House & Home is on the Indie Next list of recommended books for July.
"House & Home is a sharply funny, nicely realized work of catharsis that will be satisfyingly familiar to anyone who has ever suffered seller's remorse."
—Penelope Green, The New York Times [ Click Here For Full Review ]
"This novel is a delight. It grabs you from the opening paragraph...and holds you with its cathartic exploration of home and family."
—The Oregonian
"[One] of the most engrossing books this season..."
—O at Home
"In McCleary's poignant, gently humorous novel, the characters seem utterly alive, and the locations are exquisitely described. This book also has one of the best opening paragraphs in recent memory, and is altogether so superior it's hard to believe that's a debut."
—Shelley Mosley, Booklist (May 15, 2008)
"Ellen's efforts to keep her house are what move the story crisply along. House & Home is a highly enjoyable read. "
—Kate Kelly, Ladies Home Journal (LHJ.com)
"...HGTV.com columnist McCleary's tale of real estate woe (plus a little entrepreneurship gone wrong) will resonate with unhappy homeowners, as will her portrait of a regular woman pushed to extremes trying to do the right thing for her family."
—Publisher's Weekly (April 14, 2008)
"House & Home is the extraordinary debut novel by Kathleen McCleary. Well-known as a reporter, writer and a columnist for HGTV.com, she takes her fans to an all new level by introducing them to this whimsical spin on trading places. With a bit of humor and just the right amount of drama, House & Home is a first-rate designer's dream."
—Jennifer Vido, Freshfiction.com [ Click here For Full Review ]
"I read it straight through in one day. It was terrific. This is [the author's] first novel, and I was floored not only by the excellent writing, but how many parallels there were to my own life. ... This is one I'll be telling my friends about."
—Lisa Munley, Books on the Brain [ Click Here For Full Review, Or Here For Blog Post ]
"When Sam loses their home on a 'crazy' invention investment, Ellen, his wife, must come to grips with saying goodbye to her beloved house and with her anger. A timely and thoughtful book."
—Linda Vinstra, Great Northern Books and Hobbies, Oscoda, MI
"At the center of Kathleen McCleary's impressive debut novel is a woman who risks destroying everything she has lovingly arranged just so someone else can't have it. House and Home is a riveting book, packed with wit, dramatic twists, powerful consequences, and pitch-perfect details."
—Joanna Scott, author of Liberation and Everybody Loves Somebody
"Kathleen McCleary has written a funny and poignant novel, featuring a wonderfully flawed heroine, about how a house can define who we are, and what we think about our lives and ourselves. I laughed out loud and was moved by this realistic portrayal of marriage, family and love."
—Leslie Schnur, author of The Dog Walker and Late Night Talking
"...What is most remarkable about the book is Ellen. Kathleen McCleary has created a woman that is so real, in her forties but sometimes as confused as a thirteen-year-old. I could relate to so many things she thinks throughout the book ... I couldn't put it down."
—engineering professor, Ann Arbor, Mich.
"This book will appeal to anyone who has spent her life nurturing her family but sees that life (hilariously) go awry. If one disaster makes for a good story, then how about one where things get REALLY messed up? How many of us desperate housewives have had the urge to exert control over our out-of-control lives in such an extreme manner? And anyone who lives or has lived in the Portland area will be tickled by the local references—a real love-letter to Oregon ..."
—full-time mom, Portland, Ore.
"The book really explores human nature and its relationship to people and things. Happily Ellen is willing to grow and evolve, as is Jordan, but that's not always true in real life. The evolution of Ellen's thinking is what keeps the reader engaged. The book is a great read, the author has a wonderful descriptive voice, and the plot kept me on my toes."
—interior designer, Falls Church, VA