Cassandra French's Finishing School For Boys

Feb 26, 2026 2:14 AM

Author:Eric Garcia

Is it possible to have it all? If by 'all' you mean a succession of irritants building up into one great mess, then that's exactly what Cassandra French has got. A mother who's under house arrest for fraud. A blonde, yoga instructor of a friend who's the sort of man magnet you want your boyfriend staying well clear of. A boring and highly frustrating job as a lawyer for a Hollywood film studio. And three men in her basement.

Actually, the three men are proving to be the least of her worries.They're (ahem) enrolled in Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys, a school that, after one bad date too many, Cassandra founded to train young men into better human beings.The curriculum includes colour co-ordination, behaviour on dates and, occasionally, sex.

Everything is going swimmingly well, until she enrols Jason Kelly, the studio's biggest star. Suddenly, it seems, Cassie is in well over her head...

Reviews

'A hilarious parody ... Unspeakable fun'

—— New York Times

'Garcia has a knack for pointing out the absurdities of both the female mind and Tinseltown. And though the situation soon turns hilariously outrageous, anyone who's been on a really bad date can relate. A-'

—— Entertainment Weekly

'Prepare for a twisted tale ... Garcia pushes the limit of laugh-or-gasp fun as Cassandra trains her former dates in the skills of woman-pleasing. Warped? Yes. But who doesn't want a well-behaved man?'

—— Marie Claire

'Eric Garcia has written a great satirical twist on chick lit.'

—— Chicago Tribune

'Sex and the City meets Misery'

—— Houston Chronicle

Murakami's most addictive fix to date

—— Independent

Engrossing and wildly inventive

—— Times Literary Supplement

Laden with philosophical overtones and enchanting wit

—— Observer

Murakami's exquisitely simple prose and deft evocation of the surreal are captivating and sublime

—— Sunday Times

The mysteries are never tainted by explanation, merely beautifully described, delivering a hypnotic read

—— Times Higher Education Supplement

'For sheer love of a thumping narrative, the novel delivers gloriously-Inventive, alluring' David Mitchell

—— Guardian

'Murakami's most addictive fix to date'

—— Independent

'Engrossing and wildly inventive'

—— Times Literary Supplement

Top marks. Fantastic

—— Heat

Lovely

—— Daily Telegraph

Moving and intelligent

—— Independent

Magnetic, unpretentious and bursting with one-liners

—— Cosmopolitan

Fans of chick-lit will understand when I say that this is a book you simply disappear into

—— Sunday Telegraph

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