Jennifer McKinlay: Keeping up Appearances

Keeping up Appearances

Jennifer McKinlay

Though a successful Manhattan ad executive, Hailey Fitzwilly hated the envy jokes of her peers and the commute from Fairfield, Connecticut. When she lost her cools during a bid for a big campaign due to the antics of a colleague, she knew it was time to switch jobs especially since her career went down the toilet. Hailey becomes partners with Madeline in a yoga studio. She fears telling her mother, dynamo Selma.

Her mother also thinks Hailey will marry pediatrician Dr. Burke Masterson, but they already broke up; Hailey fears her Mother's reaction to her not having this wealthy children's doctor from a prominent family as her son-in-law. Her brother Jack and Madeline insist she tell her mom the truth about her life changes, but Hailey feels like a wimp unable to do that or say no to Mother. For instance Mother assigns Hailey to get a chopper donated to sell at the Children's Hospital charity auction. She visits The Chop Shop where she meets tough Kid Cassidy, who takes her for a ride to the center of her heart if she can just tell her Mother.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES is an amusing contemporary suburban romance starring two likable protagonists and a fine support cast. Although the audience will find it difficult to reconcile the Type A advertising queen with the Connecticut wimp and become tired of Hailey's failure to stand up to her Mother, readers will also enjoy her avoidance antics that borders on obsessive phobia. Kid is just the impetus she needs to change from wimpy Hailey to tasty tart Peaches.

Harriet Klausner