The Decent Proposal, Kemper Donovan
The Decent Proposal, Kemper Donovan
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

The Decent Proposal
A Novel

Author: Kemper Donovan

Narrator: Michael Bakkensen

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperAudio

Published: 04/05/2016


Synopsis

An addictively readable debut romantic comedy, drama, and mystery rolled into one, about two very different strangers whose lives become intertwined when they receive an unusual proposition. This is a funny, tender, and enchanting story about love, attraction, and friendship: Jane Austen in Los Angeles.A struggling Hollywood producer, Richard Baumbach is twenty-nine, hung-over, and broke. Ridiculously handsome with an innate charm and an air of invincibility, he still believes good things will come his way. For now he contents himself with days at the Coffee Bean and nights with his best friend Mike (that’s a woman, by the way).At thirty-three, Elizabeth Santiago is on track to make partner at her law firm. Known as “La Máquina” The Machine—to her colleagues, she’s grown used to avoiding anything that might derail her quiet, orderly life. And yet recently she befriended a homeless man in her Venice neighborhood, surprised to find how much she enjoys their early-morning chats.Richard and Elizabeth’s paths collide when they receive a proposal from a mysterious, anonymous benefactor. They’ll split a million dollars if they agree to spend at least two hours together—just talking—every week for a year. Astonished and more than a little suspicious, they each nevertheless say yes. Richard needs the money and likes the adventure of it. Elizabeth embraces the challenge of shaking up her life a little more. Both agree the idea is ridiculous, but why not?What ensues is a delightful journey full of twists, revelations, hamburgers, classic literature, poppy music, and above all love, in its multitude of forms. The Decent Proposal is a heartfelt and often hilarious look at the ties that bind not just a guy and a girl but an entire, diverse cast of characters situated within a modern-day Los Angeles brought to full and irrepressible life.

About Kemper Donovan

Kemper Donovan has lived in Los Angeles for the past twelve years. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, he worked at the literary management company Circle of Confusion for a decade, representing screenwriters and comic books. He is also a member of the New York Bar Association.www.kemperdonovan.com


Reviews

Goodreads review by Marti on September 17, 2018

Nope. Let me tell you how big of an impression this book left on me. I read this over a year ago. And completely forgot about it. Went to the library this weekend to find a "filler" book until the books I have on hold are released to me. Got home, read 4 pages, flipped to the last page and realized......more

Goodreads review by Migdalia on May 02, 2016

This book had a lot of surprises and hidden gems. I'm not just talking plot here, I'm talking the diversity of the characters (class, race, culture, age, etc) and the profundity of the writing. Having committed the cardinal sin of judging a book by it's cover, I thought this was going to be a quick,......more

Goodreads review by whatjordanreads on January 10, 2024

The Decent Proposal ⭐️⭐️💫 📚 Fiction 🎶 Take On Me - a-ha One sentence synopsis: Strangers, Richard and Elizabeth, are gifted $500k each by someone unknown if they spend two hours each week on a date for an entire year. My review: Boring and the story didn’t go anywhere I expected it to, and not in a good w......more

Goodreads review by Nina on May 29, 2019

2019/ Добра идея, която е разпиляна в някои досадни, дълги описания , за да се забърза в самия край. 2016/ Малко не й достига на книгата , за да задоволи моя вкус. Сюжетът е интересен, напълно непредвидимо развитие и неочаквана развръзка. Това , което на мен ми липсваше е пряка реч. Харесвам добрите диал......more

Goodreads review by morninglightmama on April 06, 2016

Every once in a while a novel comes along that I just want to put into my friends’ hands immediately, so that someone I know can also bask in the awesomeness of reading it. This one absolutely fits that category. I quite liked the creative plot, and the characters quickly grew on me. The third-perso......more