“This intensely nostalgic debut novel from film-maker Edward Burns, best known for writing and directing The Brothers McMullen, begins with a well-attended wake in 1970s New York. . . . There is a keenly felt sense in the novel, which may have prompted its writing, of the past fading away or being demolished. . . . We’re left with a vivid snapshot of a time that’s already receding into the distant past—a tender-hearted complement to the Irish-American stories that Burns captures in his films.” —The Guardian
“I love this book. It’s delightful.” —Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show
“[A] bittersweet debut . . . Burns’s coming-of-age story suggests a Long Island version of Nick Adams.” —Publishers Weekly
“Burns … [weaves] together a series of bittersweet, personal, and wryly humorous episodes into a portrait of the titular kid who grew up on Marlboro Road. … Endearing and insightful.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A deeply satisfying, emotionally resonant story of a kid finally staking his independence from a mother mired in sadness.” —Harlan Coben
“Growing up is a process of becoming and letting go. Edward Burns’ A Kid from Marlboro Road captures, through the remarkably true voice of its attentive young narrator, the bittersweet joys and messy confusion of those early teenage years, when one is still tethered to family but readying to face the bigger world. It is a lovely, big-hearted and wise book.” —Joanne Ramos, author of The Farm
“Ed Burns knocks it out of the park with this poignant coming-of-age story about a mama’s boy attempting to break free from his mother while her own hopes and dreams fall apart. Beautifully written and heartbreakingly honest, A Kid from Marlboro Road will resonate with both young people seeking independence and older generations who have experienced the pain of letting go. As a soon-to-be empty nester, I laughed, cried, and savored every page.” —Emily Giffin, author of Something Borrowed
“In the best tradition of Irish storytelling, Ed Burns draws upon the same Irish Catholic Long Island upbringing he has rendered so beautifully in countless films to tell a deeply personal and wonderfully compelling coming-of-age story dripping with wit, humanity, and stunning authenticity on every page.” —Jonathan Tropper, author of This Is Where I Leave You
“Can a brilliant filmmaker be as good on the page? Yes! Ed Burns delights in the printed word. So wrap yourself around this book and give yourself a warm hug with a good read: A Kid from Marlboro Road.” —Malachy McCourt, author of A Monk Swimming
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