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Adulting: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 8,449 ratings

USA Today bestselling author Liz Talley’s emotional and heart-lifting novel about facing the past, unconditional love, and a woman on the verge of a breakthrough.

After another all-night bender, one more failed stint at rehab, and a parole violation, self-destructive actress Chase London has to deal with her demons. She’s been written off as a Hollywood casualty by almost everyone, including her own mother. But handsome superstar Spencer Rome has her back. So does an uncompromising stranger determined to start Chase at square one and help her pull her future into focus. If Chase is willing.

Life coach Olivia Han is devoted to “adulating” boot camp therapy. It’s not just her professional specialty, though—it’s also one way to avoid focusing on building a life of her own. To escape the pressures of Tinseltown, the two women head to Olivia’s cabin in the wilds of Northern California. There they discover a place in need of TLC. As they work together to rehab the once-charming cabin, they create a refuge where Chase can come to terms with her unsettled past, and where Olivia has an unexpected reckoning with her own troubling history.

For two women doing damage control, this is a time for second chances—in life, in finding love, in forgiving family, and in an emerging friendship that might be exactly what each of them needs to heal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The balance of sobering themes and upbeat tone is moving…in this touching tale of female friendship and personal growth.” Publishers Weekly

“For fans of women’s fiction with a little romance thrown in…” Library Journal

“Witty, warm, and engaging, Adulting explores the most unlikely friendship between life coach Olivia Han and her self-destructive client Chase London as each woman—by facing past secrets on a journey of personal growth—discovers a second chance at love.” —Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of The Passing Storm

Adulting is a charming, moving and heartfelt novel about two women—both hot messes—finding out just what they’re truly made of.” —Falguni Kothari, USA Today bestselling author

“In Adulting, Liz Talley gives us an uplifting story of second chances and paints a poignant reminder that sometimes in life you have to stop living what others expect of you, and hit restart knowing what you expect of yourself.” —Kay Bratt, international bestselling author of Wish Me Home

“Liz Talley’s prose is crisp and clear, her characters achingly flawed and seriously funny in this redemptive story of self-discovery about the families we find and the sisters we keep.” —Virginia Kantra, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

There are three things I want to tell you about Liz Talley’s Adulting: First, it’s the story of a Hollywood starlet who rose to fame young and then self-destructed in the public eye (think Drew Barrymore or Lindsay Lohan) and the no-nonsense life coach who is determined to help her stay sober and revamp her career. Throughout their partnership, old traumas are unearthed, and fresh starts are…well, started!

Second, like all Liz Talley novels, it’s a nuanced story with complex, flawed characters who struggle as they grow to overcome their pasts. (And, I want to note, her characters sometimes use colorful language. By that, I mean they occasionally curse like a spoiled actress who got snubbed during awards season.) They’re not always likable—in fact, Chase, the starlet, is a real piece of work at the beginning. But the great thing about Liz Talley novels is that she embraces complication, and that’s exactly my kind of book.

The third thing I want to tell you is this: I love being a part of Liz’s publishing team, and I’m so happy to have this opportunity to share my recommendation with you. Her vibrant stories leave me laughing through my tears, and remind me that life may sometimes be full-up with hurt, trauma, struggle, and ugly crying, but with some rock-solid friends and the courage to learn from mistakes, it’s possible to start again.

- Alison Dasho, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08C4P5ZCD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Montlake
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 337 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542026048
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #596,413 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 8,449 ratings

About the author

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Liz Talley
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USA Today best-selling author Liz Talley loves staying home in her jammies and writing emotional women’s fiction and small town southern romance. Liz has published over thirty books, reaching number one in kindle romance. Her stories are set in the South where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot, and the porches are wide. Liz lives in Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome offspring, and two spoiled pups. You can visit Liz at www.liztalleybooks.com or follow her on Instagram or facebook to learn more about her upcoming books. She loves new friends!

