The "sublimely awkward and hilarious" (Chicago Tribune), National Book Award "5 Under 35"-garnering first novel from the acclaimed author of The New Me--now in a new edition Twenty-four-year-old Megan may have her whole life ahead of her, but it already feels like a dead end, thanks to her dreadful job as a gastroenterologist's receptionist and her heart-clogging resentment of the success and happiness of everyone around her. But no one stokes Megan's bitterness quite like her coworker, Jillian, a grotesquely optimistic, thirty-five-year-old single mother whose chirpy positivity obscures her mounting struggles. Megan and Jillian's lives become increasingly precarious as their faulty coping mechanisms--denial, self-help books, alcohol, religion, prescription painkillers, obsessive criticism, alienated boyfriends, and, in Jillian's case, the misguided purchase of a dog--send them spiraling toward their downfalls. Wickedly authentic and brutally funny, Jillian is a subversive portrait of two women trapped in cycles of self-delusion and self-destruction, each more like the other than they would care to admit.
From the author of the 'great' (Dolly Alderton), 'terrific' (Zadie Smith) The New Me, comes a subversive, hilarious portrait of two colleagues, each more like the other than they would care to admit.'Wretchedly riveting' Jia Tolentino, New Yorker'Butler is an essential contemporary voice' Literary Hub'A master of writing about work and its discontents' The MillionsMegan is only twenty-four but her life feels like a dead end. Working as a gastroenterologist's receptionist and resenting the success and happiness of her friends, the only thing that makes her feel better is obsessively critiquing the behaviour of her colleague, Jillian. A grotesquely optimistic thirty-five-year-old single mother, Jillian's chirpy positivity obscures her mounting struggles - until her downfall is precipitated by the purchase of a dog . . .'Outrageous and amusing ... reads like rubbernecking or a junk-food binge, compelling a horrified fascination and bleak laughter' Kirkus'The funniest book I've read in a long time, but also one of the most important ones' The Rumpus
One moment after making a senseless, hasty decision, Jillian's life as she knew it had vanished, replaced by a terrifying, living nightmare. Her twin brother, Private Detective Dakota Hunt and their family have been searching for her ever since. Dakota felt that he was to blame, believing that if he had only been there minutes earlier, he would have prevented her from getting into the mysterious pickup truck. Shameful guilt devoured all sense of self-worth, causing him to exist in a world of sorrow and self-loathing. He felt like half of his soul had been ripped away and tossed into a savage parallel world with a heart-wrenching, fate intended.Dakota believed that until he located Jillian, he didn't deserve to be happy, because he failed to protect her like he always had before that devastatingly fateful day. After years of investigating sex crimes with the Denver police department, Dakota decided to begin his own Private Investigative service, specializing in sex trafficking and abduction cases. After years of searching for Jillian with no success, Dakota opened and began operating a trucking company with a dedicated team of retired police and military professionals, to help him search for Jillian and hunt for sex traffickers across the U.S. Ten years later, the team joined a special FBI task force and began successfully taking down major trafficking organizations, leaving Dakota and his family with renewed hope that they would soon discover what happened to Jillian.
Time has not blunted her desire to live as a Little. Can Jillian have a second chance to find a Daddy?Jillian loves her job working as Dr. Richards' housekeeper. Taking care of the house and those who she loves takes all her time and energy. When she crashes into a man who speaks to her as a Little, she runs. Yoga studio owner and instructor, Griffin always listens to what his instincts and body tell him. He recognizes immediately that the driver of the grocery cart that plows into him is someone he needs to know. Can he convince Jillian that it's never too late to find love?Addiction Warning: Pepper's stories will touch your heart and may warm your bottom. While both sweet & spicy, the Dr. Richards' Littles stories may contain more heat than some will find comfortable. Playing doctor with Dr. Richards can be an intense experience that borders on electrifying. The greatest risk, however, is developing an intense craving for more after reading just one. Proceed with caution.
There’s a new villian in town… One who can manipulate dreams and reality to the point that people can’t tell the difference. This is a job for Jillian Spectre. The snarky eighteen year old redhead with paranormal powers has already saved the world once but now she’s under attack by a force that might be above her pay grade. The Dream Weaver. When Jillian’s own dreams are invaded she finds herself desperately trying to separate reality from fantasy – and struggle with a totally inappropriate crush on someone who isn’t her mind reading boyfriend, Ryan. When her own soul is on the line as the Dream Weaver manipulates her, Jillian has one shot to save herself and the rest of the world… or she and the rest of the world could be trapped in their dreams forever.
