Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time - by Angela Brown

About the Book

A woman has no choice left but to enjoy the adventure of life and its surprises in a funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older.

Book Synopsis

A woman has no choice left but to enjoy the adventure of life--and its surprises--in a funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older.

Olivia Strauss is turning thirty-nine. No major milestone. She still considers herself young. At least young enough to assume she has decades (emphasis on the plural) to check the unchecked boxes of her life's to-do list.

Ballerina? Too late. But not too late for poet. Or for reigniting the romantic spark in her marriage, spending more quality time with her son, switching careers, learning to cook, or even dyeing her hair a bright bohemian pink. She'll get to that one. There's time--until Olivia's best friend, Marian, gives her a birthday present she could have lived without.

It's a visit to a trendy wellness clinic with a state-of-the-art genetic test that can predict the exact date of one's death. It's just what Olivia's always wanted: an expiration date. As for her aspirations, who knew they were limited-time offers? One thing's for sure. Olivia's got a lot of living to do. At this point, what could go wrong?

Review Quotes

"A heartfelt exploration of figuring out what one truly wants from life." --Kirkus Reviews

There's a genuine feeling of hope in [Angela] Brown's enjoyable first outing." --Publishers Weekly

"Written with warmth and humor despite its somber topics, Brown's debut novel is a poignant, breezy journey into self-examination." --Booklist

"With heart, humor, and sparkling insight, Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time poses a powerful question: If you knew the date that you would die, how would that change the way you live? In her bighearted and dazzling debut, Angela Brown takes readers on a moving journey of second chances, new beginnings, and the timeless power of love. Readers will fall head over heels for Olivia Strauss as she explores the intimate beauty and honesty of a life well lived. In these pages, Brown has crafted a hopeful yet hilarious story of ambition, marriage, female friendship, community, and more. I couldn't put it down!" --Becky Chalsen, author of Kismet

"Olivia Strauss is my new best friend. She is hilarious, honest as a diary. We meet Olivia in 'the last year of her youth.' Her story becomes a brilliantly lighthearted take on a taboo subject: the time we have left. This is dazzling entertainment, even as it considers our potential to change, how identity and dreams evolve. This is the rare comedy that feels profound. It's quick wit meets Mitch Albom, with revelations that will stay with me. I enjoyed every single page." --Madeleine Henry, author of Breathe In, Cash Out