The Real Liddy James

Praise

Praise for The Real Liddy James:

“Whip-smart and crackling with energy, The Real Liddy James had me stopping nearly every page to read paragraphs out loud to anyone who would listen. A true delight!” –Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author

“Witty, clever, elegantly-written, fascinating and wise. I ADORED.” –Marian Keyes, internationally bestselling author

“Although there are plenty of other novels exploring the consequences of trying to have it all, Casey adds new perspective . . . Liddy’s family history in Ireland and her difficult relationship with her parents offer substance and true understanding to how she became the woman she is today. The language is smart and funny, and the observations are wry. Liddy will resonate for readers who love strong, mature women with a bit of Irish fire, as with fans of Cecelia Ahern and Marian Keyes and Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette.” –Booklist

“[The Real Liddy James] is an energetic novel; Liddy’s self-deprecating humor makes for chuckles in even the toughest situations. And while Liddy is clearly the protagonist, other characters have interesting triumphs and tribulations as well. . . . Liddy is a memorable character who could easily appear again as The New and Improved Liddy James in Casey’s next novel. Let’s hope so.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Rife with drama both in and out of the courtroom, infidelity, and more, The Real Liddy James is perfect for fans of women’s fiction with a dose of travel and a strong—and sometimes flailing—female lead.” –Library Journal

“Unputdownable for all working moms. Witty and wise.” –Cathy Kelly, internationally bestselling author

“Wonderfully funny, brilliantly observed and completely addictive!” –Rosamund Lupton, New York Times bestselling author of Sister and The Quality of Silence

“Original, sharp, funny and timely, The Real Liddy James is a spectacular novel from Anne-Marie Casey, who understands the high wire act every working mother attempts in the circus of life. Your ringside seat to Liddy’s big adventure will fill you with joy and empathy as you root for this everywoman, who might as well be your best friend, as she navigates love, parenting, and work in times so demanding you wonder if Liddy will possibly survive them. A dazzling gem.” –Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars in the Heavens

“Liddy’s manic success, fueled as much by fear of failure as by ambition, offers rich potential for both humor and sympathy. Readers will enjoy spending time in her tumultuous company . . . [and] will be rooting for this human manifestation of drive and blind determination to stop leaning in and start breathing in. And out. Slowly.” —Publishers Weekly

“Zippy, smart, well-written . . . The great feat of The Real Liddy James is how it manages to be both delicious escapism and refreshingly real. . . . It’s a delight to read about Liddy’s glossy but stressful work life, and by switching viewpoints–mainly to that of Rose–we get a sympathetic portrayal of the varied attitudes women can have to career, children, and each other.” —The Times (UK)

“Brilliant writing . . . Casey’s observations of posh New York life are as hilarious as her descriptions of Ireland are poetic, and the central character is wonderful. Liddy is clever, honest, hardworking and well-meaning and you’ll root for her like mad.” —Daily Mail (UK)

“A wonderfully entertaining take on a modern woman’s dilemma in the manic, sparkling world of Manhattan. Liddy James is a fresh, deeply sympathetic character who keeps her coolheaded yet messy life in check until inevitable disaster. Immensely readable, fast-paced, and full of Casey’s charming yet acerbic wit, the book is thoroughly engaging all the way through.” –Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack, bestselling authors of Freud’s Mistress and Love and Longing in L.A.

“Energetic and immensely readable . . . Liddy is sure to resonate with readers who like no-nonsense, mature heroines with a bit of bite and a good deal of self-deprecating humour, and the lively pace will suit fans of Marian Keyes and Cecelia Ahern.” —Irish Independent (Ireland) 

“If you’re a fan of The Good Wife and like your Maeve Binchy-esque midlife tomes with a cynical bite, you’re in for an existential crisis treat.” —Stellar magazine (UK)

“Breakneck and bursting at the seams with all of modern life’s great questions and challenges, The Real Liddy James made me wish my chair had a seatbelt. Anne-Marie Casey has a way of skewering city life with her acute observations.” —Alison Jean Lester, author of Lillian on Life

“A charming and insightful study of one fabulous, forty-something woman.” –Jules Moulin, author of Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes

“An extremely funny, mischievous tale.” –Sunday Independent (UK)

“Smart, funny, and thought-provoking.” –The Sunday Mirror (UK)

“Casey can be very funny, but also makes serious points about modern womanhood. Delicious.” —Saga Magazine (UK)

“The Real Liddy James is a lively, stimulating piece of fiction, of a kind that revels in the intricacies of small-scale domestic drama. What was good enough for Jane Austen and the Brontes two hundred years ago is celebrated here in its contemporary context today.” –-Sunday Business Post (UK)