Musical Chairs: A Novel“A fiercely funny tale of family, friendship, and later-in-life love.” —People “Poeppel has created a story that is well thought out, well plotted, well written, and fully developed. A delightful novel that celebrates the messiness and joy to be found in real life.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A hilariously heartfelt, witty novel.” —Woman’s World The “quick-witted and razor-sharp” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six) author of Limelight and Small Admissions returns with a hilarious and heartfelt new novel about a perfectly imperfect summer of love, secrets, and second chances. Bridget and Will have the kind of relationship that people envy: they’re loving, compatible, and completely devoted to each other. The fact that they’re strictly friends seems to get lost on nearly everyone; after all, they’re as good as married in (almost) every way. For three decades, they’ve nurtured their baby, the Forsyth Trio—a chamber group they created as students with their Juilliard classmate Gavin Glantz. In the intervening years, Gavin has gone on to become one of the classical music world’s reigning stars, while Bridget and Will have learned to embrace the warm reviews and smaller venues that accompany modest success. Bridget has been dreaming of spending the summer at her well-worn Connecticut country home with her boyfriend Sterling. But her plans are upended when Sterling, dutifully following his ex-wife’s advice, breaks up with her over email and her twin twenty-somethings arrive unannounced, filling her empty nest with their big dogs, dirty laundry, and respective crises. Bridget has problems of her own: her elderly father announces he’s getting married, and the Forsyth Trio is once again missing its violinist. She concocts a plan to host her dad’s wedding on her ramshackle property, while putting the Forsyth Trio back into the spotlight. But to catch the attention of the music world, she and Will place their bets on luring back Gavin, whom they’ve both avoided ever since their stormy parting. With her trademark humor, pitch-perfect voice, and sly perspective on the human heart, Amy Poeppel crafts a love letter to modern family life with all of its discord and harmony. In the tradition of novels by Maria Semple and Stephen McCauley, Musical Chairs is an irresistibly romantic story of role reversals, reinvention, and sweet synchronicity. |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 15 |
Section 3 | 25 |
Section 4 | 31 |
Section 5 | 57 |
Section 6 | 81 |
Section 7 | 89 |
Section 8 | 111 |
Section 20 | 245 |
Section 21 | 257 |
Section 22 | 273 |
Section 23 | 278 |
Section 24 | 281 |
Section 25 | 291 |
Section 26 | 313 |
Section 27 | 323 |
Section 9 | 123 |
Section 10 | 137 |
Section 11 | 150 |
Section 12 | 151 |
Section 13 | 163 |
Section 14 | 177 |
Section 15 | 191 |
Section 16 | 201 |
Section 17 | 213 |
Section 18 | 233 |
Section 19 | 244 |
Section 28 | 325 |
Section 29 | 335 |
Section 30 | 345 |
Section 31 | 357 |
Section 32 | 365 |
Section 33 | 377 |
Section 34 | 387 |
Section 35 | 397 |
Section 36 | 403 |
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Common terms and phrases
already asked barn better Bridget called cello closed coming course decided didn’t dogs don’t door dress Edward Emma everything eyes face father feel felt front Gavin getting give glass going guys Gwen hand happened hated he’d head hear heard hope Hudson idea Isabelle It’s Jackie Juliette keep Kevin kids kind kitchen knew leaving living looked Lottie Marge Mark Matt mean mind morning move never Nicholas night opened Oscar piece play pulled remember seat seemed side sitting smiled soon sorry sound standing started stay stepped Sterling stop summer sure talk tell Thank thing thought told took trio trying turned wait walked watching wearing wedding week whole window wondered York you’re