On Turpentine Lane

by Elinor Lipman

At thirty-two, Faith Frankel has returned to her claustro-suburban hometown, where she writes institutional thank-you notes for her alma mater. It's a peaceful life, really, and surely with her recent purchase of a sweet bungalow on Turpentine Lane her life is finally on track. Never mind that her fiancé is off on a crowdfunded cross-country walk, too busy to return her texts (but not too busy to post photos of himself with a different woman in every state.) And never mind her witless boss, or a mother who lives too close, or a philandering father who thinks he's Chagall. When she finds some mysterious artifacts in the attic of her new home, she wonders whether anything in her life is as it seems. What good fortune, then, that Faith has found a friend in affable, collegial Nick Franconi, officemate par excellence . . . 

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Humor, Audiobook, Book Club

305 pages, Hardcover

First published February 14, 2017

About the author

I love talking with readers - for 1:1s and Book Club visits, find me on Skolay: www.skolay.com/writers/elinor-lipman

Elinor Lipman is the author of 14 humorous novels about contemporary American society; essay and short story collections. Born and raised in Lowell, MA, she divides her time between Manhattan and the Hudson Valley of New York. She received the New England Book award for fiction in 2001. Her first novel, "Then She Found Me," was adapted for the screen, starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick. Her fourth novel, "The Inn at Lake Devine" was adapted for the off-off Broadway stage by Tongue in Cheek Theater. In 2011-2012, she held the Elizabeth Drew chair in creative writing at Smith College. Her novel, “Ms. Demeanor," was a finalist for the 2023 Thurber Prize for American Humor. In 2021, her hometown Library, Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell, established The Elinor Lipman Prize, awarded annually to Lowell residents and students at Lowell universities.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t sleep after finishing The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I tried.

So then I got up and posted my review of the book, and thought I could now sleep.

I was wrong.

So, I picked up my next book on my dresser…

This book!

Now I really couldn’t sleep!

The plot involves a light mystery, some romance, and a somewhat dysfunctional family.

There are a few twists and turns to keep things interesting, but let’s be honest, an intricate plot was not what I was craving.

I was looking for some sleep.

But, this novel wasn’t going to let me!

The characters were quirky and lovable (well, most of them anyway) and Lipman’s writing style was funny with snappy dialogue.

There were a few times I laughed out loud and I closed the last page with a smile on my face.

Yes, maybe I am a prolific, voracious reader….with a few lost hours of sleep!

But, eventually, (for those who are concerned!) I did….go back to sleep.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun little book! Loved Elinor Lipman's writing. Pure enjoyment with a dash of quirkiness!

The story is all about Faith Frankel who buys a house on Turpentine Lane with some unexplained history. Enter her well meaning but meddling family and her level-headed workmate/friend Nick. It's a great story told in a very different and amusing way.

Thank-you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader's Copy.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Eleanor Lipman. She always delivers with novels that are warm and perceptive, a tad bit kooky, and often whimsical. Best of all, she makes it all seem easy, although I know that writing is anything BUT effortless.

Her latest book is a great pick-me-upper for a cold, gray winter day. Faith Frankel, her 30-something protagonist, is…well, kind of at odds with life. Her fiancée Stuart, a loser if there ever was one, has taken off on a new-age walking journey. Her father has just reinvented himself as a forger of Chagall artwork, her job as head of stewardship at her alma mater is suddenly in jeopardy, and then there’s that house – 10 Turpentine Lane. This 5 ½ room “dollhouse” is Faith’s first foray into homeownership and the house seems to have a salacious back history. Seems that the former owner’s second and third husbands fell to their death. There is a bright spot in all this, though. His name is Nick Franconi and he’s her office mate, in charge of major gifts.

So let’s address the less than sterling things first. Stuart is so incredibly without redeeming qualities that it’s hard to imagine why a woman like Faith would ever think of being involved with him. And the murder subplot gets goofier as the novel wears on.

And yet. As with Eleanor Lipman’s previous novels, she creates such a witty and lovable cast of characters that it’s not hard to cheer for them, even knowing how it will all likely end. There are laugh-out-loud moments and poignant moments and moments when you just want to hit your head and say, “Wow, can’t believe THAT happened.” I finished the book with a big smile on my face. And when a book lets me escape from a gloomy Chicago winter, I can’t help but applaud.

