Talented and Gifted: A Novel

by Kelly Kearsley

The hilarious, heartwarming story of a disgraced former blogger attempting to reinvent herself in the cut-throat world of tech startups while co-parenting with her ex-husband, for fans of Amazing Grace Adams and The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus.

Molly Wells was once the queen of mom blogging until an unhinged post about her ex-husband’s affair destroyed her career (turns out that family brands don’t love sponsoring content about busty baristas and secret sexcapades). Three years later, she’s still trying to recover. A temporary ghostwriting gig at a buzzy Portland startup that makes apps and tests for gifted kids tees up the potential for a permanent job, not to mention the professional redemption she so desperately wants. 

However, with the startup at risk of running out of funds, Molly must find a way to help the founder save the company and outsmart its most recent hire Ana Gooding, a “Sh-E-O” consultant with her own devious motivations. A gig secretly ghostwriting for her boss’s biggest investor, a huge crush on a controversial entrepreneur who lives in his Sprinter van, and her son’s social life implosion add even more complications to Molly’s big Midlife Reboot. 

As the promises of the city’s quirky startup community give way to hidden agendas and outright betrayals, Molly’s comeback dreams threaten to derail. With consequences too serious to be remedied by a hot night in the back of a deceivingly expensive van, Molly comes to a Will she ever find her voice—and herself—again, or will failure be her permanent status update?

Hardcover

Expected publication April 27, 2027

Reviews

[Anna (annareadit)]

Love this cover, it perfectly describes my state of mind 😄
Can't wait to read the story itself

[Phil Wrighthouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me an ARC of this book prior to its release. All opinions are my own.

This book was pure fun, even in its most stressful times. It would be a 4.5 star if I could do halves of stars so I’m rounding up. There were some truly laugh out loud moments and genuinely heartwarming scenes. It really brilliantly captured what it’s like to be a parent of a good kid when it seems like every choice might be the wrong one.

Molly is a disgraced mommy blogger who lands a job with a startup who want to get gifted and talented testing into the hands of everyone. As the book progresses, she finds herself more and more and learns not to be defined by her mistake in the past.

At first, I thought I wanted a bigger skewering of startup tech culture, of those interminably long and overwritten LinkedIn posts that feature anecdotes that probably never happened and lessons that could be said in a sentence instead of 5000 words. But this book doesn’t offer that and, by the end, I was glad it didn’t. No one is truly a hero or villain here and even characters who get a happy ending have flaws that are acknowledged. It’s a good lesson on what to do with what’s next and a very enjoyable read for a wide swath of people.

[Amanda Stiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.
All opinions in this review are entirely my own.

First, this book was very well researched. I loved all the little details about Portland. The way the startup world is portrayed was also well done.

The story was very relatable. Molly is a middle aged mom on a journey to find herself after some unexpected drastic changes in her life. I absolutely adored her relationship with her son Sam, and how they learned more about each other as the story went on.
I was rather sad when it ended. I wanted more. I felt like I was hanging out with a friend and wanted to see where her life took her.

[Christin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly Kearsley has written a book about reinvention that never loses sight of how desperate reinvention actually feels. Talented and Gifted is propulsive, funny, and genuinely hard to put down because you're invested in Molly's survival.

What makes this work is Molly herself. She's not a sympathetic mess or a cautionary tale. She's clever, creative, and genuinely skilled at what she does. The fact that she was TAG (Talented and Gifted) is a hilarious addition to her character. She's intelligent enough to see the traps being laid for her, but desperate enough that she walks into them anyway. That tension between competence and desperation is what drives the book forward.

The startup world backdrop is perfect for her story. The tech industry runs on disruption and reinvention, which aligns with what Molly is trying to accomplish. But it also operates on ruthlessness and hidden agendas, which means her comeback is constantly threatened by forces beyond her control.

The complications pile up authentically. The ghostwriting gig for the investor, the crush on the van-dwelling entrepreneur, her son's social chaos, Ana's machinations, and none of it feels contrived. It all feels like what actually happens when you're trying to rebuild while managing multiple impossible situations simultaneously.

