When thirty-two-year-old Eric Boulanger returns to his Vermont hometown to care for his mother, he attempts to revive the town's failing economy by drumming up a contest that will offer a free wedding. The winner is Bostonian Ryan Toscano whose fiancé has left to become a Jesuit, but whose beloved, outspoken, Jewish grandmother insists she find a substitute in time for the gala affair. Eric's well-intentioned brainstorm sets three millennials on an--at times hilarious at times painful--odyssey of self-discovery, one, full of surprises amid deceptions, that forces them and an entire town to confront their notions of faith and death, love and acceptance.
“That's the issue here, Faye. I'm not getting married.”
“Why not? You just won this contest.”
“Get serious, Faye.”
“No, you get serious. If there were a doubt in your mind, you wouldn't be here today to discuss anything. You need to find a husband.”
Labozetta has a marvelous way of pulling the reader into the story. Her characters are wonderfully well-written with delightfully deep dialogue and a fast-paced plot... the author handles both humorous and agonizingly sad situations with an insight into human nature that renders her characters fully rounded. Surprising plot twists keep readers interested right up until the very end. Part love story, part philosophical discourse, this one leaves an impression.
The US Review of Books
A Day in June delighted me with its graceful, smart, witty writing. And with this rare gift: Marisa Labozzetta’s delicious premise delivers.
Elinor Lipman, On Turpentine Lane