Every Tom, Dick & Harry - by Elinor Lipman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the author of Ms. Demeanor--one of the most beloved comedic writers of our time--comes a charming, laugh-out-loud tale of love and criminality, a pitch-perfect romantic comedy.

"Over the course of more than thirty years and at least fifteen books, Elinor Lipman has been creating a singularly delightful and instantly recognizable literary universe. Lipmanland is a world adjacent to our own except the people there are more charming, the conversations are wittier, and love always prevails. Every Tom, Dick & Harry, weaves together estate sales, good and bad cops, and--get this--smalltown houses of ill-repute with effortless glee. Add sparkling dialogue, an improbably hilarious funeral, and one of the author's most endearing love stories and you have the Lipman Literary Landscape at its irresistible best. When events are too much to handle in the real world, there are few better breaks than entering this one. Passport optional."--Stephen McCauley

Taking over her parents' estate-sale business is not the life's work that Emma Lewis bargained for. Yes, she grew up helping them empty people's nests, but nothing prepared her for her biggest and stickiest "get"--the grand, beautiful house of ill repute masquerading as a decidedly beddable B and B. Should Emma turn down potential clients in need of decluttering just because they are shady, escort-y, and proud of it?

No. A girl must make a living.

Around some hairpin turns Lipman ingeniously reveals a straight shot to happiness.

Review Quotes

"In the delightfully reassuring rom-com tradition of Nora Ephron, the perennially mood-lifting Lipman is equally revered for her lovable characters, spitfire wit, and happily-ever-after romantic escapades." - Booklist

"Elinor Lipman has been creating a singularly delightful and instantly recognizable literary universe. Lipmanland is a world adjacent to our own except the people there are more charming, the conversations are wittier, and love always prevails. Every Tom, Dick & Harry, weaves together estate sales, good and bad cops, and smalltown houses of ill-repute with effortless glee. Add sparkling dialogue, an improbably hilarious funeral, and one of the author's most endearing love stories and you have the Lipman Literary Landscape at its irresistible best. When events are too much to handle in the real world, there are few better breaks than entering this one. Passport optional." - Stephen McCauley, author of My Ex-Life and You Only Call When You're in Trouble.

"Elinor Lipman's new novel is all comfort and joy... Every Tom, Dick & Harry is not a rom-com packed with LOL moments; instead, it's a master class in writing about small-town life without tropes or judgment. You want to hang out with Lipman's characters. Not just one of them, but all of them. They're quirky, they're unexpected and they remind you that life is good in a small town even when it's not, because people care about you -- even if they taught you algebra."

"Quirky and fun, with bawdy wit." - People

"Enter a delightful small town of the kind only Elinor Lipman can deliver." - BookBub, "Most Anticipated"

"Lipman's fans and newcomers alike will be tickled." - Publishers Weekly

"Lipman is known for her comic touch (her first book, Then She Found Me, became a 2008 movie starring Helen Hunt and Colin Firth). Here a woman takes over her parents' estate sale business and ends up with some controversial clients who run what appears to be a B&B but is actually something quite a bit naughtier." - AARP Magazine, A "Winter's Best Book to Get You Through the Chilly Season"

"An estate-sale manager in a small Massachusetts town stumbles on its worst-kept secret....charming" - Kirkus Reviews

"If you're a fan of Lipman, you're going to love it. And, if you're new to her, you're in luck: Her 14 other comic novels are all terrific." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

"As her previous 15 novels attest, Lipman reliably plots a smart, madcap foray into love and misadventure. Every Tom, Dick & Harry is a welcome visit to a world of likable characters playing the hands they're dealt, and nefarious ones earning their just rewards... Lipman convincingly weaves together small-town coincidences, revelations of 'B&B' customers, a discovery of a rare sculpture hiding in plain sight, and multiple nuptials to propel this witty and fast-paced feel-good novel to a satisfying conclusion... " - Shelf Awareness

"The plot chugs along through its many twists and turns and the dialogue is snappy and witty. Lipman's fans and newcomers alike will be tickled." - Publishers Weekly