Ellery Allbright Goes Dark - by Alisa Kennedy Jones (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"She went from talk show queen to midlife catastrophe--so naturally, she started a podcast and fell for the neurologist who has cheekbones you could land a plane on, but who doesn't do feelings."

Ellery Allbright Goes Dark is a refreshingly irreverent and deeply moving midlife rom-com that captures the messy, unpredictable beauty of reinvention. New York talk show host Ellery Allbright, once celebrated for her effortless charm and commanding presence, sees her life shatter when a sudden, ecstatic epileptic seizure on live television leaves her with 21 broken facial fractures. Wired shut to heal, unable to talk, she is forced to confront not only the physical aftermath but also the seismic shifts in her personal and professional life.

As Ellery grapples with the fallout of her viral on-air disaster--where millions watch her pain and recovery unfold--the network demands that she undergo a rigorous rehabilitation before returning to the show. Enter Dr. Augustus Wolfe from Maine, a handsome, if reserved, Harvard-trained neurologist specializing in seizures. Tasked with her care, Augustus becomes an inescapable part of her recovery, though their relationship is marked by relentless friction. The pair butt heads at every turn, their clashing personalities fueling a tension that is as volatile as it is magnetic. Amid the chaos of ghosted lovers, unsympathetic bosses, and the turbulent dynamics with her teenage children, Ellery embarks on a journey of rediscovery. Her path is as unpredictable as the seizures that now punctuate her life--each moment oscillating between absurd humor and gut-wrenching vulnerability. While Augustus's stern, methodical approach clashes with Ellery's fiercely independent spirit, their continual conflict slowly gives way to a grudging respect and an unexpected, transformative connection.

In a series of transformative events--from bizarre public mishaps that turn personal pain into viral spectacle to intimate moments of raw self-reflection--Ellery learns to find strength in her scars and humor in her hardships. Ultimately, her journey culminates in a rallying cry for anyone sidelined by life's chaos. In the spirit of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Fleabag, Ellery Allbright Goes Dark is not merely a story of surviving midlife--it is a triumphant declaration of resilience and love. Every disastrous moment, every contentious clash with Augustus, and every setback serves as a stepping stone toward a future defined by genuine connection and renewed hope, where the promise of a happily ever after is forged not in the absence of suffering, but in the shared strength of caring for one another, in sickness and in health.

About the Author

Alisa Kennedy Jones is the publisher of Empress Editions, an innovative independent press dedicated to amplifying the voices of midlife women. She is the bestselling author of Gotham Girl, Interrupted, a collection of comedic essays about living with epilepsy that became a breakout in the field of narrative medicine. Her TEDx talk on creativity, electricity, and the brain has been viewed around the world, and her writing has been featured by NPR and in the Academy Award-nominated documentary CRIP CAMP, executive produced by Michelle and Barack Obama.

A screenwriter, memoirist, and advocate for disability and neurodiversity, Jones is fluent in five languages and writes frequently about identity, resilience, and the art of reinvention. She resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is currently at work on her next novel, Ellery Allbright Goes Dark, the story of a talk show host who loses her perfect life live on camera--only to discover a far more meaningful one off-screen.