A Novel
September 19, 2022
Prusa’s engaging debut chronicles two days of upheavals for a Savannah, Ga., working mother as Hurricane Matthew closes in, in 2016. Ramona, a Prince fan and 38-year-old mother of two, catches her husband, Desmond, cheating on her. Already overwhelmed by potty training their younger child and dealing with her unreasonable boss, who expects her to report to work during the category four storm, Ramona heeds evacuation orders and heads to a friend’s home in Augusta with her two kids and Baily, a neighbor’s kindly teenage son who has been left at home alone. After Ramona learns her headstrong mother, Adelaide, won’t evacuate because she doesn’t want to leave her pets behind, Ramona and company return to Savannah to ensure Adelaide’s safety. There, she learns more about Bailey’s precarious home situation and confronts Desmond as the storm makes landfall. Ramona proves to be an amiable narrator, with her musings about the death of Prince (“Prince has been gone six months, and the world already feels less sparkly”) mixed with reflections on what it takes to be a good mom. There’s a lot to enjoy in this thoughtful outing. Agent: Maggie Cooper, Aevitas Creative.
Starred review from March 1, 2023
"Moms don't have the luxury of losing control." That means that when Ramona discovers her husband's affair while prepping for a Category 4 hurricane, juggling her demanding boss and defiant mother, and rescuing classroom pets and wayward neighbor kids, she has to keep it together. As she maintains her guise of fearless leader, glimpses of the past reveal what led to this mess. Though she has navigated many choices and challenges, surely there can be no question about where her problems all started--the day that her favorite singer, Prince, died. Prusa makes her debut with this funny and feel-good relationship novel. Despite the infidelity and impending natural disaster, the story is upbeat and utterly engaging. Narrator Rebekkah Ross perfectly portrays the stressed but steadfast Ramona. Ross employs a variety of Southern accents, immersing listeners in the reflective and relatable narrative. VERDICT For listeners seeking a lovable, laughable relationship fiction about marriage, motherhood, and managing both without losing themselves. Recommended for fans of Jennifer Weiner, Emily Henry, and Lisa Roe.--Lauren Hackert
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