A Surrey State of Affairs

Set in the English town of Surrey, Radford’s wildly entertaining and amusing debut novel is composed of prim and proper Constance Harding’s heartfelt blog posts, which chronicle a triumphant and tumultuous year of her life as wife and mother. She spends a good deal of time meddling in the affairs of her two children—aimless 18-year-old Sophie and 25-year-old Rupert, who Constance is constantly pushing to wed—and Facebook-stalking her husband, Jeffrey, a lawyer. Between the incompetent maid, Natalia; Constance’s beloved parrot, Darcy; Sophie’s wild behavior; Rupert’s nuptial reticence; and Jeffrey’s emotional distance, Constance naïvely keeps her cool. However, her blissful ignorance and incessant nattering contribute to unfortunate turns of events that threaten to rend her family. As secrets begin to surface, Constance is left shell-shocked and struggling to find a way to repair relationships with her husband and children. Along the way, the chaotic misadventures and misbehaviors of Surrey’s residents, as well as a romantic and dramatic Argentine excursion, will be sure to keep readers entertained. By learning to actively live life and listen completely to those she loves, Constance might very well blog her way to a better existence. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Co. (Apr.)