Quick take
A wacky mother-daughter tale that shifts between hilarious and heart-wrenching.
Good to know
Quirky
Puzzle
Buzzy
Now a movie
Synopsis
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect; and to 15-year-old Bee, she is her best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette vanishes. It all began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.
To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, and secret correspondence--creating a compulsively readable and surprisingly touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.
Member ratings (4,077)
Nicole R.
West Chester, OH
I’ve wanted to read this for so long and am glad I finally did! Great plot twists and easy to follow, even with some time jumps. You love some characters, hate others, but they all fit together well!
Danielle W.
New York, NY
Excellent well-paced story & satire. Loved all of the casual observations Semple makes about the banality and "important" trivial incidents of everyday life. Keeps you guessing right up until the end!
Sara S.
Frederick , MD
This book was perfect for the anxiety of quarantine. It was light hearted, funny, but also the characters (especially Bernadette) were especially intriguing! I recommended this book to so many people!
April D.
Omaha, NE
Movie or book first? I saw the movie first so I had pictures of the characters in my mind. I could’t get in to book until the end when it was different then the movie. I really do like the story.
Devin N.
Davenport , FL
This book was so captivating! I couldnt put it down! Watching the movie after was so much fun.(Though we know the books are always better!! ;)) Bernadette is funny and witty and loving! Recommend!!!!