The Wildwater Walking Club

The Wildwater Walking Club
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2015-02-19
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 0989921050

"The Wildwater Walking Club is a quick smart read that will get you thinking about walking, friendship, and making time for the things you love."— Book Reporter After losing her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, Noreen has no idea what her next step is. So she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks. Before long she's joined by two neighbors as lost as she is and figures out time flies and fitness is actually fun when you're walking with friends. Throw in a road trip to Seattle for a lavender festival, a career-coaching group that looks like a bad sequel to The Breakfast Club, some terrific romantic comedy twists and turns, a quirky multigenerational cast of supporting characters, and the result is a tribute to female friendship that will inspire you to pick up the phone and call all your old friends--or maybe even start your own walking group. Join Noreen, Tess and Rosie as they walk and talk, talk and walk, tally their steps, share their secrets, and begin putting their lives back together. You'll be lacing up your own sneakers in no time. By the New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Dogs, a fun and inspiring novel about women and friendship—and how even big changes happen one step at a time. Don't miss Book 2, The Wildwater Walking Club: Back on Track and Book 3, The Wildwater Walking Club: Step By Step! Walking Group Guide and Book Club Questions included. "Lively and inspiring!"—Hartford Courant "A great feel-good story."—Philadelphia Examiner "Readers who enjoy a celebration of friendship will want to walk the beach alongside the Wildwater trio."—Midwest Book Review "The Wildwater Walking Club reminds us of what's important in life - the joy of friendship, the power of a brisk walk, and of course the importance of a good book. I couldn't put it down.—Anisha Lakhani "The woman of The Wildwater Walking Club are a delightful trio, full of heart and determination. As they - literally - put one foot in front of the other, the three new friends find unlikely paths that point them toward more fulfilling lives. Their journey left me genuinely inspired (and with the curious urge to go out and buy a clothesline).”—Jean Reynolds Page

Seven Year Switch

Seven Year Switch
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2015-04-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 194267113X

“A beach chair worthy read."—New York Times "A hot summer beach book."—USA Today "Bestseller Cook charms again in this lively, warm-hearted look at changing courses mid-life."—People Magazine Just when Jill Murray has finally figured out how to make it on her own, her husband Seth is back, proving he can't even run away reliably. Now Jill has to face the fact that there's simply no way she can be a good mom without letting her ex back into her daughter Anatasia's life. They say that every seven years you become a completely new person, and it takes a Costa Rican getaway to help Jill make her choice - between the woman she is and the woman she wants to be. From Claire Cook, New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of the much-loved novel turned romantic comedy movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, Must Love Dogs. "A beach tote couldn't ask for more."—Kirkus Reviews "Claire Cook told us we 'Must Love Dogs." But must we also love ex-husbands?…Cook takes a closer look at a complex situation."—New York Post “Roll out your beach blanket for this sweet summer read about making mistakes and moving on.”—Publishers Weekly "A lot of fun to read? Definitely!"—Redbook "With wit and tenderness, Claire Cook sweeps us into the life of Jill Murray, a feisty single mom trying to stitch together a future after being abandoned by her husband. This is a delightful story of love, loss, and the surprising events that healed her heart. I cheered for Jill the entire way."—Beth Hoffman "A perfect beach read. Claire Cook once again demonstrates that she's a master in creating funny, warm, relatable characters you root for from the very first page."—Allison Winn Scotch "Smart, truly hilarious, and entirely sympathetic. Like a hot bubble bath or a holiday at the beach, you won't want it to end."—Cecily Von Ziegesar Join Claire’s newsletter list to receive your free welcome gift and stay in the loop for new releases, giveaways and insider extras at ClaireCook.com.

Wallflower in Bloom

Wallflower in Bloom
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 294
Release: 2012-06-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1451672780

From the acclaimed bestselling author of Must Love Dogs comes a winning and witty new novel about a woman who emerges from the shadow of her overbearing family and finds herself “dancing with the stars.” Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own. She’s the around-the-clock personal assistant to her charismatic, high-maintenance, New Age guru brother, Tag. As the family wallflower, her only worth seems to be as gatekeeper to Tag at his New England seaside compound. Then Deirdre’s sometime boyfriend informs her that he is marrying another woman, who just happens to be having the baby he told Deirdre he never wanted. While drowning her sorrows in Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online following to get herself voted on as a last-minute Dancing with the Stars replacement. It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get her a life of her own. Deirdre’s fifteen minutes of fame have begun. Irresistible and offbeat, Wallflower in Bloom is an original and deeply satisfying story of having the courage to take a leap into the spotlight, no matter where you land.

