Every Tom, Dick & Harry

A Novel

De: Elinor Lipman

Narrado por: Piper Goodeve

From the author of Ms. Demeanor—one of the most beloved comedic writers of our time—comes a charming, laugh-out-loud tale of love and criminality, a pitch-perfect romantic comedy.

“Over the course of more than thirty years and at least fifteen books, Elinor Lipman has been creating a singularly delightful and instantly recognizable literary universe. Lipmanland is a world adjacent to our own except the people there are more charming, the conversations are wittier, and love always prevails. Every Tom, Dick & Harry, weaves together estate sales, good and bad cops, and—get this—smalltown houses of ill-repute with effortless glee. Add sparkling dialogue, an improbably hilarious funeral, and one of the author’s most endearing love stories and you have the Lipman Literary Landscape at its irresistible best. When events are too much to handle in the real world, there are few better breaks than entering this one. Passport optional.”—Stephen McCauley

Taking over her parents’ estate-sale business is not the life’s work that Emma Lewis bargained for. Yes, she grew up helping them empty people’s nests, but nothing prepared her for her biggest and stickiest “get”—the grand, beautiful house of ill repute masquerading as a decidedly beddable B and B. Should Emma turn down potential clients in need of decluttering just because they are shady, escort-y, and proud of it?

No. A girl must make a living.

Around some hairpin turns Lipman ingeniously reveals a straight shot to happiness.

©2025 Elinor Lipman (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Cute but predictable

I enjoyed this book. But was a bit surprised that it had been featured in People Magazine as a good read. I enjoy rom com but thought it was a bit too predictable to be considered as a monthly “contender” for mention. Thought paying full price on Audible was not warranted.

Reads like a 75 year old man imagined what a 35 year old woman’s life might be like

Performance: I liked the readers voice and the voices she did for the various characters. But she played much of the text with excessive melodrama.

Story: The general setup and hook is cute. Woman moves back to small town, becomes plucky business owner, develops inter generational friendship with lovable former teacher. Basic plot with the big estate sale is interesting. But so much of the characterization of the protagonist feels really off.

It’s like my elderly dad sat down and tried to imagine what a young woman thinks and feels. The main character’s reactions to developments with her work, her potential love interest, and her housemate often seem odd, like she Freaky Friday’d with Walter Matthau.

For a book that often references people having sex, the protagonist is quite judgmental and prudish about it. The women her age that she encounters are all written as hostile or judged by her to be spoiled and whiny. At some point she goes so far as to wish that one of these women seek advice from her elderly male friend, because teaching high school math basically makes his a psychologist. At which point said man tells said young woman that she is being a “brat”, that she should smile more, and that she should give her father a hug.

There’s almost no discernible buildup or chemistry with the main love interest. I wanted to care about them, but it was hard to develop interested in such wooden, one dimensional interaction.

Overall promising plot setup with disappointing character delivery.

The most banal book I have ever listened to

After reading the author profile in The NY Times Sunday book review, I was expecting more ~ like humor or something of interest. It’s just the most banal book I have ever listened to. I haven’t waded thru all of it yet…