- ASIN: B0CNWYQTLX
- Publisher: Leonora Ross; 2nd edition (8 Dec. 2023)
- Language: English
- Print length: 337 pages
- Genre: Romantic Ensemble Fiction
The BookViral Review:
Leonora Ross’s Tess Has a Broken Heart, and Other Comedies Full of Errors is a heartwarming, sharply observant, and refreshingly witty novel that celebrates the messy, beautiful chaos of friendship, midlife reinvention, and the many ways we love — and sometimes lose — each other. At once a slice-of-life comedy and a gentle character study, the novel balances humor with emotional insight, tackling everything from personal heartbreak to the complexities of modern cohabitation.
A Found Family Comedy
The heart of the story revolves around Tess Lombard, an emotionally tender artist and devoted friend, who embarks on a new chapter of life alongside her best friend Zara, a pragmatic neurosurgeon and single mom to the bright and hilarious Zénnie. After moving from Los Angeles to Calgary, the trio takes an unconventional leap: they rent a sprawling house near the Canadian Rockies and open it up to a crew of eclectic tenants — all of whom come with quirks, histories, and plenty of emotional baggage.
What could have easily slipped into sitcom clichés instead unfolds with warmth and subtle depth. Each new housemate — from charming lawyer James and his quietly sweet brother Colin to the flamboyant and fabulous Pax Reed-Burton — adds dimension to the makeshift family dynamic. Their collective journey, filled with laughter, shared meals, philosophical banter, and even some midlife crises, is both touching and wildly entertaining.
Sharp Dialogue and Richly Drawn Characters
Ross has a gift for naturalistic, often laugh-out-loud dialogue. The banter is razor-sharp yet affectionate, capturing the oddball rhythms of deep friendship. The standout voice of Pax, with her posh British cadence and unapologetic flair, brings particular joy to the narrative.
Each character is drawn with care and nuance — not just the central figures, but the extended ensemble. Zénnie, especially, stands out as one of the most genuinely delightful child characters in recent fiction: whip-smart, hilariously precocious, and deeply lovable without ever veering into caricature.
Lighthearted but Layered
Beneath the humor and whimsical premise lies a story about emotional resilience, aging, grief, and second chances. Tess’s romantic entanglement with the enigmatic Adam is ultimately a hollow one — a spark that fizzles quickly and leaves behind emotional debris. But it serves an important purpose: it leads her to Francis, the quietly brilliant and emotionally intelligent cousin of her housemates. Their slow-burn connection becomes the novel’s emotional core. Far from a fairytale romance, their bond is rich with nuance, shaped by Tess’s deep-seated trust issues and her fear that their seven-year age gap makes her unworthy or incompatible. Ross handles their unfolding relationship with gentle authenticity, capturing the tension between self-protection and vulnerability that often accompanies love later in life. It’s not the sweep-you-off-your-feet romance — it’s the kind that asks for patience, healing, and the courage to believe you deserve something lasting.
The book’s episodic structure — almost like a TV dramedy — allows for a series of adventures and small crises that mirror real life. Whether it’s shopping for swimsuits before a Hawaiian vacation or navigating the tricky dynamics of communal living, the story captures the push and pull between independence and intimacy with wit and compassion.
Verdict
Tess Has a Broken Heart, and Other Comedies Full of Errors is an uplifting, smart, and joyously female-driven novel that will appeal to fans of The Big Chill, Firefly Lane, or even Friends — but with more grown-up stakes. Leonora Ross writes with humor, heart, and a deep understanding of how our chosen families sometimes matter just as much as the ones we’re born into.
It is an unreservedly recommended Golden Quill read.
