People Person
The author of the "brazenly hilarious, tell-it-like-it-is first novel" (Oprah Daily) Queenie returns with another witty and insightful "treat" (Jesse Armstrong, creator of Succession) of a novel about the power of family--even when they seem like strangers. If you could choose your family...you wouldn't choose the Penningtons. Dimple Pennington knows of her half-siblings, but she doesn't really know them. Five people who don't have anything in common except for faint memories of being driven through Brixton in their dad's gold jeep, and some pretty complex abandonment issues. Dimple has bigger things to think about. She's thirty, and her life isn't really going anywhere. An aspiring lifestyle influencer with a wayward boyfriend, Dimple's life has shrunk to the size of a phone screen. And despite a small but loyal following, she's never felt more alone in her life. That is, until a dramatic event brings her half-siblings--Nikisha, Danny, Lizzie, and Prynce--crashing back into her life. And when they're all forced to reconnect with Cyril Pennington, the absent father they never really knew, things get even more complicated. Vibrant and charming, People Person is "a way-out combination of family drama, madcap plot, and political edge" (Kirkus Reviews).
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
This was my first read by this author and I wish I would have read Queenie before this as I have the impression it was a much deeper and more complex read. I did listen to this one on audible and imagine that is the only reason I kept going. The performance kept it interesting enough. Otherwise the story was a bit underwhelming and juvenile. The premise and characters had so much going for them but the whole thing just felt a bit flat. I wish there was just a deeper story and less silliness over the âissueâ Dimple hadâ¦that was a bit unrealistic. The family dynamic would have been enough to go on without that bit added. Family drama is so much better than âsoap operaâ style drama. It was entertaining to listen to on audible and I will definitely read another of the authors books, most likely Queenie. That is my 2 centsâ¦which wonât get either of us much!
As children, a group of estranged siblings is brought together by their deadbeat dad "so they won't grow up and date each other". As adults, they find themselves navigating a series of odd circumstances forcing them to confront their feelings about each other and the impact that their uber-charismatic but undeniably absent father has had on their lives.
There were some heavy themes explored (daddy issues, mommy issues, sibling rivalry and jealousy, abandonment, fear of commitment, the need for approval, the consequences of blind loyalty), but the book somehow manages to do so with humor and lightheartedness.
While there are some stereotypes and some very far-fetched situations, overall this was an enjoyable and easy read.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.