Book Review: The Editor by Steven Rowley

The Editor by Steven Rowley
Publisher: ‎ G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

After years of trying to make it as a writer in 1990s New York City, James Smale finally sells his novel to an editor at a major publishing house: none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie–or Mrs. Onassis, as she’s known in the office–has fallen in love with James’s candidly autobiographical novel, one that exposes his own dysfunctional family. But when the book’s forthcoming publication threatens to unravel already fragile relationships, both within his family and with his partner, James finds that he can’t bring himself to finish the manuscript.

Jackie and James develop an unexpected friendship, and she pushes him to write an authentic ending, encouraging him to head home to confront the truth about his relationship with his mother. Then a long-held family secret is revealed, and he realizes his editor may have had a larger plan that goes beyond the page…

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus comes a funny, poignant, and highly original novel about an author whose relationship with his very famous book editor will change him forever–both as a writer and as a son.

James Smale has written a novel about a son’s relationship with his mother. He sells his novel to a major publishing house where the editor is none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She recognizes that his novel is autobiographical and pushes him to come up with a more authentic ending. In doing so, he must confront his mother about the past.

Even though this book is called The Editor, it’s more about James’s journey as a son than about Jackie. It’s also about James’s relationship with his siblings and with his partner, Daniel. I have now completed my goal of reading Steven Rowley’s backlist before his next book, The Celebrants comes out in May. I highly recommended The Editor.

Other books I’ve reviewed by Steven Rowley:
Lily and the Octopus
The Guncle