FICTION — FROM THE LIBRARY JOURNAL

The Other Beautiful People

by Caroline Bock

Regal House. Jun. 2026. 266p. ISBN 9781646037292. pbk. $19.95. FICTION

In her first novel for adults, Bock (Carry Her Home) draws on her two-decade PR career within the cable television industry. Set during the early aughts shortly after 9/11, the first-person narrative is recounted by Amy, a marketing executive at a classic cinema network. It’s a demanding job, and her recent move from New York to the DC suburbs further complicates her situation, especially as she tries to commute by train and work remotely. Her husband’s heart attack, the sale of her network, and other personal events force Amy to make some significant life decisions. This is a beautifully written novel that uses poetic and poignant language to describe New York City under the somber specter of a post-9/11 world. The author so deftly depicts the long workdays Amy endures that readers will commiserate with her exhaustion. This book also provides a glimpse of life before smartphones, wireless computing, video conferencing, and remote work became the norm.

VERDICT Will have wide appeal, as it explores numerous subjects, including the complexities of marriage, death, grief, love, nostalgia, and work/nuclear family dynamics.

Reviewed by Erica Swenson Danowitz , Apr 24, 2026