South Bay

"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning authorWhen Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant, a kindly older gentleman... and Charlie, a handsome best-selling novelist who wants more from Mar than she's able to give. She learns something new from each encounter. But can she change enough to open herself up to happiness and true connection?Surrounded by an ensemble of quirky, endearing characters, Mar follows a tortuous and unpredictable path as she navigates the first year of her reinvented life. My Year of Casual Acquaintances is packed with laugh-out-loud moments mingled with scenes of loneliness and self-doubt that will put a lump in your throat.

"Hint by artful hint, Stevens pulled me into the masterfully intertwined stories of her ensemble cast, and I was hooked." -Marsha Jacobson, award-winning author of The Wrong CalamityCharlie Kittredge can't seem to break out of the writer's block that is threatening his career as a best-selling novelist and his loving relationship with girlfriend Margaret. Gwendolyn, Margaret's mother, can't seem to help behaving outrageously and offending others in her quest to remain forever young. And good friend Sunny can't seem to stop the downward spiral of boyfriend, job, and money problems that plague her along with memories of an abusive father and a secret crush on Charlie.When Gwendolyn finds herself marooned in Los Angeles and Sunny is thrown out of her apartment, they become permanent fixtures at Charlie and Margaret's, invading their love nest. Personalities clash until finally, at a disastrous family party, secrets are revealed and tensions reach a breaking point. Estranged from the woman they all hold dear, Charlie and the others set out on separate journeys to find a way to vanquish their personal demons and regain Margaret's trust-if it's not too late.By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, The Unexpected Guests is a page-turning celebration of mature romance, self-discovery, and the true meaning of family.