"A novel so startlingly original and so unafraid to approach complicated, bald emotion and anger."
"A very cunning variation on the revenge fable."
―The New York Times Book Review
"Dripping in psychological genius, this otherworldly novel will leave you mesmerized and entranced under Gangi's ghostly spell."
― POPSUGAR
"The lusty, livid Joanna is the hottest middle-aged/dead woman in fiction."
“I was instantly hooked by Gangi’s vivid writing, her psychological acumen and her sharp observation of love and life. She is a fascinating writer who understands love, sex, men and women. I truly could not stop reading. THE NEXT is a riveting debut by a fiercely talented writer.
— Erica Jong, bestselling author of Fear of Flying
“THE NEXT isn’t just a ghost story—it’s a love story, a family story, and a revenge story as well. Stephanie Gangi’s novel is fast-paced, wickedly observant, and haunting in the best sense of the word."
— Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of The Leftovers
“A profound and provocative page-turner about love and loss, revenge and redemption, this debut novel will stick with you for a long time. Stephanie Gangi is an instant, new favorite."
— Emily Giffin, bestselling author of Something Borrowed and First Comes Love
“I LOVE The Next. Comic, wrenching revenge fantasy; New York City, all around the town; an insightful poodle; the tender reality of motherhood and daughterhood; the less tender reality of social media, and a ghost with the wit of Topper and the fire of Fay Weldon – this is an elegantly written, thoughtfully sharp and surprisingly touching whirlwind of a book."
— Cathleen Schine, bestselling author of The Love Letter, Rameau’s Niece, Alice in Bed
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“A witty, startlingly astute dispatch from the societal graveyard of middle-aged women.”
— People Magazine Book of the Week
“Gangi finds a way in “Carry the Dog” to write a novel of ideas that takes up critiques of visual culture within a very personal context: a novel about aging and coming to terms with childhood trauma.”
“At one point, Bea says, “Nothing is how it used to be and that’s the way it should be.” It’s a small moment of simple self-reflection—one of many throughout the novel—but it reveals the underlying ethos of the story that makes it so quietly captivating.”
“A smart, sophisticated, lively read”
— Kirkus
"Stephanie Gangi's Carry the Dog is powered by insight and true wit as it explores families and their aftershocks, as well as art, regret and the state of being an older, desiring female in a world that too often looks away. I enjoyed it immensely."
— Meg Wolitzer, New York Times bestselling author of The Female Persuasion
“I can’t remember the last time I was as completely bewitched by a fictional character as I was by Bea Seger in Stephanie Gangi’s Carry the Dog. What a treat to view life through the eyes of this funny, smart, gutsy woman, who’s suffered its outrageous slings and arrows, and just keeps coming back for more.”
— Richard Russo, Pulitzer-prize winning author of Empire Falls
“Carry the Dog is a fantastic novel about art, fame, aging and the unfathomable mystery of family. Stephanie Gangi writes with a rare mix of grace and urgency.”
— Jess Walter, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins
“There was something so authentic about this novel. It's a book about resilience, and the imperative of defining yourself to yourself, and a riveting reminder that nothing in this life is ever too late. I loved it."
— Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes
“A keenly observed and devastating novel. Though Bea’s is a voice that, at times, made me laugh with recognition, her story is so dark and compelling that I woke before dawn to finish reading.”
— Polly Samson, Author of Theater for Dreamers