Jane meets Duncan shortly after moving to Boyne City, Northern Michigan.

She quickly falls in love with him although things do not go very smoothly. It appears that Duncan is quite the cad about town. He still mows his ex-wife’s lawn, and the entire village is peppered with his ex-girlfriends. Jane cannot understand it.

Jane is a young teacher, enjoying educating second graders who routinely need to re-learn everything they learned the previous year having lost all knowledge over the summer holidays. She settles into her house and new environment. She visits thrift stores and hosts dinner parties with Duncan (with mixed success.) Then, she meets Aggie, Duncan’s ex-wife. Cue a spiralling downfall. She spends Thanksgiving with her mother (without Duncan.) Things seem to improve when she’s back in Boyne City… until a dinner party with Aggie and her new husband, and Duncan. The story rolls on with highs and lows for Jane and Duncan.

Suddenly, it’s four years later. Jane is marrying Luke Armstrong. Soon tragedy ensues. A friend’s mother dies and Jane picks up the pieces.

The story follows Jane over the next few years, following twists and turns in every chapter.

Katherine Heiny’s novel is well-paced and as I read it, pages turned by themselves. It would be easy to read in two or three absorbing sittings.

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny was published by Fourth Estate. It is out in paperback now.