Summary:
From Lauren Graham, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood,
comes a witty, charming, and hilariously relatable debut novel about a
struggling young actress trying to get ahead―and keep it together―in New
York City.
It’s January 1995, and Franny Banks has just six months left of the three-year deadline she set for herself when she came to New York, dreaming of Broadway and doing “important” work. But all she has to show for her efforts so far is a part in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters, and a gig waiting tables at a comedy club. Her roommates―her best friend Jane, and Dan, an aspiring sci-fi writer―are supportive, yet Franny knows a two-person fan club doesn’t exactly count as success. Everyone tells her she needs a backup plan, and though she can almost picture moving back home and settling down with her perfectly nice ex-boyfriend, she’s not ready to give up on her goal of having a career like her idols Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Not just yet. But while she dreams of filling their shoes, in the meantime, she’d happily settle for a speaking part in almost anything—and finding a hair product combination that works.
Everything is riding on the upcoming showcase for her acting class, where she’ll finally have a chance to perform for people who could actually hire her. And she can’t let herself be distracted by James Franklin, a notorious flirt and the most successful actor in her class, even though he’s suddenly started paying attention. Meanwhile, her bank account is rapidly dwindling, her father wants her to come home, and her agent doesn’t return her calls. But for some reason, she keeps believing that she just might get what she came for.
Someday, Someday, Maybe is a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and perhaps most difficult of all in New York City, finding an acting job.
It’s January 1995, and Franny Banks has just six months left of the three-year deadline she set for herself when she came to New York, dreaming of Broadway and doing “important” work. But all she has to show for her efforts so far is a part in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters, and a gig waiting tables at a comedy club. Her roommates―her best friend Jane, and Dan, an aspiring sci-fi writer―are supportive, yet Franny knows a two-person fan club doesn’t exactly count as success. Everyone tells her she needs a backup plan, and though she can almost picture moving back home and settling down with her perfectly nice ex-boyfriend, she’s not ready to give up on her goal of having a career like her idols Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Not just yet. But while she dreams of filling their shoes, in the meantime, she’d happily settle for a speaking part in almost anything—and finding a hair product combination that works.
Everything is riding on the upcoming showcase for her acting class, where she’ll finally have a chance to perform for people who could actually hire her. And she can’t let herself be distracted by James Franklin, a notorious flirt and the most successful actor in her class, even though he’s suddenly started paying attention. Meanwhile, her bank account is rapidly dwindling, her father wants her to come home, and her agent doesn’t return her calls. But for some reason, she keeps believing that she just might get what she came for.
Someday, Someday, Maybe is a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and perhaps most difficult of all in New York City, finding an acting job.
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Age Group: Adult
Source: Review copy from publisher
Review:
Someday, Someday, Maybe was such an unexpected treat! I was interested in reading this book because it's set in New York and because I wondered if it was maybe a little bit influenced by Lauren Graham's own journey to stardom.
It took me a while to really get fully immersed in the story. I kept putting the book down and picking up another book which I was reading simultaneously, until I got about one-third into Someday, Someday, Maybe. Part of the problem, and this is all me, is that I'm used to easier YA reads which take off in the first few pages. I've gotten spoiled on easy reads and I'm not as used to slower building drama in a story.
But, once I got to know Franny, I really liked her and became quite invested in her journey. I loved her internal dialogue---I love it when authors use a first-person narrative and lots of internal dialogue---which opened Franny's character up and helped me get to know her well. I loved the way Franny thought about things, and that she continually surprised me in her actions. I loved watching her grow and change, and start to stand up for herself. You just can't beat great character growth, and Graham provides it in spades.
I couldn't help but compare Franny to Lauren Graham as an actress. Many things about Franny, such as her tendency to ramble, her forgetfulness, and the fact that she is hard on herself, reminded me of Lauren Graham's character in Parenthood (which reminds me that I have the latest season ready to watch on Netflix, I love that show!). I think the fact that Lauren Graham has personal experience in show business made the book feel so authentic. I like it when characters have to work for success, and watching Franny work so hard made me like her even more.
My favorite thing about Someday, Someday, Maybe, besides the character growth, was the clever ending. It was so fitting to the story. Graham ended the story on a great note, with enough leeway for readers to imagine their own HEA, but without things feeling too open-ended.
I would recommend Someday, Someday, Maybe to fans of contemporary fiction and fans of women's fiction. It's smart, well-written, and just emotional enough to make me happy. I would most definitely read Lauren Graham again!
Someday, Someday, Maybe was such an unexpected treat! I was interested in reading this book because it's set in New York and because I wondered if it was maybe a little bit influenced by Lauren Graham's own journey to stardom.
It took me a while to really get fully immersed in the story. I kept putting the book down and picking up another book which I was reading simultaneously, until I got about one-third into Someday, Someday, Maybe. Part of the problem, and this is all me, is that I'm used to easier YA reads which take off in the first few pages. I've gotten spoiled on easy reads and I'm not as used to slower building drama in a story.
But, once I got to know Franny, I really liked her and became quite invested in her journey. I loved her internal dialogue---I love it when authors use a first-person narrative and lots of internal dialogue---which opened Franny's character up and helped me get to know her well. I loved the way Franny thought about things, and that she continually surprised me in her actions. I loved watching her grow and change, and start to stand up for herself. You just can't beat great character growth, and Graham provides it in spades.
I couldn't help but compare Franny to Lauren Graham as an actress. Many things about Franny, such as her tendency to ramble, her forgetfulness, and the fact that she is hard on herself, reminded me of Lauren Graham's character in Parenthood (which reminds me that I have the latest season ready to watch on Netflix, I love that show!). I think the fact that Lauren Graham has personal experience in show business made the book feel so authentic. I like it when characters have to work for success, and watching Franny work so hard made me like her even more.
My favorite thing about Someday, Someday, Maybe, besides the character growth, was the clever ending. It was so fitting to the story. Graham ended the story on a great note, with enough leeway for readers to imagine their own HEA, but without things feeling too open-ended.
I would recommend Someday, Someday, Maybe to fans of contemporary fiction and fans of women's fiction. It's smart, well-written, and just emotional enough to make me happy. I would most definitely read Lauren Graham again!
About the Author:
Lauren Graham is an actress best known for her roles on the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. She has performed on Broadway and appeared in such films as Bad Santa, Evan Almighty, and Because I Said So.
She holds a BA in English from Barnard College and an MFA in acting
from Southern Methodist University. She lives in New York and Los
Angeles.
I've been hearing some good things about this book for a while, but I had no idea it was written by Lauren Graham! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a truly wonderful novel. I am always amazed at the tenacity of struggling actors and actresses. They work so hard to get somewhere and I wish there was some way all of them could be recognized. I love humor in a novel and this one sounds like it has it all!
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your successes!
I think I need this one. Great review.
ReplyDelete