Roland Rogers Isn't Dead Yet

July 15, 2024
Allen (Patricia Wants to Cuddle) unfurls a bizarre and ultimately gratifying tale of an unlikely duo who find common ground. Adam, a struggling author who’s been unable to repeat the success of his memoir about being excommunicated from the Mormon church for being gay, gets a gig as ghostwriter for Roland Rogers, 50, a movie star who plans to come out as gay in his memoir. After Adam arrives at the actor’s Malibu mansion, Roland talks to him through speakers in the smart home’s appliances and confesses that he’s recently died in a skiing accident in Utah. Roland isn’t sure how he’s able to address Adam, given the fact that he’s dead, and determines to dictate his story before his body is found on the mountain. The two grow closer through offbeat interactions, such as the waves of ecstasy felt by Roland when Adam eats something delectable, and Roland begins to fall for Adam, experiencing his first loving relationship with a man. Adam’s constant references to movie stars wears thin (he unfavorably compares his physique to Mark Wahlberg’s), but there’s surprising depth to Allen’s portrayal of Roland, who spent decades hiding his true self behind the jacked-up persona he maintained for a popular action series. For those who share Allen’s fixation on celebrity culture, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Agent: Leila Campoli, Stonesong.

Starred review from August 1, 2024
This follow-up to 2022's Patricia Wants to Cuddle is a haunting love story that is both sweet and weird in the best way. Adam is a washed-up writer whose only big hit, a memoir about coming out and being excommunicated from the Mormon Church, was published years ago. His agent barely returns his calls, so Adam is shocked when he invites him out to dinner and drops some big news: Roland Rogers--action-star Roland Rogers--is coming out via a new book, and he wants Adam to ghostwrite it for him. Adam arrives in Malibu to find Roland's house empty but his disembodied voice coming from the Alexa in the kitchen. Roland, it turns out, is dead. And his last act before fading away is going to be setting the record straight on his life. Over the course of a month, Adam and Roland will butt heads, uncover secrets, change each other's lives (or afterlives, as the case may be). Allen's character development only gets stronger with each book, and she's able to make even the most outlandish plots feel compelling and real. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston or TJ Klune.

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September 1, 2024
A down-and-out writer lands a gig ghostwriting a celebrity's memoir--only to discover he's writing for an actual ghost. Adam Gallagher's career is, for lack of a better word, dying. A decade after publishingSalt Lake City Sodomite, the bestselling recount of his Mormon upbringing and public excommunication, Adam hasn't written anything nearly as successful. Paul, his agent, has barely spoken to him in ages when he invites him out to a swanky steak dinner to tell him that Roland Rogers has personally requestedhim to write his coming-out story. Roland is a household name, a modern-day Cary Grant who stars as Crag Dynamite in a popular action movie franchise. After decades in the limelight as a charming bachelor, Roland is ready to speak his truth: He's gay. Who better to write his story than his favorite author, who publicly came out all those years ago? After getting all the details from Paul, Adam sets out to spend a month at Roland's Malibu mansion and transcribe the superstar's story, as requested, by hand. But when Adam arrives at the celebrity's doorstep, there's just one tiny little hiccup: Roland is dead. After having suffered an accident on a solo backcountry skiing trip, Roland's body remains buried under mountains of snow, but his spirit haunts his California mansion through various electrical appliances. With Adam's help, he plans to use his book to come out before news spreads of his death. After the initial shock of meeting a ghost, Adam is prepared to fulfill Roland's dying wish--his own career depends on it. As weeks pass, Adam and Roland develop a connection neither has felt, alive or dead, but Adam can't help but wonder...Why now? Allen's supernatural tale is eccentric, funny, and pleasantly peculiar. Adam and Roland are unconventional protagonists: two middle-aged men, one wildly famous and the other comically downtrodden, both searching for a sense of self. Allen offers readers an unlikely romance, sprinkled with lust, regret, humor, and even paranormal activity, and somehow it absolutely works. A wacky yet touching tale about love, truth, and acceptance.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2024

Adam's first book, a memoir about his coming out as a young gay Mormon, was a huge success but he has struggled to recapture that same level of acclaim. When his agent offers him a big book deal to ghostwrite a celebrity memoir, he eagerly agrees, hoping it will restart his career. The deal includes a large check and the opportunity to meet mega-famous action star Roland Rogers, as well as stay in his Malibu mansion. However, strange things happen as soon as Adam arrives for the job, such as the fact that Roland only communicates with Adam through electronic devices. Adam soon discovers that Roland has recently died, and his spirit desperately wants to tell his real life story before his body is found. Roland, who played a heterosexual heartthrob on the big screen, was gay but not out, and now he wants the world to know his truth. As Adam helps him write his life story, they fall in love, despite Roland being a ghost. VERDICT Allen's (Patricia Wants To Cuddle) unconventional novel about reputation, success, identity, and living authentically will appeal to readers looking for a unique take on a love story.--Migdalia Jimenez

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