‘A joyride with a potent dose of wry social commentary’ New York Times
FINALIST: Thurber Prize
Jane Morgan is a valued member of her law firm – or was, until a prudish neighbour, binoculars poised, observes her having sex on the roof of her Manhattan apartment building. Police are summoned, and a judge sentences her to six months of home confinement.
With Jane now jobless and rootless, trapped at home, life looks bleak. Yes, her twin sister provides support and advice, but mostly of the unwelcome kind. So when a doorman lets slip that Jane isn’t the only resident of her building wearing an ankle monitor, she strikes up a friendship with fellow white-collar felon Perry Salisbury.
As she tries to adapt to her new circumstances, she discovers she hasn’t heard the end of that nosy neighbour – whose past isn’t as decorous as her snitching would suggest. Why are police knocking on Jane's door again ? Might her house arrest have a silver lining? Can two wrongs make a right?

Prizes

Short-listed for Thurber Prize for American Humor 2024

‘Ms. Demeanor is a complete and utter delight. Of course it is. What Elinor Lipman novel isn’t?’
‘I love the wit, lightness of touch, dry, wry humour and optimism of Elinor Lipman’s writing’ -- Marian Keyes
‘I never miss one of Elinor Lipman’s funny, delightful novels’ -- Judy Blume
‘Charm and clever high jinks with a potent dose of wry social commentary. It’s not every day that a reader gets to root for an unrepentant middle-aged woman. Lipman makes this envelope-pushing feel like a joyride – but don’t be fooled by all the fun. Barriers are being broken. That a scandalous woman’s happy ending feels so inevitable turns out to be its own triumph – as much a clap back to sexism as a celebration of guiltless pleasure’ -- New York Times
‘Elinor Lipman is such a wonderfully witty writer that you can forgive the sometimes improbable plot turns. A sparklingly entertaining caper’ -- ‍Jewish Chronicle
‘Charm and clever high jinks with a potent dose of wry social commentary. It’s not every day that a reader gets to root for an unrepentant middle-aged woman. Lipman makes this envelope-pushing feel like a joyride – but don’t be fooled by all the fun. Barriers are being broken. That a scandalous woman’s happy ending feels so inevitable turns out to be its own triumph – as much a clap back to sexism as a celebration of guiltless pleasure’ - New York Times || ‘Elinor Lipman is such a wonderfully witty writer that you can forgive the sometimes improbable plot turns. A sparklingly entertaining caper’ - ‍Jewish Chronicle || ‘I love the wit, lightness of touch, dry, wry humour and optimism of Elinor Lipman’s writing’ - Marian Keyes || ‘I never miss one of Elinor Lipman’s funny, delightful novels’ - Judy Blume || ‘Ms. Demeanor is a complete and utter delight. Of course it is. What Elinor Lipman novel isn’t?’
‘Charm and clever high jinks with a potent dose of wry social commentary. It’s not every day that a reader gets to root for an unrepentant middle-aged woman. Lipman makes this envelope-pushing feel like a joyride – but don’t be fooled by all the fun. Barriers are being broken. That a scandalous woman’s happy ending feels so inevitable turns out to be its own triumph – as much a clap back to sexism as a celebration of guiltless pleasure’ - New York Times || ‘Elinor Lipman is such a wonderfully witty writer that you can forgive the sometimes improbable plot turns. A sparklingly entertaining caper’ - ‍Jewish Chronicle || ‘I love the wit, lightness of touch, dry, wry humour and optimism of Elinor Lipman’s writing’ - Marian Keyes || ‘I never miss one of Elinor Lipman’s funny, delightful novels’ - Judy Blume || ‘Ms. Demeanor is a complete and utter delight. Of course it is. What Elinor Lipman novel isn’t?’

Elinor Lipman was born in Massachusetts and is the author of fourteen novels. Her first, Then She Found Me, was published in 1990 and adapted into the 2007 of the same name starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler and Colin Firth. She won the New England Book Award in 2001, and her novel My Latest Grievance won the Paterson Fiction Prize. Four of her novels are published in the UK by Lightning Books.
She lives in Manhattan.