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, 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 the Author
Eden Robins is the author of the novel When Franny Stands Up, which was named a best book of 2022 by the Chicago Reader and a best queer book of 2022 by Autostraddle. Her short stories and essays have appeared in Slate, USA Today, LA Review of Books, Catapult, and others. She is currently a school crossing guard, and previously, she sold sex toys, crafted jokes for Big Pharma, and wrote cognitive behavioral therapy for an AI chatbot. She lives in Chicago, has been to the bottom of the ocean, and will never go to space.


Book Information
ISBN 9781728256009
Author Eden Robins
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Sourcebooks Landmark
Publisher Sourcebooks, Inc
Weight(grams) 365g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 142mm * 27mm