ROOM AND BOARD

A disgraced publicist seeks a new beginning by agreeing to be a dorm mother at her old boarding school.

Gillian Brodie never imagined herself returning to her sleepy Sonoma boarding school at age 38, but then again, this past year was full of surprises. After she erroneously trusted a client who'd been accused of sexual abuse, Gillian’s successful career as a celebrity publicist shattered. Dubbed “the playboy’s publicist” and approached by other sexual harassers wanting her to represent them, she decided to close her New York City firm and take an offer to be a dorm mother at Glen Ellen Academy—trying to see it “not as an admission of defeat, but as a new beginning.” While Gillian is grateful for the opportunity to return to Glen Ellen, she remains haunted by an older betrayal, this one involving her best friend from school days, Miranda. Gillian and Miranda had both vowed never to act on their romantic feelings for the final member of their trio, Aiden, but then Gillian discovered that her two friends had been secretly dating for months. Despite Gillian’s subsequent Yale education and glamorous career, Aiden was “a kind of bittersweet reminder of the one thing that she’d never gotten to have.” That is, until Gillian learns she’s dorm mother to a girl named Rainbow, whose single father is none other than Aiden. As Gillian navigates being a guardian to several needy teenagers and beginning a new relationship with Aiden, her return to Glen Ellen helps unravel years of trust issues and missed opportunities. Parker’s novel explores second chances in a beautiful setting—the picturesque academy and delectable wine country scenery bring out the best in her writing. Beyond depictions of Sonoma, however, Parker’s novel is disappointing. Gillian’s character never feels fully explained, and when compared to students like pathological liar Bunny or eccentric twins Farrah and Freddy, her personality is dry.

An interesting concept lacks a compelling main character.