Bookworm

Bookworm by Robin Yeatman

Rights sold: North America | Harper Perennial


A wickedly funny debut novel about a woman who tries to use fiction to find her way to happiness.

Wilders protagonist is based on his nemes is Victoria is unhappily married to an ambitious and controlling lawyer consumed with his career. Burdened with overbearing in-laws, a boring dead-end job she cant seem to quit, and a best friend who doesnt understand her, Victoria finds solace in her beloved books and the stories she makes up in her head. One day, in a favorite café, she notices an attractive man reading the same talked-about bestselling novel that she is reading. A woman yearning for her own happy ending, Victoria is sure its fate. The handsome book lover must be her soulmate.

Theres only one small problem: her husband. Frustrated, and desperate to change her life, Victoria retreats to the dark places in her mind and thinks back to all the stories shes ever read in hopes of finding a solution. She begins to fantasize about imaginative ways (poisoned pickles were an inspired choice in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres) of getting rid of the dread husband. Its all just harmless fantasy born of Victorias fevered imagination and her booksuntil, one night, fiction and reality blur and suddenly it seems Victoria is about to get everything shes wished for.

Praise -----------------------------------------------------------------

"A book-club-perfect dark comedy" --People Magazine

"Imagine if Patricia Highsmith had written The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and instead of heroic daydreams she gave her protagonist murderous onesthat would be Bookworm. Robin Yeatmans story is subversive, surprising, and satisfying in a way that only the best comic noir can be." --Claire Oshetsky, author of Chouette

"Yeatmans debut is compelling and highly readable, diving into Victorias authentic and sometimes twisted mind. Victoria is relatable as she considers actions many of us have thought about but would never carry out. Fans of Peter Swanson and Samantha Downing will devour this book, and those who enjoy a good domestic-suspense novel will find a fresh take here." --Booklist (starred review)

"Bookworm is catnip for a book criticits a shiny gift with a big bow; its free shrimp; its your tenth cup of coffee on the card so you order the most decadent and least coffee-like thing on the menu" --LitHubs Crimereads

"A wickedly funny debut novela black comedy with a generous heart that explores the power of imagination and readingabout a woman who tries to use fiction to find her way to happiness."  --Fresh Fiction

"This dark comedy was made for voracious readers who keep up with all of the latest literary drama . . . . Full of tongue-in-cheek literary references, morbid fantasies, and Walter Mittyesque dream sequences, this sardonic and subversive novel is full of kooky surprises." --BuzzFeed