And Then There's Margaret

Product Description For fans of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go Bernadette or Camille Pagan’s I’m Fine and Neither Are You, comes the perfect laugh-out-loud dramedy AND THEN THERE'S MARGARET about marriage, midlife and a controlling, manipulative and self-absorbed mother-in-law thrown into the mix. MULTI-AWARD-WINNING debut novel, AND THEN THERE'S MARGARET, takes readers on a relatable and hilarious ride, as Allie realizes the only way to survive the angst of family is to let go….and let be."Perfect for women’s fiction books club wanting to explore complex and turbulent family relationships. It’s a playful coming of (middle-age) novel.” –IndieReaderWhen Allison Montgomery's beloved father-in-law and long-time confidant passes away, her mother-in-law, Margaret, 'temporarily' moves in. From rearranging the furniture and taking over the kitchen, to undermining and embarrassing Allie at every turn, including funding her daughter's escape, throwing a hissy fit at the mall, and publicly equating Allie's glass of Chardonnay to full blown alcoholism, Margaret turns Allie's life upside down causing her to bounce between a sincere desire to support her grieving mother-in-law and an intense urge to simply push her out of the nearest window.Feeling annoyed, trapped and even a little childish, Allie struggles to avoid a complete meltdown with help from her fearless and audacious best friend, a plan for reinventing herself and enjoying a second act, and, yes, a few glasses of Chardonnay. Along the way, Allie discovers the reasons behind Margaret's attitude toward her all these years. Does it help? Maybe...2022 Chick Lit Cafe - CLC Book Excellence Award Winner - Women's Fiction/Humor2022 Indie Book Awards Finalist - Chick Lit (Fiction)2022 Maxy Awards Winner - Literary & Humor2022 Readers' Choice Book Awards - Finalist - Best Adult Book2022 Readers' Favorite - Finalist - Humor/Comedy Review 2022 Chick Lit Cafe - CLC Book Excellence Award Winner2022 Indie Book Awards Finalist - Chick Lit (Fiction)2022 Maxy Awards Winner - Literary & Humor2022 Readers' Choice Book Awards - Finalist"A humorously relatable story of a middle-aged woman trying her best to handle her criticizing mother-in-law while holding onto her marriage." -Sublime Book Review"Carolyn Clarke's skillful and subtle storytelling in And Then There's Margaret, a playful coming-of (middle)-age novel, navigates a path that is funny without being absurd while creating a relatable narrator who encounters a magnificent little-old-lady menace." -IndieReader"And Then There's Margaret by Carolyn Clarke is a captivating debut with a strong appeal for fans of literary and Women's fiction, a story that explores the relationship between two women as they navigate life after a painful loss." -The Book Commentary"Funny and sharp...An often entertaining story of a middle-aged protagonist who finds a new connection with her in-law and a new lease on life." -Kirkus Reviews"Rife with witty banter, Carolyn Clarke's debut laugh-out-loud family dramedy, And Then There's Margaret feels like a much beloved night out with friends. -ChickLit Cafe"It's a well-written story with crisp, clear dialog that engages you from the start..." -Readers' Favorite"Loved it! Carolyn Clarke weaves the plot with skill, and her characters are all convincing, with their flaws and quirks. Moreover, the wittiness of the writing enlightened the story. Here, day-to-day life is never boring." -Reedsy Discovery"And Then There's Margaret is a lively, satirical, contemporary debut by Carolyn Clarke, a talented writer (and also a heralded book blogger)." -Marilyn Simon Rothstein, Author of Crazy to Leave You and Lift & Separate"A captivating, comedy-drama exploring the complex and turbulent relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law." -Readers' Choice About the Author Carolyn Clarke is founder and curator of Henlit Central, a blog focused on 'life and lit' for women over 40. And Then There's Margaret is h