A Los Angeles Times Bestseller
A witty, timely and richly entertaining tale of a modern mother in
transition, from the author of The Sweeney Sisters
Helen Fairchild is leading a privileged Pasadena existence: married to a
pillar of the community; raising a water polo-playing son destined for
the most select high school; volunteering her time on the most
fashionable committees. It only bothers Helen a tiny bit that she has
never quite fit in with the proper Pasadena crowd, never finished that
graduate degree in Classics, and never had that second baby. But the
rigid rules of society in Pasadena appeal to Helen, the daughter of
Oregon fiber artists, even if she'll never be on the inside.
And then along comes a Rose Parade float, killing her philandering
husband and leaving Helen broke, out of her "forever" house, and
scrambling to salvage her once-rarefied existence. Enter Patrick
O'Neill, excavator of Troy and wearer of nubby sweaters. A job as Dr.
O'Neill's research assistant is the lifeline Helen needs to reinvent
herself. Ancient mysteries to solve! Charity events to plan! School
admissions advisors to charm! If Helen wasn't so distracted by her
incredibly attractive boss, she might be able to pull off this new life.
Helen's world widens to include a Hollywood star, a gossip columnist, an
old college nemesis, a high-powered Neutron Mom, an unforgiving school
headmistress, the best Armenian real estate agent in the biz, and, of
course, the intriguing Patrick O'Neill. While uncovering secrets about
ancient Troy alongside her archaeologist boss, Helen discovers something
much more: a new sense of self and a new love.
With its keen social observations, laugh-out-loud scenes and whip-smart
dialogue, Helen of Pasadena delivers humor, insight, and wisdom on
reinventing yourself.
