Happy Release Day!
Congratulations Meredith
on the release today of
Louie on the Rocks!
Louie on the Rocks by Meredith O'Brien
Political Fiction, 304 pages
Published February 4, 2025 by SparkPress
For fans of Tom Perrotta, Maria Semple, and Elinor Lipman, a dark comedy about family dysfunction fueled by bitter Trump-era politics, vodka, and a reluctant daughter’s guilt.
Set against a backdrop of bitterly partisan Facebook feuds and a Trump flag set aflame in a driveway, Louie on the Rocks follows the disintegration of the Francis family six months after the premature death of their matriarch, Helen. In his wife’s absence, retired MAGA patriarch Louie descends into an alcoholic spiral and his liberal, queer, bookseller daughter Lulu responds, in a clumsy attempt to save her father from himself, by taking him to court to seize control over his finances.
Told by Louie, Lulu, and Helen—who is watching in horror from the great beyond—this is the tale of a trio with very different takes on the messy events of 2019.
My thoughts about Louie on the Rocks ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"I forget, for a minute, that it is a new year. I open my eyes and pause for a minute to straighten my head out."
To be honest, I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this book. What with all that is going on in our world right now, politically, I wasn't sure that I wanted to 'escape' into a fictional world dealing with the same stuff we are all dealing with every day.
I decided to give Louie on the Rocks a try, and I'm happy that I did. This is a story about so much more than politics. It is a story of family and discovery, with a huge dose of dysfunction thrown in. Don't we all have a bit of that in our lives, if we're honest?
Told from the perspectives of MAGA supporter Louie, his liberal queer daughter Lulu, and the matriarch of the family, Helen, who gives us her thoughts and feeling from the other side, I found myself, as the reader, just wanting everyone to get along. It's a very rocky road to get there but so much is learned along the way.
I really enjoyed Louie on the Rocks with its interesting characters. The storyline was intriguing and the book was fast paced. Don't let the topic scare you off, like it almost did me. It's a wonderful story of family dynamics and growth.
I received an ARC of Louie on the Rocks and this is my honest opinion of the book.
About the author
Meredith O’Brien, a former newspaper reporter and investigative journalist, is the author of four books. She teaches journalism and writing in Massachusetts, where she also roots for her beloved Red Sox. Meredith lives in the Boston area with her husband and their loud, goofy dogs.
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