Contemporary fiction
Thank You, Goodnight
Debut
We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Andy Abramowitz, on your first book!
by Andy Abramowitz
Quick take
Whether you've never been famous or you've seen a million faces, this book will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Why I love it
Liberty Hardy
BOTM Judge
The internet is a glorious, horrifying place that has brought us more information than we know what to do with. One of the internet's big contributions to society is a proliferation of lists. "10 Things You Didn't Know About The Breakfast Club!" I'm here for that. Awful lists like "11 Child Actors Who Grew Up to Be Ugly"? I wish ill on the people who write these.
Then there are lists like "50 Forgotten One-Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now!" I am conflicted by these lists. Because on the one hand, I love reliving songs from specific moments in my life, but on the other hand, I feel bad for the artists on these lists. How does it make them feel to try really hard at something and achieve their 15 minutes of fame, only to end up a sad bit of trivia later in life?
In the utterly delightful Thank You, Goodnight, Teddy Tremble is such an artist. The former lead singer of the now-defunct band Tremble, Teddy and his bandmates scored a big hit in the 90s, and then quickly faded into obscurity. Their only album relegated to record store discount bins, Teddy now spends his days as a lawyer, occasionally encountering people who say, "Hey, you look so familiar…"
But then Teddy receives a cryptic message from his drummer, leading to a band reunion. But can Tremble recapture the spotlight? Is the world even interested in a Tremble reunion? And are they themselves ready to rock, or is this just a way to avoid their decidedly non-rockstar lives? With their legacy heading for discount bins and one-hit wonder lists, they're willing to find out.
In Thank You, Goodnight, Teddy speaks not just for stars who have lost their shine, but for all people who feel complacent, who feel their best days are behind them. This book is a very funny, yet serious look at trying to be happy in the now, and I absolutely adored it. And who doesn't love a good underdog story? Whether you've never been famous or you've seen a million faces (and you've rocked them all), this book will put a smile on your face and a song your heart.