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this fun and witty rom-com book and it's probably more of a 4.25 stars .

The plot involves a light mystery, some romance, and a somewhat dysfunctional family. There are a few twists and turns to keep things interesting, but let’s be honest, an intricate plot was not what I was looking for. The characters are quirky and lovable (well, most of them anyway) and it’s written in a funny, humorous way with snappy dialogue that never crossed over into sappy eye-rolling scenes. There were a few times I laughed out loud and I closed the last page with a smile on my face.

This book hit all the right notes for me and was the perfect antidote to a darker, grittier book I was also reading. It was my first Lipman book but it won’t be my last.

** Thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. There was just so much to like: mystery, humor and romance! Great cover and the ending was satisfying too. 4★stars!

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is being described as romance/chick lit, which is not my favorite genre, but in this case was a real delight to listen to. The mystery kept me interested, and the dialogue was smart and witty. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, from the young woman who bought 10 Turpentine Lane as her first house, to the whacky family from whom she bought it, to her two love interests, and everyone in between.

A very enjoyable book! I haven't read this author before but am taking suggestions for some of her other books.

[Liz Willard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like the author tried really hard to be "quirky," and it shows. The result is quite silly. Occasionally entertaining, but very little of it felt realistic.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. It is a romantic comedy where the heroine, Faith, has everything go wrong in her life. Her fiance gives her a red string as an engagement ring and then goes off on a walk across America where he blogs about his experiences. Unfortunately, he seems to have too many female fans which makes his fiance wonder about many things but especially about his level of commitment.

Faith buys a fixer upper house without knowing the house's history. The price was right so she bought it and while fixing it up, she finds out the previous occupants had quite a bit of drama during their life there. Her quest to find out the truth of what happened there adds some spice to her life. Owning the house and working on it, gives Faith some much needed self esteem.

Faith works in alumni relations at a private school and the main part of her job is writing thank you notes for alumni contributions to the school. This is not an exciting job but she has a great coworker, Nick. When her coworker needs a place to stay, she rents him a room in her house. She enjoys life with Nick and decides that her fiance is history and cuts off his access to her credit cards. Her ex-fiance comes roaring back to town and ends up moving in with Nick's ex-girlfriend for a place to stay which is very entertaining.

Nick and Faith become romantically involved as they solve the mystery of what happened in the house and find their happy ending as a couple along the way.

Elinor Lipman is a good writer and this book like her other books, was very humorous. Her characters are always quirky and fun.

I was gifted with a copy of this book by Net Galley in return for an objective review.

[Abbey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise, hook, and title of this book were great--probably the best parts about it, unfortunately. Even the set up was good, for all the talk of Stuart and the small-town claustrophobia, and some of the small-rolled characters were quite well defined (specifically, Brook and the school lawyer), but the book so quickly nose-dived the more Faith was developed. She's whiny, has almost no common sense, goes on field trips to harass senior citizens about the conclusions she has jumped to and possibly worst of all, is less of the strong woman she presents herself as, immediately crumbling to hide behind her boyfriend. And at my nit-pickiest self, the rest of her characterization presents her as being past the point of using the term "boyfriend" (not necessarily in terms of her age as in terms of her established place in life). And by the end, I couldn't help but wonder what the hell would keep her relationship with Nick together after the quirky set up had faded and now he's actually stuck with someone who didn't think to change the locks after she bought a house. Insert. Eyeroll. Here.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, funny book! There were several times I would read a phrase and think, "I need to write that down and pretend I just made it up." I just loved this book. There's a murder mystery that's only a slight mystery. The love story was great. Even the fights with the ex's were written with humor and kindness. Fantastic book! I'd recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary romance written with humor. I'm planning on reading more by this author.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I became so attached to the characters of On Turpentine Lane, and the sometimes wild ride we were all on, that I felt a real sense of loss when the book ended. It’s usually that way when I’m reading novels by Elinor Lipman, which combine playful wit with non-sappy but heart-warming story lines.

While her fiancé is off finding himself in a cross-country walk he’s hyping on social media, main character Faith Frankel works for her alma mater hand writing thank you notes to donors, but personally and professionally things quickly go askew and get interesting. Picture a modern comedy of manners with snappy repartee or a light-hearted but smart and engaging rom-com with a plot full of twists and turns and characters you root for and you’ll have the idea. A fun and non-guilty pleasure.

