On Turpentine Lane
“Light and tight, ‘On Turpentine Lane’ is constructed with an almost scary mastery. Not a single thread dangles, not a single character is left without a place in Faith’s world. The story folds out and back in as neatly as an origami flower, and Faith recounts it all with a raised eyebrow and plenty of cheek. . . . Lipman seems to have the most fun writing ridiculous characters, which may be why the novel’s worst people are so enjoyable . . . A neat bourbon swapped for the usual rom-com grenadine.”
—The New York Times Book Review