was verbose and rambling. I feel it could have been half the length and just as, if not more, entertaining.
I wanted to know from the beginning what happened to Howard. Where did he go and why is he not responding to anyone? We do finally get that answer in a fun ending but it took too long to get there with too much meandering in the middle. So much happens, cats, clowns, look-a-likes, board members, money missing....it was a lot.
I kept being reminded of the children's books Amelia Bedelia. I loved those books as a kid and seeing what antics Amelia would get up to when she misunderstood an order but Clemi's mistakes and foibles didn't feel as entertaining. She seemed purposely naive instead of naturally.
The book was entertaining and the writing was good it just lost the plot a few times.
The Literati was a fun palate cleanser that I would recommend to friends that don't want to think too hard about what they are reading.
September 22, 2025
I kinda have to admire Clemi for sticking around for the worst first week of work that I have ever heard of! From disappearing bosses, mysterious cats that show up (which sadly Clemi is allergic of!), money issues, and a gala that needs to be put together asap with no funds! So yeah, this is a completely wild ride where anything can happen (including clowns and a eerie talking chicken recorder) and while it was entertaining it was also stressful because I felt so bad for all that Clemi had to do. Quite a bit of this is not realistic (so many quirky people!!!), so be warned. A lot more people should have been arrested and things done in the name of love were quite over the top. I do wish Clemi the best in whatever she chooses after all that, whether it will be continuing to work for the nonprofit (in whatever iteration in next forms into) or being a lawyer (despite the pesky clown question!).
This was an entertaining audiobook and the narrator, Marni Penning, did a great job in bringing this chaotic fever dream to life and making the characters seem as realistic as they can get in this story where anything can happen (including catnapping, a genius 8 year old to help bring chaos, and of course clowns everywhere!). And on a side note, I did not know people could be allergic to ice. lol
This was an entertaining audiobook and the narrator, Marni Penning, did a great job in bringing this chaotic fever dream to life and making the characters seem as realistic as they can get in this story where anything can happen (including catnapping, a genius 8 year old to help bring chaos, and of course clowns everywhere!). And on a side note, I did not know people could be allergic to ice. lol
September 24, 2025
Thank you to Harper Muse Audio for allowing me to review this audiobook.
Clemi is in her mid 20's and leaves her bookstore job to work for a literary publishing company. During her first week of work, her boss doesn't show up for work. She receives a text message that he has an emergency. She then gets a text message from the president of the company telling her that the speaker for the upcoming big event has died. Because her boss no where to be found, Clemi has to find a new speaker.
She begins to get calls from the caterer that was suppose to receive a check, the author who is receiving an award at the event and needs her plane tickets changed to first class, not to mention a mysterious cat that appears out of nowhere.
I found this audio funny at times, but I was so infuriated that Clemi stayed at her job when everyone else seemed to disappear. I kept thinking, "why is she still working there?" I enjoyed the antics that took place and the cast of characters. The narrator did such a great job, using different voices to indicate the different personalities. She was great in my opinion. I'd recommend this audio to anyone that is looking for a cute, crazy story that also has a bit of mystery to it.
Clemi is in her mid 20's and leaves her bookstore job to work for a literary publishing company. During her first week of work, her boss doesn't show up for work. She receives a text message that he has an emergency. She then gets a text message from the president of the company telling her that the speaker for the upcoming big event has died. Because her boss no where to be found, Clemi has to find a new speaker.
She begins to get calls from the caterer that was suppose to receive a check, the author who is receiving an award at the event and needs her plane tickets changed to first class, not to mention a mysterious cat that appears out of nowhere.
I found this audio funny at times, but I was so infuriated that Clemi stayed at her job when everyone else seemed to disappear. I kept thinking, "why is she still working there?" I enjoyed the antics that took place and the cast of characters. The narrator did such a great job, using different voices to indicate the different personalities. She was great in my opinion. I'd recommend this audio to anyone that is looking for a cute, crazy story that also has a bit of mystery to it.
September 29, 2025
I won this book in the Goodreads publisher's giveaway, so thank you to them! I think the description was not totally accurate, because it's not a book that I normally would read. But it was light and fun, and a good break from some of the usual books that I read. The last third of the book got quite funny and I was chuckling and laughing out loud at various parts.
Twenty six year old Clemi has quit her job at a bookstore to become the Program Director at the Washington Literary Nonprofit organization. Clemi loves books and is looking forward to meeting her favorite author at the organization's big annual gala. It all sounds so important and glamorous to her! But once she starts work, she realizes everything is a disaster. The executive director has disappeared, as well as all the funds. Clemi is left to finalize all the details of the gala, get the big award winner back into the country, work with the caterer they can't afford to pay, and try to figure out what is really going on with the organization she was so looking forward to being a part of.
It's a "screwball comedy" and a "comedy of manners", with a "witty and and charming peek behind the literary curtain", to quote the back cover.
Twenty six year old Clemi has quit her job at a bookstore to become the Program Director at the Washington Literary Nonprofit organization. Clemi loves books and is looking forward to meeting her favorite author at the organization's big annual gala. It all sounds so important and glamorous to her! But once she starts work, she realizes everything is a disaster. The executive director has disappeared, as well as all the funds. Clemi is left to finalize all the details of the gala, get the big award winner back into the country, work with the caterer they can't afford to pay, and try to figure out what is really going on with the organization she was so looking forward to being a part of.
It's a "screwball comedy" and a "comedy of manners", with a "witty and and charming peek behind the literary curtain", to quote the back cover.
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