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Book Buzz: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

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Marisa Kashino, photo credit Laura Metzler“There were many moments when I wondered if I was making Margo too despicable. But I hoped that building out her backstory and giving her a wicked sense of humor would generate some empathy and induce readers to stick around. Because yeah, she does some horrible things and has some appalling views, but funny people are usually at least a solid hang! She’s also self-made, having come from humble, somewhat tragic beginnings, which I personally admire about her and hoped others would, too.

The other thing — maybe the most important thing — is that she harbors a constant, boiling rage as a result of the immense pressure she feels as a late-30s woman trying her damnedest to have it all. Creating that part of her character was incredibly cathartic for me”
  ― Marisa Kashino, Interview, Bookweb

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

What booksellers are saying about Best Offer Wins

  • The fact that I was as stressed as Margo was about getting the house of her dreams in this thriller of a novel is telling! Her obsession is off the charts and her determination to get what she wants will stun you.
      ― Barb Rascon, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina | BUY

  • This takes “cutthroat real estate market” to a whole other level! I can’t believe this is a debut novel- it was expertly executed and alarmingly realistic. Given the right person, you can see how this could all play out, which was maybe the most disturbing part of this psychological thriller!
      ― Allyn Oliver, The Bluffton Bookshop in Bluffton , South Carolina | BUY
  • Margo is stuck, struggling with this phase of her life. She has goals: get pregnant, buy a house, fall back in love with her husband. These significant life events are intertwined. Her inner dialogue is hilarious and edgy. I admired Margo’s intelligence. She is a serial liar and is devoted to none, other than Fritter, the neighbor’s dog. I am so pleased to recommend this exceptional debut thriller.
      ― Liz Tietsworth, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida | BUY
  • Meet your new favorite anti-hero, Margot. She’s smart, she’s accomplished, she’s driven … but she’s also stressed and desperate for a forever home, which seems truly impossible in today’s cutthroat housing market in DC. Margot’s monomaniacal for all the trappings of a normal life…maybe because she’s far from normal herself. If you like stories that make you laugh and cringe in equal measure, this is the perfect appalling tale for you!
      ― Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina | BUY

About Marisa Kashino

Marisa Kashino was a journalist for 17 years, most recently at The Washington Post. She spent the bulk of her career at Washingtonian magazine, writing long-form features and overseeing the real estate and home design coverage. She grew up near Seattle, graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in journalism and political science. She lives in the DC area with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Best Offer Wins is her first novel.

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Cry for Me, Argentina by Tamara Yajia

Tamara Yajia’s cracked coming of age memoir is required reading for Weird Girl Summer. Her life story is absolutely bonkers, her family members are completely unhinged, and at times it gets quite dark and vulnerable, but Tamara writes with the poise of a veteran comedian who understands that everything is material. Tamara gives readers the gift of permission to laugh through Cry for Me, Argentina, and the payoff is a total triumph.

Cry for Me, Argentina by Tamara Yajia, (List Price: $26.99, Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639733910, July 2025)

Reviewed by Emily Liner, Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi

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It’s Only Drowning by David Litt

This is about so much more than surfing! It’s about family and friendship and how we move through this world together, despite our differences! Love it!

It’s Only Drowning by David Litt, (List Price: $29.99, Gallery Books, 9781668035351, June 2025)

Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Goth Parenting by Casey Gilly

This book was HILARIOUS. Loved the concept, the drawings, and overall the humor. This should be the only parenting book used from now on. Also, a bonus point for making me shed an actual tear at the end with how sweet it was. I’m not a parent, but this was still very enjoyable.

Goth Parenting by Casey Gilly, (List Price: $14.95, Chronicle Books, 9781797229850, September 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby is a writer like no other. She has the ability to draw out all the hilarious moments of everyday life with charming self-deprecation and laugh-out-loud prose. The humor in her writing often disguises her brilliance — don’t be fooled — Samantha Irby is a genius.

