April at Rush Hour
A Novel
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Pub Date Feb 16 2027 | Archive Date Feb 24 2027
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Description
For fans of Maria Semple and Bonnie Garmus, a clever contemporary women’s fiction novel about a woman who seeks refuge from her role as the US vice president’s wife—in Washington’s commuter carpool system.
April Sloan has set aside a serious academic career and her cherished privacy to support her husband, Henry—now vice president of the United States—in his political pursuits. And she’s not exactly happy about it.
Smart, lovely, and more than a little moody, April is a magnet for the media spotlight, which she loathes. Only months into her tenure as second lady, she can already feel her sanity slipping—so, in an effort to keep herself together, she slips into DC’s Sluglines, a carpool/hitchhiking hybrid that transports government workers of all sorts during their morning commutes. Chauffeuring strangers who have no idea she’s the nation’s second lady gives April something she never gets these days: a sense of peace and quiet, and even wonderment. But when Frank Doyle, a young, recently disgraced newspaper reporter, discovers her newfound pastime, she has to promise him bigger, better stories—including a missing intern, a White House scandal, and an oracle riding the Sluglines alongside them in a blue Pinto—in exchange for keeping her secret.
Full of comedic twists and with a splash of mysticism thrown in for good measure, April at Rush Hour is an incisive and entertaining tale of journalism, privacy, and the toll of public life.
Advance Praise
“Clearly comfortable among the weeds of Washington, Palmer proves a trustworthy guide through the pervasive chaos and ethical dilemmas.”—Publisher’s Weekly Booklife
“A sharp, witty political intrigue that holds out hope for humanity’s redemption.”—Kirkus
“A fast-moving thriller with a beating heart at its center. Nancy Doyle Palmer pierces through the axis of the DC politics-media machine and delivers a tart, funny, suspenseful and smart novel for all political seasons. April at Rush Hour carries the tension of Where’d You Go Bernadette alongside the mordant inside-the-Beltway humor of Heartburn. Any reader with an appetite for extra-dishy political scandal will love this fun, ripped-from-the-headlines novel.”
—Amy Dickinson, Ask Amy advice columnist, NPR personality and best-selling author of The Mighty Queens of Freeville
“Everything about this entertaining, smart story of second lady April Sloan and her undercover life in the DC carpool lanes is a witty take on today’s political and journalistic landscape. Palmer’s insider DC eye makes this book a page-turner with a surprisingly emotional pay-off.”
—Lee Woodruff, New York Times bestselling author of In an Instant
“Smart, witty, and deeply human, April at Rush Hour is a charming and insightful novel about journalism and fame and the complicated lives we live behind our public personas. Nancy Doyle Palmer captures Washington with both affection and sharp-eyed humor.”
—Christina McDowell, author of The Cave Dwellers and After Perfect
“This delightful novel is inspired by a true-to-life carpooling system that transports suburban commuters to their offices in Washington, DC. The riders know little about one another, but in their midst is a driver with seemingly clairvoyant knowledge about tomorrow’s news, and a disgraced reporter who is determined to blow her cover. Nancy Doyle Palmer’s insider knowledge of DC power, both overt and covert, adds a rich layer to this witty page-turner.”
—Ann Leary, New York Times bestselling author
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798896361404 |
| PRICE | $18.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 221 |