FICTION

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One

by Kristen Arnett
Riverhead. Mar. 2025. 272p. ISBN 9780593719770. $28. F
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In Arnett’s (With Teeth) hilarious and heartfelt book, a young lesbian tries to find her way in an increasingly hostile conservative Florida. Twenty-eight-year-old Cherry is a professional clown. It’s an art form that she’s passionate about, but it’s also one that her estranged mother disapproves of, and her deceased older brother never seemed to understand. But clowning isn’t enough to pay the bills. Neither is her part-time, mind-numbing job at an aquarium store. Even so, things start to look up when she scores a date with accomplished magician Margot the Magnificent, who may have a business proposal for Cherry. After a series of poor choices, however, Cherry needs to first decide what she really values in both life and art.
VERDICT An expert blending of laugh-out-loud scenes with sincere raw emotion. This work delivers a great narrative about a loveable, messy character who compels readers to consider questions about art and love. Give to Arnett’s fans and recommend to readers who enjoy works by Emily Austin and Jen Beagin.
Reviewed by Jennifer Renken , Jan 23, 2025
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