Read This Book . . .

Candice Carty-Williams, the author of Queenie, is back with her second novel, People Person. Cyril Pennington’s greatest love is his gold jeep, which might explain why he’s never been able to settle down. At the opening of the novel, we meet Cryril’s five children, and their four mothers, as he picks up each of them for a drive about the neighborhood. After Cyril drops them all off at home again, they aren’t all in the same place again for almost a decade.

Years later, Dimple Pennington, the sensitive middle sibling, finds herself in a tough spot. She seems to have accidentally killed her on-again-off-again boyfriend. Frantically, she calls her older sister, and before long all of her brothers and sisters show up to help get rid of the body. What’s worse: she’s been trying to make it as an online influencer for years, and her entire following (small though it may be) know far too much about her relationship with her boyfriend already. 

This family drama is delightfully over the top in all of the best ways. Hilarity ensues as Dimple continues to find herself in trouble, unable to keep herself from saying the exact wrong thing. This novel also has a lot of heart. Cyril immigrated to the UK as a young man, setting out to make a new life for himself. After a death in his family, the five Pennington siblings find themselves surrounded by their dad’s family, people they barely know.

And if you’re an audiobook fan, People Person is phenomenal on audio. Danielle Vitalis’ performance is perfect. While I was listening, I couldn’t stop laughing. The dialogue in particular shines throughout the whole novel, and Vitalis narrates each character in a way that makes each of them stand out.