Whoever thought philosophy could be so much fun? Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, returns with another romp full of quirky characters and slapstick situations. Adora Hazzard is a middle aged single mom raising a teenaged daughter. She has created a "coven” of like-minded women who all live on a floor of the Ansonia, an historic Beaux-Arts condominium on New York City’s Upper West Side. After having hit rock bottom as a young and vulnerable struggling comedy writer in Hollywood, she’s become a Stoic philosopher who lives her life according to the wisdom of the classic thinkers. She tries to live a life of reason rather than love but a world without love isn’t worth living, and she finds herself falling head over heels over a mystery man. Suddenly her orderly life is thrown into chaos, causing her to question her cherished values.
The first part of the book fills us in on Adora’s backstory and the person she had been until her world collapsed, forcing her to reinvent herself. The second half focuses on her falling in love with a man who unintentionally turns her life upside down. Adora becomes entangled in an international art scheme with major implications and travels to Paris to make everything right.
Besides our main heroine, there are plenty other fascinating characters, including Adora’s daughter Viv who speaks her mind and doesn’t hold back. We also have the Lockwoods who are a filthy rich, eccentric couple who employ Adora to teach philosophy to their two sons. There’s also Adora’s enigmatic lover Digby who’s just as crazy as she is!
This story was a blast to read! Adora is a complex, fascinating character who I would love to know more about. Adora would be a perfect character for a series so we could read about her further adventures, and I’m sure she would have plenty! Adora’s mantra is Amor Fati (loving your fate). If you end up reading this book, you’ll love your fate!
Reviewed by Christina Crocker
April 14, 2026
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