In “A Likely Story”, Leigh Abramson weaves a tale of stolen fame and a woman’s quest to reclaim it against a backdrop of ‘90’s New York City and framed around a young woman, Isabelle, an aspiring writer, and her novelist father Ward. Abramson plays with our notions of good and bad, deftly illustrating that no one is either one or the other, but a spot on a continuum depending on the circumstances, the point in time, and the people who surround us. There also a "story within a story" that adds to the overall enjoyment of the novel. Isabelle’s journey in particular is layered and relatable and in fact, the strength of the novel lies in its authentic voice. This is Abramson’s debut and her flawed characters and multiple POV’s seem channeled through her real life experienced. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read and she’s definitely an author to watch.

A Likely Story is a really good read concerning a family of writers, their ambitions, struggles, and secrets. I often tire of writers writing about struggling writers — as well as stories of rich people acting badly. But this book is well plotted with some interesting twists that kept me turning the pages. So did the characters, who, both likeable and unlikeable, are well developed and realistic. I liked the dual timeline, and the multiple points of view allows readers get to know each of the characters pretty well. There’s a novel within the novel, too — something I don’t always warm to — but, in this case, the excerpts from it are brief and really keep us guessing (for a while) about who the author is. And this story-within-the-story becomes an important part of the overall plot in more ways than one. Engaging and clever. Love the title, too!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy.

I loved "A Likely Story", by Leigh McMullan Abramson! A juicy family drama about being authors, the struggles, as well as the dishonesty for the sake of fame. Excellent characters and wonderful plot. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the early reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This was definitely an interesting book. Isabelle has always hoped or felt destined to be a best selling author like her father Ward. Ward was emotionally unavailable to Isabelle throughout her life so she was determined to make him proud and she knew this was the only way to do it. Both Ward and Isabelle are self centred, unlikeable, and polarizing characters. With both of these characters being authors it was fascinating to learn more about the publishing world and what an author goes through to write and publish a book. Then there are the further expectations if that book is a best seller. I love a great family drama story and this is definitely that. As all the family secrets are uncovered the book really takes shape. I was impressed with Isabelle’s personal growth and even Ward had some! The ending tied things up nicely. Overall a great debut book from this author.

Isabelle Manning is the only child of well-known American author, Ward Manning, and she had a good life growing up in NYC in the 1990s. Isabelle has always wanted to be a successful writer like her father, and now at 35, she is feeling the pressure.

Claire has always been a supportive, doting mom to Isabelle, making public appearances for Ward’s career, and spearheading philanthropic activities in NYC. When Claire dies, Isabelle’s life is upended. Secrets about her mom and her family are revealed, forcing Isabelle to re-examine her life, and for her and Ward to confront their reality.

I didn’t find Isabelle or Ward especially likable, yet they felt realistic. This is a book about books, about family, and ambition. I stayed interested to see what happened in the story.

Isabelle Manning is the privileged daughter of famed American novelist Ward Manning (think Philip Roth with a wider audience and more fame). Ward came from nothing, but basks in his fame and is somewhat insufferable. Isabelle only sees her dad as the best — someone she is forever hoping to please and impress. Unfortunately, Isabelle can’t seem to get her own book published and is living paycheck to paycheck.

When her mother dies (reliable, but not as beloved to her as Ward), Isabelle finds some clues that will upend the family story that she knows and loves. It will change everything.

My Thoughts: I have thought a lot about this book since reading it. There were times that I thought — “this seems like X book,” or “I know where this is going,” but I was never fully right. This book, with its twists and turns, is its own story and is compulsively readable. I loved the 90s New York setting and the theme of a daughter trying to be like her father — but does she really know who her father is? Ward was such a pompous ass, but such an interesting character that I wanted to read more..

Multiple point of views, dual timeline, lovable and hatable characters, a book within a book sub plot - A Likely Story had it all making it one of the more interesting books I've read in a while. Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read with very real characters with believable flaws. Despite not loving parts of it, particularly any scene with Ward, I still give this book 5 stars. It left me feeling emotional and reflective long after I read the last page. I look forward to reading Leigh McMullan Abramson's next book!

A Likely Story follows Isabelle Manning, the only child of the famous bestselling author Ward Manning. Isabelle’s childhood is portrayed as upscale growing up in NYC, and her parents disagree on how to raise their child in their admittedly privileged life. After Isabelle’s mother’s death, Isabelle struggles with an unsuccessful writing career and dissolving relationships.

