Talk to Me by John Kenney

Talk to Me

Entertainment Weekly, New & Notable
New York Post, Best Book of the Week

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Love Poems for Married People and Thurber Prize-winner Truth in Advertising comes a sharp, tender story about a man’s public fall and his journey back to family and self.

Ted Grayson, a network TV anchor, is no stranger to reporting public downfalls—until his own profanity-filled outburst is caught on camera. His career and reputation collapse, leaving him without a script for the first time in years.

Though American viewers trusted Ted, his family did not. Years of travel and his on-screen persona have strained his relationships. At his meltdown, he’s estranged from his wife Claire and daughter Franny, a website writer. Franny views his disgrace with curiosity and some smugness, but when offered an interview opportunity, she must choose between career gain and family loyalty. For Ted, this crisis forces a reckoning and a chance to rebuild before it’s too late.

Talk to Me is a darkly funny, insightful, and warm exploration of mistakes, forgiveness, and empathy.