somafrazier

Big thanks to Bustle for naming Off the Books one of the summer’s most anticipated books (spoiler warning: big tipoffs in Bustle‘s review) and to the San Francisco Chronicle, which listed it among 8 Bay Area books “perfect to pore over.” Here are more early words about the novel:

“Frazier captures the relatable toggle between the private and the collective, between sinking into the anxieties of your life and grieving for the cruelties of the world.”
— The New York Times

“Frazier’s economical debut is many things at once: a tale of high stakes on the open road, a bighearted portrait of a frayed family, a slightly off-color comedy and an indictment of repressive political regimes.”
— The San Francisco Chronicle

“Delightfully offbeat yet weighty … It’s a fresh take on the classic American road novel.”
— Publishers Weekly

“A vital, enthralling debut in which devastating social commentary is delivered with a wink.”
— Kirkus (starred review)

“This book tossed me into the back of the car and drove me out to horizons that were startling, hopeful and utterly captivating.”
— Daniel “Lemony Snicket” Handler, bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate Events

“Off the Books made me put my kid to bed late—but I’m not mad about it! Instead, I’m grateful to Soma Mei Sheng Frazier for this riveting read. Without a doubt, one of the most complex, cool, hilarious, politically astute, and unexpected yet totally necessary novels I’ve read in forever.”
— Kate Schatz, New York Times bestselling author of Do the Work and Rad American Women A-Z

“What an improbable page-turner! Suspenseful and political, OFF THE BOOKS proves deeply compassionate as well. A real pleasure.”
— Gish Jen, author of The Resisters

“In Soma Mei Sheng Frazier’s Off the Books, student-turned-limo-driver Mei and her mysterious passenger travel from San Francisco to Syracuse and back, but also around the world and into the dark corners of humanity, as well as into Mei’s past and her struggle to make sense of her own identity and the recent death of her father. Along the way, we meet one of my favorite characters in a good long while, Mei’s iconoclastic, pot-smoking, funny, and wise grandfather. Soma Mei Sheng Frazier is a masterful storyteller who draws on humor and compassion to show us the world we live in, then asks us not to look away. I could have kept driving cross country with these characters forever.”
— Lori Ostlund, author of After the Parade

“Off the Books takes us off the beaten path. You will find yourself on a suspenseful ride with treacherous twists and turns that make this debut novel hard to put down. Frazier’s soulful, conversational style welcomes us into an easy friendship with Mei, the quirky, main character. When she discovers what matters to her, it matters to us.”
— April Sinclair, author of Coffee Will Make You Black

To check the book out, visit your local indie bookshop or order from Tertulia, Barnes & Noble or elsewhere. (WTF is Tertulia? In Spanish, “tertulia” refers to a social gathering with literary or artistic overtones. And, true to its name, this is actually a lovely new book discovery app. I just found out about it myself, and like it, so I’m partnering with them. Here’s a profile on Tertulia by The New York Times. Tertulia is offering 20% off on Off the Books with code SOMA from now through July 31. For a deep discount of 50% + free shipping of the book, readers can opt into a free 30-day trial of Tertulia membership, no commitment. There’s no code to activate that ongoing offer…)