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Alan Opts Out
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26For readers of Rufi Thorpe and Taffy Brodesser-Akner, the story of an ad exec who bombs the biggest pitch of his career and decides to forgo capitalism and live off the land of his suburban Connecticut home--a timely and comedic take on ambition, consumerism, and the sticker price of happiness from an author known for her stealth, comedic satires of the industrial happiness complex.
Alan Anderson is a powerful advertising executive who has built a successful life and thriving business by making people buy stuff they don’t actually need. He’s up for the biggest pitch of his career and the account everyone wants, US cow’s milk sales are plummeting, and the C-Suite wants to see trendy oat milk kicked to the curb. But when an anarchist farmer tanks Alan’s presentation, Alan bombs the pitch but ends the day with an epiphany. No longer will he exploit the insecurities of others in the service of capitalism. Alan is opting out.
This development is anathema to his wife, Vivian. She’s just a few positive affirmations, a swimming pool, and an exacting series of social tests away from finally becoming part of the elite women’s club, the Queen Annes, in their adopted town of Greenwich, Connecticut. As if contending with a daughter who wants to write plays (!) and another who has an unnatural empathy with animals isn’t enough to manage, she can only watch as Alan moves into their backyard playhouse to live off the land and—worse—spend time with the family. But instead of shocking the neighbors, Alan’s commitment to a less-is-more lifestyle seems to be catching on. Could everyone want what Alan’s not selling?
Funny, sexy, intelligent, and poignant, Alan Opts Out is the most ambitious novel to date by celebrated author Courtney Maum, acclaimed for her stories that tackle big, chewy subjects of our post-modern America with wit and heart.
Alan Anderson is a powerful advertising executive who has built a successful life and thriving business by making people buy stuff they don’t actually need. He’s up for the biggest pitch of his career and the account everyone wants, US cow’s milk sales are plummeting, and the C-Suite wants to see trendy oat milk kicked to the curb. But when an anarchist farmer tanks Alan’s presentation, Alan bombs the pitch but ends the day with an epiphany. No longer will he exploit the insecurities of others in the service of capitalism. Alan is opting out.
This development is anathema to his wife, Vivian. She’s just a few positive affirmations, a swimming pool, and an exacting series of social tests away from finally becoming part of the elite women’s club, the Queen Annes, in their adopted town of Greenwich, Connecticut. As if contending with a daughter who wants to write plays (!) and another who has an unnatural empathy with animals isn’t enough to manage, she can only watch as Alan moves into their backyard playhouse to live off the land and—worse—spend time with the family. But instead of shocking the neighbors, Alan’s commitment to a less-is-more lifestyle seems to be catching on. Could everyone want what Alan’s not selling?
Funny, sexy, intelligent, and poignant, Alan Opts Out is the most ambitious novel to date by celebrated author Courtney Maum, acclaimed for her stories that tackle big, chewy subjects of our post-modern America with wit and heart.
- GenresFictionContemporaryHumor
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
8 people are currently reading
6736 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Maum
12 books699 followersCourtney Maum is the author of the novels Costalegre (a GOOP book club pick and one of Glamour Magazine’s top books of the decade), I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You and Touch (a New York Times Editor’s Choice and NPR Best Book of the Year selection), and the handbook Before and After the Book Deal: A writer’s guide to finishing, publishing, promoting, and surviving your first book, out now from Catapult. Her writing has been widely published in such outlets as the New York Times, O, the Oprah Magazine, and Poets & Writers. She is the founder of the collaborative retreat program, The Cabins, and she also has a writing-advice newsletter, “Get Published, Stay Published,” that you can sign up for at CourtneyMaum.com
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January 5, 2026 it was very good
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a subscriber to Courtney Maum's Substack, Before and After the Book Deal. I first became aware of her when I read her book of the same title, which I sincerely believe to be one of the top five writing craft books I have read. Although her Substack is geared more toward fiction, much of what she offers (especially given her nonfiction oeuvre) works for the nonfiction writer.
I have to admit that I was hesitant when offered the opportunity to read this before its scheduled release date of June 2. I haven't read fiction for at least 20 to 25 years, since I finished "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron. When I started this book, I soon found myself engrossed not only in Maum's writing style, which can best be described as breezy (never a bad thing for a novelist), but by the intricacies of the story itself. Working as a journalist, I knew people like ad agency owner Alan Anderson and his wife, Vivian. Of course, given that I am not a parent, I had to take Maum's word for how Alan and Vivian's daughters, Bailey and Sunny, were. As I got further into the book, I could see that Maum's characters were realistic and sharply drawn and never cartoonish, which can be a hazard for a less-talented writer.
