From the Publisher
Praise for THE LION IS IN by Delia Ephron:
"One of the sharpest observers of human behavior around, Ephron, with her trademark mastery of smart, snappy dialogue, delivers a read-in-one-sitting, feel-good celebration of resiliency and hope."
Booklist
"Three women embark on a journey of self-discovery, facilitated by a giant feline, in Ephron's whimsical but winsome third novel."
Kirkus Reviews
"Imagine if Siegfried & Roy had written Water for Elephants … The Lion Is In is off to the races from the first sentence. [A] fun ride."
Tampa Bay Times
"The best kind of chick lit - an engaging feminist romance from which the reader emerges with a welcome mood boost. Twinkling with wit and warmth, it also packs a moral punch: We need to forgive not just each other, but ourselves, make amends wherever we can and just ease the heck up already."-Newark Star Ledger
"Ephron fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to enjoy in this fun, refreshing, and incredibly touching read."-Publisher's Weekly
"This wistfully wacky story features a stolen wedding dress, AA meetings, a driving instructor as romantic hero, a cranky nightclub owner and a God-fearing villain. As Marcel roars his wisdom, each woman becomes brave enough to free herself from her own cage."-More
"Readers seeking a heartfelt, offbeat adventure will adore Ephron's fragile but feisty heroines…The perfect getaway for readers who long to reconnect with their inner selves, this quirky comedy's sense of wonder will delight and inspire."-Shelf Awareness
"Sweet, satisfying, and worth the wait."-New York Times Book Review
Kirkus Reviews
Three women embark on a journey of self-discovery, facilitated by a giant feline, in Ephron's whimsical but winsome third novel. Twenty-somethings Tracee and Lana, best friends since childhood, have left Baltimore on the run from an unnamed crisis, but Tracee's escape attire--a designer wedding dress--provides a clue to the zaniness to follow. Lana, a recovering alcoholic who dropped out of college, is fixing a flat when drab, middle-aged Rita, who's been walking the highway for several hours, offers a hand. Rita accepts a ride in Lana's Mustang, destination unknown. Outside the rural village of Fairville, N.C., Tracee falls asleep at the wheel and totals the car. Seeking shelter, the women happen upon a ramshackle roadhouse called The Lion. Breaking in, they are shocked to discover an actual lion caged in a corner. The Lion's slovenly owner, Clayton, hires all three women as waitresses, although he at first consigns Rita to menial chores for insufficient hotness. Tim, a gangly but kind young man who works at the local dollar store as well as for Clayton, finds lodging for the women, who are stuck in Fairville until they can earn enough to fix the Mustang. Since the furniture industry outsourced all the jobs, everyone in Fairville is scrabbling for a living, and business is slow at the Lion. This changes when Rita and the lion, whose name is Marcel, form a special bond. Soon, she's taking Marcel for early-morning walks and performing lion-taming stunts in the bar at night. The characters undergo transformations as The Lion draws crowds. Clayton spruces up and tries to court Rita, who's newly confident and adventurous after decades in the stifling marriage she fled. Lana, whose confession in a town AA meeting is used against her by the local police, begins to rebuild the bridges she's burned, and Tracee, a kleptomaniac, finds a refuge from past bad boyfriend woes. Although the life-affirming message is hardly subtle, Ephron delivers it with finesse.
