Ms.Demeanor by Elinor Lipman: Book Review

Ms.Demeanor is an entertaining novel about a lawyer who suddenly finds herself on house arrest for six months. It was a fun read!

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my local library for purchasing this audiobook.

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From The Publisher:

From one of America’s most beloved contemporary novelists, a delicious and witty story about love under house arrest

Jane Morgan is a valued member of her law firm–or was, until a prudish neighbor, binoculars poised, observes her having sex on the roof of her NYC apartment building. Police are summoned, and a punishing judge sentences her to six months of home confinement. With Jane now jobless and rootless, trapped at home, life looks bleak. Yes, her twin sister provides support and advice, but mostly of the unwelcome kind. When a doorman lets slip that Jane isn’t the only resident wearing an ankle monitor, she strikes up a friendship with fellow white-collar felon Perry Salisbury. As she tries to adapt to life within her apartment walls, she discovers she hasn’t heard the end of that tattletale neighbor–whose past isn’t as decorous as her 9-1-1 snitching would suggest. Why are police knocking on Jane’s door again? Can her house arrest have a silver lining? Can two wrongs make a right? 

My Thoughts:

We find romance in some very odd situations and that is the case with Jane Morgan in Ms.Demeanor. When this attorney is spotted getting caught up in passion with a junior member of her staff on the rooftop of her New York apartment building, she is placed on house arrest for six months. But when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, right?

Jane is suspended from practicing law during this time so she begins cooking using a recently acquired late Aunt’s antique cookbook. She also learns from her doorman that there is a man who lives in the building on house arrest. She decides to visit him and find out more. Little does she know that these two will have more in common than what first meets the eye and a romance slowly develops.

Surrounded by an interesting cast of supporting characters (including Jane’s twin sister), Jane’s life over the six months is highlighted. A mystery surrounding the sudden death of the woman who called in Jane’s rooftop night of passion is cleverly woven into the story.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of Ms.Demeanor which is narrated by Piper Goodeve. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. It was articulate, enthusiastic and full of expression. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book.

I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction.

What I Liked:

• The use of humour throughout the book
• How Jane maximizes her days spent under house arrest
• The romance that slowly develops as the book progresses

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned