The Actor and the Housewife

A Novel

By Shannon Hale

From New York Times-bestselling author and Newbery Honor winner Shannon Hale comes an utterly satisfying new novel that asks the question: Can a seemingly normal, happily married Mormon mother-of-four be best friends with Hollywood's hottest (happily married) heartthrob?

Becky is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets her dream actor Felix Callahan by chance. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later something has happened, though nothing has happened… it isn't sexual. It isn't even quite love. But soon Felix shows up in the Utah 'burbs to visit and before they know what's hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky's husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her best (girl)friend can't get her head around it. But Felix (think Colin Firth) and Becky have something special… something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it?

Shannon Hale's latest novel is at turns hilarious and heartbreaking, completely real, and utterly surreal too. One of those magical stories that explores all the permutations of what happens when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life, and changes everything…

Reviews for The Actor and the Housewife

“The Actor and the Housewife is completely unbelievable and totally credible…. The dialogue is witty, the romantic suspense genuine, and the finale? It ends the way it should.”—New York Daily News. Read full review.This effervescent story reads like a romantic comedy screenplay: Becky Jack is a feisty Mormon mom who becomes best friends with Hollywood heartthrob Felix. Sweetly satisfying, it’s the perfect diversion on a sunny day.—Family Circle.

“And while cynicism makes it difficult for readers to believe that such a platonic relationship could actually occur in the real world, author Shannon Hale does a fine job of making a case for this dream come true…. the novel is light, fun reading material for the beach or airplane and will cause more than a few readers to wonder what would happen if they happened to run into their favorite celebrity.”—Chicago Sun-Times.

“Hale’s prose is friendly and funny…”—Kirkus Reviews.

“Hale keeps the prose crackling with humor and has a sure hand in creating nuanced, believable characters”—Publishers Weekly

“Like "Austenland," "Housewife" is entertaining and is far above many books in its genre… [Hale] is a talented writer who creates compelling characters.”—Deseret News. Read full review.

“Hale offers a pure wish-fulfillment fantasy, one that readers, especially housewives, will thoroughly enjoy.”—Booklist