31 Paradiso

A woman flees her evangelical family to settle in quirky Venice Beachbut a homecoming awaitsin this glorious new novel by the author of The Hallelujah Side. Francine Ephesians Didwell has been living two separate lives: one with her evangelical, charismatic family, and another with her lover in a state of emancipation and rebellion. Now, after she loses the love of her life, a bereaved Francine relocates to Venice Beach, California, to start her life over. She struggles to make a living working as a masseuse and managing low-end properties, while gradually reconnecting with her family, whose estate lies just fifty miles inland. As this painfully hilarious novel progresses, moving back and forth between these two very different settings, Francine discovers she must confront the truth about her family's dark secrets or lose herself in the suicidal world of drugs. But thanks to her good fortune, throughout her journey, she is assisted and supported by her other, found family: the yodeler, the sex worker, the local burglar who has taken up residence outside her window, and all the imperfect characters from the mean streets of Venice Beach. ';Huffey's empathy for her protagonist is tangible.' Kirkus Reviews Acclaim for The Hallelujah Side ';A funny, heart-warming novel... Remarkable... Poignantly humorous.' Publishers Weekly ';Brimming with humor and wisdom... An infinitely fascinating and memorable novel.' Connie May Fowler, author of Remembering Blue