Main Character Energy

July 10, 2023
At the start of self-help author Varon’s sparkling fiction debut (after Radically Content), Poppy Banks decides to give up on her dream of writing, despite promising her beloved aunt Margot, who runs an elite writer’s retreat at her villa in the South of France, that she would keep at it. Then Margot dies and leaves Poppy her villa, with the proviso that, to keep the property, she must complete a manuscript within six months. Buoyed by the fresh start, Poppy begins work on two new novels, all while bonding with the other writers in residence and falling in love with the region. Prickly Oliver Hayes, who oversaw the retreat with Margot, is at first skeptical of Poppy but soon finds he can’t resist her charms. Their budding relationship faces hurdles in the form of literary rejection and familial drama, however. Varon crafts fully realized protagonists whose authorial ambitions and frustrations will resonate with bookish readers. The plot takes many satisfying turns, and the beautiful French backdrop will appeal to armchair travelers. Varon has a promising career in fiction in front of her. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary.

August 1, 2023
A floundering 30-something searches for purpose at a writers residency in the French Riviera. When 23-year-old Poppy Banks met her elusive Aunt Margot for the first time, she wasn't sure what to expect. But Margot, who had been estranged from Poppy's mother for decades, turned out to be the exact opposite of her sister, who had always fat-shamed Poppy and belittled her dreams of becoming a novelist. Full of infectious joie de vivre and endless encouragement, Margot became a beloved figure in Poppy's life through secret annual lunch dates over the next nine years. Now, at 32, Poppy is no closer to being a published writer outside her soul-sucking job at content mill Thought Buzz. When Poppy tells Margot she's ready to give up on writing, Margot cryptically makes her promise to say yes to anything good that comes her way. Six months later, Margot is dead and Poppy learns the truth: Margot ran a writers colony at her villa on the French Riviera, and she left it to Poppy to keep or sell, with two stipulations: Poppy must remain in France for at least six months, and she must draft a book while she's there. When Poppy arrives, she's met with gorgeous vistas, a handsome man who works for The Colony, and a life-changing $700,000 offer to sell the estate. Is this Poppy's big chance to become a writer or to get out for good? Poppy's struggles with her body image often feel shoehorned into the plot, and her relationship with her mother--far more interesting than the book's romance--isn't explored deeply enough. But the author deftly captures how it feels to be of a certain age without possessing the life one had hoped for, and descriptions of the sun-soaked French Riviera are rich and vivid. A heartfelt debut.

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August 1, 2023
For the last several years, Poppy's annual lunches with her Aunt Margot have provided her with much-needed love and support. When Margot dies, she leaves Poppy an unusual bequest--a one-way ticket to the French Riviera. Upon arrival in Cap Ferrat, Poppy is greeted by Margot's close friend Sebastian and his handsome but snotty nephew, Oliver, who bring her to a villa in the south of France where Margot has developed a one-of-a-kind writing retreat. Margot has left the villa to Poppy, but there's a catch--Poppy must complete her novel within six months. Poppy soon finds community among the residents of the villa, and her verbal sparring with Oliver blossoms into an unexpected romance, but Poppy's lack of confidence leaves her wondering if she'll complete her manuscript in time. Varon's debut features a likable, plus-size heroine capable of achieving her dreams--if she can find the confidence. The romantic subplot is enjoyable, and the descriptions of the Riviera are stunning, but the focus is on Poppy's journey towards self-acceptance. This uplifting novel is ideal for fans of Beth Morrey and Kate Clayborn.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.