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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by Tavia Gilbert.
M.M. “Mimi” Banning is a reclusive literary genius (and one-hit wonder) who has fallen prey to a Ponzi scheme and is flat broke. In order to keep her Bel Air mansion, she must now produce a new book. She reluctantly agrees to her publisher’s offer of an assistant, with stipulation: “No Ivy Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.” But when Alice Whitley arrives she’s put to work immediately as a companion / nanny to Frank, Banning’s 9-year-old son, a devotee of 1930s movies (with a wardrobe to match).
This is a delightful, engaging novel. The characters are complex and the author deftly handles the difficulties of dealing with such an unusual situation. To say that Alice has her hands full is an understatement. She almost never has a chance to interact with Mimi, whose assistant she is supposed to be, because Mimi locks herself away in her study “writing” while Alice is left to care for Frank.
Frank is a challenge – to say the least. Although no diagnosis is ever given, it seems clear that he is on the autism spectrum. He’s highly intelligent, but unable to understand other’s behavior. His chief coping mechanism is to lie down stiff as a board. He is very literal as well, so jokes and word play elude him. He’s also a pretty talented detective and thief. Frank is the catalyst for the book’s most hilarious … and heartbreaking … moments.
Rounding out the cast are Mr Vargas, Mimi’s publisher and Alice’s boss (and all-around good guy); Paula, the secretary at Frank’s school (and a person Frank can truly rely upon); and the mysteriously elusive Xander, Frank’s piano teacher and all-around handy-man, who comes and goes seemingly on a whim.
I thought this was headed for a Hollywood ending … but Johnson surprised me. I’m glad. I love it when a book leaves me wanting more. I can hardly wait to read what she writes next.
Tavia Gilbert does a superb job narrating the audiobook. Her voice for Frank is particularly effective. Brava!
M.M. “Mimi” Banning is a reclusive literary genius (and one-hit wonder) who has fallen prey to a Ponzi scheme and is flat broke. In order to keep her Bel Air mansion, she must now produce a new book. She reluctantly agrees to her publisher’s offer of an assistant, with stipulation: “No Ivy Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.” But when Alice Whitley arrives she’s put to work immediately as a companion / nanny to Frank, Banning’s 9-year-old son, a devotee of 1930s movies (with a wardrobe to match).
This is a delightful, engaging novel. The characters are complex and the author deftly handles the difficulties of dealing with such an unusual situation. To say that Alice has her hands full is an understatement. She almost never has a chance to interact with Mimi, whose assistant she is supposed to be, because Mimi locks herself away in her study “writing” while Alice is left to care for Frank.
Frank is a challenge – to say the least. Although no diagnosis is ever given, it seems clear that he is on the autism spectrum. He’s highly intelligent, but unable to understand other’s behavior. His chief coping mechanism is to lie down stiff as a board. He is very literal as well, so jokes and word play elude him. He’s also a pretty talented detective and thief. Frank is the catalyst for the book’s most hilarious … and heartbreaking … moments.
Rounding out the cast are Mr Vargas, Mimi’s publisher and Alice’s boss (and all-around good guy); Paula, the secretary at Frank’s school (and a person Frank can truly rely upon); and the mysteriously elusive Xander, Frank’s piano teacher and all-around handy-man, who comes and goes seemingly on a whim.
I thought this was headed for a Hollywood ending … but Johnson surprised me. I’m glad. I love it when a book leaves me wanting more. I can hardly wait to read what she writes next.
Tavia Gilbert does a superb job narrating the audiobook. Her voice for Frank is particularly effective. Brava!
ktaylorhurley's review against another edition
3.0
Pleasant enough, but kind of tumbled into an ending that felt too convenient and yet still unfinished. I enjoyed the interactions with Alice and Frank the most, but I wish we had learned a little more about what made Mimi tick, and what was ultimately driving some of the choices she made.
shareen17's review against another edition
4.0
This book is funny, touching and engaging- perfect summer read. A woman from a publishing company is sent to L.A. to babysit an eccentric author and her even more eccentric 10-year-old son. The audiobook reader is very good. The boy has a unique voice, so I think listening to it adds to the experience.
shilohstone's review against another edition
5.0
I fell in love deeply and quickly with the characters in this book, and I cried when it ended. Please give me more!
dharma130's review against another edition
4.0
What a great well narrated book. I think I had a smile on my face the whole time listening to it.
luckyluke82's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely adored the character Frank and want more of him! Unfortunately I did not like the narrator character and she brought the book down, and there were underdeveloped pieces of the plot.
celjla212's review against another edition
4.0
Alice is 24 years old, working in the book publishing world, and is sent to be an assistant of sorts to the famous-for-one-novel Mimi Banning. When she meets Mimi's 9 year old son Frank though, she suddenly has to become so much more. Frank lives in his own unique world to say the least. Adults either cannot deal with him or find him endearing, and children his own age just find him plain weird.
