Audiobook Review: Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman
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For some people, their job is their passion; for others, it’s just a way to pay the bills. And in the audio edition of Every Tom, Dick & Harry by author Elinor Lipman, a struggling young woman takes on a job that turns out to be a whole lot more than she bargained for.
The story finds Emma Lewis returning to her small New England hometown to take over her parents’ estate sale business. Though she isn’t especially passionate about the job, it comes with free room and board and a weekly check from her recently-widowed former math teacher, Frank, who’s renting a room in the house. When Emma gets a tip that a former B&B in an upscale neighborhood is up for sale, she’s excited to take on the estate sale—though her excitement takes a turn when she discovers that the house has a much more adult history.
Taking over the family business hasn’t gone smoothly for Emma. She desperately needs a big, high-profile sale—even if it means inventorying, pricing, and selling the contents of a former house of ill repute and interacting with the outrageous former “house mother” and her demanding daughter. At the same time, she helps Frank work with his step-daughters as they try to clean up their late mother’s overstuffed home while their father and his girlfriend unexpectedly take up residence. And she attempts to navigate the awkwardness of a budding romance with the new police chief—while Frank dates his mother. Emma finds herself with a whole lot to juggle—and the constant chaos and comedy keep the pace moving right along.
Admittedly, none of the storylines here are especially action-packed or suspenseful, but it’s all wildly entertaining—a fun-filled adventure with plenty of small-town gossip and shenanigans. The author fills the town with likable characters and big personalities, and readers will love joining this quirky little community (and uncovering its big secrets) as Emma and the others learn the shocking truth about some of their most prominent neighbors. It’s an easygoing listen that’s loaded with scandalous small-town laughs.
With its small-town charm, its lovable characters, and its constant comic misadventures, Every Tom, Dick & Harry is the kind of story that will welcome readers into this cozy community and treat them to all kinds of entertaining surprises. It’s the kind of place that’s hard to leave behind after you finish the last chapter.
Pros:
– Likable characters
– Lots of laughs and small-town wackiness
– Plenty of romance on the side
– Multiple storylines to keep the pace moving along
Cons:
– None of the storylines are especially suspenseful
You can find Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman in various formats on Amazon.
