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When Layla Brennan married her high school sweetheart, Brett Foster, she finally got the big, loving family she’d always wanted: his. Now she’s closer to Brett’s parents than he is, partners with his sister in a successful pet-photography business, and confidant to his younger brother. She couldn’t be more of a Foster if she’d been born one. There’s just one problem: Brett wants a divorce. Stunned and heartbroken, Layla turns to the Fosters for comfort, only to realize that losing Brett means losing them as well. What else can she do but sue him for the most valuable thing he’s got–namely, his family. Breaking up may be hard to do, but for Layla and Brett it’s even harder to undo.
Fresh, funny, poignant, and brimming with insight into what makes modern families tick–and what can blow them apart–Family Affair proves that in love and war, everything’s relative.
From Publishers Weekly
In Crane's hilarious third relationship (after Forget About It), a divorcing couple fights for custody, not of a child or a pet but of an entire family. Layla and Brett Foster became high school sweethearts after her mother died and her musician father abandoned her in the care of Brett's parents. Their subsequent marriage appeared rock solid, but now, on the verge of 30, still immature Brett is a college football coach who begins thinking the thrill is gone. Somewhat clueless Layla is a pet photographer and co-owner of TLC Paw Prints with sister-in-law Trish, and just when Layla brings up the possibility of having kids, Brett blurts out his desire to divorce. In the ensuing domestic battle royale, Brett's family become Layla's fierce allies, and Brett turns jealous and furious when Layla files a countersuit for joint custody of Brett's family. Watching this exceedingly unconventional family duke it out and grow up is truly delightful. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Perceptive, touching and always hilarious, Family Affair is Caprice Crane's best work yet. It's an irresistible story with equal parts humor and heart."
—Emily Giffin, author of Love the One You're With
"The phrase 'You don't marry the man; you marry his family' has never rung so true. Family Affair is so full of heart and humor, you'll want to squeeze into the family station wagon and sit shotgun for the ride."
—Stephanie Klein, NYT bestselling author of Straight Up and Dirty and Moose
"With a finely tuned ear for dialogue and a biting sense of humor, Family Affair is another winner. Crane is masterful at creating lovably flawed characters and placing them in hilariously relatable predicaments. I simply adored this book because no one does fiction funnier than Caprice Crane."
—Jen Lancaster, NYT bestselling author of Pretty in Plaid
"An unflinchingly honest, fiercely funny, unexpectedly tender story of a marriage between two very appealing people you'll root for every step of the way."
—Melissa Senate, author of The Secret of Joy
"This is a clever and unique take on the romantic comedy. Witty, touching and often laugh-out-loud funny, I loved it."
—Alison Pace, author of City Dog
Jordan Landau is having a bad life. At twenty-five, she is attractive, smart, funny and talented. But all that doesn't keep her mother from calling her fat, her boss from stealing her ideas, and her boyfriend from cheating on her. Day in and day out, she sits back and watches as everyone walks all over her. Then one day while riding her bike home from a particularly awful day, Jordan collides with a car door and is knocked clear off her bicycle. Coming to in the hospital, Jordan realizes she has a perfect excuse for a "do-over"; she vows to fake amnesia and reinvent herself. And it works. Finally, Jordan is able to get the credit she deserves at work, and she stands up to her family and her jerk boyfriend. She's living the life she always dreamed of--until the unthinkable happens. Suddenly Jordan must start over for real, and figure out what really makes her happy--and how to live a truly memorable life.
From Publishers Weekly
Jordan Landau has a crap job, a shrewish boss and a dud boyfriend, but when she gets hit by a car and takes a nasty knock to her noggin, things start to look up in Crane's bubbly second novel (after Stupid and Contagious). Jordan, she of the nutty family and unsatisfying junior copywriting job, fakes amnesia and parlays her condition into a better position at the ad agency where she works, a better boyfriend (longtime beau Dirk, who is one-note awful, also tries to take full carnal advantage of Jordan's amnesia, but fails) and an all-around better lifestyle. The setup generates a few chuckles, but no real surprises. Readers in the mood for a light and goofy romantic comedy will find a thin one between these covers. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Another triumph for the author!"
- Romantic Times Book Reviews
"Ms. Crane has a great talent for writing humor with depth."
-Reader Views
Twenty-six-year-old Heaven Albright is a failed PR executive turned embittered waitress. Twenty-nine-year-old Brady Gilbert is a struggling independent music producer with no bands and a get-rich quick product idea: "Cinnamilk"--a delicious beverage derived from leaving cereal in the bowl too long. What do these two people have in common? Not much--except for a shared dislike for one another as neighbors. You see, Heaven has an annoying habit of opening Brady's mail. The tide turns, however, when she rescues Brady from an awkward encounter with his psycho ex-girlfriend, sparking an unlikely friendship and a united quest to pitch Cinnamilk to the founder of America's biggest coffee chain. But will Brady and Heaven's fortune-seeking adventures also brew romance?
From Publishers Weekly
This funny duet pairs two New York City 20-something neighbors: Heaven Albright, whose reversal in fortunes transforms her from über-PR exec to bumbling waitress, and Brady Gilbert, an aspiring music producer with problems navigating the bright lights of the big city. The story of their personal and professional travails unfolds in alternating chapters, appealingly narrated by zany Heaven and wry Brady. The two meet-cute downstairs at the deli, and even if the novel's arc is familiar (it's instantly obvious that Heaven and Brady's initial distaste for each other can never last), Crane's giddy, playful prose feels fresh. When Heaven inevitably gets fired from the restaurant, she joins Brady on a trip to Seattle, where he hopes for a face-to-face meeting with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz to pitch him an idea for Cinnamilk (the flavor left after you've eaten cinnamon cereal). The adventures that play out from New York to Seattle as the two pursue their idealistic dreams prove so much fun that a touch of predictability hardly matters. TV writer Crane heavily spices her debut with pop culture references from the '80s to the present day and keeps the story moving with snappy dialogue, a combo likely to entertain legions of (gum-popping) readers.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
With this winning romantic comedy, former MTV head writer Crane delivers a first novel reminiscent of Laura Zigman's best-selling Animal Husbandry (1997). The story is told in alternating chapters by 29-year-old indie record producer Brady, who could have stepped right out of a Nick Hornby novel, and 26-year-old PR maven turned surly waitress Heaven, a veritable modern-day Lucille Ball. The two meet when they become neighbors, and Heaven keeps receiving Brady's mail, which she promptly opens and reads. But irritation soon turns into attraction as the two eventually take a wacky road trip to Seattle, where Brady waxes enthusiastic about signing a young band and attempts to land a meeting with the founder of Starbucks about his idea for a new drink. Crane makes light comedy, usually so difficult to create and sustain, look effortless. Laden with references to cool bands and obsolete snack foods and full of witty repartee, this will elicit knowing smiles from MTV and pop--culture devotees. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
"Hilarious and spirited debut"
- TimeOut New York
"Stupid and Contagious is the irresistible story of a brilliantly inept waitress and a star-crossed record producer whose individual manias are outmatched only by the hilarious insanity that erupts when they come together."
- People Magazine, "People, Places and Things"
"Winning romantic comedy... Crane makes light comedy, usually so difficult to create and sustain, look effortless."
- Booklist
Stupid Insights
A tragic honor roll -- the many great musicians who, like Kurt Cobain (who wrote the song Smells Like Teen Spirit from which the title Stupid and Contagious is taken) were dead at 27.
Stupid & Contagious is partly about the enduring love affairs we all have with music. Check out the playlist of Brady Gilbert, S&C's leading man...
Here are links to some other great bookstores where you can also buy Caprice Crane books...
