book cover of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
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The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

(2023)
A novel by

 
 
A Good Morning America Buzz Pick * A Marie Claire Book Club Pick for April * A Reader's Digest Book Club Pick for April * A LibraryReads Pick * One of Southern Living's Most Anticipated 2023 Releases * One of Today's Most Anticipated 2023 Releases

An unforgettable pairing of a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law in this story full of tremendous heart, humor, and wit from the
USA Today bestselling author of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.

Twenty-one-year-old Tanner Quimby needs a place to live. Preferably one where she can continue sitting around in sweatpants and playing video games nineteen hours a day. Since she has no credit or money to speak of, her options are limited, so when an opportunity to work as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman falls into her lap, she takes it.
 
One slip on the rug. That’s all it took for Louise Wilt’s daughter to demand that Louise have a full-time nanny living with her. Never mind that she can still walk fine, finish her daily crossword puzzle, and pour the two fingers of vodka she drinks every afternoon.
Bottom line: Louise wants a caretaker even less than Tanner wants to be one.
 
The two start off their living arrangement happily ignoring each other until Tanner starts to notice things—weird things. Like, why does Louise keep her garden shed locked up tighter than a prison? And why is the local news fixated on the suspect of one of the biggest jewelry heists in American history who looks eerily like Louise? And why does Louise suddenly appear in her room, with a packed bag at 1 a.m.  insisting that they leave town immediately?
 
Thus begins the story of a not-to-be-underestimated elderly woman and an aimless young woman who—if they can outrun the mistakes of their past—might just have the greatest adventure of their lives.


Genre: General Fiction

Praise for this book

"Colleen Oakley's The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is the ultimate road trip, featuring a pair of quirky, original characters on the lam from the law. A funny, fresh take on unlikely friendships and family, I'd ride shotgun with Tanner and Louise in a heartbeat!" - Mary Kay Andrews

"The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is pure joy on paper. With wit, sass, and real emotion, Tanner and Louise, two unlikely fugitives, find connection, common ground, and true friendship across generations. A delightful reminder that there are meaningful second, third, and even fourth acts in life." - Chandler Baker

"Deliciously entertaining, this feminist caper of a novel has a little of everything, from a wild road trip, to quirky and lovable characters, to a 'keep you on your toes' mystery. With great charm and wit, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise offers a dazzling cornucopia of truths: the might of female friendship, that women only get better with age, and that the journey to self-discovery is a path worth taking. Colleen Oakley has done it again - I loved Tanner and Louise!" - Karma Brown

"An absolute delight. A twenty-first century version of Bonnie and Clyde... if Bonnie were an octogenarian jewel thief on the run and Clyde her bitter 20-something caretaker. It's also a story of lifelong friendships, the (often) extra work women are saddled with, and the value of second chances. You will laugh out loud, maybe cry, but you will definitely be rooting for these strong, powerful women. Tanner and Louise will live forever in your heart and (likely) be the ones whispering for you to take that chance and risk it all." - Julie Clark

"Absolutely delightful! I would follow Tanner and Louise anywhere." - Elle Cosimano

"You'll never be able to see what's coming in this wildly surprising, entertaining ride of a novel - which is a coming-of-age story, a contending-with-age story, and a surprising exploration of how womanhood is a matter of surprising others - and oneself." - Jodi Picoult

"Colleen Oakley is in a world of her own when it comes to creating lovable, quirky characters - and those in The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise are her best yet. With an abundance of charm and wit, a dose of adventure, and surprises around each corner, you'll be rooting for Tanner and Louise with every turn of the page. An absolute blast." - Taylor Jenkins Reid

"I adored everything about this book. Sparkling writing, characters you root for, an unlikely partnership who may or may not be on the lam from the authorities and twists you didn't see coming. Move over Thelma and Louise and make room for Louise and Tanner!" - Allison Winn Scotch


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