Why read Another Marvelous Thing?

Book cover of Another Marvelous Thing

Book description

'Warm, wise, witty, and just plain fun' Maggie Shipstead

At a perfectly ordinary cocktail party, Francis is introduced to Billy and - although it slips right by him at the time - he falls in love with her at once.

Billy is a serious, often glum person. An economic historian,…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Another Marvelous Thing as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Julie Ma

Author

We all have that moment in our lives where we didn't make the best decisions.

This is about that moment for Billy (real name Josephine) and Francis who love their spouses but still embark on a passionate affair. She is young and boyish and serious; he is older and this is not his first affair.

So we shouldn't be rooting for this funny, wry, witty and guilty couple, but we do because Laurie Colwin's wonderful writing makes us.

From Julie's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Beth Miller

Author

Scruffy, grumpy Billie is my favourite female character in all of literature, and she stars in this, one of my top five all-time books.

It’s novella-length, a series of overlapping short stories, with characters who are absolutely real, living, breathing people. The story is primarily about a love affair, but there is a fabulous friendship in it between Billie and her childhood friend, Penny.

When Billie goes back home for Penny’s wedding, they briefly ditch the reception by rowing out onto the lake as they did when children, Penny in her long white dress. It’s a scene that never fails…

From Beth's list on The best books that capture the beautiful mess and realities of friendship.