Love May Fail

A neglected housewife searches for decency, goodness, and her high school English teacher in this offbeat novel from a New York Times–bestselling author.

"Inspiring. . . . Matthew Quick has a way with wounded characters." —Boston Globe

Portia Kane is having a meltdown. After escaping her ritzy Florida life and her cheating pornographer husband, she finds herself back in South Jersey, a place that remains largely unchanged from the years of her unhappy youth. Lost and alone, looking to find the goodness in the world she believes still exists, Portia sets off to save herself by saving someone else—a beloved high school English teacher who has retired after a traumatic incident.

Will a sassy nun, an ex-heroin addict, a metal-head little boy, and her hoarder mother help or hurt her chances on this madcap quest to restore a good man's reputation and find renewed hope in the human race? Love May Fail is a story of the great highs and lows of existence: the heartache and daring choices it takes to become the person you know (deep down) you are meant to be.

"Quick celebrates the power of flawed, ordinary human beings to rescue themselves and each other. His writing is shot through with wit and humanity and an ultimately optimistic view of people, without ever becoming sentimental." —Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project

"Mr. Quick excels at writing what he knows, and making readers feel intimately connected to his characters. Love May Fail also reflects his mastery of devising humorous dialogue, interlaced with rabid vulgarity." —Wall Street Journal

"An easy, enjoyable, and thoughtful read with laughs and tears along the way. Quick's devotees won't be disappointed." —Library Journal