After a horrendous meeting with a dairy promotion council, where a radical "spokesman" that Alan was not expecting (the dairy farmer he hired didn't show up), sabotaged his presentation, Alan began to take stock of his life and soon started seeing his life and purpose differently, much to the consternation of his socially-ambitious wife, who before marrying Alan was brought up in a trailer by an single mother abandoned by her husband who seemed more interested in her cats than in her daughter. Vivian, who is equally prominent in the story as Alan, soon realizes that to get ahead (as she understands it) sometimes life requires compromises. Unable to understand what Alan is going through, because she is laser-focused on being invited to join a woman's club in their Connecticut hometown, Vivian keeps moving forward (so she thinks) even as life with Alan, Bailey, and Sunny continues to spiral out of control.
I liked the characters of Bailey and Sunny, who I imagine are typical of young girls their age. I especially like that Sunny insists she can talk with animals and that they talk back to her. Maum takes what could be viewed by some as nonsensical and makes it into something one could imagine a young woman doing.
After the disastrous presentation, the remainder of the story explores how Alan and Vivian appear at odds in handling what life hands to them. Obviously, I don't want to give anything away, but one of the reasons I don't read fiction is that I feel that sometimes authors rely on cheap tricks to reach the payoff of the story. There is absolutely none of that here. Maum's conclusion is not only realistic but is definitely something the reader will not see coming.
When this book is finally released in June, it will be well worth your time to read. I now want to read Maum's memoir, "The Year of the Horses." It's on my list at the library.
I have to admit that I was hesitant when offered the opportunity to read this before its scheduled release date of June 2. I haven't read fiction for at least 20 to 25 years, since I finished "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron. When I started this book, I soon found myself engrossed not only in Maum's writing style, which can best be described as breezy (never a bad thing for a novelist), but by the intricacies of the story itself. Working as a journalist, I knew people like ad agency owner Alan Anderson and his wife, Vivian. Of course, given that I am not a parent, I had to take Maum's word for how Alan and Vivian's daughters, Bailey and Sunny, were. As I got further into the book, I could see that Maum's characters were realistic and sharply drawn and never cartoonish, which can be a hazard for a less-talented writer.
After a horrendous meeting with a dairy promotion council, where a radical "spokesman" that Alan was not expecting (the dairy farmer he hired didn't show up), sabotaged his presentation, Alan began to take stock of his life and soon started seeing his life and purpose differently, much to the consternation of his socially-ambitious wife, who before marrying Alan was brought up in a trailer by an single mother abandoned by her husband who seemed more interested in her cats than in her daughter. Vivian, who is equally prominent in the story as Alan, soon realizes that to get ahead (as she understands it) sometimes life requires compromises. Unable to understand what Alan is going through, because she is laser-focused on being invited to join a woman's club in their Connecticut hometown, Vivian keeps moving forward (so she thinks) even as life with Alan, Bailey, and Sunny continues to spiral out of control.
I liked the characters of Bailey and Sunny, who I imagine are typical of young girls their age. I especially like that Sunny insists she can talk with animals and that they talk back to her. Maum takes what could be viewed by some as nonsensical and makes it into something one could imagine a young woman doing.
After the disastrous presentation, the remainder of the story explores how Alan and Vivian appear at odds in handling what life hands to them. Obviously, I don't want to give anything away, but one of the reasons I don't read fiction is that I feel that sometimes authors rely on cheap tricks to reach the payoff of the story. There is absolutely none of that here. Maum's conclusion is not only realistic but is definitely something the reader will not see coming.
When this book is finally released in June, it will be well worth your time to read. I now want to read Maum's memoir, "The Year of the Horses." It's on my list at the library.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan is a big time ad executive. He has built a picturesque life in a gated community in Connecticut.
Alan takes a chance by recruiting a working class farmer as a prop for the biggest pitch of his career, and as you may have guessed, it backfires spectacularly. Alan does not get the account! He has offended the powers that be! And worst of all, he is starting to question the state of advertising and capitalism all together. Alan is bereft! Alan is unmoored.
