A New Jersey-based, Jewish author of women’s fiction, Andrea J. Stein, is releasing a new book, Dear Eliza, which will be published this October by Flashpoint Books. Imagine receiving a letter from a long-dead parent—and finding that this unexpected missive contains an explosive family secret. This is the provocative premise of Dear Eliza.
At the center of the story is twenty-six-year-old Eliza Levinger, whose world broke apart when she was sixteen and her mom died of cancer. Eliza has finally rebuilt her life to include a director-of-development job at a nonprofit, a Manhattan apartment, and an easy-on-the-eyes bedroom buddy—just the kind of no-strings relationship she wants, even if it’s less than her best friend, Mo, thinks she deserves. But when Eliza’s dad dies unexpectedly, her beloved aunt Claude arrives at the shiva with a letter from her mom—to be opened only after her father’s death. Inside the letter? A bombshell.
Suddenly, all of Eliza’s relationships are upended. Her brother is angry, her stepmother is threatening to disinherit her, and Mo—who has always been her rock—doesn’t seem to understand what she’s going through. But as Eliza struggles to cope with the shocking news, she finds an unexpected ally—her brother’s best friend, Josh—her high school crush whom she’s tried hard to forget. It’s not in Eliza’s nature to trust . . . but maybe it’s time for that to change.
Stein’s award-winning debut novel, Typecast, received critical acclaim from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews and was featured in such media as Buzzfeed and ScaryMommy. In the same vein, her sophomore novel is women’s fiction written with humor and heart. Lisa Roe, author of Welcome to the Neighborhood, writes: “Dear Eliza is an engaging and heartfelt look at grief, the consequences of long-held secrets, and the true meaning of family. Stein’s writing is thoughtful and well-crafted with splashes of humor in all the right places. I was Team Eliza from page one!”
Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin, Katherine Center, and Jennifer Weiner, Dear Eliza explores the meaning of family, the complexities of grief, and the beauty in finding your way again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrea J. Stein is a lifetime lover of books. Born in Brooklyn, she was raised in New Jersey before attending a small, quirky liberal arts college and a large, preppy university, both in New York State. A book publicist by profession, she lives with her husband and sons in suburban New Jersey. Her debut novel, Typecast, was an International Book Award, and Independent Press Award winner in the women’s fiction and chick-lit categories. For more information, go to http://andreajstein.com.