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
8,449 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel beautifully written and engaging, with well-developed characters and humor that keeps them laughing out loud. The pacing is strong, with customers saying it held their attention until the end, and they appreciate the sensitive topics and thought-provoking nature of the book. The romance aspect receives positive feedback, with customers noting just the right amount of romantic elements, while the story quality receives mixed reactions with some enjoying the twists while others find it predictable.

256 customers mention "Readability"245 positive11 negative

Customers find the book beautifully written and enjoyable, describing it as a short, cute, and fun read.

"...I really enjoyed the story and the twists and turns. Good read. Kept my interest" Read more

"...Did I mention that this was a really thoughtful and great read? It really was and now I’ve just added other Talley books to my KU list" Read more

"There is some hard stuff in this book. But overall it was a good read. While fictional, it made me think about my own coping mechanisms...." Read more

"...She developed each carefully and meticulously. Great read." Read more

106 customers mention "Thought provoking"99 positive7 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as insightful and inspiring, with one customer highlighting its sensitive topics.

"...The subject matter is somewhat depressing, but ultimately I found it uplifting...." Read more

"...of how their lives and their pasts intertwined and blossomed was so heartwarming and lovely!" Read more

"Heartwarming..." Read more

"...each other, so not heavy or depressing but enjoyable and also thought provoking." Read more

105 customers mention "Character development"99 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them engaging and easy to connect with, with one customer noting how the two protagonists drive the narrative forward.

"...about going through Sun and heart ache only to come out stronfermGreat characters and story!" Read more

"...Overall, though, I enjoyed the characters and kept going back to read more. I saw a review saying this book was depressing. I disagree...." Read more

"I liked the characters but Neve is a name I can't seem to pronounce. And Han I thought was Asian at first." Read more

"...This book sucked me in and made me care about the characters right away...." Read more

63 customers mention "Pacing"57 positive6 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, finding it believable and gut-wrenching, with one customer noting how it kept them engaged until the very end.

"...The characters are complex and relatable...." Read more

"...The author touches on them in a way that is kind, but real...." Read more

"Great escape from reality. Hard to put down. You end up rooting for all of the characters - even the ones you didn’t expect" Read more

"...the characters to be cliche and they were but they were also very real...." Read more

51 customers mention "Humor"47 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it laugh-out-loud hysterical at times while maintaining a heartwarming tone throughout.

"...It’s so well-written, deep, insightful, funny, and all the things… I fell in love with these women and their journeys...." Read more

"...Well written, entertaining, engrossing, and once again, timely! An excellent read." Read more

"Loved it ! Funny ,,sad good vibes and a hard to put down read!!! I really enjoyed it ossible feeling" Read more

"Flowing and fun. It had great life lessons told in a way to capture and hook you...." Read more

24 customers mention "Style"24 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the style of the book, describing it as unexpectedly beautiful and sweet, with one customer noting its thoughtful approach.

"...The relationship between Olivia and her sister was relatable and beautiful...." Read more

"...romance novel, this story has real people with real issues and a sweet, though predictable, satisfying, cookie cutter happy ending...." Read more

"Cute, easy read about love and friendship, fame and simplicity." Read more

"So cute..." Read more

23 customers mention "Romance"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the romance in the book, noting it has just the right amount and is full of love, with one customer highlighting how it explores relationships between women and the value of sisterhood.

"...and turned in ways that I wasn’t expecting and left me full, full of love and joy for the characters and their lives!..." Read more

"Fresh and different storyline with lots of great characters and romance but also some real life tough topics. I want the story keep going!..." Read more

"...I’m at the beach and this was a good story of redemption, friendship and love. The best part is the backstories, which were truly sad, were off page." Read more

"...Watching them both find healing and eventually love was awe inspiring...." Read more

51 customers mention "Story quality"35 positive16 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality of the book, with some enjoying the twists and unexpected turns, while others find it rather predictable.

