SUMMERTIME PUNCHLINE

A comedian on the verge of her big break loses everything and returns to her Jersey Shore hometown—where she reunites with her longtime crush.

Delfina Silva-Miller did everything she could to get away from Evergreen, New Jersey, but at least her experiences growing up there with a deadbeat dad, a crush who frequently ran hot and cold, and a grandmother full of unconditional love gave her plenty of material for a comedy set. Just as she earns a spot at a high-profile festival, though, Del’s life comes crashing down, putting her in a bad enough bind to send her back to Evergreen. After all, where can a woman go when she has no job and nowhere to live while nursing the heartbreak of another failed relationship? Now she has roughly six weeks to get her life together and write a fantastic new set for the Brainwave Comedy Festival. Del is the narrator here; it’s a delight to be in her head, especially given her sardonically funny way of interpreting the world around her. Her love interest, Eddie Rodriguez, remains a bit of a mystery, and there’s a lot left unsaid about Del’s persistent crush on Eddie and what occurred during their 10-year separation. The small-town beach setting is bursting with memorable people, and Del and Eddie have a real, lived-in feeling as characters; they will undoubtedly reflect the fears, worries, and triumphs of many readers. While there’s a lovely romantic subplot as Del and Eddie reunite and reconnect, there are much bigger issues surrounding Del’s homecoming, especially her estrangement from her father and the way her focus on career affects her emotional fulfillment. It’s a “Can she have it all?” story, and though the book is fun and fresh at times, that feels like a stale question.

Wry observational humor and a dose of romance strike a good balance with some tough family dynamics.