Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar
First edition cover | |
| Author | Katie Yee |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Summit Books |
Publication date | July 22, 2025 |
| ISBN | 978-1-668-08421-2 |
Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar is a 2025 novel by Katie Yee. The novel is Yee's professional debut.
Synopsis
Shortly after discovering her husband's affair, a nameless protagonist discovers that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Naming the tumor "Maggie" after her husband's affair partner, she starts to rediscover her Chinese American heritage in her search for healing.
Development
Yee began writing Maggie after considering "how strange it is to have a body" and moments in life that force people to connect with their bodies.[1]
Publication history
Maggie was published in the United States by Summit Books on July 22, 2025.[2]
Reception
Maggie received positive reception from critics upon release. The Times positively compared Maggie to Nora Ephron's 1983 novel Heartburn, specifically highlighting the writing's "resentment-tinged wit."[3] The Minnesota Star Tribune was also positive, noting that the writing had a "jazzy flow" and describing the novel as "almost timeless."[4]
The Washington Post published a more mixed review, offering praise to the book's prose for its ease of reading but criticizing the "freakishly well" behavior of the characters and the general lack of conflict.[5] Publishers Weekly described the novel's pace as "sedate" but complimented the prose and Yee's empathetic approach to her characters.[6] Kirkus Reviews, in a starred review, praised the book's storytelling and comedy, while Booklist positively described the novel's message of hope.[2][7]
References
- ^ Dillard, Sarah (2025-08-01). "Katie Yee | The PEN Ten Interview". PEN America. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ a b "Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar". Kirkus Reviews. 2025-05-04. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Browning, Ceci (2025-07-18). "Could this divorce novel be Heartburn for the 2020s?". The Times. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Oldweiler, Cory (2025-07-15). "Review: Its title sounds like a joke, but 'Maggie' has a lot on its mind". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Nguyen, Sophia (2025-07-21). "A novel about divorce and cancer that somehow leans into humor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk into a Bar". Publishers Weekly. 2025-04-29. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "Maggie; or, a Man and a Woman Walk into a Bar". Booklist. 2025-06-01. Retrieved 2025-09-02.