AN AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION ADULT DEBUT HONOR BOOKWINNER OF THE AUDIE AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE NARRATORLOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLERA sparkling talent makes her fiction debut with this infectious novel that combines the charming pluck of Eloise, the poignant psychological quirks of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the page-turning spirit of Where’d You Go, Bernadette.… Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the page-turning spirit of Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
Reclusive literary legend M. M. “Mimi” Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years. But after falling prey to a Bernie Madoff-style ponzi scheme, she’s flat broke. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in decades, and to ensure the timely delivery of her manuscript, her New York publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress. The prickly Mimi reluctantly complies—with a few stipulations: No Ivy-Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.
When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she’s put to work right away—as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer’s eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noel Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth-graders.
As she slowly gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who Frank’s father is, how his gorgeous “piano teacher and itinerant male role model” Xander fits into the Banning family equation—and whether Mimi will ever finish that book.
Full of heart and countless “only-in-Hollywood” moments, Be Frank with Me is a captivating and unconventional story of an unusual mother and son, and the intrepid young woman who finds herself irresistibly pulled into their unforgettable world.
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This is very surprising good little novel. If she can do it again, hats off. It’s a woman’s story to be sure but one told so cleverly, so convincingly that it clicks with a sense of realism, character, compassion, wit and reward. Frank, the small boy and center of the story, is a creative, disquieting figure who draws you into his life through the eyes of the writer. What a romp!
I loved this book! Frank is a nine year old with an old man’s soul- he is quirky and fabulous and the star of this book! Frank is the son of a famous and reclusive writer, M. M. Banning, who is trying to finish a promised second novel. Enter Alice- sent from New York by the publisher to help Banning finish the novel. Which basically means she is in charge of Frank as much as anyone can be in charge of Frank. A delightful story!
What an exquisite novel! By turns amusing and poignant, you’ll not only be rooting for Frank, his mother, the unreliable yet kindhearted piano teacher, and the narrator, you’ll be thinking about how the world treats those who don’t quite belong – no matter how incredibly special they are. This one stays with you.
Liked it a lot though the ending was sort of ho-hum. Like the author just decided to quit writing.
I loved this book. The characters are wonderful, especially Frank. It took no time for me to become invested in their lives. The story was funny and heartwarming, & only sometimes a little sad. This is also a really visual book. You can see the characters and their surroundings so clearly. I just loved it and had a hard time putting it down. (Also, it has a good ending.)
Fabulous! Quirky and endearing characters you really care about.
Charming and realistic! An original and lovely story.
Very unusual story and characters. If you persevere you will get hooked to find answers to why the situation happened. The characters are very eccentric. Alice has the patience of a saint. I admit I did not feel resolution at the end.
This is a story that never disappoints the reader. It is realistic, and painfully funny sometimes. I have to say it is one of the best books I’ve read in a while in terms of failing into the lives of the characters and being carried along by their stories with real human pathos. It is a book I plan to buy for my permanent library.
Well written with an interesting premise.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting. Great story!
Frank is a very unusual 9 year old boy. With all his eccentricities you grow to love him and want to protect his vulnerability. Fast read and full of unusual facts. I found myself googling a lot of Frank’s factoids.
I’m still sorting through this book (which I listened to on audio), but my overall impression is that I really liked it. I loved meeting Frank, and the author’s descriptions of his outfits were fabulous — the book wouldn’t have been nearly as impactful without being able to visualize a child-sized Sherlock Holmes or Groucho Marx. Everything about the story pulled me along, and I so loved how Alice interacted with Frank.
My only real beef with the book is how it ended. It didn’t really feel complete and I’m still trying to figure out Xander’s relationship with Alice. I want to know what happened with … some of the other characters, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Maybe that’s what the author intended, though, which means she achieved her goal.
Overall, I just really enjoyed it. I have a special needs aunt, and I love stories that include those kinds of characters without making them stereotypical or turning them into props. If you enjoyed The Rosie Project, I think you’ll like this book.
Absolutely one of my favorite books!
A pleasure to read, with humor, affection, and unforgettable characters.
The autistic protagonist in this novel is unique and fascinating, and his relationship to the narrator endearing. A very original story.
I fell in love with Frank and was irritated by him at the same time. Loving him won out at the end. I truly enjoyed this book and all the characters
Loved this book so much. Frank is a brilliant but tragic boy who both pushes people away and wins them with his charm.
hated to get to the end..
This book started well but became a bit tedious and repetitious toward the middle. It picked up a bit at the end but then the ending was sudden and somewhat unsatisfying.