The novel follows Sally Milz, a writer for a sketch comedy show calledThe Night Owls.
The book I read in secret as a teenager
“Bodice rippers.
I had a particular favorite book that I would say does not hold up politically.”
Curtis Sittenfeld.Colin McPherson/Corbis/Getty; Random House
I did love it enough to write my own version of it [inEligible]."
I read that biography and that confirmed that there were interesting contradictions in her life.
So then I wrote my own Laura Bush novel."
‘The Boxcar Children’.Scholastic
The book that cemented me as a writer
“Sam The Catby Matthew Klam.
There was something so alive about his stories and so frank or candid and refreshing.
I loved those stories.
‘Pride and Prejudice’.Ambry Press
I read about 200 pages ofAnna Kareninaand I loved what I read.
But it’s not really a good excuse because that baby is now 14.”
Based on the premise of my book, it might seem like that phenomenon is very annoying to me.
‘The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush’.Simon & Schuster
In fact, I love it, so it’s Colin Jost’s memoirA Very Punchable Face.
It’s very charming and funny.
And he doesn’t seem to hold anything back."
‘Sam the Cat: and Other Stories’.Vintage
It’s coming out in June.
It’s calledEverything’s Fineby Cecilia Rabess.
It is so good.
‘A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir’.Crown
A huge proportion of it is dialogue, and the dialogue is amazing.
It’s a very smart book about very smart people.
But it’s an amazing book."
‘Everything’s Fine’.Simon & Schuster
I did feel like, ‘Oh my God, this exists?!
Lorrie Moore exists and Charles D’Ambrosio exists!’
They have this specificity of language and experience and this incredible intelligence.
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ by Casey McQuiston.St. Martin’s Griffin
That was very electrifying to me.
My favorite literary love story
“Red, White & Royal Blueby Casey McQuiston.
I thought McQuiston’s book was really charming and romantic and optimistic.”
‘No One Gets Out Alive’.St. Martin’s Press
The last book that made me laugh out loud
“It’s kind of a strange answer.
It’s very poignant, in both directions.”
My literary hero
“Alice Munro.”
The last book I gave as a gift
“I actually give books very often.
It’s a very smart book, too.”
I adored Lois Duncan, and I probably started reading her when I was about nine or 10."
The book I’m reading now
“Well,Everything’s Fine,like I told you.
I’m probably two-thirds of the way through.