What I appreciated most was how Kearsley never lets Molly off the hook for her own choices while also making clear that she's being actively betrayed by people around her. She's not a victim, but she's not equally culpable for everything that goes wrong either. That moral complexity is refreshing.

The pacing is relentless. The book moves fast enough that you're racing through pages to find out what happens next, but Kearsley never sacrifices character work for momentum.

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Maggie Mulloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I connected with the protagonist, Molly, from page one. Her voice is filled with wit and sharp insight about being a woman and mother.

Molly’s successful mommy blog falls apart after she writes a scathing post about her husband’s affair. Three years later, she’s trying to rebuild her life and career. In her professional life, she ghostwrites for a struggling tech startup in Portland, and in her personal life, she co-parents her son, Sam. He’s trapped in the confusing world of middle school and still reeling after his parents’ divorce.

The supporting cast of characters have well-developed arcs that complement Molly’s journey. In particular, Molly’s relationship with her son is genuine and heartwarming—one of the highlights of the novel.

If you relate to characters in their 40s dealing with the ups and downs of starting over, this book won’t disappoint. It touches on many of life’s struggles, from parenting to maintaining friendships, finding love again, and redefining the meaning of success. It doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments but faces them with honesty and heart.

This is one of my favorite books of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly was 100% relatable from page one for me. I think in part I related so well to Molly because my son is roughly the same age that Sam is in this book, so all of the struggles that Molly and Spencer were facing regarding parenting a teen were so real. Typically these kinds of stories drive me crazy, when the MC is facing every possible hurdle and is constantly getting the short end of the stick, however I really appreciated how normal Molly was in the face of it all. She reacted to things exactly as I felt I would have in these types of situations, and the writing really made you feel like you were in those moments with her. Would I have liked for her to have a resounding and unquestionable win at the end? Absolutely. Was the writing and the eventual result more real? Yes, yes it was, and I think that is why this book was even easier to digest. You weren't getting a HEA all wrapped up in a pretty little package, you were getting a REAL ending. This was my first time reading anything by Kelly Kearsley, but I don't think it will be my last!

Thank you again to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read all year, and I do not say that lightly. This book was well researched, funny, and the characters were so well developed with amazing character growth arcs throughout the book.

The subject matter for the plot was fresh and relevant, taking on the aftermath of an early 2000s mommy blogger when her world crashes down around her. Following her husband’s infidelity and a very public blog post on the fallout, Molly’s world has crumbled around her and put her in a free fall. While navigating co-parenting of her teen son, Sam, she takes on a new role as an interim marketing director for a startup company.

This book has it all; a midlife pivot, navigating co-parenting, teen angst, business success/failure, maintaining female friends, and little bit of romance.

I cannot say enough positive things about this novel and I will be the first one in line to purchase anything this author has written.

A huge thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Rangel Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.

Could not put this down! Well done on your first book Kearsley! (1) I appreciated how Molly's focus is taken in multiple directions - as it does in real life! (2) I appreciated that not everyone had a revelation or #goodtogrow experience (i.e. her ex.) to again, add some reality. (3) this reminded me of the WeWork mini series, but better, as I enjoyed seeing the startup culture from an employee/"outsider" perspective. (4) I want Kat as my best friend - I will totally go get a mammogram with her! (6) The startup culture is totally nostalgic to me as I not only studied it in college but then graduated into it. (5) My favorite moment in the book is when Sam feigned knowledge of Nate. And (6) my favorite quote of the entire book "She embraced her baby boy. Her teenage son. Her precious infant. Her brave toddler. Her gap-toothed eight-year-old. He was all here. They were all here." Kearsley encapsulated how moms view their children at any given point in time in one sentence.

[Carol Ogden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cover of this book immediately snagged my attention! I know this woman. She is overworked, overstimulated, and juggling all the many small stresses that make a life.

Upon reading, that is exactly what comes across. A once popular/canceled blogger works to figure out how to piece together her life after a failed marriage and failed career. Between a teenage son, a you entrepreneur boss, and a temp job, things are stressful.

