The Girl from Charnelle

“The Girl from Charnelle burrows not just under the reader’s skin, but into the flesh as well. K. L. Cook has given us a taut, textured tale that’s grounded in both character and place.”
— Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls

Praise for The Girl from Charnelle

“The Girl from Charnelle and K. L. Cook give us characters we care about—even grow to love—set inside a story that strikes deep, the way important novels used to do. This story of running from oneself to find oneself is beautiful and tender and moving and true.”

— Bret Lott, author of Jewel and A Song I Knew by Heart

“In The Girl from Charnelle K.L. Cook has written a brilliant portrait of a small-town teenage girl, whose secret affair shows such a complicated mix of will and entanglement, desire and accident, that it feels utterly true. The novel unfolds with a rare suspense, as it moves its characters through the threat of discovery and the after-effects of family disaster. A fresh and indelible book.”

— Joan Silber, National Book Award finalist author of Ideas of Heaven

“K. L. Cook is the best kind of storyteller—he creates compelling characters and dives deeply through the wreckage of their lives, exploring the darkest corners and returning with pieces of courage, love, and hope. The Girl from Charnelle will capture your heart, and stay with you, long after you turn the last page.”

— Hannah Tinti, author of Animal Crackers

“After reading The Girl from Charnelle, I'm so convinced by K.L. Cook’s writing that I believe Laura Tate is a real person with a beating, aching heart, so full of longing and loneliness that she might burst. I loved her, I was frustrated with her, I was happy for her, sad for her, but the best part is that I felt I knew her. She’s an amazing and lovely creation, and I'm honored to have met her within the pages of this book. The Girl from Charnelle grabs hold of the reader on the first page and never lets go, always building the tension, always adding another layer to this beautiful, entertaining, and ultimately profound meditation on family, friendships, and sex. This book is expertly rendered in the hands of a writer who—if we live in a just world—will soon be known throughout the country.”

— Silas House, author of A Parchment of Leaves and The Coal Tattoo

“What is the value of a secret life?… Set against the backdrop of an emotional election and the start of a tumultuous decade, this atypical coming-of-age story from Cook…considers more than a young girl’s erotic and emotional awakening; it’s the story of an entire generation growing up too quickly…impossible to put down until the dramatic and realistic conclusion.”

— Library Journal (starred review)

“Compelling…A strong, complex story from a promising new literary voice.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“Cook’s debut novel drives itself into the reader’s consciousness much like the sudden, violent thunderstorms that sweep across the plains of the Texas Panhandle… A deeply thoughtful and honest rendering of the unanswered questions of relationships and the nature of love.”

— Booklist

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Also in this section…

• Advance Praise and Pre-Publication Reviews
• Synopsis
• Buy the Book
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