A funny, bittersweet novel about a mother-daughter stand-up comedy rivalry that becomes the only honest conversation they’ve ever had, from the author of When We Were Enemies.

When struggling Chicago stand-up comic Chloe Masterson turns a disastrous family dinner into a viral comedy set, her mother becomes the punch line—winning Chloe new fans, new gigs, and the big break she’s spent years chasing.

But Mary isn’t laughing.

After discovering her daughter has turned their private history into comedy gold, she grabs the mic to give Chloe a taste of her own medicine. But what begins as a mother’s attempt to prove a point turns into a genuine shot at the spotlight. Mary is good at stand-up—really good.

As she secretly rises through Chicago’s comedy ranks, Chloe is doing the same on the other side of the city, completely unaware her mother is becoming something far more dangerous than inspiration—competition. Soon, both women are barreling toward the same career-defining opportunity and a very public head-on collision.

As their rivalry heats up and old wounds resurface, Chloe and Mary must decide what matters more: winning the spotlight or finding their way back to each other.

Emily Bleeker is the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of Good Days Bad Days, When We Were Enemies, and When We Chased the Light, among other novels, which have reached more than two million readers worldwide. In addition to writing novels, Emily performs improv comedy with the house team of a local theater in suburban Chicago and has a deep love for stand-up, storytelling, and the beautifully awkward ways humor connects people. She lives near Chicago with her family and can usually be found writing, running, momming, or indulging in a night of karaoke. For more information, visit www.emilybleeker.com.