Random House Book Club March Happy Hour

Sometimes an event—large or small—can bring out a side of a loved one that we’ve never seen. That’s what happens to the family at the center of our March Spotlight Pick: The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin.

A sleepy Massachusetts town stops being so sleepy when the Frome family starts to unravel.

Inspired by Ethan Frome, a classic Edith Wharton novella about a strained marriage in a small town, The Smash-Up is an intimate, moving portrait of a family in distress and a powerful exploration of how the things we fail to notice can shatter a family, a community, and a nation.

Whether you love all The Smash-Up’s characters equally or you find yourself choosing sides, we guarantee you’ll be dying to discuss it by the end. So join us for a Zoom Happy Hour on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET—with a special appearance from author Ali Benjamin.

Register for the event here.

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Random House Book Club (RHBC) draws readers and books together by recommending compelling stories, providing guidance for book club leaders (and newbies!), and connecting authors with book clubs through phone chats. It’s also an invaluable resource for readers looking to enhance their reading experience, whether you’re in a book club, looking to start one, or prefer to read solo. Sign up for our RHBC e-newsletter and you’ll get the latest recommendations for what your book club should read next (even if you’re in a book club of one)! From new releases to old favorites, we’ll keep you up to date with plenty of giveaways, behind-the-scenes interviews with authors, bonus content to discuss at your meeting, and much more . . . because stories are better shared.