by Tim O'Brien
First published 1998
Professor Thomas Chippering, a.k.a "Tomcat," is a linguistic genius with a towering frame and a deluded sense of romantic appeal. Dumped by his wife Lorna Sue, he's hellbent on getting her back - or at least sabotaging her new marriage to a wealthy tycoon. But as Chippering hatches his schemes, he also pursues a flirtation with his neighbor, the alluring but married Mrs. Kooshof. Caught in a web of his own making, Chippering must decide whether to fight for his ex-wife or embrace a new chance at love, even if it means betraying his principles.
Genres: romance, american-fiction, contemporary, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, second-chance
Setting: Minnesota
368 pages · Hardcover · Broadway