Luckily, Alan has both cushion and options. He retreats to the $30,000 play structure in his back yard and opts the hell out of life as he knows it. He adopts a pet lobster that he had planned to eat, bathes only in the ocean, connects with his children once he actually starts paying attention to them, and stops wearing shoes. He is selfish but he's also right. His wife. Vivian, wants—I cannot stress this enough—nothing more than a pool. She is a working class girl and she has finally made it! Does Vivian deserve a pool? As much as I am an anti-capitalist myself, I'd still like to see her have it.
This is a rich story about rich people! I don’t typically read about rich people without ten thousand eye rolls a second but I love Courtney Maum and I trust her vision. This book made me laugh! The characters were nothing like the people in my life but I found them relatable in small ways and I was generally sympathetic to them, even when they were being vapid (I'm lookin' at you, Vivian!). I think it is an incredible feat for a writer to make characters that are on paper unlikable but multi faceted enough to still find reader sympathy. This is a fun book and I'd say a perfect beach read. It didn't teach me anything I didn't already know but I think in the wider scheme of things, it will reach an audience that needs the message.
Alan takes a chance by recruiting a working class farmer as a prop for the biggest pitch of his career, and as you may have guessed, it backfires spectacularly. Alan does not get the account! He has offended the powers that be! And worst of all, he is starting to question the state of advertising and capitalism all together. Alan is bereft! Alan is unmoored.
Luckily, Alan has both cushion and options. He retreats to the $30,000 play structure in his back yard and opts the hell out of life as he knows it. He adopts a pet lobster that he had planned to eat, bathes only in the ocean, connects with his children once he actually starts paying attention to them, and stops wearing shoes. He is selfish but he's also right. His wife. Vivian, wants—I cannot stress this enough—nothing more than a pool. She is a working class girl and she has finally made it! Does Vivian deserve a pool? As much as I am an anti-capitalist myself, I'd still like to see her have it.
This is a rich story about rich people! I don’t typically read about rich people without ten thousand eye rolls a second but I love Courtney Maum and I trust her vision. This book made me laugh! The characters were nothing like the people in my life but I found them relatable in small ways and I was generally sympathetic to them, even when they were being vapid (I'm lookin' at you, Vivian!). I think it is an incredible feat for a writer to make characters that are on paper unlikable but multi faceted enough to still find reader sympathy. This is a fun book and I'd say a perfect beach read. It didn't teach me anything I didn't already know but I think in the wider scheme of things, it will reach an audience that needs the message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The writing in this novel is excellent. The sentences are clean, confident, and often beautiful. From a purely technical standpoint, this is a very well-written book.
But I didn’t care about Alan or Vivian—or their very Greenwich problems.
I was genuinely intrigued by the premise: a copywriter at the heart of consumer culture having a kind of moral or existential awakening. That setup felt ripe for a real critique of capitalism, ambition, and self-delusion. Instead, the book gestures toward that reckoning without ever really going there.
Alan’s attempt to “live off the land” while still owning a home in Greenwich, still holding a job, still having all of his basic needs met, felt like the novel wanted credit for rejecting capitalism without actually interrogating what that means. For most people, the desire to opt out is impossible precisely because those safety nets don’t exist. Here, there are no real consequences, no real costs—and the book never fully addresses that contradiction.
Daniel, the character who forces Alan into his capitalist crisis, could have been a fascinating foil. As copywriters and writers, people like Alan are trained to inhabit other perspectives—to study desire, to locate motivation, to sell meaning. I kept waiting for the novel to explore that tension between empathy, performance, and manipulation. It never does.
I’m not criticizing this book for not being the story I would have written as a copywriter. I’m criticizing it for its unwillingness to follow through on the questions it raises.
But I didn’t care about Alan or Vivian—or their very Greenwich problems.
I was genuinely intrigued by the premise: a copywriter at the heart of consumer culture having a kind of moral or existential awakening. That setup felt ripe for a real critique of capitalism, ambition, and self-delusion. Instead, the book gestures toward that reckoning without ever really going there.
Alan’s attempt to “live off the land” while still owning a home in Greenwich, still holding a job, still having all of his basic needs met, felt like the novel wanted credit for rejecting capitalism without actually interrogating what that means. For most people, the desire to opt out is impossible precisely because those safety nets don’t exist. Here, there are no real consequences, no real costs—and the book never fully addresses that contradiction.
