unfortunately this was not the book for me. these types of books are either amazing or kind of meh and i feel like i have to be in the right mood for it?? almost DNF but i pushed through. there are definitely some great points but i had a hard time connecting with any of the characters which is usually a deal breaker for me. the changing of the perspectives kinda of took me out of the story, same with the time time hop. overall, it was fine but nothing to rave about. thank you netgalley and atria books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Family Secrets and Literary Legacy

A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson revolves around Isabelle Manning, the only child of a famous American novelist, Ward Manning. Following the death of her mother, Claire, Isabelle struggles with her own ambitions to publish a novel and gain her father's approval. As she delves deeper into her family's history, she uncovers shocking secrets that upend everything she thought she knew about her parents and her own identity.

Leigh McMullan Abramson’s debut novel A Likely Story is a compelling exploration of family, secrets, and the quest for self-identity. Despite its slow pacing, the novel’s intricate character development and thought-provoking themes make it a worthwhile read for those interested in literary fiction and family dramas.

This was a fun, literary wild ride of family secrets, ambition, and reminded me of Yellowface. It’s not a fantastic book but I enjoyed the ride.

DNF. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters in this story and I wasn’t engaged. I feel like it had a lot of potential but did not hit the mark.

When Isabelle’s mother passes away and leaves a gift that only she is supposed to be privy to, the aspiring author (whose father is a national treasure of literary fiction) has some decisions to make . . . .

Okay so I’m really not trying to spoil this, but you might want to just click out of here if you don’t want to ruin your time if this is on your to-read pile. The whole “gift” seemed super obvi to me, but maybe it won’t be to others????? Having that hunch didn’t really ruin anything for me, though, it’s just a storyline that has become extremely popular the last few years and unfortunately no one is ever going to do it better than John Boyne. This also got lost in the weeds a bit with a totally unnecessary timehop/narrative by the decease mother (seriously a letter accompanying the gift would have sufficed and saved my eyeballs from reading all those extra pages). Also, the superbadawful thing that happened to Isabelle when she was a child that was hinted around about for eternity before finally being divulged wasn’t needed either.

TLDR: Basically, not terrible, but it didn’t knock my socks off either. Read A Ladder to the Sky or Yellowface if you want to be blown away. 3.5 Stars

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

i didn't expect the characters of this book to be so. crass isn't the right word but perhaps offputting? unlikable for reasons i'm very much able to comprehend but. alas. weird book

Ooo it's a good one! Lots of twists and very engaging. Interesting characters and storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and Leigh McMullan Abramson!

A twisty, complicated story where all of the people were selfish and using others in one way or another. I didn't like Ward the major narcissistic man and Isabelle was more relatable but also selfish and destructive. Claire was my favorite character. Brian felt like he was pretending to be a nice guy and had ulterior motives. I wasn't invested in this one.

What a fun ride! Growing up in '90s New York City as the child of famous parents had its ups and downs for Isabelle Manning. Now, on the brink of her thirty-fifth birthday and grappling with her mother's death, she seeks solace in her dream of becoming a writer like her father. But as she uncovers shocking truths about her family, her world unravels. "Literary page-turner" was an apt description for this. Isabelle's journey, intertwined with a captivating book-within-a-book, kept me glued to the pages.

Isabelle Manning, daughter of Great American Novelist Ward Manning, wants nothing more than to be a writer. But her first book was rejected by numerous publishers, and as she turns 35, she’s beginning to realize that it may be time to give up on her dream. And then, in the wake of her mother’s death, Isabelle discovers a shocking secret that calls into question everything she thought she knew about her family, sending her life on a trajectory she never imagined.

Unfolding on multiple timelines from the perspectives of four characters (Isabelle, her mother Claire, her friend Brian, and Ward) and utilizing a book-within-a-book structure, A Likely Story is a complex, intimate family drama. Through her well-crafted characters, Leigh McMullan Abramson explores topics like grief, privilege, misogyny, prejudice, ambition, reputation, rivalry, and complicated relationships of all kinds. She doesn’t exactly cover new territory with her plot, but even though I had a good idea of where the book was headed, I still enjoyed how Abramson executed it – specifically with the inclusion of the unattributed manuscript, which provided so much texture and richness to the narrative.

The strength of this book, really, is the characters, who are complex, flawed, and not entirely likeable – but all the more authentic for it. The relationship between Ward and Isabelle is the perfect portrayal of a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Isabelle has grown up in Ward’s shadow, a man who happens to be an egomaniacal narcissist – and as much as she is disappointed by his behavior, she still wants to please him. Knowing the inner workings of their relationship helps us understand what truly motivates Isabelle, even though she herself is often self-destructive and unlikeable.

A Likely Story is, at its core, a character study about messy people harming each other, healing each other, and ultimately being redeemed. There’s some good stuff here, and I’m eager to see what Abramson writes next.

