The Next Best Thing (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• Lucy Mirabelli: Former pastry chef now a bread maker at her family's bakery. She was widowed over five years ago and has strawberry blond hair with whiskey-colored eyes.
• Ethan Mirabelli: The brother in-law that comes to Lucys rescue after her husband dies.
• Nicky: Ethan's son by Parker Welles
• Corinne Duvall: Lucy's sister, also called "Cory." Married to Christopherm Emma's mother.
• Christopher Duvall: Corrine's husband, Lucy's brother-in-law, Emma's father
• Emma Duvall: Lucy's niece, Corrine's baby daughter
• Daisy Black Lang: Lucy and Corinne's mother, a widow
• Rose Black Thompson: Lucy's aunt, a widow
• Iris Black Sander: Lucy's aunt, a widow
• Jimmy Mirabelli: Lucy's deceased husband and Ethan's brother
• Gianni Mirabelli: Ethan's father and Lucy's former father-in-law
• Marie Mirabelli: Ethan's mother and Lucy's former mother-in-law
• Parker Welles: Mother of Ethan's son, Nicky, and Lucy's friend
• Jorge: Works at the bakery
• Matt Desalvo: NatureMade salesman
• Stevie Thompson: Rose's only child, Lucy's cousin
• Fat Mikey: Lucy's cat
• Corbin Wojoczieski: One of Lucy's dates
• Doral-Anne Driscoll: Manager of the local Starbucks,
• Bob: Runs a sailing tour business, is in love with Daisy who doesn't give him the time of day.
• Mr. Dombrowski: Bakery customer
• Fred Busey: One of Lucy's fix-ups
• Roxanne: Waitress at Lenny's
• Laura: Anne's partner
• Anne Sander: Iris' daughter, who is an obstetrician and gay. Her partner is Laura.
• Grinelda: Gypsy who does readings but Lucy thinks she is a fake
• Neddy Sander: Iris' son
• Charley Spirito: One of Lucy's dates

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Mackerly, Rhode Island: Story setting
• Ellington Park: Park adjacent to Lucy and Ethan's building
• The Boatworks: Ethan and Lucy's condo complex
• Grayhurst: Parker's family home

Organizations edit see section history

• Bunny's Hungarian Bakery: Lucy's bakery that she runs with her mother and aunts
• Gianni's Ristorante: Restaurant owned by the Mirabelli family

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• The Black Widows: The nickname for Lucy's mother and aunts whose husbands all died young. Their maiden name is Black.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Dealing with Grief and Loss: Finding a way to live with the past instead of in it; moving on and not idealizing the ones that are gone and accepting those in your present, embracing them.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by Somebody To Love.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Kristan Higgins (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: CPB Box no. 3120 vol. 19 Copyright Pbk Coll FT MEADE
• Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Some profanity.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Contemporary

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Kristan Higgins: Author's website

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