"...So powerful. Such strong characters. Such pain and redemption. Breaking down and building up. Finding your way. Figuring out Who you are. “..." Read more

"This was an unexpected book in that there were so many emotions that were generated by this book...." Read more

"...The story itself was a bit rambling and semi-disjointed (still a four star book). I only wish for a tiny bit more character development...." Read more

"...Big trigger warning there. Besides the hopefulness in the book, I began waiting for the delightful descriptions of nature that would suddenly appear...." Read more

Loved it more than I even expected!
5 out of 5 stars
Loved it more than I even expected!
This was my first time reading one of Liz Talley’s books and, while I was sure I would like it based on the blurb, it exceeded my expectations! I loved this book! I tend to gravitate towards rom-coms but this women’s fiction book was so good! The characters were realistic, flawed, humbled, and sometimes even obnoxious but watching their growth was so rewarding. Liz Talley did a wonderful job of pulling back the curtain, per se, to remind us that looks can be deceiving and you can’t always (or really ever) tell what’s going on in someone’s life just by looking at them. Especially in today’s crazed social media driven world...which doesn’t even come into play in this book really and I actually appreciated. Olivia and Chase both needed each other, they just didn’t know it yet! I highly recommend this book if you love strong female characters who buckle down to really discover who they are and who they want to be, without a man playing a huge role in that decision. Granted, there was still enough romance to keep my rom-com loving heart happy. Also, I know a few people who could benefit from a week (or ten!) of Adulting Boot Camp! Can we make that a real thing if it isn’t already?!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
    4 1/2 STARS!

    An emotional rollercoaster of healing and love! ADULTING by Liz Talley takes us into the world of glitz and glamor only to watch it all fall down around one starlet's head ... and watching her pick up the pieces is eye opening! The premise of the story was interesting right from the start and the depth of the characters held my attention. Watching them both find healing and eventually love was awe inspiring.

    It didn't take long for Chase to wrap herself around my heart as the depth of her despair pours out of her time and time again in toxic ways. She really comes into herself and shines through Olivia's program of healing.

    Olivia seems to have it all together, but as she lets her hair down a bit with Chase we see the hidden secrets she buries to try to convince herself that her world is rock solid.

    This book touches on addiction, rape, suicide and more so might be trigger some readers. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys seeing someone overcome strong adversity to heal and pick up the pieces of a tattered life.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
    I enjoyed this book. I was captivated from the first pages, and liked how the stories of the main characters intertwined in their past and present, how there was overlap in unrelated stories. The story itself was a bit rambling and semi-disjointed (still a four star book). I only wish for a tiny bit more character development. We got to know the characters and their stories, which were compelling, and I liked the way they were unpeeled like an onion, but wish I’d gotten more in the moment feelings from even one character (Chase, maybe?). Maybe if we’d seen more actual rehab? I’m not sure, I just felt like we were working a bit with skeletons rather than full, meaty character. Overall, though, I enjoyed the characters and kept going back to read more. I saw a review saying this book was depressing. I disagree. I found it a slow progression, which is how real life progress happens. And I enjoyed how the book would jump forward and give a brief explanation of what we missed. Even though it was an Amazon First read (aka, free), I enjoyed it and would recommend!
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2023
    Therapist Olivia and her patient Chase each have deep-seated issues to work through, even though they are both resistant. Both of their problems stem from the family ties that bind. Substance abuse, rape, and incest are referenced so this story is not for the faint of heart.

    Well-written with the empathy due to the victims and censure for the villains coming through. A great cast of characters, some a little broken. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent listening to this story. A new author to my TBR list.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2021
    Chase London is an off-the-rails movie star. Her mother pushed her into fame early, so Chase never learned how to be an adult human. Olivia is a superstar life coach/therapist with her own issues. She starts working with Chase. Actually living with her. After two weeks of clean living at Chase's Malibu house, Olivia drags her to her family cabin. It's not just rustic, it's derelict. The two women clean it up and continue living together while Olivia puts Chase through life experiences, teaching her how to grocery shop, for example, and do laundry. Meanwhile, Olivia grapples with her own dysfunctional family of origin from whom she's estranged, and her own repressed sexuality. They get to know townfolk. A carnival is held. Love blossoms. Chase is cured and goes back to the city to test her wings.