Quietly HostileQuietly Hostile by Samantha Irby, (List Price: $17, Vintage, 9780593315699, May 2023)

Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus

America’s guiltiest pleasure: the hot dog. Following a road trip Loftus and her then-partner took in the summer of 2021, this is so much more than just a history book with a suggestive title. Stories of meth motels, the hunt for the best hotdog in the country, and brilliant musings on organized labor and the food industry in the United States, all wrapped into one, clever, laugh-out-loud book. Loftus’ humor transfers onto the page so well, it makes for a history book like no other.

Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus, (List Price: 26.99, Forge Books, 9781250847744, May 2023)

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones

I will forever love Leslie Jones and this book just solidified that for me. It’s equal parts hilarious and touching and there are so many laugh-out-loud moments I could not keep it together. Jones has always been true to herself and who she is and I love the example that she sets in standing up for herself and her coworkers. This book is a true gem by a true gem.

Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones, (List Price: $30, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538706497, September 2023)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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A Very Gay Book by Jenson Titus

The cover on this book is so deceptive – it’s hilarious from page one! You’ll laugh out loud on every page of the satirical gay history primer! Along with quirky art, this book touches on cultural moments and throughout time, and measures how gay they are (spoiler – they’re all very gay). Silly and delightful!

A Very Gay Book by Jenson Titus, (List Price: 30, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 9781524876449, May 2023)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge by Helen Ellis

A June 2023 Read This Next! Title

Helen Ellis is back with a collection of essays about my marriage…sorry about her marriage. These hit so close to home on so many levels: snoring…yep my husband does that and I have threatened his life, grudges…yeah I will cut people out of my life for being slightly rude to my husband or my friends, ridiculous letter to the person caring for my pets…check. Hilarious and touching, this is a great portrait of a marriage

Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge by Helen Ellis, (List Price: 26, Doubleday, 9780385548205, June 2023)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin

Ruffin and Lamar are back with more hilarious-in-a-terrible-way stories of things that they and their family have dealt with. You’ll laugh and cringe at this book – the sisters write as they speak and their chemistry makes for a perfect read.

The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin, (List Price: $29, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538724552, November 2022)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Pizza! by Greg Pizzoli

Okay, here is the non-fiction picture book I’ve been craving… I mean, it’s Pizza! A Slice of History! I can’t imagine any kid turning this one down for it’s subject matter alone, but topped with the vibrant illustrations of award-winning favorite, Greg Pizzoli? A real treat.

Pizza! by Greg Pizzoli, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780425291078,  August 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Flip It Like This! by David Hayward

David Hayward, @NakedPastor, has brought his wit, his artistic skill, and his frankness into Flip It Like This! This book is for anyone who has ever questioned their faith, been undermined by their experiences, or turned away because of who they are. Within these simple pages holds the passion and love of an artist that is screaming out: I See you and I love you.

Flip It Like This! by David Hayward, (List Price: $19.99, Broadleaf Books, 9781506484723, July 2022)

Reviewed by Gretchen Shuler, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light by Helen Ellis

I’m going to start a change.org petition to force Helen Ellis to write books that are 400 pages or more. Her latest collection deals with topics as wide-ranging as aging and loss to poker and garage sales with her signature wit, warmth, and southern sass. The thing about Helen Ellis is you can feel her delight in her friends, her husband, and the world at large with every sentence. Everything she writes is worth reading and Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light might be her best yet. Do yourself a favor and pick this up, but be prepared to want more when you finish!

Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light by Helen Ellis, (List Price: 23, Doubleday, 9780385546157, July 2021)

Reviewed by Chelsea Bauer, Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee

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Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jenny Lawson is a genius. She can make me sob uncontrollably from both laughter and the heartbreakingly honest way she talks about mental illness. She takes the worst things in life and finds a way to laugh through them. Her ability to bring people together in a celebration of human awkwardness is just beautiful. This book provided much needed relief and escape from the divisiveness of the world.

Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson (List Price: $27.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250077035, 4/6/2021)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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