I read an advanced review copy of this book supplied to me by the publisher with no cost or obligation. Review opinions are mine.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a romance or chic lit reader normally. And this book did not change my mind. I had both the book and the audio. The narrator of the audio - Mia Barron - did a great job. She has a smooth voice and was easy to listen to. Her character definition was really good and you had no problem figuring out exactly who was speaking.
The story itself was only fair. It was about a woman buying her first home - a place where an earlier murder had occurred. She was involved with a real crud who only thought of himself, and when she dumped him she took up with her office mate. She had a dysfunctional family that also entered the picture.
Very light, basically humorless romantic comedy with a very small bit of a mystery thrown in. Not really to my liking.

[Suanne Laqueur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. Absolutely delightful and delicious. If you're looking for a smart, feel-good read, give Elinor Lipman a try. This was terrific and I also highly recommend The Inn at Lake Devine.

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I thought that this was literary fiction but it turned into chick-lit with unlikable characters and a plot that was all over the place. The characters are obsessed with the history of the house but I couldn't understand why. The decisions the characters made were very questionable. To be fair, I did read the whole book but I have nothing else to say.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to curl up with on a stormy day. It's got an appealing heroine, an enviable hero, features a cozy bungalow with a tainted history. Romcoms aren't usually this beguiling to me, but this was the escape I needed, a low intensity joyride without shifting gears. Here's a modern family with foibles but no bitterness, and at times hilarious, the plot unfolds with a few surprises, but nothing jarring.

[William Koon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elinor Lipman’s On Turpentine Lane is the worst novel I have ever encountered in a life time of reading. Imagine a slightly slow Lena Dunham in an episode of “Murder She Wrote.” Imagine the nastiest episode of My Craziest Ex-Girl Friend in dense prose. Writing does not get any poorer than this. Run away. Run away now! One star because there is no 0 star.

[Rebecca]

I read the first 30 pages. Here you have a sixtysomething author trying to write from the perspective of a thirtysomething, and it really doesn’t work. Old-fashioned to the point of anachronism, Faith’s voice rings false: “his Instagrams,” “As for the arena I’ll delicately call ‘relations,’” “Miss u” in a text, “I wanted to ask whether the ‘under one roof’ meant as husband and wife.” I was so unconvinced by Lipman’s version of a 32-year-old that I couldn’t muster up interest in Faith’s purchase of the “mangy one-eyed dog of real estate listings.” This is the second Lipman novel I’ve attempted and DNFed within six months, so I will probably consider The Inn at Lake Devine a one-off and give up on trying any more of her fiction (essays is a different matter).

[Lisa (NY) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining romantic comedy that made a 5 hour plane trip fly by. Predictable in a good way.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elinor Lipman is my favorite contemporary author. Her novels, comedies of manner and love, hit the spot for me unlike any author since the late Laurie Colwin. Lipman's characters - and I don't know how to explain this - are brilliantly drawn people who come alive on the pages of her books. Even the supporting characters are interesting. I think it may be her use of dialogue; does speaking promote intimacy between character and reader? Maybe...I wish I could explain her ability to "sell" a character to her reader.

"On Turpentine Lane" is a novel of love that comes in many forms. Married love, the love between siblings, the love between friends. Like all Lipman novels, the plot is basically a way of getting her characters together...or in some cases, pulling them apart. Faith Rachel Frankel works at a private day school in the Development Department. Her "fiance" Stuart has gifted her with a red string that he claims is an engagement ring shortly before he leaves Boston - with her credit card in pocket - to begin a cross-country odyssey by foot as a form of "self discovery". Well, Stuart, as the reader knows, is a wretched rake who wears out his welcome on-the-road somewhere in Missouri and returns home. By then, Faith has wised up and dumped his sorry butt. Faith has also purchased a run-down two bedroom/1 bathroom cottage on Turpentine Lane and has moved in. The place has a certain charm, and as the reader finds out, a certain history.

Elinor Lipman's characters - Faith and her family and friends - all find what they're looking for by the book's end. There are no surprises in an Elinor Lipman book; her readers aren't looking for plot, they're looking for superb characters they can return to. "On Turpentine Lane" isn't quite up there with "Lake Devine", "My Latest Grievance", and "The Dearly Departed" - my three favorite Lipman books - but it's not far behind. My only complaint about Elinor Lipman is the fact she will not return to her older novels and write a sequel. There are so many old, old friends I'd love to read about, once again.

[Eilonwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars, rounded up

Faith Frankel has just bought a house for which a suspiciously eager seller accepted well below the asking price. A house in the same town where she grew up and her parents and brother still reside, and where she is now working for the private school she attended as a day student. A house which she bought without any help from her penniless fiancé, who is walking across the US to find himself. Faith’s excursion into homeownership opens new and unpredictable doors, insightfully and entertainingly.

As anyone familiar with Elinor Lipman would expect, this is a charming romantic comedy of manners, lighthearted and humorous, but with some sharp social commentary.

I found Faith to be a wonderfully pragmatic narrator as she takes on the responsibilities of a house; figures out what the heck her relationship with Stuart, the wandering fiancé, really might be worth; deals with being so close to her family again; and juggles work and discoveries about her new house’s ever-surprising history. The plot threads are many and all tie together satisfactorily at the end. The characters are all interesting, well-rounded, and diverse, and feel as if the book stumbled into their lives rather than vice versa. Awkward situations abound, but are played sensitively and empathetically, and almost everyone gets a happy-ish ending.

There’s one thread about dead babies that made me think “uh-oh” about the story for a while, but this subplot ended up providing the biggest twists and surprises in this book. It was sneaky and well executed.

I really enjoyed this!

[Mary Lins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, what a lovely romantic and witty story! "On Turpentine Lane", by Elinor Lipman, is the perfect "escapist" novel for this time of the year! Curl up by the fire with a hot mug of something and enjoy this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp narrated by 30-something Faith Frankle! Faith has moved "home" to small-town Massachusetts and purchased an old bungalow with a mysterious and possibly murderous past. We follow Faith's romantic ups and downs as she navigates her work, home, and family life (her parents and older brother are also marvelous characters).

I never miss an Elinor Lipman novel because she reliably delivers wonderfully quirky characters, full of wit and wisdom, all wrapped in a semi-silly, but fun plot.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there any one writing funnier than Elinor Lipman? Whenever I need a little boost she's my go-to writer. Quirky yet believable characters and outrageously funny situations, set in Massachusetts, people with the absolutely wrong partner, brewing romances... a neat little package of life wrapped with a ribbon. The perfect rom-com! Yet her writing has substance as well as humor and this novel even has a little mystery tucked in. Loved it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny, lighthearted book with some quirky and fun characters. If you are looking for a fast, light read, this is a great choice!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this quirky little story! I loved the characters, loved the family dynamics, loved the mystery and loved the love story.

Yes … I really, really loved it. 😊 ❤️

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. I had me laughing out loud. Good characters. good story. It feels a little bit like throwback fiction before every relationship had to detail the sex in it.

[Elinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not great. I always enjoy Elinor Lipman (and I love her first name as well) because she seems like the sassy girl next door that you would love to hang out with and exchange witticisms with. I had high hopes after the first chapter because the main character buys an old house on the oddly-named Turpentine Lane, and I am a sucker for reading about old houses and everything found therein. However, the house was barely mentioned again.
This novel was filled with the author's usual clever dialogue, not to mention some very amusing characters (the irritating boyfriend who is trying to find himself by walking across the U.S., for example), and didn't disappoint in terms of light entertainment. Ordinarily it would deserve four stars, but I'm docking one star for the odd subplot of the bodies in the basement, which had some promise but fell flat in the end.

[Melinda Worfolk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elinor Lipman and have read every work of fiction by her. Her characters, dialogue, quirky plots--I love them all. That said, this was not my favourite. It was just...oddly uneven.

What I liked:
-Faith's narrative voice
-The office romance
-The relationship between Faith and her brother

What I didn't like:
-The attempt to mix some darker, more serious elements (possible infant death, possible homicide) into what is essentially a rom-com
-The fact that Faith didn't seem to have any women friends at all
-The feeling that the story was bursting at the seams with subplots

So...not terrible, pretty enjoyable overall, but not Lipman's best. Still, I'll read her next one.

[RoseMary Achey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, light novel-perfect for a girls weekend, beach read or an extended airline flight. An office romance, lightly dysfunctional parents, a mini mystery make up the book's 300 pages.

[i. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just OK, I just expected to laugh more. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood.

www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

So quirky & fun!