My Two and Only

by Carla Malden

Overview

“Go for a run.” That’s what Charlotte Most said to her husband Paul on that ordinary day. And when he did, her life was never the same.

Yet Charlotte remains the same: mother, daughter, friend, interior designer… and, although single… wife.

Until she meets Brian. When she’s surprised by his little Tiffany-blue box– and the proposal that goes with it – she is forced to make a decision. But questions begin to consume her. Who will Charlotte be if she’s no longer a widow? Does old love prohibit new? Does new love diminish old? How can she marry her one-and-only twice? Heartache and hope propel her through a perilous journey from devoted widow to joyful fiancée.

My Two And Only is a love story about clinging to the past and embracing the present. About memory and the stories we tell ourselves. About identities, inner and outward, and the struggle to make peace between them. Humorous and insightful, poignant and profound, My Two And Only explores the question: how much happiness can we allow ourselves… and which self might that be?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781644283592
Publisher:	Rare Bird Books
Publication date:	08/08/2023
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Raised in Los Angeles, Carla Malden began her career working in motion picture production and development before becoming a screenwriter. Along with her father, Academy Award winning actor Karl Malden, she co-authored his critically acclaimed memoir When Do I Start?
Carla’s feature writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, highlighting the marvels and foibles of Southern California and Hollywood. She sits on the Board of the Geffen Playhouse. Her previous novels include Search Heartache and Shine Until Tomorrow.
Carla Malden lives in Brentwood with her husband and ten minutes (depending on traffic) from her daughter.

Editorial Reviews

2023-10-06
In Malden’s novel, an interior designer and mother of two grapples with how to deal with the unexpected after her husband dies.

Life isn’t always a fairytale; most of the time, it’s far from it. Charlotte Most learns this leson the hard way when she unexpectedly loses her husband, Paul, at the end of an unremarkable, errand-filled day. In the years that follow, Charlotte does the best that she can; she continues to raise her two children and takes on new clients for her interior design business. But love remains one area of her life that remains stagnant—until a chance encounter at a fast-food drive-thru in which a tearful Charlotte crosses paths with Brian Novak, a divorced attorney. The two strike up a friendship after Brian, who was ahead of her in line, pays for Charlotte’s food and adds a milkshake to her order, which leads to a friendly and revealing conversation. After a few years, the two begin dating, and everything’s great until Brian proposes on the eve of the biggest moment of Charlotte’s career; it forces her to reckon with whether she can move on without erasing Paul from her life. Malden’s story is exceptionally well told, with descriptions that allow readers to fully immerse themselves in the Los Angeles setting: “People blasted the AC in their homes; stoplights were out all over town, victim to grid overload. At some intersections, traffic cops waved cars through—two, three, maybe four at a time. Others were left unguarded, daring drivers to figure it out for themselves: no red, no yellow, no green.” The author also captures emotions expertly; as a result, readers will grow close to Charlotte as her story unfolds. The novel is engaging throughout, and readers will likely wish for more from the author.

A refreshing story that acknowledges that some people have more than one true love.

Kirkus Reviews

Love is eternal. Life goes on. How can one heart contain these two verities? That is the question posed by this playful yet profound, perfectly titled novel. Reading My Two and Only is like sitting down for lunch with your dearest friend and getting up to leave only when you realize it's time for dinner. Carla Malden writes with charm and ease, lighting the darker moments with knowing wit.” 

—Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, author of A Woman of Independent Means

"A refreshing story that acknowledges that some people have more than one true love."

—Kirkus

From the Publisher