I rounded up to 4 stars, though this was probably closer to 3.5/3.75. The second half of the story picked up, and I enjoyed seeing the plot play out. The first half took more effort to get through, as it just seemed a little slow. Isabelle and her father, Ward, are both incredibly selfish characters, so it is hard to feel too much empathy for their situation. I really enjoyed Claire’s character and her role as Isabelle’s mother. Glenda, Isabelle’s godmother, is quite spunky and adds a little extra fun to the narrative.

If this has been on your TBR, give it a shot and stick with it. The second half is worth it!

I’m excited to hear from the author next month! I love hearing authors speak about their inspiration and writing process.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy.

A LIKELY STORY by Leigh McMullan Abramson
Indianapolis Book and Author Luncheon featured author

The #indianapolisbookandauthorluncheon is fast approaching in less than a month, so it is time to feature another presenting author and her heavily bingeworthy novel : Leigh McMullan Abramson with her: A LIKELY STORY. Abramson creates a unique format and storyline featuring a celebrated award-winning author Ward Manning and the effects his career, celebrity-centered focused lifestyle, and ego have on his family (wife Claire and daughter Isabelle). Abramson also unfolds the story through a fourth character’s viewpoint and narrative in Brian, Isabelle’s longtime best friend. Where the novel is even further layered and exudes wit is in UNDERPAINTING, the ‘story within a story’ that the reader is reading along with inside of the overall book. The author’s exposure of the complex family dynamics from all four veiwpoints captures the viewer. The plot is also spiced along the way with splashes of sharp blunt humor from ultra rich Glenda (godmother to Isabelle and Claire’s best friend) along with infusions of nostalgic and modern pop culture references — was it just me or did anyone else want john cusack’s portrait on the book cover?!! I can also probably guarantee a cheeky reference will be made to the family’s chosen last name of MANNING during a luncheon discussion that is being held in Indianapolis (a Colts city where Peyton Manning has not only adoration status but statues, #guiltyascharged🤣). This novel screams book club pick and streaming TV series. Leigh Abramson has a fresh, character driven, and bookish hit on her hands — looking forward to hearing more from her soon!!
#leighmcmullanabramson #alikelystory #theeruditebibliophilewithwanderlust

Isabelle's messy family can really be any of our families. Most of us don't have famous parents, but the family secrets and drama when parents disagree about your upbringing could be any of us. As Isabelle's trying to obtain her fathers career, her mom is a caring and helpful mom behind the scene so Dad doesn't know. When her mother dies, family secrets come out. She doesn't know how to move her career forward until she finds her moms secret and thinks it can save her. The drama that unfolds after is insane and definitely worth the read.

I tried to read this novel a couple of times, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get into the story-within-the-story. Although the synopsis caught my eye, the story was not exactly able to capture my attention and interest me enough to finish the story. I hope others are able to enjoy it more than me.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC!

I enjoyed reading certain aspects of this book more than others, but I guess a small part of me is a bit tired of reading about self-centered rich people messing their lives up. Overall the book was enjoyable to read and really well written and I found it hard to put down. The plot was unique, cleaver and completely realistic. The characters make this story what it is, even though I disliked some of them most of the time, they came back around and I left them satisfied that things would be better for them. This is a book about a wealthy dysfunctional family that would be perfectly fine if they learned to properly communicate and support each other. The book opens on the funeral of the Manning Matriarch and bounces between the husband Ward, the daughter Isabelle, the daughter's friend Brian, an unfinished manuscript and the mother herself but obviously in the past when she was alive. Ward Manning is a famous award winning best selling author and Isabelle is broke and struggling to be an author just like her father. They are both riddled with insecurities and are very self centered. The lights of the story are Claire and Brian. They are well adjusted, kindhearted people who somehow found themselves wrapped up in the lives of Ward and Isabelle. Through the shifting narratives we learn that there are a lot of secrets between these four people and we watch as they all find there way to a happy-place.

[4.5 stars]

Wealthy people behaving badly has been done many times at this point, but Abramson made her debut feel unique and I think it will be one of my top underrated gems of 2023. Isabelle Manning is the daughter of legendary novelist Ward Manning, who has quite an ego. Isabelle has always idolized her Dad and wanted to follow in his footsteps as a serious novelist. After her beloved mother passes away, Isabelle discovers her family might not be as it always seemed to her. The juicy plot and sharp social commentary about the wealthy (mostly from the Nick Carraway-style outsider perspective of Isabelle's friend, Brian) help this story stand out. Even though Ward and Isabelle are fairly dislikable (privileged and entitled), I was interested in their fates right away. I also loved the exploration of what it's like to be the child of a legend and the behind the scenes of the publishing industry. I thought I knew where this book was going...and I did to a certain extent, but Abramson added layers on top that were totally unexpected. Highly recommend for fans of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson.

