Be Frank with Me

 Be Frank With Me  4/5 ****
                             Julia Claiborne Johnson- Fiction/humor

"Julia Claiborne Johnson worked at Mademoiselle and Glamour magazines before marrying and moving to Los Angeles, where she lives with her comedy-writer husband and their two children."- www.harpercollins.com

This is quite literally the ONLY information I could find about Ms. Julia Claiborne Johnson. A little disappointing simply because I like to learn about the authors background, personality and lifestyle to help deduce how, if at all, their life played a role in the characters, or plot of a book. Oh well... 

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M.M. Banning, Mimi, could be described as a cantankerous writer known for the publication of a single book titled "Pitched.” The book  won a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award but remained the only novel ever published by M.M. Banning.  The novels’ success provides Mimi with means  enough to sustain herself and her 9 year old eccentric son, Frank. That is until she falls victim to a money scheme that leaves her broke and forced to write another best seller, pronto. 

Given the severity of Mimi’s financial situation and the fact that in all the years between the publication of “Pitched” and current day, there was never another book, her publisher sends Alice Whitley to monitor the books progress. In actuality, Alice becomes Franks’ constant companion with little to no involvement in the creation of the book. Alice can hear the tapping of keyboard keys from Mimi's office but beyond that she is kept in the dark until, disaster strikes. 

Alice learns to maneuver through the Banning mansion and it's socially awkward tenants but not without incident and not without fawning over the presence of Xander; Franks mysterious piano teacher and mansion handy man.  So many twist and turns with "only in Hollywood" moments sprinkled throughout.  Be Frank with Me  will make you laugh with hilarious one-liners and cry with sympathy. 

I wasn't sure I was going enjoy reading this book but I was pleasantly surprised. Frank's quirts are constantly presenting situations or dialogue that is not only entertaining but keeps the book fresh and enjoyable to read. I hope Julia Claiborne Johnson doesn't follow M.M. Banning's example, I hope there's more to come from this new author and soon! 

Click HERE to purchase Be Frank With Me hard copy.