When Franny Stands Up, Eden Robins
When Franny Stands Up, Eden Robins
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

When Franny Stands Up

Author: Eden Robins

Narrator: Lily Ganser

Unabridged: 12 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/01/2022

Synopsis

Franny Steinberg knows there’s powerful magic in laughter. She’s witnessed it.With the men of Chicago off fighting WWII on distant shores, Franny has watched the women of the city taking charge of the war effort. But amidst the war-bond sales and factory shifts, something surprising has emerged, something Franny could never have expected. A new marvel that has women flocking to comedy clubs across the nation: The Showstopper.When Franny steps into Chicago’s Blue Moon comedy club, she realizes the power of a Showstopper—that specific magic sparked when an audience laughs so hard that they are momentarily transformed. And while each comedian’s Showstopper is different, they all have one thing in common: they only work on women.After a traumatic flashback propels her onstage in a torn bridesmaid dress, Franny discovers her own Showstopper is something new. And suddenly she has the power to change everything—for herself, for her audience, and for the people who may need it most.

About Eden Robins

Eden Robins loves writing novels, but they take forever so she also writes short stories and self-absorbed essays. She cohosts a science podcast called No Such Thing as Boring with an actual scientist and coproduces a monthly live lit show in Chicago called Tuesday Funk. Previously, she sold sex toys, wrote jokes for Big Pharma, and once did stand-up comedy for an audience who didn’t boo. She lives in Chicago, has been to the bottom of the ocean, and will never go to space. This is her first novel.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mary Robinette on August 10, 2022

This is a fucking powerhouse of a novel. If you think it's a fantasy Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you're missing the wonderful and glorious nuance of this book. This is a book about comedy and trauma and family. It is funny and heartbreaking on every other page. I could not stop reading it, and I had dead......more

Goodreads review by ariadne on November 13, 2023

when franny stands up centers on franny steinberg who comes across the comedy club, blue moon, who provide a marvel of some sorts called the showerstopper. franny comes to discover the power of the showstopper, and after a traumatic flashback, franny realizes she has a showstopper of her own. i list......more

Goodreads review by Literary on November 05, 2022

I so wanted to love WHEN FRANNY STANDS UP, but there was too much going on in this chaotic story about an all-women's comedy club in Chicago. It's a different take on WWII, set in America where women have assumed many jobs once held by men. Elements of magical realism blend -- with mixed results --......more

Goodreads review by Wendy on November 01, 2022

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins is a debut historical novel that made me laugh, but, it’s so much more than just a comedy. It’s emotional, inspirational, and very unique. It has humor, and a bit of magical realism along with emotion, trauma, and found family. Story Re......more

Goodreads review by Geonn on December 05, 2022

The closest thing I can compare this to is "Mrs Maisel if she was in The L Word," but honestly that's incredibly misleading. If you write a book about a standup comedian, you might want to write a few jokes to go into it. Franny was never funny to me, definitely not funny enough to justify EVERYONE......more

Quotes

“Narrator Lilly Ganser…has many great characterizations, such as the jaded voice of Lottie, the nightclub manager, and Franny’s parents…As the author makes the case that laughter is the best medicine, listeners will indeed laugh.” AudioFile

“A sharply funny, heartwarming story with strong female characters, exploring religious, racial, and gender identity.” Booklist

“Robins overlays her convincing illustration of mid-century social repression of women with a stirring portrayal of Franny…Readers will fall in love with this one.” Publishers Weekly

“Franny learns what she can stand up for. Further, she learns that communication can be the key to resolving conflict and that holding back can be incredibly damaging to relationships.” Library Journal

“Funny, unsentimental, brave, and silly without being unserious. What a book!” Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author

“Smart and wickedly funny…a joy-roaring ride through mid-century Chicago.” Wesley Chu, author of The Art of Prophecy

“When Franny Stands Up is a riot of a book. Its characters burst with life and wit, even as they bristle against the hard edges of their world.” Rob Ziegler, author of Seed

“This novel is freaking magic in every way, and it pulls off just about every kind of magic trick you can imagine…I adore Franny.” Juan Martinez, author of Best Worst American

Awards

  • Chicago Reader Pick
  • All About Romance Pick
  • BuzzFeed Books Pick
  • Bustle Pick
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