Little Lovely Things
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Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Pages: 280
ISBN13: 978-1-492672-49-4
What would you do in the face of enormous loss?
It's 1993, the first Saturday in September—impossibly hot—and Claire Rawlings is driving her two girls to the daycare at the University of Chicago Hospital where as a resident, she is scheduled for rounds. Ignoring the troublesome signs of a sudden allergic reaction, Claire exits off the freeway to safety, only to pass out cold. When she wakes up, her daughters are gone.
Vanished.
LITTLE LOVELY THINGS is a haunting and prismatic exploration of how tragedy can transform lives. With lyrical prose and page-turning momentum, the story unfolds through the viewpoint of four characters: Claire, the devastated yet strong-willed mother; Moira, the transient who finds herself thrust into instant motherhood; soulful Jay, whose grisly discovery brings him to the center of the tragedy; and Andrea, the scrappy and wildly talented tomboy.
Traversing the landscape of loss, LITTLE LOVELY THINGS ties together the threads of lives shattered, hope lost, and—finally—joy restored.
TrailerWhat REVIEWERS are saying about LITTLE LOVELY THINGS:
“Connolly’s lyrical writing style and the fast-paced narrative draw in the reader right away. This is a riveting novel bolstered by its flawed, believable characters.”
“Debut author Connolly’s poetic sensibility shines through the prose in scenes that shimmer with emotion...hope is present throughout, a beacon carrying the reader to the final pages."
-- Booklist
“A story of strength and perseverance even through the most unspeakable situations”
“A spell-binding story about the unimaginable, featuring detours into mysticism. [Little Lovely Things] is an excellently paced literary thriller.”
-- Refinery29 (Best New Books of April 2019)
*** Named a Top April 2019 Entertainment Pick by Global News ***
“Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly explores the tormented reality of a mother's split-second decision that turned her entire life upside down and serves up a suspenseful journey for readers that is heartbreakingly jarring.”
-- Romper (12 Books to Read If You Like ‘Big Little Lies’)
*** Featured on NewInBooks - Books to Read If You Like Taylor Jenkins Reid ***
“The "what if's" are abundant in this thriller from Maureen Connolly. A great mysterious novel.”
-- Women.com (“8 Books Like Big Little Lies That You Need to Read Right Away”)
“Little Lovely Things is one of those ‘thrillers’ that keeps you up at night, and not just for its plot, but also its characters. You ache for them, even for those you maybe couldn’t stand to be in a room with for five minutes. It’s a well-told, refreshingly structured story about parenthood, resilience, and hope.”
-- Writer’s Bone (June 2019 ‘Books That Should Be On Your Radar’)
“Little Lovely Things is a story of grief, but it’s also a story of hope. It is an intricately woven story of the different meanings of “family,” of trust, and of desperation. It is a psychological thriller must-read, and I cannot wait to see what else Maureen Joyce Connolly has in store for us.”
-- MuggleNet
“Little Lovely Things is so compelling that I resented anything that made me put this book down --- even bedtime. It’s a sparkling debut that explores grief, motherhood, the power of intuition and relationships under the strain of tragedy.”
-- BookReporter
** Featured on The Nerd Daily - ‘14 Debut Authors to Discover This April’ ***
“Taut, tensile, evocative. Poignant and tender, Little Lovely Things is a tale of loss, distress, and resolution placed within superb prose and a succinct plot.
Packed to the hilt, Little Lovely Things is – lovely.”
“This debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat as you keep turning the pages fast to find out how the story ends. A family drama definitely worth reading.”
“[Little Lovely Things is] a breathtaking symphony of words, captivating readers with a rapid plot and evoking the rawest emotions of the human experience. Fans of this debut will surely be hoping for future works by this extremely talented author.”
“A deftly plotted family drama that focuses on every parent’s worst nightmare [...] Connolly has earned a place on my list of authors to watch out for, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.”
“Little Lovely Things: A Novel is a heart piercing, touching story, encouraging readers to travel on a suspenseful, soul-stirring journey which will linger on long after the last page is devoured.”
“A remarkable debut novel from Maureen Joyce Connolly that is enthralling, enigmatic, heartbreaking, and full of dark suspense.”