    This story had a compelling premise and started out believably, powerfully even. The pacing was good, and the author might be a therapist, she seemed so knowledgeable about human development and therapy. The description of life at the cabin rang true and the surroundings were lovely. The relationship between Olivia and her sister was relatable and beautiful.

    However, I had trouble with Olivia's character, who is so successful she has delegated the actual coaching to a couple dozen stellar employees. Yet, as a favor to an old friend, she agrees to live with a client. Do therapists even do that? I don't think they would, because boundaries would be an issue, and in fact by the end of this, there aren't any. Also, Olivia is repressed and unrealized herself, to such an extent it's hard to see her this successful. Lastly, Chase's pace of improvement, with never any setbacks and in such a compressed period of time, didn't seem plausible. So a mixed score on this one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
    This was an unexpected book in that there were so many emotions that were generated by this book. Be forewarned- difficult topics were addressed that could be triggers and they were necessary to get at the healing of three very damaged souls.

    This is the first book I have read by this author and I thank NetGalley for an early copy. This was a beautifully written book detailing the growing friendship between a counselor, Olivia, and her patient, Chase. Olivia is tasked with making sure that Chase, an actress, sticks to a drug free life and heals, to accept life and reality as an adult. I loved the concept and watching these two characters grow (and Olivia’s sister Neve also features heavily in this book). This is less a romance (although there is love) and more a look into how being an adult may be difficult but necessary to put a bad past behind you. I really enjoyed reading this book and didn’t want to stop. This book is poignant and well written and will stay with me for a while.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Leticia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don't even have words
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 3, 2023
    I just want to say that this lovely book made me very happy. I didn't want it to end. Lots of food for thought in it, about friendship, family, love and the part they play so our lives have meaning.
  • Arumi Martinez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the writing and characters
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 5, 2023
    Beautifully written. Characters are human. You feel compassion, exasperation, and endearment for
    them through the pages. I became a fan.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2021
    I enjoyed this book immensely. Characters are believable and relatable. Story arc is believable. I had a hard time putting the book down and couldn't wait to get back to it when I did
  • Erin Rangi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful read
    Reviewed in Australia on July 28, 2021
    I wish you could rate a book without having. To write 20 words, but here I am. I loved this book and all of the characters. I literally cried and laughed.
  • Ritu B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2021
    Another really great read from Liz Talley.
    Chase London is a child star, thrown into fame's spotlights from a young age, but, as is the story for many, the fame doesn't translate as well as an adult.
    Battling addiction, rehab, and a failing career, she ends up in the hands of therapist, Olivia Han, who's been hired to straighten her out and get her ready for her next role.
    They end up in a small wooden cabin, inherited by Olivia and her sister, Neve, as an opportunity for Chase to learn how to Adult - something she has never been taught to do. Simple tasks, such as grocery shopping, clearing leaves from a garden as well as the simple pleasures of eating a candy apple or going fishing.
    On the surface, it seems like a straightforward story of spoilt rich kid needs bringing down a peg or two, but quite quickly, the story shows the depth of trauma that Chase has suffered over the years; something quite tangled for Olivia to unpick.
    Beyond that, the treatment ends up being a time of reflection for Olivia, as well, facing some disturbing truths from her own life, building bridges and burning some, too.
    Of course, there is the element of relationships, too.
    Olivia is avoiding her supposed 'soulmate', and Chase has never really thought about the future, and who might be her 'one'.
    A touching book, with some moments to make you smile, but equally, some distressing moments, with talks of child abuse, but handled sensitively.

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