cover image Late Night Talking

Late Night Talking

Leslie Schnur. Atria Books, $22 (308pp) ISBN 978-0-7432-8824-8

A feisty New York radio personality is at the center of Schnur's (The Dog Walker) accomplished second novel. Jeannie Sterling's late-night show with best friend Luce chronicles the daily indignities of urban life. After a spat with a Hummer driver, Jeannie rants about him on-air, unaware that he is Nicholas Moss, a high-profile entrepreneur and one of her listeners. Meanwhile, after an unexpected romantic evening with her college crush and a visit with her estranged father, Jeannie finds her personal life in a tailspin, with even Luce keeping secrets. But soon Moss is back in her life, this time as the station's new owner. Jeannie realizes Moss is more complex than she assumed, and an attraction arises. He creates a television show for Jeannie, causing a rift with Luce, which grows deeper when Luce's secret is revealed. Things come to a head when Jeannie pulls a somewhat unbelievable on-air stunt that has nearly catastrophic results. Jeannie's dilemmas as an imperfect everywoman will resonate with a wide range of readers, while Schnur's meditations on women's friendships make her sophomore effort a humorous but not trivial read.