Life's a Beach

Life's a Beach
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2014-02-27
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0989921069

New York Times bestseller! Chosen as a best summer read by People, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, and Good Morning America! Life's a bit of a beach these days for Ginger Walsh, who finds herself single at 41 and back home living in the family FROG (Finished Room Over Garage). She's hoping for a more fulfilling life as a sea glass artist, but mostly she's babysitting her sister's kids and sharing overnights with Noah, her glassblower boyfriend with commitment issues and a dog Ginger's cat isn't too crazy about. Then a shark movie comes to town, and everyone is clamoring for a close-up. "Midlife love, laughter, sibling rivalry and self-discovery . . . Goes down as easy as it sounds."—People Magazine "A gleefully quirky coming of age story."—Redbook "Laugh out loud."—Good Housekeeping "As always, Cook's delightful way with dialogue and her deft demonstrations of how family members manage to support one another even while driving each other crazy, make reading this book a day at the beach."—Hartford Courant "A funny page-turner."—Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Perfect-for-the-beach summer novel. . . a bumpy delight."—Boston Common "In this lighthearted, breezy read, Cook displays a wry sense of humor and knows how to write realistic characters."—Library Journal "Claire Cook has an original voice, a sparkling style, and a window into family life that will make you laugh and cry. Life's a Beach is filled with hilarity, sister love and sister hate, juicy arguments and hard-won reconciliations, but most of all, heart."—Adriana Trigiani "If I had a sister, I'd want her to be Claire Cook. If I had a summer, I'd want it to be the summer that two sisters sparred over everything from fertility to photography to family. And if I could follow up the wry, wacky poignancy of Must Love Dogs with any book, it would be Life's a Beach. Claire Cook is wicked good."—Jacquelyn Mitchard "Life's a Beach is a delicious coming-of-age novel—about two forty-something sisters who don't quite manage that feat until it's almost too late. I devoured this slice of family life served up in Claire Cook's inimitably warm and witty style. Tender, touching, and terribly, terribly, funny!"—Mary Kay Andrews Go to ClaireCook.com for your free gift, 41 Essential Quotes To Get Your Glow On, exclusively for newsletter subscribers. You’ll also be the first to find out when Claire's next book comes out and stay in the loop for giveaways and insider extras.

Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later

Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2014-12-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1942671113

“As a reader, there’s nothing I love more than finding a set of characters I absolutely adore and learning that I don’t have to say goodbye to them.”—Book Perfume "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."–BookPage Sarah Hurlihy knows how to move on to the next guy. But she really, really doesn't want to do that anymore. What she wants to figure out is how to stick around and make things work with John Anderson. But John's suggestion for a romantic trip to canine camp before Sarah's job as a preschool teacher gears up for another year is sounding anything but romantic, and Sarah and her sisters are worried about their father's new girlfriend, Sweepstakes Sally. And there's a hot new male teacher at Bayberry Preschool. Could it be that what Sarah wants and what she needs are two entirely different things? "Though the third book in the series, one does not need to read the previous two, but most assuredly will want to. Funny and heartwarming, Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later reflects Ms. Cook's ability to inject comedy into every day circumstances, supplying a remarkable and compelling read."—New York Journal of Books "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle From Claire Cook, New York Times bestselling author of the much-loved novel-turned-movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack comes Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later, Book 3 of the hilarious and heartwarming Must Love Dogs series. "Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune "Wildly witty"—USA Today "A hoot"—The Boston Globe Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8) Go to ClaireCook.com for your free gift, 41 Essential Quotes To Get Your Glow On, exclusively for newsletter subscribers. You’ll also be the first to find out when Claire's next book comes out and stay in the loop for giveaways and insider extras.

Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 230
Release: 2016-06-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1942671180

A More Magazine Don’t Miss pick by the New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Dogs. "Her quirky voice and sense of humor are as strong as ever."—The Orlando Sentinel March Monroe and her daughter Olivia are going to college. March knows that Olivia is going, naturally, since she and her husband have just made their first exorbitant tuition payment. But Olivia doesn’t exactly know the arrangement . . . yet. Imagine Olivia’s surprise when one day she shows up for training at a local radio station and finds out that one of the other interns is . . . her mother. "very funny...with plenty of giggles."—The Hartford Courant “Cook has a gift for telling an entertaining and funny story that is light enough for a beach read, yet weighty enough to get under your skin and into your heart. Her characters are quirky and inconsistent, good-hearted folks who make mistakes and have regrets, but none of the damage is lasting. Love and forgiveness beat out hate and revenge.” —Patriot Ledger “Cook’s ability to make families foibles ring true -- and funny -- ensures a delightful read.”—Library Journal “Claire Cook infuses her novels with that sassy kind of off-beat humor that makes you giggle, shake your head, and then keep reading. And isn’t that what you want a beach book to do?” —Florida Today “Cook's characters are delightful and quirky, and the storyline is fast paced and lively with just the right touch of humor and romance.” —Fresh Fiction “Nobody does the easy-breezy beach read with a lighter hand than Claire Cook.” —Hartford Courant

