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A Chinese American woman spins tragedy into comedy when her life falls apart in a taut, wry debut novel that grapples with grief, motherhood, and myths.
Coming to you July 22, 2025 from Summit Books.
A man and a woman walk into a restaurant. It sounds like the start of a joke—or, at the very least, like the start of a date. Instead, it’s the end of a marriage. Because, on this night, our unnamed narrator finds out her husband is having an affair with a white woman named Maggie.
Here’s another one: a woman walks into an examination room. But the ache in her breast isn’t heartbreak. It’s cancer.
Over the course of the ensuing months, our narrator embarks on a journey of grief, healing, and reclamation. With her best friend, Darlene, by her side, she navigates the unfamiliar new shape of her family, the complexities of parenting in the middle of a divorce, and (most importantly) those annoyingly teeny tiny paper cups they have in doctors’ offices.
To cope, our narrator starts talking to her tumor. She creates a “Guide to My Husband: A User’s Manual” for her husband’s lover. She turns her children’s bedtime stories into retellings of Chinese folklore passed down by her own mother, in an attempt to make them fall in love with their shared culture—and to maybe save herself in the process.
MAGGIE; OR, A MAN AND A WOMAN WALK INTO A BAR explores the things we inherit and invites us to take a scalpel to the stories we tell ourselves. In the style of Jenny Offill and the tradition of Nora Ephron’s hilarious and devastating writing on relationships and womanhood, MAGGIE is a masterclass in transforming personal tragedy into a form of defiant comedy.
UK edition *
UK edition *
Publishing July 2025 from Brazen Books.
Some really cool people said some really nice things about my book!
“This book is a lump in the throat, a punchline that hurts, a catalogue of life’s curveballs. MAGGIE is miraculously funny, a tender and wisecracking missive from the midst of catastrophe. Katie Yee knows that at the center of every joke, and every person, there is a broken heart.”
– Hilary Leichter, author of Terrace Story
“A stand-out and must read debut. This is a poignant exploration of a woman’s unraveling, when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected confession. Katie Yee weaves a tale of complex emotions and subtle betrayals, with a keen eye for the intricacies of human relationships and the quiet, often overlooked moments of life. Every paragraph is perfect.”
– Weike Wang, Author of Joan is Okay
“Katie Yee is a storyteller extraordinaire. This book is like a boat you get on to drift into magical waters, full of heart and heartbreak, teeming with feeling.”
– Delia Ephron, Author of Left on Tenth
“MAGGIE is a stunning novel. With sharp wit and a keen eye for the messy intricacies of human connection, Yee has written a story as playful as it is profound. I immediately loved the narrator and was captivated by her journey, her humor, and insight. MAGGIE is a gem of a novel, one that will make you think, make you feel, and make you laugh.”
– Alison Espach, author of The Wedding People
“Katie Yee’s wise, tender debut explores one of the most relatable of human struggles: trying to function when almost everything is falling apart. Yet, amidst great loss, a love story of fierce and unyielding female friendship emerges. MAGGIE will be a companion for anyone navigating liminal territory, the place between the past and where the new and unknown begin. Yee’s prose sings and sparkles with humor and hope from start to finish.”
– Emily Habeck, author of Sharkheart: A Love Story
“Buoyant and profound...surprisingly optimistic and touching, a portrait of everyday resilience and bravery.”
– The Today Show