Daniel, the character who forces Alan into his capitalist crisis, could have been a fascinating foil. As copywriters and writers, people like Alan are trained to inhabit other perspectives—to study desire, to locate motivation, to sell meaning. I kept waiting for the novel to explore that tension between empathy, performance, and manipulation. It never does.
I’m not criticizing this book for not being the story I would have written as a copywriter. I’m criticizing it for its unwillingness to follow through on the questions it raises.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In a Greenwich, Connecticut-like suburb, Vivian struggles to lose her mid-west lower-middle=class upbringing to become part of the Annes, a desirable social club that will mark her as belonging. Vivian is married to Alan, co-owner and creative head of a successful advertising agency. When his clever presentation for a milk company goes off the rails, it throws a monkey wrench into Vivian's plans as well as throwing Alan into a strange mindset. Perhaps, he thinks, less really IS more.
It all sounds like it would be a heap of fun. It even has a daughter who communicates with animals *and birds) and an older girl who wants only to go to the public high school and write plays. Vivian, (formerly Valerie) spends Alan's income as fast as he can earn it. No one is really happy, until Alan, shaken up by his failure, stops bathing and shaving and wearing shoes. All this leads to a renewed physical relationship between Alan and Vivian (Why?) and improves the relationship between the couple and their children.
There are some very annoying chapters of chat groups in the community and some very dull descriptions of food, clothing. and decor and etiquette.
There are some amusing story lines not developed enough though to be entertaining (Lenny the lobster, taming fish, talking to horses and moose).
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an early copy of this book to read and review. This is my honest opinion.
It all sounds like it would be a heap of fun. It even has a daughter who communicates with animals *and birds) and an older girl who wants only to go to the public high school and write plays. Vivian, (formerly Valerie) spends Alan's income as fast as he can earn it. No one is really happy, until Alan, shaken up by his failure, stops bathing and shaving and wearing shoes. All this leads to a renewed physical relationship between Alan and Vivian (Why?) and improves the relationship between the couple and their children.
There are some very annoying chapters of chat groups in the community and some very dull descriptions of food, clothing. and decor and etiquette.
There are some amusing story lines not developed enough though to be entertaining (Lenny the lobster, taming fish, talking to horses and moose).
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an early copy of this book to read and review. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Take one existential crisis and a secret women's society, add a child who talks to animals and a pet lobster, then smother it all in fast-paced, witty dialogue and you have the recipe for a hilarious read! Alan Opts Out is a whip-smart satire on consumerism and excess—a story that elicits both laughter and reflection.
When Alan Anderson, a successful advertising executive, has a pitch go disastrously wrong, he begins questioning everything about his consumption-driven life. Meanwhile, his wife Vivian pursues admission into Queen Anne's—an exclusive women's society that epitomizes the privilege and self-promotion Alan is starting to reject, creating the perfect backdrop for his unraveling. Maum takes us on an entertaining ride that shows what happens when "enough is enough."
But this isn't your regular midlife crisis. While stereotypical middle-aged men buy a Harley-Davidson and pursue an affair with a younger woman, Alan moves into his daughter's backyard playhouse, stops wearing shoes, and washes his hair in the neighbor's bird bath. His crisis is quirky, endearing, and refreshingly absurd.
I loved the combination of social consciousness and comedy in this book. Maum's gift for wordplay and sharp dialogue makes Alan Opts Out a rhetorical delight. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate smart satire with heart.
When Alan Anderson, a successful advertising executive, has a pitch go disastrously wrong, he begins questioning everything about his consumption-driven life. Meanwhile, his wife Vivian pursues admission into Queen Anne's—an exclusive women's society that epitomizes the privilege and self-promotion Alan is starting to reject, creating the perfect backdrop for his unraveling. Maum takes us on an entertaining ride that shows what happens when "enough is enough."
But this isn't your regular midlife crisis. While stereotypical middle-aged men buy a Harley-Davidson and pursue an affair with a younger woman, Alan moves into his daughter's backyard playhouse, stops wearing shoes, and washes his hair in the neighbor's bird bath. His crisis is quirky, endearing, and refreshingly absurd.