Isabelle Manning has always lived in her parent's shadows, being the daughter of a famous author and an intellectual mother. But she is ready for her turn as an author, a business that she has been fighting to break into. By the time she hits her mid thirties, she is lost and despondent. But when her mother dies, she discovers something that completely changes her world, and it looks like she may get the success she's been craving after all.

This was very readable, with very compelling characters, and an interesting plot. I love a messy family saga, they never get old. My only complaint is the length of the book. It didn't need to be as long as it was to get it's point across. Otherwise, solid read!

I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit (It actually broke me out of a slump!). It has an innovative structure, featuring chapters from numerous POV's, including a character we know is dead, as well as interstitial sections of a novel throughout. At times, this structure did make me a bit confused about who was speaking/writing, but overall I found it to be propulsive. Isabelle and Ward are both quite complex characters, and I'm not sure I've read about a father-daughter relationship just like theirs before. I will say my main critique is that Claire is, in many ways, the most interesting character, and having her die before the start of the book took a bit of adjustment once I realized the gist of the story. But overall, a great, fun read that raises a lot of questions about art, family, and true authorship.

This is a tangled story featuring the family of a famous American novelist, Ward Manning, following the death of his wife, Claire Manning. As their daughter, Isabelle Manning, struggles to deal with this loss, the pivotal role Claire played in so many lives becomes more and more evident. There were few likable characters in the book outside of Claire, Brian, and Margot. It made their world in New York seem elitist and unwelcoming. While there were several relatable insights into parenting—Claire wanting to be the nurturing figure she craved while trying to hold onto her true self, Ward using writing to survive his childhood, the stress of caring for the injured or sick, and exploring what love and home really mean. Otherwise, the plot felt a bit scattered with alternating perspectives and timelines. It was challenging to feel much connection to such privileged people or the story as I am not a fan of rich people behaving badly and there was a considerable dose of this in the book. What did keep my interest were the details about the writing world, from writing itself to agents, book parties, and even fan mail. The ending gained some nice momentum and redemption for this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

“A Likely Story” by Leigh McMullan Abramson is a thought provoking and mysterious novel. It’s full of secrets and lies, characters with complex pasts and a storyline that had me wanting to keep reading til the end. I was impressed with the way the author was able to explore heavy hitting questions such as “how do you define success?”, “how far are you willing to go / what would you do to obtain or maintain that success?? and “should forgiveness always be an option or are some things unforgivable?” All in all, i enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.

What an honor, yet what a struggle it is to be the only child of a famous author. It gives the child the desire to be an author herself. and to be admired like that enough. Wanting is not the same as being and she finds it a huge struggle.
Her first book is not chosen to be published and the second book is not happening for her and she's running out of money.
Her father doesn't believe in making it easy for her and her mother disagrees with him so she tries in her own ways to enable her daughter to write.
Father is an egomaniac, mother is the brains in the family who watches her daughter admire the man who is her father, unknowing of the fact that the mother made the father the star he is.
I really liked this book for the ways we learned the stories of each of them and how they all tied together. Also, for the lessons learned by all the characters. Nicely done.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion. High 3 stars rating.

There is a book within the book with parallels to the novel. While this has some interesting ideas, on the whole I found the characters unlikable and hard to relate to. It is easy to blame the family’s misery on the selfish father, but I don’t feel like it’s completely on him.

To tell the truth I struggled with A Likely Story! Parts of the book were very good, and I could not turn the page quick enough. But……….Many sections came to a screeching halt for me, and I found myself needing to re-read. In the beginning, I really felt for Isabelle when her mother, Claire, died. Isabelle’s father was a famous author but he was aloof and stuck in his fame. There are reasons he is like he is, but they are not evident for a long time. I liked the idea of the book within a book; however, it was hard keeping characters straight until I started taking notes, and the book within the book made more sense when Isabelle discovers something in a dresser drawer. My favorite character was Glenda, and I wish the author used her more. A good family counselor would be a good addition to the story.
I am going to see the author at an author luncheon in Indianapolis in April, and I am anxious to hear what Leigh Abramson has to say about her book. My thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.