Ann Garvin Ph.D. is a nurse, a professor, and USA Today Bestselling Author. She thinks everything is funny and a little bit sad. Ann Writes stories about women with a good sense of humor who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She thought writing a book would get her a beach house. The beach house hasn’t happened yet, but she's bought sunglasses, so she’s ready. She created the Tall Poppies because she loves writers, readers, and helping women get their voices heard. Ann is the author of THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK, I LIKE YOU JUST FINE WHEN YOU'RE NOT AROUND, THE DOG YEAR, and ON MAGGIE'S WATCH.
Praise for THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS
"Ann Garvin’s genius lies in creating endearing, authentic women in the throes of midlife, and THERE’S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS is another gem. Just when Poppy Lively thinks her life has bottomed out, life throws her one more plot twist, and this fifty-year-old single mom digs deep in her own Midwest Nice way to finally become the hero of her own life. Readers will cheer for Poppy, and her little dog Kevin, too!"
-Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of THE HOMEWRECKERS.
"Ann Garvin’s latest just happens to be her absolute best.”
-Camille Pagán, bestselling author of GOOD FOR YOU
"An Ann Garvin novel is like curling up beside your favorite, wittiest friend and laughing and crying all at once"
-Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE WEDDING VEIL
"Reading an Ann Garvin novel is the next best thing to hanging out with your funniest, most good-hearted friend. THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS is a relatable, moving, laugh-out-loud story of determination, grit, and the things we do for love. It's the best kind of fish-out-of-water story and a ton of fun."
-Jessica Strawser, author of A MILLION REASONS WHY
"Readers will root so hard for Poppy Lively as she navigates the cutthroat world of Hollywood, a scruffy dog strapped to her body. Full of warmth and humor, Poppy and her motley crew of coworkers will worm their way into your heart and stick around for a very long time."
-Lyn Liao Butler, Amazon bestselling author of SOMEONE ELSES LIFE and RED THREAD OF FATE
“Full of humor and emotion, There’s No Coming Back From This, will have you smiling and sometimes laughing to yourself as you follow a wonderfully lovable and completely relatable Poppy Lively out of the mess that is her life, into finally finding herself.”
-Kay Bratt, Bestselling Author of NO PLACE TOO FAR
"There's No Coming Back From This, is a fabulously fun look at a woman's search for a new life and finds it in the ins, outs and intrigue of the unseen side of creating costumes for the movies.”
-Valerie Zielonka Emmy award-winning Costume Supervisor for The Watchmen. Credits include, Hidden Figures, King Richard.
“In THERE’S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS author Ann Garvin is a driving force in the literary world, and this book shows us why."
-Alli Frank + Asha Youmans Author of THE BETTER HALF, a Mindy Kaling Pick
Praise for Ann Garvin:
"Despite dealing with some heavy topics—cancer, widowhood, and the impending birth of a first child—Garvin’s (I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around) book is laugh-out-loud funny.”-Library Journal
“A charming exploration of female friendship and cancer’s uncanny ability to put perceived slights into perspective…[I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK] is a testament to the power of one’s own voice and the mistruths in the stories we tell ourselves, and an introspective, heartwarming, and witty farce.”-Booklist
"Garvin does excellent work in balancing the heartbreaking realities of illness and the unfair hands we are often dealt with goofy, laugh-out-loud moments that leave readers wanting more. Each character is developed in such a way that you grow to love them, flaws and all. In a way that feels genuine and authentic, I Thought You Said This Would Work is an excellent depiction of how deep the bonds of friendship are and how far we are willing to go to help those that we love the most.” —Erie Reader
"This book truly brings all the emotions out in the reader. I laughed, I cried, I breathed sighs of relief, and I had moments of utter sadness. This is the type of book that pulls you into the pages and has you walk, or rather drive, along side the characters and experience the story with them." -- She Just Loves Books Blog
"This book had my heart! It was the perfect amount of humor (a dog that takes insulin for diabetes, stealing an ex-husband's VW camper, just to name a few) and emotion (best friend is in the hospital and they would move mountains to make her happy). I both laughed and cried while reading Ann Garvin's latest book, I Thought You Said This Would Work. This is an easy five star from me!" -- Books 'n Yoga Pants Blog