In her poignant debut novel "A Likely Story," Leigh McMullan Abramson deftly peels back the gilded layers of one family's secrets and lies. Isabelle Manning grew up idolizing her famous author father and doting on her glamorous socialite mother in the rarified world of 1990s Manhattan elite. But as an adult struggling writer, Isabelle's rose-tinted memories of her childhood are shattered by a series of shocking revelations about her parents' troubled marriage and hidden pasts.
Abramson's greatest strength lies in her finely-drawn characters. Isabelle is an exquisitely flawed protagonist - her stalled ambition, loneliness, and gnawing self-doubt rendered with an acute sensitivity. As she unravels the truth about the people she thought she knew best, Isabelle must confront harsh realities about love, loyalty, and the resilience of the artistic spirit.
While the pacing lags at times, "A Likely Story" remains a compelling exploration of wealth, status, and the heavy burden of family legacy. Abramson weaves a richly-textured portrait of the sacrifices we make to honor our parents' expectations, even at the cost of our own happiness and identity.
A propulsive blend of sophisticated family drama and crackling mystery, this debut signals an exciting new voice in the tradition of dysfunctional upper-crust fiction. For anyone who once idealized their parents only to realize they never truly knew them, "A Likely Story" will strike a profound chord.

A Likely Story, is such a fun mystery novel written by Leigh McMullan Abramson.

Written as a coming of age story about Isabel Manning who grows up the daughter of a famous author, Ward Manning, and her mother, Claire, the perfect society hostess. Ward is the epitome of a selfish self made man. He thinks only of himself and never wants to reveal the low income family he left behind.

Claire, who cam from a wealthy family but has put her devotion to her husband and his career before everything else. Until she has her daughter Isabelle. Isabelle becomes here reason for staying in the marriage and she focuses all her energy creating a wonderful life for her daughter. Ward, who never wanted children, now finds he loves encouraging his daughter to emulate him. For Isabelle, being an author becomes her life's dream.

When her mother dies unexpectedly, Ward and Isabelle's lives are turned upside down. Their worlds were dependent on Claire for success and connection. As Isabelle struggles to write a publishable novel, Ward is struggling to write his final work. He tries a variety of ways to find the inspiration that usually helps him write and nothing is working. Isabelle is looking for her father's adulation and publication and neither are coming through. Though the one person who adores her, Brian tries to be there for Isabelle she cannot see how he cares and ignores him.

The novel moves through the narrative with different voices telling the story from different viewpoints, and there are secrets and unexplained tragedies that are revealed slowly as the plot unfolds.

When Isabelle finally discovers what her mother sacrificed and her father hid from her , all her relationships are changed forever. Can Isabelle find the satisfactory fairytale ending that every good novel desires?

A LIKELY STORY is an intricate web of deception, love, and secrets. The author delves into a deeply flawed family that even though they love each other, has put the career of being an author in the most reverent position within their relationships.

What I loved about this story was the writing. There is an eloquence that pushes the narrative forward at a nice pace while still managing to take moments for the characters to grow and continue down the path they were set on long before the book started. For me, the candid thoughts of Claire and Isabelle give a realness to the story far more than any other aspect. By not glossing over the emotion and angst experienced by the entire cast, we get to truly see all sides of those we meet within these pages. This is where the author shines.

In many ways, this book is about identity. It deals with how the Mannings deal with who they are to the world and who they are in the more private times as a family. It is also a story about love and self-discovery. All in all, Abramson delivers a delightfully entertaining combination of wit, drama, and a bit of intrigue.


Audiobook Note: I loved that there was a full cast for this one. Mia Barron, Cynthia Farrell, James Fouhey, Adam Grupper, and Devon Sorvari narrate in such a way the listener can almost see the characters interact. Both Claire, Ward, and Isabelle come to life through this version of the book.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2

By the time I got around to reading the ARC that NetGalley sent me, I just wasn't all that interested in the book anymore. I have to say that because I definitely believe it led me to enjoy the book less and, therefore, review it more harshly.

The book within the book within the book was a lot to follow at times and it wasn't interesting enough for me to try all that hard. It took me over a third of the book to even start to get into it, but even then, I wasn't too attached. I feel like the idea for the book is good but it fell short in my eyes. Had I read this when I should have (whoops, reviewing a year later) I probably would have enjoyed it more.

An interesting tale that reads like a true story. New Yorker with famous parents looks to make it on their own, minus the influence of mom and dad. It was sort of a dark and dreary story, although well done.

3.5 stars I enjoyed the characters and how fleshed out they were. I also enjoyed how it was multiple perspectives and timelines. I do think there was a little drag in the middle but other than that I enjoyed the book. This was one of the more successful books about the publishing world that I have read, particularly when it involves a fake book in the story. This fake book felt like a realized novel when it sometimes does not come off that way.

This book was very slow moving for me and hard to get into. There was a scene pretty early on that just left a poor taste in my mouth. Unfortunately, it was a DNF.

I did not finish this - it was too slow to start and I just could not get into it. I love books about books and thought I would be into the story within a story... and some things just did not sit right with me. I dunno. This wasn't for me. Thank you for the ARC!

A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson is a complex story with an intricate plot made for lovers of literary fiction. Some readers might find the characters unlikeable, but the themes of family, identity, and secrets are explored.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

A masterful family dynamic propels this story forward, while also touching on the romantic life of a writer and what toll it can take on those around them. I enjoyed it so much. Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy and share it!