The Summer We Read Gatsby »

Danielle Ganek is the author of the critically praised Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him. She lives with her husband and three children in New York City and is currently working on her third novel.

A delightful comedy of manners about two sisters who must set aside their differences when they inherit a house in the Hamptons

Half-sisters Cassie and Peck could not be more different. Cassie is a newly divorced journalist with her feet firmly planted on the ground; Peck is a vintage-obsessed actress with her head in the clouds. In fact, the only thing they seem to have in common is their inheritance of Fool's House, a rundown cottage left to them by their beloved Aunt Lydia. But Cassie and Peck can't afford the house, and they can't agree on anything, much less what to do with the place. Plus, along with the house, they've inherited an artist-inresidence and self-proclaimed genius named Biggsy who seems to bring suspiciously bad luck wherever he goes. As these two likable sisters try to understand their aunt's puzzling instructions to "seek a thing of utmost value" from within the house, they're both distracted by romantic entanglements with men from their pasts. The Summer We Read Gatsby, set in the end-of-an-era summer of 2008, is filled with fabulous parties, eccentric characters, and insider society details that showcase Ganek's pitch-perfect sense of style and wit.

Publishers Weekly

Ganek’s wispy story unfolds a tad too slowly for the audio medium; listeners may find their attention wandering as they wait for the slim plot about two sisters, an old house, and a missing painting to pick up the pace. But Justine Eyre’s delightful narration provides ample reason to tune in: she switches back and forth from practical Cassie to melodramatic Peck, from proper Englishman Hamilton to Scottish-burred Scotty, all with authentic voices, without missing a beat. Her lively performance injects much needed energy into the proceedings and makes this audiobook an enjoyable listen. A Viking hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 12). (June)