The Coat Check Girl

by Laura Buchwald

You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now

Book 1 of The Ghost Table Trilogy

Pub Date Oct 22 2024 | Archive Date Nov 30 2024

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, LLC

General Fiction (Adult) | Literary Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

Talking about this book? Use #thecoatcheckgirl #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

For fans of Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence and Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics.

SOMETIMES, IT’S IN CONFRONTING THE SHADOWS THAT WE FIND THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT.

EMBARK ON A touching journey with Josie Gray as she navigates the turbulent waters of loss, love, and the supernatural. After bidding farewell to her cherished grandmother, Josie finds herself adrift in a sea of grief, compounded by the complexities of an ambiguous romantic entanglement and the return of her unsettling “gift”—the ability to sense and communicate with spirits. A presence haunts the restaurant where she works, dredging up long-buried memories from her childhood.

But amidst the shadows, a luminous figure emerges—the restaurant’s new coat check girl. Mia is a beacon of understanding and solidarity, offering solace in shared experiences and a determination to unravel the mystery shrouding the restless spirit. Bolstered by a vibrant ensemble of characters, from restaurant comrades to familiar faces in the neighborhood, Mia keeps Josie afloat during one of the most difficult seasons of her life, helping her to embrace her unique talents and confront the ghostly enigma looming over them.

Set against the backdrop of the bustling restaurant scenes of New York City and New Orleans, The Coat Check Girl is a compelling tale weaving together threads of sorrow, redemption, and the enduring power of connection. Join Josie as she discovers that sometimes, it’s in confronting the shadows that we find the brightest light.

For fans of Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence and Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics.

SOMETIMES, IT’S IN CONFRONTING THE SHADOWS THAT WE FIND THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT.

EMBARK ON A touching journey with Josie...

A Note From the Publisher

LAURA BUCHWALD is a writer and editor based in New York City. Her
strong belief in the afterlife has led her to consult with multiple spiritual mediums, to convincing results. She has spent significant time in New Orleans researching ghosts and restaurant culture—two of her favorite things. She is co-host of the podcast People Who Do Things, a series of conversations about the creative process. Laura lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.

LAURA BUCHWALD is a writer and editor based in New York City. Her
strong belief in the afterlife has led her to consult with multiple spiritual mediums, to convincing results. She has spent...

Advance Praise

"I devoured this impressive debut novel from Laura Buchwald. An intimate ghost story baked into a deliciously gripping look at 90s restaurant culture, The Coat Check Girl serves up a bold new voice in genre-bending fiction."—Hannah Bos, co-creator of the award-winning HBO series "Somebody Somewhere."

“Was the fact that my mother was a coat check girl when she met my father a reason I loved Laura Buchwald’s The Coat Check Girl? Possibly. But it might have also been the crisp dialogue, evocative writing, and masterly description of the New York and New Orleans restaurant worlds that had me flipping pages. This is a terrific first novel, a ghost story with style and humor and insight, and a protagonist in Josie Gray that I won’t soon forget.” —Tom Barbash, author of Stay Up With Me and The Dakota Winters

“Many fine novels have been written about a young single New Yorker trying to figure out her life—but few are as fresh and original as Laura Buchwald’s The Coat Check Girl. From the behind-the-scenes view of an upscale restaurant to the delightful array of staff and patrons to the rich explorations of loss and grief to the unexpected ghostly visitors—Buchwald’s story holds surprises on every page. A layered and truly satisfying read by a writer who knows how to tell a story.” —Barbara Josselsohn, author of Secrets of the Italian Island and The Forgotten Italian Restaurant

"A delightful page-turner. The characters are richly drawn and the female protagonist unforgettable. The story is highly entertaining, profound, witty, and haunted by ghosts and mysteries. The perfect vacation book, especially if you're going to New York or New Orleans."— Richard Grant, New York Times bestselling author of The Deepest South of All.

“A charming debut about navigating the grief process and finding your place in the world, The Coat Check Girl is a quick read with surprising depth. Laura Buchwald has created a world of magic and mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. She deftly captures the texture of New Orleans and tone of New York City on the dawn of the new millennium. You’ll fall in love with Josie and the Bistrot family of lovable misfits.” —Ophira Edut, author, The Astrology Advantage (Simon & Schuster)