New Yorker Sadie Maddox is the toast of the classical-music world-and a bit of a diva. But lately her CD sales are sagging, not to mention parts of her anatomy. Maybe it's time for a change. So when her agent suggests a professorship at a small liberal-arts college, Sadie decides to give it a go. Besides, she needs the money. But the college is in rural Iowa. Sadie's colleagues are intimidated, her students aren't impressed, and she has to live far too close to farm animals. When Sadie meets Mac, a veterinarian, she assumes they have nothing in common-he is, after all, a country-music fan-and she's counting the days until she moves back to New York. Yet, when Sadie is forced to spend time with Mac, she likes him. Her students really need her. And this quiet Midwest community begins to grow on her. When the semester ends, Sadie packs up and decamps for the city that never sleeps...and finds she can't either. Will she find the courage and grace she needs to embrace her Act Two?

Highlights "Brydie Lee-Kennedy's writing is sharp and funny and humane. Author(s): Brydie Lee-Kennedy 352 Pages Fiction + Literature Genres, Romance Description About the Book "Ada is 26 and having a grand time just trying to figure it all out. An Australian living in London, she ekes out a living as a poorly-paid cabaret performer and part-time temp. And yet she can't imagine wanting to be any other age. Ada's a seeker, a perpetually moving ball of excess. Every night is an opportunity to be thrilled and every morning a chance to recount it to her friends. So when Ada falls for Sadie and Stuart at the same time she doesn't see any reason not to pursue them both. But as the responsibilities of adult life begin to encroach-bills, family, more bills-and Sadie and Stuart find out about one another, the people around Ada start trying to root her in place. How long can she resist the inevitable? Spiky, hilarious, and painfully relatable, Go Lightly is a love letter to girls who say yes without fear and are always last to leave the party. Ada is a Holly Golightly for the age of DMs, reveling in her own youth and sexuality while reckoning with a serious case of main character syndrome. This is a remarkable debut from a boldly talented new voice"-- Book Synopsis "Brydie Lee-Kennedy's writing is sharp and funny and humane. A passionate chronicler of the ridiculous--in people, in society, in sex--Brydie skewers everyone equally, but always with empathy, warmth and wit." --Monica Heisey, author of Really Good, Actually For readers of Dolly Alderton and Candice Carty-Williams, a spiky bisexual love story that introduces the unforgettable Ada--a free-spirited Holly Golightly for the age of DMs who follows the whimsies of her heart wherever they lead. Ada is a seeker, a perpetually moving ball of excess. A twenty-six-year-old Australian living in London, she ekes out a living as a cabaret performer and part-time temp. Yet Ada can't imagine wanting to be any other age or any other place. Every night is an opportunity to be thrilled and every morning a chance to recount her escapades to friends. So when Ada falls for Sadie and Stuart at the same time, she sees no reason not to pursue them both. But as the responsibilities of adult life begin to encroach--bills, family, more bills--and Sadie and Stuart find out about one another, the people around Ada increasingly insist it's time for her to settle down. Can she resist the inevitable? Effortlessly hilarious and painfully relatable, Go Lightly is a love letter to girls who are the life of the party; girls who say yes without fear. In smartly observed and endlessly warm prose, Brydie Lee-Kennedy contemplates the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love and friendship, introducing an utterly flawed yet charming character who revels in her youth and sexuality while reckoning with a serious case of main character syndrome. Review Quotes "Captures twentysomething chaos. A sharp wit . . . often very funny." -- The Times (London) "Debut novelist Lee-Kennedy deftly presents Ada's misconceptions over how she is received in this throwback novel of female recklessness, like Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote or The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy, only now with lives further muddied by texting and social media. Ada is sometimes carefree, other times has a blustery optimism contrary to her circumstances; the book highlights the hilarity and melancholy of living life to the fullest and yet not feeling fulfilled." -- Booklist "Sharp, witty and . . . astute." -- The Herald "Brydie Lee-Kennedy's writing is sharp and funny and humane. A passionate chronicler of the ridiculous--in people, in society, in sex--Brydie skewers everyone equally, but always with empathy, warmth and wit." -- Monica Heisey, bestselling author of Really Good, Actually "Ada is a unique heroine, and she'll stay with me for a long time. It's vivid, raw, and hopeful--a novel that really nails the chaos, panic, and joy of being young and trying to find your way in love and in life." -- Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable "A truly fabulous bisexual book . . . It's so well written, and so smart, and tender and silly and made me laugh out loud." -- Ella Risbridger, author of Midnight Chicken (& Other Recipes Worth Living For) "Go Lightly is brimming with wit and wisdom. This novel is an ode to love in all its forms: sexual, platonic, familial, and above all self-love." -- PJ Ellis, author of Love and Other Scams "Packed with lovable characters, mouth-watering food and just the right amount of chaos, Go Lightly has everything I look for in a funny, romantic novel." -- Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend "Funny, perceptive and effortlessly engaging . . . I loved this novel." -- Lily Lindon, author of Double Booked