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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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http://laurenmcbrayer.com/

LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE

Lauren McBrayer

An electric and seductive debut novel about a woman at a turning point in her life, and what happens when she discovers the spark that makes her feel whole again. This is for readers of smart commercial fiction, such as The Female Persuasion, Fleishman Is in Trouble, Friends and Strangers, Such a Fun Age, and the countless fans of Glennon Doyle's Untamed.
After twelve years of marriage and two kids, Merit has begun to feel like a stranger in her own life. She loves her husband and sons, but she desperately needs something more than sippy cups and monthly sex. So, she returns to her career at Jager + Brandt, where a brilliant and beautiful Danish architect named Jane decides to overlook the "break" in Merit's resume and give her a shot. Jane is a supernova - witty and dazzling and unapologetically herself - and as the two work closely together, their relationship becomes a true friendship. In Jane, Merit sees the possibility of what a woman could be. And Jane sees Merit exactly for who she is. Not the wife and mother dutifully performing the roles expected of her, but a whole person.

Their relationship quickly becomes a cornerstone in Merit's life. And as Merit starts to open her mind to the idea of more of a partner, more of a match, more in love she begins to question: what if the love of her life isn't the man she married. What if it's Jane?

Compulsively readable and shrewdly observed, Like a House on Fire is a razor-sharp look at love, motherhood, marriage, and identity. It pushes us to wonder what it really means to have what you thought you wanted, and yet come to realize that there's still so much more.

Lauren McBrayer is the Head of Business Affairs and Strategy for Spectrum Originals, the original content division of Charter Communications. Previously she was in business affairs at Studio 8, a production company with a distribution deal at Sony. Lauren is also the author of three novels for young adults, publishing under the name Lauren Miller. She is a graduate of Yale and has a law degree from Berkeley. Like a House on Fire is her first novel for adults.
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Published 2022-04-26 by Putnam

Book

Published 2022-04-26 by Putnam

Comments

...really well-written character driven debut... This book is something special and more books like this and author Lauren McBrayer will be someone to watch out for in the future. Read more...

Witty, empathetic, kind. Read more...

Compelling... An exploration of love that not only brings steamy physical satisfaction but also allows Merit to become vulnerable and honest with herself and her partner for the first time. Recommended for readers who enjoy introspective relationship fiction. Read more...

Wise, witty, and tender, Like a House on Fire is a multilayered examination of connection and desire that artfully tackles the question: What if the person you are isn't the one you set out to be? It's beautifully written with deep empathy and vivid characters. I was utterly seduced and satisfied by this book.

With a zippy pace, punchy dialogue, and beautifully crafted sentences that manage to capture the tenderness of longing and self-discovery, Merit and Jane's love story feels both realistic and escapist, a queer romance done right. Read more...

If it's not already on your reading list, by all means, add lesbian writer Lauren McBrayer's debut novel Like a House on Fire... McBrayer deftly handles the subject matter and readers are sure to find themselves rooting for the main characters as they embark on their potentially treacherous journey.

Humming with tension and the volcanic rumble of midlife coming-of-age, Lauren McBrayer's Like a House on Fire explores queerness against the backdrop of rekindled ambition, marriage, motherhood, and the various trappings of heteronormative expectations. This book will wake you up and turn you on.

This raw, emotional debut novel explores the disquiet of middle age, the nature of female friendships and the joy and burden of living authentically.

Today's guest is author and lawyer Lauren McBrayer. In this episode, we address women in the church, the power of narrative and storytelling, exploring sexuality through writing, and the embodied and healing experience of creating art. Read more...

LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE is one of The Washington Post's 10 Noteworthy Books for April Good Housekeeping's 20 Books to Add to Your Summer 2022 Reading List New York Post's Best New Books to Read LGBTQ ReadsMost Anticipated LGBTQ Adult Fiction for Jan-June 2022

Like a House on Fire is an unputdownable novel about motherhood, middle-aged malaise, questioning identity, and the choices women are forced to make. I found parts of myself on every page; every woman will find herself along the way as they turn the pages of Merit's life and get lost in McBrayer's raw, emotional, and stunning prose. And the ending... well, I'm still shaking. Every woman should read this book. Alert your book club, this one will bring out the discussion, the confessions, and the wine.

Jane injects [Merit's life] with a jolt of electricity that's more than a work friendship, it's a chance to imagine a different kind of life. This story of female relationships will spark your own imagination, too.