“Anyone who loves a slightly suspenseful women’s fiction novel should pick it up. [Little Lovely Things is] such a great story.
-- NerdProbs
“Little Lovely Things marks the arrival of a powerful new voice in the current contemporary fiction landscape in Maureen Joyce Connolly. It’s a real page-turner. This is a novel that is not for the weak-at-heart. It is filled with tragedy, but also with tremendous beauty. It’s as hopeful as it is devastating.”
“I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book, which I would describe as genre-bending. I think fans of All the Ugly & Wonderful Things and Where the Crawdads Sing would enjoy this one, too!”
“Connolly does a fantastic job giving you most of the feels with this one. Each character really has their own voice and the story is compelling and can tug at your heart in certain sections.”
“When picking up Little Lovely Things I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Oh man, guys. This is an emotional one. Connolly does a great job fleshing out these characters and bringing their emotions to life. An author I will definitely be keeping an eye out for in the future!”
“Reading Little Lovely Things is like watching a movie. The pacing of the novel is perfect. I couldn’t put it down! You’d better have a lot of free time when you pick this book up! It is really emotional and will probably make you cry, but it is worth it. I can’t wait for Connolly’s next novel!”
“This was such a wonderful debut! Dark and lovely and frightening.”
“Little Lovely Things will surprise you. It is not only gritty and heart-pounding, it is solemn and heartbreaking. It is also hopeful. It is the kind of book that, when you finish, you have to just stop for a second and savor what you have just been through. It was a force.”
“A must-read for this spring/summer! It brings you to tears and fills your heart with hope that we’re connected on such a deep level with our children and families. I cried, laughed, mourned losses, and rejoiced from cover to cover. I read it in two sittings — and only put it down because I couldn’t keep my eyes open late one night!”
“As a mom of two, it is hard to find time to get through a book. So, if I have no issues finishing a book in a couple of days, you know it’s a good one! Maureen Joyce Connolly did a fantastic job capturing my attention from beginning to end. In between reading sessions, I would find myself thinking about the storyline and waiting for my next free moment to pick it back up and find out what happens next. I would recommend Little Lovely Things to any person who loves action-packed psychological thrillers and is looking for a book they won’t want to put down.”
-- Lovely Four
“Little Lovely Things does a great job of character development and interweaving storylines. The reader can feel the grief felt by Claire, the lack of love felt by Moira, the curiosity felt by Andrea and the spiritual longing felt by Jay. It’s an unexpected plot with unexpected characters, and entirely up to the reader to decide what constitutes as a happy ending.”
Featured in Murder & Mayhem’s Mystery & Thriller Books to Dive Into This Summer (2019)
What AUTHORS are saying about LITTLE LOVELY THINGS:
“LITTLE LOVELY THINGS is a shattering adventure. The scenes jump off the page as they hurtle toward a conclusion that the reader doesn’t see coming.”
-Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
"Combining the suspense and razor-sharp outlook of a Gillian Flynn novel, Maureen Connolly's debut sizzles. I finished LITTLE LOVELY THINGS in one heartbreaking, tear-batting gulp. Connolly takes risks that make the reader's heart start anew. Finding shards of hope amidst the chaos of tragedy is a testament to both the writer, and the characters she creates."
-Jenny Milchman USA Today bestselling author of Wicked River
“Get ready – LITTLE LOVELY THINGS will take your emotions on a ride. Connolly skillfully places readers on a tightrope between hurt and hope from the opening pages until the very last sentence. This is a heartbreaking and compelling story about guilt, trust, and forgiveness that will stay with readers for a long time.”
-Nic Joseph, author of Boy, 9, Missing
"Maureen Joyce Connolly's debut novel, LITTLE LOVELY THINGS, is a brave and uncompromising glimpse into child abduction and the fractured world it leaves in its wake. With an unflinching gaze, Connolly boldly juxtaposes the darkest crevices of a mother's grief against the all too human side of criminality and the forces that could drive one to the unspeakable."
-Vivian Schilling, Filmmaker/Author of Quietus
To see what READERS are saying about LITTLE LOVELY THINGS visit GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com