Epically Earnest

by Molly Horan

Overview

In this delightfully romantic LGBTQ+ comedy-of-errors inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a high school senior works up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom all while deciding if she should look for her bio family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358566236
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/21/2022
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Molly Horan is a graduate of the New School’s MFA program in writing for children and young adults. After graduating, she worked as a web writer and editor focusing on entertainment writing at sites like KnowYourMeme and Refinery29. She currently works as an English professor, teaching writing for young adults and writing for the web at NYU and SVA. Molly resides in Astoria, New York, and you can find her on X @Molly_Horan.

Editorial Reviews

"How do you update Oscar Wilde for the internet age? In Molly Horan’s charming debut, the answer is to wrap the dazzling wordplay around a gentle—even earnest—exploration of new love and old wounds. Epically Earnest is a hopeful, romantic, sharply observed comedy of manners with a winning cast, and a group dance number that belongs in the rom-com hall of fame." — Amanda Sellet, author of By the Book and Belittled Women

"A delightful story that puts Ernest in the shoes of a modern girl as she navigates internet fame, first love, and the real meaning of family. With dazzling wit and heart for days, Horan’s stand-out debut would make Oscar Wilde proud!" — Kaitlyn Hill, author of Love From Scratch

"Debut-author Horan delivers a lighthearted, feel-good romp with engaging characters who are clever and well realized." — Booklist

"Horan’s snappy banter and lighthearted approach to conflict make for a breezy read." — Publishers Weekly

"A lighthearted romance with just enough drama and some sincere exploration of familial and romantic relationships." — Kirkus Reviews

"Non-stereotypical portrayals of queer ­identity make this a worthwhile addition to high school ­collections." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

"How do you update Oscar Wilde for the internet age? In Molly Horan’s charming debut, the answer is to wrap the dazzling wordplay around a gentle—even earnest—exploration of new love and old wounds. Epically Earnest is a hopeful, romantic, sharply observed comedy of manners with a winning cast, and a group dance number that belongs in the rom-com hall of fame."

Amanda Sellet

"A delightful story that puts Ernest in the shoes of a modern girl as she navigates internet fame, first love, and the real meaning of family. With dazzling wit and heart for days, Horan’s stand-out debut would make Oscar Wilde proud!"

Kaitlyn Hill

2022-03-16
Eighteen-year-old New Yorker Janey is blindsided by the possibility of contact with her biological family while also trying to win over the girl of her dreams.

It’s the end of senior year for Janey and her wealthy best friend, Algie. For years, Janey has been totally smitten by Gwen, a cousin of Algie’s who will be visiting for spring break. Meanwhile, Algie is pursuing Janey’s wide-eyed cousin, Cecil. Janey’s life is complicated by her notoriety as former viral internet sensation “Bag Baby,” so called due to her adoptive father’s finding her abandoned in a Gucci handbag in a train station in Poughkeepsie. Janey was happy not knowing anything about her biological family until a DNA test—submitted without her consent by Algie, a violation that is treated relatively lightly—reveals an aunt and a cousin whom Janey is not sure she wants to meet. The story, inspired by The Importance of Being Earnest, is a lighthearted romance with just enough drama and some sincere exploration of familial and romantic relationships. However, Oscar Wilde fans should be aware that it only really offers the window dressing of the play that inspired it—names, a top hat, a baby left in a handbag—and not the farcical plot, witty dialogue, or social satire. Readers who can accept that will find this to be a fun, easy, and romantic read. All of the characters read as White.

A breezy, queer teen romance that is Wilde-inspired but not Wilde-an in execution. (Romance. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews