Three Kid Circus Auditions is today's stop on the Mother Talk Blog Tour for Leslie Schnur's latest novel, Late Night Talking.

From the jacket copy:

"From the acclaimed author of The Dog Walker comes Late Night Talking, a tender and funny novel about bad behavior, the fragility of friendship and family, and how we cannot choose whom we love."

Jeannie Sterling, the main character, is a late night talk show host with a show that focuses on the rudeness and poor etiquette of others. She's gained a lot of popularity on the air, but her personal life isn't as neat and tidy as her online persona would indicate.

Her free-spirit father returns and moves right in, bringing a smelly mutt with him. Her best friend is keeping secrets, and her new boyfriend is not what she expected. Add in a new boss who messes with the format of her show, and Jeannie is in a whole world of chaos.

I found Jeannie's character to be charming and believable - she's often as rude as the people she pans on air, but is delightfully sanctimonious about it. The surrounding cast of characters are all well drawn and comfortable in their skins. Leslie Schnur writes great dialog, and keeps readers guessing. Like many novels in this genre, you can figure out where the plot is headed from the opening chapters, but the twists and turns that take you from point A to B make this a joyful read.
Late Night Talking.
would be a great addition to your beach bag this summer. For more reviews from my fellow Mother Talkettes - check it out.