Alumna Ann Leary Releases New Novel “The Good House”

Ann Leary, Emerson class of ’85, was featured this week in the New York Times promoting her latest novel, The Good House. The book has received excellent reviews and recently made the New York Times best-seller list. In the article, Leary explains how she drew upon some of her own struggles as inspiration for her main character, Hildy. Hildy is a milddle-aged real-estate agent living in coastal New England and a powerful female lead. The Times describes the book as “cinematic,” and even claims there is already talk of a movie adaption.

Leary is married to actor and comedian Denis Leary, who she met while the two attended college at Emerson. He taught a graduate comedy writing course in which she was a student. According to the article, they went a date the day after the class ended. Now they have two grown children and live in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Leary says she is happy her The Good House is doing so well despite her being a “celebrity wife.” However, the overwhelming positive reaction to her work is proof that Leary is a success in her own right. In fact, she is already working on her next novel, which will take place in Connecticut and follow a family battle over an estate.

By Mary Kennedy