A “compelling first novel…The strength of “Brand New Human Being” is its realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath. Death, birth, disease and survival all have their messy consequences in these pages. Miller, who was born and raised in the District, is especially good at showing the sloppy nature of relationships in the wake of upheaval.”
— The Washington Post
“Touching…Miller explores Logan’s resentments and insecurities with sensitivity and nuance.”
— Publishers Weekly
“A whip-smart first novel that gripped me with its wry humor and wonderfully real characters, and kept me captivated through the last page. This is a fast-paced, first-rate book by an immensely talented new writer.”
— Curtis Sittenfeld
“Emily Jeanne Miller’s debut novel tackles the meaning of fatherhood in the modern world. Introspective and honest, Brand New Human Being focuses on the small dramas inside Everyman’s living room: the way all parents strive to be better than they are, the way a marriage can start to fray even with the best intentions, and the way love, however elusive, is always worth fighting for. Miller’s novel is sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always a worthy, exciting read.”
—Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men are Gone, winner of 2012 PEN USA Literary Award for Fiction
“This fast-paced tale of family life follows stay-at-home dad Logan Pyle as he tries to save his floundering marriage, find personal fulfillment, and figure out why his nearly five-year-old son wants to be treated like a baby—all while addressing the comical and quotidian quandaries of parenthood. (Where is my kid’s bathing suit? Why does this frozen pizza taste like cardboard?)
—Real Simple