“An eclectic book club finds itself at the center of a polarizing political tussle between the U.S. and Canada in Richardson’s satirical novel.

In Brockton, Ontario, a fictitious town on the U.S/Canada border, two seemingly innocuous events occur: First, a mysterious figure paces George III Street, proudly donning the infamous politically oriented red hat worn by certain U.S. voters and attracting whispers in its wake; second, Audrey, the 84-year-old founder of the We’re Still Here Book Club, pees on co-member Muriel’s couch at the club’s latest meeting. Though apparently unrelated and unimportant, these two incidents catapult the book club—with members including the elderly but sharp Audrey, forthright Muriel, shy Shirin, mystical Lumira, analytical Deborah, practical Eleanor, and kindhearted Brad—into the middle of a near-war between Brockton and the United States when the lost hat inexplicably ends up in Audrey’s freezer. Together, the graying group has to decide whether to return the hat or face the president of the United States himself, “standing firm with dignity, defending [their] values, and meeting pressure with unity and resolve.” Richardson depicts the wise and wily group of women (and one man) with quick, clever prose and sharp satirical wit, expertly capturing the “mixture of amusement and unease” that has filled the cracks of many political conversations over the past 10 years. Major topics and themes of the past decade—Covid 19, racism and prejudice, the January 6 insurrection—wind their ways in and out of the story without being too overt or exhausting; the plot is the perfect blend of unfortunate reality and whimsical fiction. The one element that may leave readers wanting more is the interactions among members of the book club; the first third of the novel paints an engaging picture of complex relationships, ridiculous families, and the inconveniences that often come with age before turning to focus on less involving political upheavals and moral debates. Still, Richardson unspools his well-plotted narrative fleetly and compellingly, leaving enough room for both laughter and thoughtfulness."

"A sharp look at U.S./Canadian political tensions."