PLAYING HOUSE Uptown, Book 1

Emily Woo Zeller narrates a charming novella about architecture and second chances. While Oliver Huang and Fay Liu have moved in the same professional and social circles for years, they have never been all that close. Then, thanks to a chance encounter, they have the opportunity to start over. Zeller projects the characters' frustration and uncertainty over their current situations--Oliver has recently lost his job and his house, while Fay's marriage has ended in divorce. Nonetheless, Zeller maintains the overall lighthearted tone of the story. She also leans into the absurdity of the charade that Olver and Fay engage in, touring expensive real estate as newlyweds "Ollie" and "Darling." Overall, Zeller makes the big emotional moments that much more resonant. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]