Winner: 2026 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite

"Jennifer Oko’s JUST EMILIA is a deeply moving story, uniquely told, about the different versions of ourselves—past, present, and future—that co-exist, and how, with the correction of long-buried distorted memories, they can finally find peace. A novel I won’t soon forget.”    —Laura Zigman, bestselling author of Separation Anxiety and Small World

"JUST EMILIA is a feat of imagination. Oko asks universal questions–how do we make sense of our past and what do we want for our future? –in delightful and inventive ways. Prepare to be surprised and moved as the elevator doors close on Emilia, Millie, and Em. They may be trapped, but the reader is taken on an unforgettable journey through memory, grief, guilt, and hope."  —Miriam Gershow, author of Closer and Survival Tips: Stories

"Jennifer Oko trips the space-time continuum with a deft hand in this jam-packed kaleidoscope of a novel. In the fluorescent glare of the Washington, DC, Friendship Heights metro station elevator, Emilia confronts her past and future selves. Funny, compassionate, and wise, Em, Emilia, and Millie are unforgettable characters, and Just Emilia is an unforgettable story."—Laura Scalzo, author of American Arcadia

"Bursting with imagination! In JUST EMILIA, Jennifer Oko manages to transform a stuck elevator into a black box, a hall of mirrors, and a Swiss Army knife with her astonishing storytelling powers. Three women trapped inside share a past in this entertaining novel about guilt, blame, and the possibility that forgiveness can alter the future." —Mary Kay Zuravleff, author of American Ending

"JUST EMILIA is a time-travel tale with imaginative twists—an absorbing story of three women and how they make sense of their lives. Gripping from the start, this novel combines compelling storytelling with mordant humor. I loved it." —Clare McHugh, Author of The Romanov Brides and The Most English Princess

"What happens when three versions of the same person collide in a dimensional mishap stuns the imagination. Jennifer Oko’s clever, twisty tale Just Emilia traps teenage Em, middle-aged Emilia, and silver-aged Millie in a cranky DC metro elevator and forces them to face each other, their past, present and future. Disbelief, anger, humor, fear, redemption and forgiveness unwind at a pace that keeps readers turning pages, anxious to see how the Emilias survive this perplexing space-time mystery. I love this book and can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to meet myself at different ages. What would I ask? What would I reveal? Readers will ponder the same long after they finish this enchanting story." —Chris McClain Johnson, author of the Fugere Prize winning novella Three Guesses 

" JUST EMILIA by Jennifer Oko is a remarkable and original story of self-discovery. One of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf (and an inherently fascinating, original work raised to an impressively level of literary excellence). JUST EMILIA is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists as well as community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections."  — The Midwest Book Review

"Three women. One D.C. Metro elevator. And here’s the twist: They’re all the same person. Oko’s upcoming novel blends time travel with trauma, dark humor, and emotional excavation as Emilia, Em, and Millie wrestle with the same past from three very different vantage points. I love a sharp, character-driven mind-bender, and this one’s got major read-it-in-one-sitting potential."  — Washington City Paper

Events: Launch event occurred at Politics & Prose, June 10, 2025 in Washington, DC, in conversation with Angie Kim. Events in additional select markets where author has strong regional ties (New England, NYC metro area).

Podcast, interviews, and features included: 

• Totally Booked with Zibby Owens
• BookWild Podcast 
• Writer's Digest 
• WUSA9 Feature
• WJLA – Good Morning Washington ​
• Thursday Things 
• She Writes 
• Desideratum Podcast 

Pitches to Trade Publications including: Publishers Weekly; Booklist; Shelf Awareness; Kirkus; Library Journal (trade publications are integral for promoting your book to bookstores and libraries and garnering early review attention for the book)

Book Clubs Pitches included: Pitch editors/producers with Reese’s Hello Sunshine Book Club; Jenna’s Book Club (TODAY); GMA Book Club; Belletrist Book Club; Bustle Book Club; TheSkimm Book Club; The Rumpus Book Club; MC Reads; and others for book club consideration

Print Magazine pitches included: Top targets for reviews, features, and round ups include: ELLE; Woman’s World; Real Simple; Good Housekeeping; Cosmopolitan; TIME; People; Entertainment Weekly; Reader’s Digest; Writer’s Digest; Bookpage; et al.

Top targets for reviews, features, and round ups would include top newspapers across the country (NYT; USA Today; Washington Post; Wall Street Journal; Associated Press; et al), targeting book review editors and freelance writers at these outlets

Broadcast Radio: Pitch select radio programs as an upmarket/literary work, using author’s talking points and novel themes about family trauma/grief; mental/emotional health; hope; aging; etc, as a hook for on-air reviews; interviews; story angles. Top targets include: All Things Considered; Weekend Edition; Here & Now; SIRIUS XM; top regional stations; et al

Digital Media: Top targets for reviews, Q&As, round ups, features, and guest essays include: Literary Hub; Buzzfeed; Slate; Parade; Oprah Daily; NPR.org; Bustle; Refinery29; PopSugar; Marie Claire; Vulture; Electric Lit; The Rumpus; The Millions; et al.

Regional media: Target regional and local print/digital/broadcast editors, producers, reporters, and freelancers in DC region highlighting local author connection and novel setting where relevant (The Washington Times; Washington Examiner; Washington City Paper; WAMU; local ABC/NBC/CBS affiliates; et al)

Podcasts: Pitch for on-air reviews and interviews, highlighting the literary writing, commercial themes, and author talking points, targeting reading, writing, and craft podcasts (Book Riot “All The Books,” The Shit No One Tells You About Writing; The Stacks; Reading & Writing Podcast; Biblio Happy Hour; Passions & Prologues; New Books Network; et al.)