The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

Nilufer O, Reviewer

I don’t have enough words to express how much I loved this book! What a fun reading with classic 90’s movie vibes: Thelma& Louise, Driving Miss Daisy, Midnight Run. The characterization was perfect! The mysterious plot blended in laugh out loud text and interrogation transcripts between Louise’s kids and witty banters between Tanner and Louise! For so long I haven’t laughed so hard! If this book will be adapted into screenplay ( definitely should be) Helen Mirren is my candidate to play Louise! Let’s take a look at the entertaining plot; Tanner & Louise are the oldest pair: Tanner: dropped out college girl at the age 21, wearing dirty t-shirts, sweatpants, glued to the couch, playing video games all day. Louise: eighty four, sharp witted, blunt, stick to 4 o’clock vodka happy hours, finishing her crossword puzzles. Tanner is sulking, bottling up her anger and frustration after having a unfortunate accident which harms her leg, destroying her dreams to be soccer player and losing her full scholarship. As an intervention, her parents kick her out of her childhood house, finding her a job and new home: she’s going to take care of Louise who also fractured her hip, needing someone to drive her to several places, running errands. Tanner slowly adapts in her new life, barely sleeping at restless bed, listening disturbing ticking sound of grandpa clock, serving 4 o’clock vodkas, sniffing abrupt smell of her new landlord, ogling August who stops by to repair Louise’s car! But she watches the breaking news. They released an aged photo of notorious jewelry thief who is running from the authorities nearly 4 decades ! Why this woman is carbon copy of Louise? And why she appears in her room in the middle of the night to scream at her pack immediately! She also offers her to pay for driving her to California as the police sirens are blasting out outside! Tanner has to make choice: she can live her uneventful, boring life: without any hope to go back to college and old life or she can break her rules, driving Louise to her destination, getting paid, living like outlaws for a few days. She can tell the authorities Louise kidnapped her is things got out of control! Tanner decides to drive Miss Wilt without having any idea what kind of big double she gets herself into. I adored those characters and this mind blowing, exciting, humorous and also heartfelt road trip story! This is so far my favorite book of the author! I advise you just read it, read it and read it! Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Librarian 365892

I loved this book! The relationship between and Tanner and Louise is sweet, heartfelt and real! This book would be great for a book club group or a book discussion. I highly recommend!

Rosemary S, Librarian

Tanner Quimby cannot be described as having an excess of ambition. She’s looking for a place to live and a job that won’t require her to actually get dressed in real clothes. She finds an opportunity to work as a live in carer for an elderly woman and figures she’s landed on her feet. Unfortunately, Louise did not land on her feet when she slipped on a rug, and now her daughter has insisted that she have a live-in babysitter. These two women soon become unlikely allies when they go on the run after a big jewelry heist. Forget Thelma and Louise,Tanner & Louise are the duo you’re going to root for

“You’ll never be able to see what’s coming in this wildly surprising, entertaining ride of a novel—which is a coming-of-age story, a contending-with-age story, and a surprising exploration of how womanhood is a matter of surprising others…and oneself.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

“Colleen Oakley is in a world of her own when it comes to creating lovable, quirky characters—and those in The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise are her best yet. With an abundance of charm and wit, a dose of adventure, and surprises around each corner, you’ll be rooting for Tanner and Louise with every turn of the page. An absolute blast.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising

"The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is pure joy on paper. With wit, sass, and real emotion, Tanner and Louise, two unlikely fugitives, find connection, common ground, and true friendship across generations. A delightful reminder that there are meaningful second, third, and even fourth acts in life."—Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network
 
“Colleen Oakley’s The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is the ultimate road trip, featuring a pair of quirky, original characters on the lam from the law. A funny, fresh take on unlikely friendships and family, I’d ride shotgun with Tanner and Louise in a heartbeat!”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Newcomer

"An absolute delight. A twenty-first century version of Bonnie and Clyde…if Bonnie were an octogenarian jewel thief on the run and Clyde her bitter 20-something caretaker. It’s also a story of lifelong friendships, the (often) extra work women are saddled with, and the value of second chances. You will laugh out loud, maybe cry, but you will definitely be rooting for these strong, powerful women. Tanner and Louise will live forever in your heart and (likely) be the ones whispering for you to take that chance and risk it all."—Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell

“Deliciously entertaining, this feminist caper of a novel has a little of everything, from a wild road trip, to quirky and lovable characters, to a “keep you on your toes” mystery. With great charm and wit, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise offers a dazzling cornucopia of truths: the might of female friendship, that women only get better with age, and that the journey to self-discovery is a path worth taking. Colleen Oakley has done it again—I loved Tanner and Louise!”—Karma Brown, USA Today bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

"Absolutely delightful! I would follow Tanner and Louise anywhere."—Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
 
"I adored everything about this book. Sparkling writing, characters you root for, an unlikely partnership who may or may not be on the lam from the authorities and twists you didn’t see coming. Move over Thelma and Louise and make room for Louise and Tanner!”—Allison Winn Scotch, New York Times bestselling author of The Rewind

"[This] page-turner will inspire you to think about the secret histories we all carry."—Today.com

“Ambitionless 21-year-old Tanner needs a place to live but gets a lot more than she bargained for when she agrees to work as live-in caregiver for Louise, a vodka-swilling, sharp-as-a-tack elderly woman. The little old lady might not be as innocent as she seems, though, especially when she tells Tanner they need to make a quick getaway. Is Louise the culprit behind a legendary jewel heist? With a wild road trip, a classic car and a love interest reminiscent of a young Brad Pitt, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is tailor-made for fans of Thelma and Louise.”—Reader's Digest

"[A] fun new novel."—Southern Living

“A humorous, multigenerational tale of adventure and suspense.”—Atlanta Journal Constitution

"Oakley's storytelling is first-rate. Readers will eagerly hop aboard this wildly fun, greatly entertaining ride."—Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“Tanner and Louise’s growing bond is funny and heartwarming and gives heart to Oakley’s (The Invisible Husband of Frick Island) latest, but the sharp, witty dialogue and plotting keep the story from becoming too saccharine. A great read-alike for fans of the television show Hacks.”—Library Journal

“Oakley (The Invisible Husband of Frick Island) draws on Thelma and Louise for this delightful story of an elderly woman and her caregiver who go on the run...The antics of this unlikely duo makes for an entertaining buddy drama.”—Publishers Weekly

“Oakley spins a clever intergenerational story about two mismatched women who have more in common than they expected. Louise is a delight, an earthy, honest older woman, and the story is full of clever surprises. This lively odd-couple caper will appeal to fans of Fredrik Backman and Rachel Joyce.”—Booklist