I appreciated the sneak peak into the start up world, and loved learning that the author held some of the exact same jobs as the protagonist. Its not something I know much about, but there is an appeal to being your own boss! There is enough happening to keep readers engaged and interested in both the main character, Molly, and the tertiary characters in her orbit. By the end you are rooting for the HEA.

Thank you @netgalley for my ARC. These thoughts are mine alone.

[Keisha Hause · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t completely sure how I felt about this book in the beginning, but once I got more context on Molly and everything she was dealing with, I became much more invested in her story. After her successful blog fell apart, she was trying to figure out how to rebuild her life and career while also dealing with everything else happening around her.

I enjoyed watching Molly make connections that helped her rediscover her confidence and find a new career path that aligned with her gift for writing and fit the life she was building, while also learning to set boundaries and trust her own decisions.

By the end, I really enjoyed seeing Molly create the life she had always dreamed of but never truly believed would happen for her.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was thrust into the Gifted & Talented programs all through school, whether or not I wanted to be there, this book spoke to me on a deep level. All of those former G&T kids are now in the real world, struggling to find our way, and many of us looking around at the corporate ladder and wondering how we get back down. But I digress.

Kelly Kearsley crafted a compelling story from start to finish - I was wholly invested in Molly's journey and professional redemption, especially as someone who has also been unemployed recently. The startup culture is cutthroat and she did a great job navigating those dynamics while also balancing family and some semblance of a social life. I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting on a rainy day at the beach.

[kaya (refreshing reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Talented and Gifted by Kelly Kearsley was a wonderfully cozy and quick read. I found myself unsure if I finished the book because of how fast-paced it was or if it was my vested interest in how Molly’s new take on life was going to turn out. I enjoyed the focus on Molly’s immediate family & chosen family (i.e. Kat), but felt that sometimes that heavy focus impacted my connections to the characters that were brought up frequently such as Jean, Josh and Nate. Overall, I did enjoy this novel, and would rate it around a solid 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Brittany Herbst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the egalley of this book! I completely enjoyed this read (despite the secondhand anxiety and guilt I felt at times because of the main character's choices). I love anything set in the startup world and it makes me very thankful I'm not part of it. This book kept me guessing the whole time about what would happen next, but was also a somewhat cozy read. I loved the themes of parenting, friendship and entering into midlife but I especially appreciated the main character's humor and light snark as well as the author's thinly veiled jabs at self-help gurus and "boss babes".

[Elayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was *delightful*. I identified so much with Molly's midlife struggles. She tries so hard, and grows so much throughout the story.

Ana was so true to life. I've met her. And I like her as much as Molly does 🤐

Sam is delightful and real. I wanted to give him a hug.

Jean! Oh man, I want Jean to mentor me.

Clearly some great characters. A fun, light read that is surprisingly insightful. I didn't want it to end.
Read it if you've ever 'started a side hustle.'

Thank you Netgalley and the author and publisher for the ARC!

[Paige Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book before release!

This book was beautiful.
It follows the story of a woman trying to do it all. Find success, be a good mom and friend, be true to herself, but also find herself all while navigating the ups and downs of what life throws at her.

I think every reader will recognize a piece of themselves in Molly.

I can’t wait to see this cover on shelves in April!

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a single mom with a teenage son, I thought that the characters were extremely relatable. The story is timely, and the writing is engaging and witty. There was just the right amount of romance and it did not overwhelm the storyline. I was rooting for the protagonist the entire time and I thought everything was tied up nicely at the end. I will be recommending this book to others.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Talented and Gifted was a clever and compelling read. Centered around tech and start ups it is outside of my usual genre. I loved Molly, the main FMC, and her struggles with trying to get it all together. Her struggles balancing her job, friendship and being a good mother.

A book about growth and finding yourself. This is for you if you enjoy women’s fiction. Pick it up this coming April.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Press, and Kelly Kearsley for this ARC**

3.5/5 🌟 rounded up. I enjoyed this read. I found myself really invested in and rooting for the protagonist. I think the writing was great and I loved the mother/son storyline. I just had a little trouble getting behind the premise of the start-up, which was a big part of the storyline. Otherwise, great book and I look forward to the next one from this first time author.