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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Annelie Geissler

LAURYN HARPER FALLS APART

Shauna Robinson

A Novel

The next feel-good read from acclaimed author Shauna Robinson, following a small-town fall festival struggling to get off the ground, but that might just offer the second chance we all need.
Lauryn Harper had a plan. A high achieving, perfectly constructed, five-year plan. But after a (totally blown out of proportion) mishap at work that plan is put to the test.

As punishment for her mistake she is transferred to the Ryser Charity Department, a branch of her corporation that just so happens to be located in the hometown she abandoned long ago the same hometown that her powerful corporation is responsible for running into the ground. Horrified at the thought of returning and facing those she left behind (one in particular keeps coming to mind), Lauryn quickly comes up with a new plan: impress her boss enough that she's briskly whisked back to her big city life.

However, it soon becomes clear that sticking to plans isn't that simple, especially when her ex-best friend enters the charity department demanding they help revitalize the town by throwing the famous Greenstead Fall Festival. Confronted by her past wrongs, Lauryn immediately agrees to host the festival on Ryser's dime, but soon enough Lauryn is swept away in town hijinks, chaotic planning committees, and a second chance at a childhood friend that shows her why home isn't necessarily a place she has to run from.

Shauna Robinson is the author of Must Love Books, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster and Lauryn Harper Falls Apart. Her novels have been selected for the Indie Next List and recognized as Best Books of the Month by Amazon. She received her Bachelor's degree in English from UC Berkeley and lives in Virginia with her husband and their sleepy greyhound.
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Published 2025-09-09 by Sourcebooks

Comments

Shauna Robinson has created a small town brimming with friendships old and new with a lovable cast of townspeople who care deeply about community and identity against a corporate foe. Hope shines through this satisfying second chance story.

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart may be the title of Shauna Robinson's latest gem, but the reality is that Lauryn Harper puts herself back together. This feel-good tale of escaping corporate greed and finding a home in the very last place one imagines is a love letter to lifelong friendships and a reminder that it's never too late to start again. I dare you to not reach out to your childhood best friend after reading this entertaining and witty novel!

Robinson's charming story of derailed plans and unexpected friendship is a lively, joyful read. Lauryn is an appealing main character who learns to make the most of a less-than-ideal situation, and Robinson's ability to weave together multiple subplots about Lauryn's personal and professional lives keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. Readers will cheer for Lauryn and the Ryser Cares crew as they rediscover their talents and revitalize their hometown.

Funny, heartwarming, and brimming with small-town charm, this book is a delightful reminder that life isn't about the rat racebut the people who give you the courage to slow down.