“TomPerrottais...oneofthegreatwritersthatwehavetoday.Ilovethisbook.“--HarlanCobenAn“engrossingandmordantlyfunny“(People)novelaboutambition,coming-of-ageinadulthood,andneverreallyleavinghighschoolpoliticsbehind--featuringNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorTomPerrotta’smosticoniccharacterofalltime.TracyFlickisahardworkingassistantprincipalatapublichighschoolinsuburbanNewJersey.Stillambitiousbutfeelingalittlestuckandunderappreciatedinmidlife,Tracygetsajoltofgoodnewswhenthelongtimeprincipal,JackWeede,abruptlyannounceshisretirement,creatingarareopportunityforTracytoascendtothetopjob.Energizedbytheprospectofherlong-overduepromotion,Tracythrowsherselfintoherworkwithrenewedzeal,determinedtoproveherworthtothestudents,faculty,andSchoolBoard,whilealsomanagingherpersonallife--aten-year-olddaughter,aneedydoctorboyfriend,andaburgeoningmeditationpractice.ButnothingevercomeseasilytoTracyFlick,nomatterhowdiligentorqualifiedshehappenstobe.Hermalecolleagues’determinationtohonorVitoFalcone--astarquarterbackofdubiouscharacterwhohadabrief,undistinguishedcareerintheNFL--triggersmemoriesforTracyandleadshertoreflectonthetrajectoryofherownlife.Assheconsidersthepast,Tracybecomesawareofstormcloudsbrewinginthepresent.Isshereallyashoo-infortheprincipaljob?IstheSuperintendentplottingagainsther?WhyistheSchoolBoardPresident’swifetryingsohardtobeherfriend?Andwhycan’tsheevergetwhatshedeserves?Asharp,darklycomic,andpitch-perfectchronicleofthesecondactofoneofthemostmemorablecharactersofourtime,TracyFlickCan’tWin“deliversacerbicinsightaboutfrustratedambition“(Esquire).
