This contains a lot of references to the 2016 election so if that might make you emotional, heads-up.

I thought this was so intriguing and clever! Perhaps not the paciest, but fascinating questions of identity and how much of yourself is worth sacrificing for greater causes. A lot of commentary on politics, including a dynamic with a landlord who has differing political views. ( )

This novel about a struggling single-mom who works as an uncredited ghostwriter for celebrity memoirs is a delight. It's smart, funny, anti-Trump, and has so much heart in the face of adversity. I loved it. ( )

Set in the early days of the Trump presidency and the rise of #MeToo movement, Impersonation explores the intersection between what women are willing to accept and what they need and must learn to demand for themselves.

Allie Lang is the forty-year old single mother of five-year-old Cassie. Her writing career was sidelined back in Dartmouth when she resisted her advisor’s advances. She later left a good job to help her mother care for her ailing step-dad. Now, she cobbles together an income by substitute teaching, landscape work, and ghostwriting memoirs for celebrities of all calibers.

Al has a live-in boyfriend who is a great guy and a wonderful male role model for Cassie. But, he is also a recovering capitalist whose divorce spurred him to seek a more meaningful life. Between odd jobs, he travels across country. Al is afraid to demand more of his time, knowing he needs to find himself. She also resists becoming dependent on any one.

When a lucrative book deal falls through after the celebrity is named in the #MeToo movement, Al is given the job of writing a memoir about motherhood for a nationally known feminist. It should be a dream job, especially after the smarmy stories the last guy wanted to tell her. Except, Al can’t get Lana to talk about her life and has to, well, basically, make up stories.

Al struggles with the basic needs of putting a roof over their heads and raising a son and dealing with her parents and here-and-gone again lover. And, of course, trying to pin down her celebrity so she can finish the book and get paid.

The purpose of the memoir becomes apparent as Lana decides for a political career. Al’s purpose is to make an intelligent, powerful feminist appealing to Middle-American women–an anti-Hillary. As Al impersonates Lana, in the memoir Lana is impersonating the typical American mother and housewife. Al has not recourse but to plumb her own life for insights and stories.

The lesson Al must learn is that being independent does not mean a woman can’t ask for what she needs, like a better salary and a committed relationship and help in juggling job and motherhood.

I was pleased with the competent writing, the humor that had me laughing out loud, and the realistic portrayal of motherhood. Al works from home, and the challenges will resonate with many women who had to work from home with kids in the house during the pandemic. Best of all, Al is a mirror to the many ways women are more worried about taking care of other people than we are ourselves. When Al empowers herself, a happy ending ensues and she and Lana become a powerful team.

I received a free galley through NetGalley from the publisher. My review is fair and unbiased. ( )

I avoided starting this for months because the cover made me think it would be boring and pretentious. Not at all! Compulsively readable, with a flawed yet engaging protagonist and interesting things to say about women, work, media, relationships and life in general (with just a tiny bit of literary "ambition"). Loved it. ( )

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.
I can't say I was wild about this book. Allie is a single mom in Western Mass, who is a ghostwriter. She is good at what she does, but it's not enough to make a living on, so she also does gardening work and subs at a local school, and even then it's a struggle. She's hired to write a book for Lana Breban, about her experience mothering. Lana is a high profile feminist/woman's right advocate and lawyer who is on the go 24/7. The idea behind the book is to give Lana a softer image. Initially excited about meeting Lana and working for her, it quickly becomes apparent that Lana has no interest/or intention of giving Allie the details of her experience, yet Allie is pressured to continue. Allie soon draws on her own experiences, and what she writes is accepted enthusiastically. As the book progresses, very little of it is from Lana. Throughout the whole book very rarely does Lana mention her son, interact with her son, spend time with her son or her husband for that matter. While this is going on, Allie goes from one crisis to another. While she is writing this book on motherhood, oddly enough, she never seems comfortable with her role as a mother and parent. Throughout the whole story, I feel she thinks every other mother is a good mother and she's not and never will be. She vacillates a lot and isn't consistent mainly because she could use some help. Poor thing is a doormat.
I knew nothing about Ghostwriting and found that aspect of the story interesting, but that was about it. ( )