Every Tom, Dick & Harry
"Every Tom, Dick & Harry" is the latest novel from Elinor Lipman, a seasoned author celebrated for her witty and heartwarming romantic comedies. Published in February 2025, this book continues Lipman’s tradition of crafting charming narratives filled with quirky characters, sharp dialogue, and a keen eye for the absurdities of small-town life. Set in the fictional town of Harrow, Massachusetts—a stand-in for Northampton, where Lipman lived for many years—the story blends humor, romance, and a touch of mischief, making it a delightful escape for readers.
The novel centers on Emma Lewis, a 32-year-old single woman who reluctantly takes over her parents’ estate-sale business, Estate of Mind, as they retire to Cape Cod. Emma is quick-witted and kindhearted, yet she’s at a crossroads, feeling the pressure of societal expectations about career, love, and family that she hasn’t quite met. Her parents leave her their house, along with an unexpected boarder: Frank, a retired high school math teacher and recent widower whose wife died in a freak lightning strike. This intergenerational friendship becomes the emotional core of the book, as Emma and Frank bond over cooking, adopt a dog, and support each other through life’s upheavals.
The plot takes a zany turn when Emma lands a gig organizing an estate sale at 1010 Quail Ridge Road, a grand house with a notorious past. Known as a bed-and-breakfast, it secretly doubled as a brothel called Lola’s Ladies, a poorly kept secret in Harrow. This discovery introduces a cast of colorful characters, including the tough-as-nails former madam Lois Mankopf, her ex-husband Manny (a disgraced ex-police chief), and their daughter Rain. As Emma navigates the sale, she uncovers more than just dusty antiques—there’s art theft tied to Frank’s late wife, Ginger, and a web of overlapping relationships that tangle the town’s social fabric.
Romance simmers on the back burner as Emma begins a secret relationship with Luke Winooski, the new police chief and a former high school classmate. Meanwhile, Frank finds love with Luke’s widowed mother, Connie, adding to the novel’s tapestry of intergenerational connections. Lipman weaves these threads with her signature light touch, balancing humor and heart. The title, "Every Tom, Dick & Harry," playfully misleads—rather than a parade of suitors for Emma, it hints at the eclectic ensemble of townsfolk whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
Critics and readers have praised the book for its charm and escapism, with The Washington Post calling it “a master class in writing about small-town life without tropes or judgment.” Stephen McCauley, a fellow author, describes it as a gleeful blend of “estate sales, good and bad cops, and small-town houses of ill-repute,” wrapped in sparkling dialogue and an endearing love story. However, some note that the novel’s ambitious scope—juggling multiple characters and subplots—can feel uneven, with the pacing occasionally stumbling under the weight of its many moving parts.
Lipman’s fans will recognize her trademarks: lovable oddballs, witty banter, and a knack for finding humor in life’s messiness. While not a laugh-out-loud rom-com, "Every Tom, Dick & Harry" offers a warm, satisfying read about community, resilience, and the surprising ways love can bloom. For those new to Lipman, it’s a fine introduction to her world, though her earlier works like "The Inn at Lake Devine" or "On Turpentine Lane" might showcase her at her tightest. In Harrow, as in all of Lipman’s tales, happiness sneaks up around the hairpin turns, making this a cozy companion for anyone seeking a literary pick-me-up.
You can buy Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3FQNG2K
The novel centers on Emma Lewis, a 32-year-old single woman who reluctantly takes over her parents’ estate-sale business, Estate of Mind, as they retire to Cape Cod. Emma is quick-witted and kindhearted, yet she’s at a crossroads, feeling the pressure of societal expectations about career, love, and family that she hasn’t quite met. Her parents leave her their house, along with an unexpected boarder: Frank, a retired high school math teacher and recent widower whose wife died in a freak lightning strike. This intergenerational friendship becomes the emotional core of the book, as Emma and Frank bond over cooking, adopt a dog, and support each other through life’s upheavals.
The plot takes a zany turn when Emma lands a gig organizing an estate sale at 1010 Quail Ridge Road, a grand house with a notorious past. Known as a bed-and-breakfast, it secretly doubled as a brothel called Lola’s Ladies, a poorly kept secret in Harrow. This discovery introduces a cast of colorful characters, including the tough-as-nails former madam Lois Mankopf, her ex-husband Manny (a disgraced ex-police chief), and their daughter Rain. As Emma navigates the sale, she uncovers more than just dusty antiques—there’s art theft tied to Frank’s late wife, Ginger, and a web of overlapping relationships that tangle the town’s social fabric.
Romance simmers on the back burner as Emma begins a secret relationship with Luke Winooski, the new police chief and a former high school classmate. Meanwhile, Frank finds love with Luke’s widowed mother, Connie, adding to the novel’s tapestry of intergenerational connections. Lipman weaves these threads with her signature light touch, balancing humor and heart. The title, "Every Tom, Dick & Harry," playfully misleads—rather than a parade of suitors for Emma, it hints at the eclectic ensemble of townsfolk whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
Critics and readers have praised the book for its charm and escapism, with The Washington Post calling it “a master class in writing about small-town life without tropes or judgment.” Stephen McCauley, a fellow author, describes it as a gleeful blend of “estate sales, good and bad cops, and small-town houses of ill-repute,” wrapped in sparkling dialogue and an endearing love story. However, some note that the novel’s ambitious scope—juggling multiple characters and subplots—can feel uneven, with the pacing occasionally stumbling under the weight of its many moving parts.
Lipman’s fans will recognize her trademarks: lovable oddballs, witty banter, and a knack for finding humor in life’s messiness. While not a laugh-out-loud rom-com, "Every Tom, Dick & Harry" offers a warm, satisfying read about community, resilience, and the surprising ways love can bloom. For those new to Lipman, it’s a fine introduction to her world, though her earlier works like "The Inn at Lake Devine" or "On Turpentine Lane" might showcase her at her tightest. In Harrow, as in all of Lipman’s tales, happiness sneaks up around the hairpin turns, making this a cozy companion for anyone seeking a literary pick-me-up.
You can buy Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3FQNG2K
Comments
Post a Comment