{"product_id":"alan-opts-out","title":"Alan Opts Out","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eAlan Opts Out\u003c\/i\u003e is a smart, funny, and all-too-timely tale of Americans on the edge of collapse, trying to figure out how to lead lives of authenticity and connection while also drowning in late-stage capitalism. Maum delivers wry humor without sacrificing compassion, offering what is both a sharp satire and also a surprisingly tender portrayal of people who are way, way over their heads, and just trying to be free.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eElizabeth Gilbert\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eOne of LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2026\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"The eat-the-rich farce we need, from one of our funniest writers.\" -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLitHub\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Like all good satire, \n\u003ci\u003eAlan Opts Out\u003c\/i\u003eis vivid, lacerating and funny. But it also presents uncommon empathy for those it skewers--the desperate social climbers in lush and wealthy suburbs, a fierce little universe where nothing is more precious than an immaculate cherry hedge, or membership in an exclusive club filled with people you can't stand. Only the sane opt out.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCarl Hiaasen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A sly, propulsive, and painfully hilarious family drama--this novel felt distinctly Franzenian to me, like if \n\u003ci\u003eThe Corrections\u003c\/i\u003e had been written a full decade after the confirmed death of the American dream. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud; reading this book reminded me how much fun a novel can be.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCaro Claire Burke, author of Yesteryear\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"If you appreciate witty novelists along the lines of Rumaan Alam and Sloane Crosley, meet Maum, whose novels drop every few years like cool albums for people in the know. This time she sinks her white-hot kebab skewer into the high-end grill set in Greenwich, Conn., where families reminiscent of the ones in 'Your Friends \u0026amp; Neighbors' keep up with the Joneses (or the Rockefellers).\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"[A] socially savvy comedy of manners.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Boston Globe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny, and profound. \n\u003ci\u003eAlan Opts Out\u003c\/i\u003e is a delight.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eJ. Courtney Sullivan, author of The Cliffs and Maine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCourtney Maum\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of five previous books, including the romantic comedy \n\u003ci\u003eTouch\u003c\/i\u003e ( \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003eEditors' Choice) about a tech worker's efforts to reclaim her humanity and the memoir \n\u003ci\u003eThe Year of the Horses \u003c\/i\u003echosen by the \n\u003ci\u003eToday\u003c\/i\u003e show as one of the best reads for mental health awareness. The author also of the groundbreaking publishing guidebook \n\u003ci\u003eBefore and After the Book Deal\u003c\/i\u003e and the bestselling Substack newsletter by the same name, Maum is an educator and writing coach helping people hold on to the joy of art making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands. In addition to her creative writing, teaching, and advocacy work for writers at the Authors Guild, Maum worked internationally as a brand strategist and corporate namer in the advertising world for twenty years. Learn more and sign up for her writing classes at CourtneyMaum.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Comedically speaking, the excesses of suburbia are low-hanging fruit, but Ms. Maum finds a few new targets . . . [and] keeps readers rooting for the slightly broken members of the Anderson family to make their way back to one another.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Funny, surprising, empathetic, and human, the best satire reminds us that the only rational reaction to a world gone mad is to embrace the irrational, and to redefine what matters most. If this book lands in your hands, I beg you to opt in. It's chicken soup for the late-stage capitalist soul. (Or should I say lobster bisque.)\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSteven Rowley, author of The Guncle\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Witty, sharp, and tender, \n\u003ci\u003eAlan Opts Out\u003c\/i\u003e skewers late-stage capitalism and material ambition while keeping human hearts--a family of them--at its center. Courtney Maum's eye for details is unmatched. She creates a family you quickly embrace, along with one of most unforgettable fictional parties of all time. Beneath the critique is a case for love: when the trappings fall away, love is what remains.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRachel Khong, author of Real Americans\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Courtney Maum exposes how much of our lives--and our bank accounts--we sacrifice just to fit in. When a husband decides to downsize his life just as his wife races to supersize hers, their marriage becomes a referendum on the American obsession with more. A brilliant, hilarious reminder that what we already have might just be enough.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNathan Hill, author of The Nix and Wellness\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"[A] pitch-perfect satire . . . Packed with Maum's gimlet-eyed observations . . . the novel offers a fierce and funny portrait of late-stage capitalism and its limited supply of happiness. It's a gem.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Sharp observations . . . Witty dialogue . . . Maum's writing relies on humor and quick pacing to examine consumption, ambition, and social performance, presenting a study of suburban life that questions the cost of success and perfection.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A sharp comedy of manners about consumer values and authenticity.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNewsday\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"This hilarious novel imagines what happens when an ad exec has a revelation about the evils of his industry. The ripple effect on his family and community will have you in stitches.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSuzanna Hermans, co-owner of Oblong Books, Hudson Valley Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e \"Summer's Best Beach Reads\" Pick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Ambitious and witty.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper's Bazaar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Fresh, provocative and uproariously funny.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeople\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"This is a funny, modern look at consumerism, unhappiness, and the suburban nouveau riche.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGood Housekeeping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times \u003c\/i\u003eBest Book of June\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Town \u0026amp; Country's Must-Read Books of Summer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A scathingly funny novel of suburban competitive consumption . . . This clever book will prompt readers' reflections on what it truly takes to be happy\u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003ethat is, after they stop laughing.\" \u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBookreporter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Ambitious, timely . . . A worthy post-pandemic successor to great American epics of suburbia and consumer culture, such as Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections. . . Maum delivers a sharp critique of capitalism and the sacrifices people make to find a sense of belonging, without ever sounding preachy or losing the pacing of this novel.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLibrary Journal (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eIn this timely and comedic take on ambition, consumerism, and the sticker price of privilege, an ad exec who bombs the biggest pitch of his career decides to forgo capitalism and live off the land of his suburban Connecticut home. Perfect for readers of Rufi Thorpe and Taffy Brodesser-Akner.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Alan Anderson is a powerful advertising executive who has built a successful life and thriving business by making people buy stuff they don't actually need. He's up for the biggest pitch of his career and the account \n\u003ci\u003eeveryone\u003c\/i\u003e wants, US Dairy: cow's milk sales are plummeting, and the C-Suite wants to see trendy oat milk kicked to the curb. But when an anarchist farmer tanks Alan's presentation, Alan bombs the pitch but ends the day with an epiphany. No longer will he exploit the insecurities of others in the service of capitalism. Alan is opting out. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This development is anathema to his wife, Vivian. She's just a few positive affirmations, a swimming pool, and an exacting series of social tests away from finally becoming part of the elite women's club, the Queen Annes, in their adopted town of Greenwich, Connecticut. As if contending with a daughter who wants to write plays (!) and another who has an unnatural empathy with animals isn't enough to manage, she can only watch as Alan moves into their backyard playhouse to live off the land and--worse--spend time with the family. But instead of shocking the neighbors, Alan's commitment to a less-is-more lifestyle seems to be catching on. Could everyone want what Alan's not selling? \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Funny, sexy, intelligent, and poignant, \n\u003ci\u003eAlan Opts Out\u003c\/i\u003e is the most ambitious novel to date by celebrated author Courtney Maum, acclaimed for her stories that tackle big, chewy subjects of our post-modern America with wit and heart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/13\/2026 (EAN 9780316599108, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 pg. 114 (EAN 9780316599108, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 (EAN 9780316599108, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/15\/2026 (EAN 9780316599108, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Little Brown and Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496281309462,"sku":"9780316599108","price":34.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780316599108.jpg?v=1783058926","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/alan-opts-out","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}