There's No Coming Back from This - by Ann Garvin (Paperback)

About the Book

"It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS. After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It's a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy's a capable person--how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It's not like she has a choice; her life couldn't get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue. As a single mom, she's rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn't sew, and she doesn't know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy's unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom. When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who's at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown. Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she's always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"The show must go on" takes on a whole new meaning for one single mom in a witty and emotional novel by the USA Today bestselling author of I Thought You Said This Would Work.

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It's a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy's a capable person--how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It's not like she has a choice; her life couldn't get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.

As a single mom, she's rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn't sew, and she doesn't know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy's unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who's at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.

Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she's always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

Review Quotes

"As a novelist, author Ann Garvin has an impressive and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that will keep readers with an interest in romantic comedy simply riveting from first page to last." --Midwest Book Review

"Charming, witty, and real, There's No Coming Back from This will have you laughing, cheering, and looking at your own past through Poppy-colored glasses." --Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of She's Up to No Good

"Brimming with wit and wisdom, There's No Coming Back from This is the story of one woman's attempt to find meaning in the middle of a mess she didn't create, but has no choice but to clean up--which is to say: this is one relatable book. I laughed, teared up, and sped through the pages even as I attempted to savor them. Ann Garvin's latest just happens to be her absolute best." --Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You

"Readers will root so hard for Poppy Lively as she navigates the cutthroat world of Hollywood with a scruffy dog strapped to her body. Full of warmth and humor, Poppy and her motley crew of coworkers will worm their way into your heart and stick around for a very long time." --Lyn Liao Butler, Amazon bestselling author of Someone Else's Life and Red Thread of Fate

"An Ann Garvin novel is like curling up beside your favorite, wittiest friend and laughing and crying all at once about the hilarity and heartbreak of life. In classic Ann Garvin style, There's No Coming Back from This is an engaging look at motherhood, friendship, and dating that will remind readers everywhere it's never too late to start over--or find out where we're truly meant to be. Don't pick this one up unless you're prepared to read it all the way through; it's impossible to put down! Five huge stars!" --Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil

"Ann Garvin's genius lies in creating endearing, authentic women in the throes of midlife. There's No Coming Back from This is another gem. Just when Poppy Lively thinks her life has bottomed out, life throws her one more plot twist, and this fifty-year-old single mom digs deep in her own Midwest Nice way to finally become the hero of her own life. Readers will cheer for Poppy, and her little dog Kevin, too!" --Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Homewreckers

"Ann Garvin has written my favorite kind of book--a hilarious yet suspenseful story starring a down-on-her-luck, sassy, mid-life heroine who has to reinvent herself to avoid complete disaster. Throw in a new job working backstage in Hollywood and some surprising villains, and you've got a novel you can't put down. I raced through it, loving every page." --Maddie Dawson, The Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners and Snap Out of It