Mimi has been in hiding since the massive fame she gained with her first and only novel. Having Frank has changed her, but not necessarily for the better. She now is on a tight deadline to come out with another bestseller, and Alice must keep her household and child under her sights while Mimi tries to do just that.
I quite enjoyed this look into the lives of some truly intriguing characters. I instantly fell in love with Frank, even though many may find him annoying or struggle to understand him. It's never stated, but seems obvious to me, that Frank falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. His mother, delicate as she is, loves him but does not always have the energy or attitude necessary to keep up with him.
I loved the bond that Alice and Frank formed. It's cliche to say they both helped each other learn a lot, but it's true. Frank needed Alice to guide him socially and in some other ways, and Alice learned that things are not always so cut and dried and perhaps can be looked at from another angle by watching Frank.
One thing I didn't understand nor was it even touched on was the reason why Mimi was so rude. Alice was there to help her, after all. Maybe Mimi resented needing the help; maybe she felt she was being spied on and didn't like it; maybe she became jealous of the attention Alice was getting from Frank. These are all plausible, albeit facetious reasons that could explain Mimi's perpetual nastiness towards Alice, but it felt like something deeper was at play.
I don't know if the book could be described as hilarious or heartwarming, but I'm glad I read it, if only because I was introduced to young Frank. He's a character that will stay with me for some time and make me think of him often. I loved the author's writing style, though I didn't particularly like the flow of the individual chapters.
Give this novel a read if you love characters with a lot of heart and honesty, or if you're interested in reading a story that is true to life about a child on the autism spectrum.
Mimi has been in hiding since the massive fame she gained with her first and only novel. Having Frank has changed her, but not necessarily for the better. She now is on a tight deadline to come out with another bestseller, and Alice must keep her household and child under her sights while Mimi tries to do just that.
I quite enjoyed this look into the lives of some truly intriguing characters. I instantly fell in love with Frank, even though many may find him annoying or struggle to understand him. It's never stated, but seems obvious to me, that Frank falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. His mother, delicate as she is, loves him but does not always have the energy or attitude necessary to keep up with him.
I loved the bond that Alice and Frank formed. It's cliche to say they both helped each other learn a lot, but it's true. Frank needed Alice to guide him socially and in some other ways, and Alice learned that things are not always so cut and dried and perhaps can be looked at from another angle by watching Frank.
One thing I didn't understand nor was it even touched on was the reason why Mimi was so rude. Alice was there to help her, after all. Maybe Mimi resented needing the help; maybe she felt she was being spied on and didn't like it; maybe she became jealous of the attention Alice was getting from Frank. These are all plausible, albeit facetious reasons that could explain Mimi's perpetual nastiness towards Alice, but it felt like something deeper was at play.
I don't know if the book could be described as hilarious or heartwarming, but I'm glad I read it, if only because I was introduced to young Frank. He's a character that will stay with me for some time and make me think of him often. I loved the author's writing style, though I didn't particularly like the flow of the individual chapters.
Give this novel a read if you love characters with a lot of heart and honesty, or if you're interested in reading a story that is true to life about a child on the autism spectrum.
bickie's review against another edition
3.0
I completely fell in love with Frank. Nice quick, easy, engrossing read that provides good discussion material about non-conformists and whether they should be forced to conform to make others around them more comfortable or whether others should instead be encouraged to be more understanding.
tracyfeye's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
traceyelder's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Missed opportunities. The book starts promising and starts interesting plot lines, but doesn't explore any of them in depth. Loved the character of Frank, but the narrator Alice was about as dull as watching paint dry. Would've been a more impactful and interesting book told from another perspective, and/or if areas of the plot were better developed.
Missed opportunities. The book starts promising and starts interesting plot lines, but doesn't explore any of them in depth. Loved the character of Frank, but the narrator Alice was about as dull as watching paint dry. Would've been a more impactful and interesting book told from another perspective, and/or if areas of the plot were better developed.