Too Much is Plenty

Lynne Stern, in her thirties, dumpy and plain, is no typical romantic heroine. A devoted daughter (and source of worry) to her hovering parents, she has always lived in the shadow of Courtney, her beautiful and slim younger sister who seems to have it all. As far as Lynne can see, the future will consist of her job as a social worker and her life with overweight female friends, sharing their boredom, stolid acceptance, and snack foods. When her narrow life explodes in a flurry of unexpected good fortune, it seems as though all her dreams are coming true. But soon, long-held family secrets are forced into the open, upsetting all she holds dear. Described by David Daniel (author of the Alex Rasmussen mystery series, including The Marble Kite) as "an inspired creation . . . a poignant and, at the same time, richly comic tale," Lynne's story makes us wonder if too much of a good thing might possibly be not such a good thing after all.