Must Love Dogs

Must Love Dogs
Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2014-11-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0989921018

“Wildly witty.”—USA Today “Funny and pitch perfect.”—Chicago Tribune First the much-loved novel by New York Times bestselling author Claire Cook. Then the romantic comedy movie adaptation starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. Now MUST LOVE DOGS is a tail-waggingly fun 7-book series. "Voluptuous, sensuous, alluring and fun. Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must love dogs." Divorced preschool teacher Sarah Hurlihy's first mistake is letting her bossy big sister write her personal ad. Her second mistake is showing up to meet her first date in more than a decade. Now she's juggling her teaching job, her big, rollicking, interfering south-of-Boston Irish family, and more men than she knows what to do with. And what's up with all these dogs that are suddenly galloping into her life? The Must Love Dogs series: Must Love Dogs (#1) Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2) Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3) Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4) Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5) Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6) Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7) Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8) Nobody drives you crazier than family, and nobody loves you more. PRAISE FOR CLAIRE COOK AND MUST LOVE DOGS: "Claire Cook (Must Love Dogs) has built a brand writing light-hearted women's fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations."—Shelf Awareness "The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women's fiction." —The Times-Picayune "Reading Must Love Dogs is like having lunch with your best friend—fun, breezy, and full of laughs."—Lorna Landvik "Funny and quirky and honest."—Jane Heller "Funny and pitch perfect." -Chicago Tribune "Wildly witty"—USA Today "Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle "A hoot."—The Boston Globe "A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—BookPage "If Must Love Dogs is any indication of her talents, readers will hope that Claire Cook will be telling breezy summer stories from the South Shore of Massachusetts for seasons to come."—The Washington Post "A laugh-out-loud novel . . . a light and lively read for anyone who has ever tried to re-enter the dating scene or tried to 'fix up' anyone else."—Boston Herald "This utterly charming novel by Cook is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach."—Library Journal "Claire Cook's Must Love Dogs, a book that's got more giggles than soda bread has raisins."—Hartford Courant

Kitchen Chinese

Kitchen Chinese
Author: Ann Mah
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2010-01-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0061969486

“Ann Mah’s Kitchen Chinese is a delicious debut novel, seasoned with just the right balance of humor and heart, and sprinkled with fascinating cultural tidbits.” —Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs Kitchen Chinese, Ann Mah’s funny and poignant first novel about a young Chinese-American woman who travels to Beijing to discover food, family, and herself is a delight—complete with mouth-watering descriptions of Asian culinary delicacies, from Peking duck and Mongolian hot pot to the colorful, lesser known Ants in a Tree that will delight foodies everywhere. Reminiscent of Elizabeth Gilbert’s runaway bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, Mah’s tale of clashing cultures, rival siblings, and fine dining is an unforgettable, unexpectedly sensual reading experience—the story of one woman’s search for identity and purpose in an exotic and faraway land.

Closer to Nowhere

Closer to Nowhere
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 449
Release: 2021-08-10
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0593108639

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins's poignant middle grade novel in verse about coming to terms with indelible truths of family and belonging--now in paperback! For the most part, Hannah's life is just how she wants it. She has two supportive parents, she's popular at school, and she's been killing it at gymnastics. But when her cousin Cal moves in with her family, everything changes. Cal tells half-truths and tall tales, pranks Hannah constantly, and seems to be the reason her parents are fighting more and more. Nothing is how it used to be. She knows that Cal went through a lot after his mom died and she is trying to be patient, but most days Hannah just wishes Cal never moved in. For his part, Cal is trying his hardest to fit in, but not everyone is as appreciative of his unique sense of humor and storytelling gifts as he is. Humor and stories might be his defense mechanism, but if Cal doesn't let his walls down soon, he might push away the very people who are trying their best to love him. Told in verse from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Cal, this is a story of two cousins who are more alike than they realize and the family they both want to save.

Never Tell a Lie

Never Tell a Lie
Author: Hallie Ephron
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2009-10-06
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0061984590

“[A] richly atmospheric tale. You can imagine Hitchcock curling up with this one.” —USA Today Author Hallie Ephron’s fast paced and disturbingly creepy Never Tell a Lie is a page-turning thrill ride that maestro Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud to call his own. A descent into gripping suburban terror, this stunner by the Ellen Nehr Award-winning mystery reviewer for the Boston Globe has been called “a snaky, unsettling tale of psychological suspense” by the Seattle Times. Fans of Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben, and classic gothic mystery will adore this supremely suspenseful and consistently surprising story of a yard sale gone terribly wrong.