Speaking Frankly

Jen's not been with boyfriend Joe long. She's heard about his family, sure: a clan of rambunctious Italian American New Yorkers, seventeen-strong and (by her count anyway) at least half of them named some version of 'Frank'.

Yet that won't be enough to help her once Jen finds herself heading for three days of a chaotic Italian American family Christmas: atheist, vegetarian, unexpectedly, secretly pregnant - and, worst of all, once Joe misses his flight, alone.

Jen isn't the only one with a lot riding on Christmas dinner. Theresa, the all-Italian matriarch, has something to prove; as does Frankie, the overlooked daughter looking to step into the spotlight; and Joe himself, hot on Jen's heels with ring in tow.

In the whirlwind of preparations, amid meatballs-gone-wrong and late arrivals, secrets will be revealed as things come to a boil. Both Jen and Theresa must confront what it means to belong, and learn that being a family isn't about keeping it all together. It's about being there for each other when it all falls apart.

Speaking Frankly is the perfect feel-good, festive family comedy with heart from a debut author to watch.