I loved the combination of social consciousness and comedy in this book. Maum's gift for wordplay and sharp dialogue makes Alan Opts Out a rhetorical delight. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate smart satire with heart.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan owns a successful marketing agency, but loses a lucrative contract due to a disaster of a pitch. Something that was said during the pitch gives him sleepless nights, and he realises that all his life he has been selling more, bigger, better, newer, improved - which he now thinks is all wrong, and that in fact, less can be more.
So Alan changes his life completely. Which is unfortunate, because his wife Vivian is planning on becoming one of the golden girls in their community, by joining an exclusive group of very rich women.
There are times in this book where you want to shake them both and scream at them to "wake up"!
It's a fun read. I wasn't sure how I wanted it to end, or expected it to end, but I enjoyed the final scenes, as the juxtaposition between having more and having less came to a satisfactory conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So Alan changes his life completely. Which is unfortunate, because his wife Vivian is planning on becoming one of the golden girls in their community, by joining an exclusive group of very rich women.
There are times in this book where you want to shake them both and scream at them to "wake up"!
It's a fun read. I wasn't sure how I wanted it to end, or expected it to end, but I enjoyed the final scenes, as the juxtaposition between having more and having less came to a satisfactory conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2026
Alan Opts Out was such a joyful read. I loved getting to know the eclectic cast of characters in Belleport, and Courtney Maum strikes a wonderful balance between humor and absurdism. The story is playful without ever tipping into something overly outlandish, which makes it feel sharp and grounded even at its most exaggerated moments.
I did not expect to grow as attached to the characters as I did, but I truly fell in love with Alan, Viv, and their daughters. Even the neighbors, who could easily have become caricatures, were written with warmth and humor. My only minor struggle was occasionally keeping track of some of the secondary neighbors, but that did not take away from the overall enjoyment.
This is the kind of smart, character-driven novel that feels light while still having something to say. It is funny, heartfelt, and highly readable, and I can easily see it becoming a popular beach read. I will definitely be recommending this one to patrons looking for something witty and entertaining with heart.
Thank you to Courtney Maum, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did not expect to grow as attached to the characters as I did, but I truly fell in love with Alan, Viv, and their daughters. Even the neighbors, who could easily have become caricatures, were written with warmth and humor. My only minor struggle was occasionally keeping track of some of the secondary neighbors, but that did not take away from the overall enjoyment.
This is the kind of smart, character-driven novel that feels light while still having something to say. It is funny, heartfelt, and highly readable, and I can easily see it becoming a popular beach read. I will definitely be recommending this one to patrons looking for something witty and entertaining with heart.
Thank you to Courtney Maum, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A timely, satirical examination of America's futile attempts to keep up with the Joneses. This desperate reaching to belong...all while considering one's origins...comes at what cost?
Who am I, even?
This is an up to the minute rendition that feels a little bit like Where's You Go, Bernadette, with some Lewis Caroll thrown in. You can also broaden your vocab with this one, though if you hate the f-word, this book isn't for you.
Be careful - reading this might make you take the week off to contemplate life, and your friends and the neighbors might think you've had a "menty b."
Worthy of reading, because of the thoughts that will come to mind, and the conversations you will have with friends after this.
3-3.5. Lots of good fodder for discussion, but the number of f-bombs are off-putting and will turn some readers away. (And that's too bad.)
I received this as an advance ebook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Who am I, even?
This is an up to the minute rendition that feels a little bit like Where's You Go, Bernadette, with some Lewis Caroll thrown in. You can also broaden your vocab with this one, though if you hate the f-word, this book isn't for you.
Be careful - reading this might make you take the week off to contemplate life, and your friends and the neighbors might think you've had a "menty b."
Worthy of reading, because of the thoughts that will come to mind, and the conversations you will have with friends after this.
3-3.5. Lots of good fodder for discussion, but the number of f-bombs are off-putting and will turn some readers away. (And that's too bad.)
I received this as an advance ebook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan may opt out, but Vivian soars.
I have been a fan of Courtney Maum's book on publishing and her Substack for some time, but this is the first novel of hers I've read. I had no idea how brilliant she is in her fiction. ALAN OPTS OUT is delicious for its voice, its vivid world, and its richly developed characters.
