Judy Dearlove

“I picked up PLAY ON! and got hooked!! ... [It is] so darned good! It’s an entertaining, charming, very compelling read with utterly believable characters who talk like real people.”

“This is the funniest book I’ve read in years. In the tradition of Clyde Edgerton, Judy Dearlove gives us characters to believe in, whip-smart dialogue, and a plot that keeps us reading. In this rollicking tale of palace intrigue, sneaky tactics, and the deep affection of a fifty-year friendship, the characters are easy to love and the plot is a tour de force. A Must Read Book.”

“PLAY ON! is a fast-paced, witty, engaging exploration of the lives of real people who happen to be aging. At once hilarious and moving, it ponders friendship, family, and mortality through the lens of one woman’s quest to do what is right.”

“Daily life in an Arizona retirement community may seem like an unlikely topic for a novel. But Judy Dearlove’s gift for quirky details that define an ensemble of lovable characters makes this novel sing. Add a few local drag queens into the mix, and you’ve got a revolution in elder care. This is a brisk and joyful first novel by a wise woman.”

“If we’re lucky, we will all end up in a retirement community. If we’re really lucky, it’ll be the Foothills, and Maxine will be our next-door neighbor. In this lively novel, Dearlove gives us a heartwarming portrait of a community of elders. She channels Maxine and her friends with wry wisdom, wit, and a clever plot. Even if aging has slowed the characters physically, their intelligence and humor shine through with sparkling dialogue and hijinks that will keep you on your toes. What a fun and impressive debut!”