" I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK is a pensive, witty, heartfelt tale by Garvin that reminds us to always live life to the fullest and highlights the importance and power of female friendships." -- What's Better than Books Book Reviews
"Garvin handles the topics, human at their core, with the utmost tact, presenting a story of loss and trauma, revealing the ways in which everyone we meet is dealing with some form of past hurt, pulling apart the veils of the stereotypes and superficialities that we hang over people when we refuse to take the time to understand why they react the way they do....I Thought You Said This Would Work exudes positivity and hope from every page, reminding us that there is something good to be found in every situation, no matter how small. Even when that something is a raggedy, old dog worth crossing the country for with someone you think you hate." -- Paperback Paris
"Garvin does excellent work in balancing the heartbreaking realities of illness and the unfair hands we are often dealt with goofy, laugh-out-loud moments that leave readers wanting more. Each character is developed in such a way that you grow to love them, flaws and all. In a way that feels genuine and authentic, I Thought You Said This Would Work is an excellent depiction of how deep the bonds of friendship are and how far we are willing to go to help those that we love the most.” —Erie Reader
"This book truly brings all the emotions out in the reader. I laughed, I cried, I breathed sighs of relief, and I had moments of utter sadness. This is the type of book that pulls you into the pages and has you walk, or rather drive, along side the characters and experience the story with them." -- She Just Loves Books Blog
Publisher's Weekly I LIKE YOU JUST FINE WHEN YOU'RE NOT AROUND
Garvin’s wit and sensitivity keep her in full control of the emotional subject matter. Pinpoint details and realistic characterizations of Tig’s internal strife firmly situate readers in this eccentric, endearing story of a family coming together to face the ravages of Alzheimer’s.
“It’s not enough that Ann Garvin is hilarious. Then she has to go ahead and be compassionate and wise about the hopeful car-wreck that is most of humanity…Garvin builds an unorthodox family that’s both tight knit and forever at odds, and not one of those family members feels any less than rich, real, and complex–just what a novel needs.” –Michelle Wildgen, author of You’re Not You and Bread and Butter -
“Told with Garvin’s charming wit and propelled by mystery, I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around challenges our definition of family and love. A poignant and humor-filled look at those who care for everyone but themselves.”
–Kate Moretti New York Times author of Thought I Knew You And Binds That Tie
“I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around captures the gritty truth of a family in crisis as the heartbreak of Alzheimer’s disease collides with caring for new life. Author Ann Garvin, writing with warmth and wisdom, explores sisters turning from piercing love to boiling rage and back again as they cope with the exhaustion of being the sandwiched generation.”
–Randy Susan Meyers, bestselling author of Accidents of Marriage
“It's not enough that Ann Wertz Garvin is hilarious. Then she has to go ahead and be compassionate and wise about the hopeful car-wreck that is most of humanity. In I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around, Garvin builds an unorthodox family that's both tight knit and forever at odds, and not one of those family members feels any less than rich, real, and complex--just what a novel needs.” --Michelle Wildgen, author of YOU’RE NOT YOU AND BREAD AND BUTTER
"Ann Garvin is unique in her ability to diffuse even the darkest of situations with humor and heart. I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around has heaps of both." – Susan Gloss, VINTAGE
"This is a riveting story about a woman whose life spins out of control as she tries to cling to a mother whose memories are slipping away, revealing long-buried family secrets. Fast-paced and witty, the story sneaks up on you page after page, delivering profound emotional truths about the nature of love and the power of family."
--Holly Robinson, author of BEACH PLUM ISLAND and HAVEN LAKE
In I LIKE YOU JUST FINE WHEN YOU'RE NOT AROUND, Ann Garvin skillfully weaves an intricate tale of life and love that allows the reader to easily immerse herself in a complex family dynamic. The cast of characters is realistic as well as delightfully quirky, and Garvin's sharp wit and keen insight shine through on every page. I LIKE YOU JUST FINE WHEN YOU'RE NOT AROUND is a heartwarming and humorous read. —Amy Sue Nathan, author of THE GLASS WIVES
"Ann Garvin writes delightfully flawed characters and compelling plots with humor and compassion. Her view of the world makes people not only fans of her work, but fangirls of her personally." --Ann Imig LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER
Read more
Read less