On thing that really stood out in this novel is that Maum lets Alan fail--and I mean really fail. It's not that he had a bad day, it's that he truly MESSED UP and can't pull himself back together. Meanwhile, Vivian determination that a pool will change her life (and her daughter's lives) is out of control, which drives much of the narrative and creates opportunities for some wild decisions.
Overall, ALAN OPTS OUT is a perfect summer read: fast-paced, funny, and filled with dreams of a pool of one's own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC.
I have been a fan of Courtney Maum's book on publishing and her Substack for some time, but this is the first novel of hers I've read. I had no idea how brilliant she is in her fiction. ALAN OPTS OUT is delicious for its voice, its vivid world, and its richly developed characters.
On thing that really stood out in this novel is that Maum lets Alan fail--and I mean really fail. It's not that he had a bad day, it's that he truly MESSED UP and can't pull himself back together. Meanwhile, Vivian determination that a pool will change her life (and her daughter's lives) is out of control, which drives much of the narrative and creates opportunities for some wild decisions.
Overall, ALAN OPTS OUT is a perfect summer read: fast-paced, funny, and filled with dreams of a pool of one's own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan Opts Out is a fun romp through the lives of an ad exec, his social-climbing wife, and their two quirky kids. The writing is brilliant and hilarious, but the story also offers a poignant statement about keeping up with the Joneses and the gift that comes with slowing down... and opting out. Maum's sense of humor is sharp and laugh-out-loud funny, and her attention to detail is both stunning and informative. (I learned so much about lobster molting and table settings!) I predict this will be a summer favorite--fun enough for the beach, but deep enough to encourage readers to reflect upon the choices that shape their everyday lives. A page-turning masterclass from one of today's most versatile writers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I cannot remember the last time a book made me laugh this much. Alan Opts Out is so sharply written that I found myself pausing just to reread the funniest passages. Between the Handmaid’s Tale dress, the "criminal" prayer beads, Sasquatch feet . . . too many to name and I realize they don't make sense out of context, but trust me. Some funny shit.
But beyond the comedy, this story nails this desperate (and quite sad) need to belong, even if it's something you don’t entirely believe in. As much as Alan wants out, his wife, Vivian, demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice her dignity to be invited in--to a club that made my skin crawl. The story entertained . . . and I've already recommended it to friends.
But beyond the comedy, this story nails this desperate (and quite sad) need to belong, even if it's something you don’t entirely believe in. As much as Alan wants out, his wife, Vivian, demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice her dignity to be invited in--to a club that made my skin crawl. The story entertained . . . and I've already recommended it to friends.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan Opts Out is a wild, satisfying ride. It's also surprising. And funny. Oh, and it's modern! Maum starts out giving us Alan the ad man, gearing up to pitch to the Dairy Producers of America to reinvent our relationship with milk. Maum tosses in a major pivot and Alan pivots in response. Maum also places us in a very particular cultural milieu that offers a huge opportunity for comedy... and Maum provides.
You can't predict where Maum's story is headed, but it's fun, and it carries a bit of a lesson, too.
It's a good 0ne. Read it!
You can't predict where Maum's story is headed, but it's fun, and it carries a bit of a lesson, too.
It's a good 0ne. Read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book. The writing is excellent, the story is fun and funny and absorbing, and the plot and writing are well paced. But I loved the story because of its feeling - it's timely and honest, with just a touch of the absurd. The mark of a good book is one that I shove into friends' hands and say, "Just read it." I'll be doing that a lot with this one.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A clever and inspiring view of the spirals society has us down. I've highlighted many lines that hit just right. I found myself nodding to some of Alan's "discoveries". I couldn't figure out how the novel would end. I guess it's one of those books that are difficult to finish.
Enjoyable, eye-opening, sometimes it is good to take things to the extreme!
Enjoyable, eye-opening, sometimes it is good to take things to the extreme!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alan is a successful advertising executive financing his wife's materialistic dreams. After a disastrous sales pitch one day he finally decides he wants to opt out of the consumerist world and live a 'less is more' lifestyle, much to his wife's disdain.
Amusing in parts and well written but could have offered so much more in my opinion and came up a bit short.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishersfor an ARC of this book.
Amusing in parts and well written but could have offered so much more in my opinion and came up a bit short.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishersfor an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Funny first third, then got repetitive and preachy. Plus random magical realism?
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February 8, 2026I received a NetGalley widget from Annie Mazes at Hachette Book Group today.
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