The Unexpected Guests: A Novel

“Hint by artful hint, Stevens pulled me into the masterfully intertwined stories of her ensemble cast, and I was hooked.” –Marsha Jacobson, award-winning author of The Wrong Calamity

Charlie Kittredge can't seem to break out of the writer's block that is threatening his career as a best-selling novelist and his loving relationship with girlfriend Margaret. Gwendolyn, Margaret's mother, can't seem to help behaving outrageously and offending others in her quest to remain forever young. And good friend Sunny can't seem to stop the downward spiral of boyfriend, job, and money problems that plague her along with memories of an abusive father and a secret crush on Charlie.

When Gwendolyn finds herself marooned in Los Angeles and Sunny is thrown out of her apartment, they become permanent fixtures at Charlie and Margaret's, invading their love nest. Personalities clash until finally, at a disastrous family party, secrets are revealed and tensions reach a breaking point. Estranged from the woman they all hold dear, Charlie and the others set out on separate journeys to find a way to vanquish their personal demons and regain Margaret's trust—if it's not too late.

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, The Unexpected Guests is a page-turning celebration of mature romance, self-discovery, and the true meaning of family.