The Real Mrs. Tobias: A Novel

About this book

Sally Koslow channels Nora Ephron in this lively tale of obligation versus desire and the politics of family power. Deftly written with equal parts intelligence pathos and humor The Real Mrs. Tobias is a pure pleasure to read.Therese Anne Fowler New York Times bestselling author of It All Comes Down to This A sharply funny and big-hearted multi-generational story about the deeply complicated relationships between mothers- and daughters-in-law told through three women who marry into the same family a treat for fans of The Nest and Fleischmann Is in Trouble. Its 2015 in New York City and three women all known as Mrs. TobiasVeronika the matriarch her daughter-in-law Mel and Mels daughter-in-law Birdieare trying to navigate personal difficulties some of which are with one another.Veronika and Mel despite having little in common are both psychotherapists who are more skilled at helping other people than solving their own problems. Birdie still dealing with the culture shock of moving to New York City and marrying into the Tobias clan is pushed to her limit when her husband gets into trouble. No amount of badgering from his steely grandmother smart-mouthed mother or disillusioned wife can convince him to own up to what hes done. Overwhelmed Birdie boltsalong with the couples young daughterto her Midwestern hometown hoping that space warmth and wisdom from her own feisty grandmother will help her find a path forward. And though Birdie begins to find comfort in unexpected placesa local bookstore and the arms of her old boyfriendher absence stirs up long simmering troubles back home forcing the Tobiases to reconsider their relationships to each other and ultimately what it means to be a family. Will the three Tobias-women-by-marriage ever find themselvesand a way back to one another? A timely look at how women hold families together. With a shrewd eye and a light touch Sally Koslow weaves a story about three strong women whose memories dreams and desires conflict and intersect as they navigate a series of family crises. Warm witty and heartfelt The Real Mrs. Tobias is a cinematic fast-paced treat.Christina Baker Kline #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles and Orphan Train "With razor-sharp prose witty humor and depth Sally Koslows The Real Mrs. Tobias takes us down the MIL Road . . . the one that should come with a warning. You will laugh you will cry you will empathizeand if you happen to be a Daughter-In-Lawyou will say Better her than me. Yet just when you think there is no way back Koslows page-turner will prove that while family ties can strangle they also can keep you bound together through love loss secrets and healing."Lisa Barr author of Woman on Fire