LoveReading Says
Written by the co-creator of TV hit How I Met Your Mother, Carter Bay’s The Mutual Friend is an original, thought-provoking debut that captures the complex webs of modern living and loving with heart, humour and a whole lot of meaningful observations.
Behind the huge cast of characters is a backdrop of two lived worlds – one physical, the other lived through phone screens, and this sets the stage for a multi-layered story that plays out against this duality of modern life – the Age of Distraction.
It’s the summer of 2015 in New York, and 28-year-old Alice is determined to finally make something of her life. After enrolling to take the MCAT exam that’ll set her on a path to becoming a doctor, she resolves to accept no distractions. But the problem is, everything is a distraction, not least her unruly new roommate and the possibility of love.
Meanwhile, Alice’s hugely wealthy brother is setting out on a spiritual journey, with the narrative perspective jumping back and forth many times over. Indeed, one of this novel’s defining characteristics - and triumphs - is how it skips points of view. While this is a little disorienting to begin with, it’s not long before this structure feels right. Characters pop on and off the page as they do in life, with deep, idiosyncratic human connections revealed alongside satirical commentary on what it means to live online, and through social media. Moreover, this structure also cleverly exposes and subverts its subject matter through jumpy distractions that demand attention.
Joanne Owen
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The Mutual Friend Synopsis
New York, 2015. In a city of more than 8 million people, there are always new places to visit, new connections to be made, new experiences to be shared.
But not for Alice Quick. Determined to finally take her MCAT exam and become a doctor, this has to be a summer of no distractions. So it's a shame that her chaotic roommate Roxy is persistently getting her into trouble, not the most convenient timing for her millionaire brother Bill to decide to embark upon a spiritual search for the meaning of life and plain inconvenient that Alice just can't seem to put down her phone.
And then there's the biggest distraction of all, threatening to permanently derail all of her plans: love.
Filled with warmth, humour, and heart, THE MUTUAL FRIEND is an unforgettable debut novel that perfectly captures the choreography of navigating life and love amidst the chaos of contemporary life.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781529392173 |
| Publication date: |
7th July 2022 |
| Author: |
Carter Bays |
| Publisher: |
Hodder & Stoughton |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
480 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Romance / Relationship Stories
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Carter Bays Press Reviews
The Mutual Friend is GREAT. Carter Bays is one of the funniest people I know. More importantly though, he always finds the heart and truth in all of his humour. I just loved it. Put down the phones. Unless you're reading The Mutual Friend on it - Jason Segel
I love this love story! The dialogue is so good, also it's very funny. What more could I want? - Mindy Kaling
The most extraordinary and beguiling novel I've read in years. Carter Bays weaves together a huge, eclectic cast of messy, imperfect and bewitching characters . . . As soon as I put the book down, I wanted to start reading it all over again - Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project
Sharply observed, smartly-written, and with a captivating cast of characters, The Mutual Friend is the funniest, cleverest, most original novel I've read in years - Matt Dunn
A completely unique and addictive read with a captivating cast of characters, The Mutual Friend is a memorable, clever novel about connection and love and all the things that make us human. Charming and unforgettable, this story left an impression on my heart. - Holly Miller
A thoroughly modern and entirely captivating exploration of what it means to be alive in the world today. Funny, sad, romantic, perfect. I finished it and told all my friends to go read it immediately. - Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky
A hugely clever and thoroughly entertaining magic trick of a novel that shows the ways in which we're all connected, both virtually and in real life. This book - with all its wisdom and humor, its detours and surprises - was a total delight. I loved it! - Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Unsinkable Greta James
A big, heart-squeezing ode to all that matters most, dressed up in the disguise of a fun, juicy ensemble story bubbling over with comically bad dates, career missteps, and awkward adult friendships. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll stare out the window and contemplate the meaning of life. I did, anyway - Mary Laura Philpott, author of I Miss You When I Blink
A novel of New York in a strange time that probes its large and foibled cast with humor, real insight, and sparkling charm - John Hodgman, author of Vacationland and Medallion Status and host of the Judge John Hodgman podcast
Through his tapestry of characters, Carter Bays beautifully and hilariously captures the connection and isolation at the heart of being a human being, now. This book is like a modern-day War and Peace, without all the boring war parts - Raphael Bob-Waksberg, author of Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory
A thoroughly modern and entirely captivating exploration of what it means to be alive in the world today. Funny, sad, romantic, perfect. I finished it and told all my friends to go read it immediately - Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky
Sharply observed, smartly-written, and with a captivating cast of characters, The Mutual Friend is the funniest, cleverest, most original novel I've read in years - Matt Dunn, author of A Day at the Office
This is a rare thing: an original, intelligent novel that's not just a perfect summer beach read, but one that deserves serious awards consideration as well. Put down your phone and pick it up . . . A major accomplishment - Kirkus
