The Vacillations of Poppy Carew

Book excerpt: A young woman is forced to decide for herself just who she wants to be—and who she wants, period—in this “high-spirited and inventive” witty romance (The Daily Telegraph). Poppy Carew is at a crossroads. Her longtime boyfriend, Edmund Platt, has just left her. Her father has just passed away, leaving her a substantial sum of money he made betting on the ponies. And the undertaker for the funeral is showing an alarming amount of interest in her, as is a local farmer and a would-be author. In all, Poppy is having a strange time of it. When her father’s funeral ends with Poppy being whisked off to North Africa by Edmund—who wants her back—Poppy realizes that she must finally take charge of her life and sort through the inheritance, the suitors, and her own flighty feelings, or risk being adrift for good. Wesley’s winking look at female independence, family ties, infatuation, and love is a “fast and surprising” ride peopled with remarkable characters and unforgettably hilarious situations, proving that Wesley is a genius when it comes to smart romantic comedy (The Times Literary Supplement).