Just when Banff, Alberta begins to feel like home, and everything is perfect, fifteen-year-old Jillian's life goes sideways. The unthinkable happens to her boyfriend's sister and Greg must head back home, halfway across the globe. Aunt Steph drops hints about applying for a job in Waterton. And new friendships get prickly. Jillian is sure her life can't get any more complicated...but then it does.Reviewed by: Yvonne Machuk EdD / Banff, Alberta Having met Jillian in Summer of Lies and What about Me?, readers will be excited to catch up with her in book 3. As she navigates yet more of the angst faced by teenagers, her story is superbly told by Barbara Baker as the author gets inside the female teenage mind.
Jillian Tosscobble, a young gnome girl, is carried along on a misadventure when an elven princess disrupts her simple peasant life. She finds herself quite out of her element as she tries to navigate her way through unexpected romance and a monstrous king that takes a liking to her.
Jillian Tosscobble and her people flee the Tithes in hope of finding a better future on the surface. On their way out, the Tosscobbles meet up with an ancient race, the goblins, who are a little less than functional. They try to build a new life only to find out that the refugees from the Tithes are less than welcome on the surface. Meanwhile, Jillian can't let go of her husband who was separated from her during the war in the Tithes. The Refugee is a fantastic continuation of the world-building legacy that Nolan started in `Jillian Tosscobble: The Peasant,' with strong female characters, steampunk elements, genetic modification, and a unique take on classic fantasy races. The Refugee is about 74,000 words. Hand-drawn cover art by Jillian Strom with colored pencil as medium. Hardcover is a very large book that showcases the artwork. Large print at 16 font.
Jillian adjusts to life in the city after reuniting with her elven husband. Despite trying her best, Neilson's bad health and their lack of funds keep getting in the way of success. Racial tensions, both between the gnomes and elves, as well as between the underground races and the surface races complicate things. Meanwhile, the Tosscobbles settle in the outskirts of the city, and with the Throwback King, they scheme to improve the lives of everyone. The Laborer tugs on the heart-strings as it continues the world-building legacy that Nolan started in `Jillian Tosscobble: The Peasant,' with strong female characters, steampunk elements, genetic modification, and a unique take on classic fantasy races. The Laborer is about 74,000 words. Hand-drawn cover art by Jillian Strom with colored pencil as medium. Large print with 16 point font. Includes an illustration at the beginning of every chapter.
Book three. Jillian adjusts to life in the city after reuniting with her elven husband. Despite trying her best, Neilson's bad health and their lack of funds keep getting in the way of success. Racial tensions, both between the gnomes and elves, as well as between the underground races and the surface races complicate things. Meanwhile, the Tosscobbles settle in the outskirts of the city, and with the Throwback King, they scheme to improve the lives of everyone.The Laborer tugs on the heart-strings with its raw interpersonal relationships as it continues the world-building legacy that Nolan started in 'Jillian Tosscobble: The Peasant, ' with strong female characters, steampunk elements, genetic modification, and a unique take on classic fantasy races. The Laborer is about 74,000 words. Hand-drawn cover art by Jillian Strom with colored pencil as medium. Paperback is large print with 16 point font. Includes an illustration at the beginning of every chapter.
In Jillian's book series, Jillian writes about learning and creating new things. In Jillian's Imagination, she writes about the sports she is learning, how to play safely, and learning the rules to play fair. Jillian also learns about art, and how to create different forms of art. The series is aimed at encouraging, challenging young minds, and motivating them to remain active, both physically and mentally. Recommended for children 4 to 8. Also Coming Soon Jillian Goes on Safari, Jillian Goes Camping, Jillian Goes to the Zoo, Jillian Goes to School, Jillian Goes to a Farm, Jillian's Pets, Jillian Cooks. If you have a brother, tell him about my brother Jack's book series Jack's Book Series: Jack's Imagination, and coming soon, in the Jack series: Jack Goes on Safari, Jack Goes Camping, Jack Goes to the Zoo, Jack Goes to School, Jack Goes to a Farm, Jack's Pets, Jack Cooks.
