Alan Opts Out

A New York Times “Summer’s Best Beach Reads” Pick

“If you appreciate witty novelists along the lines of Rumaan Alam and Sloane Crosley, meet Maum, whose novels drop every few years like cool albums for people in the know. This time she sinks her white-hot kebab skewer into the high-end grill set in Greenwich, Conn., where families reminiscent of the ones in 'Your Friends & Neighbors’ keep up with the Joneses (or the Rockefellers).”

“Fresh, provocative and uproariously funny.”

“Ambitious and witty.”

“This is a funny, modern look at consumerism, unhappiness, and the suburban nouveau riche.”

“[A] socially savvy comedy of manners.”

"A sharp comedy of manners about consumer values and authenticity.”

“Sharp observations . . . Witty dialogue . . . Maum’s writing relies on humor and quick pacing to examine consumption, ambition, and social performance, presenting a study of suburban life that questions the cost of success and perfection.”—Booklist (starred review)

“[A] pitch-perfect satire . . . Packed with Maum’s gimlet-eyed observations . . . the novel offers a fierce and funny portrait of late-stage capitalism and its limited supply of happiness. It’s a gem.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Ambitious, timely . . . A worthy post-pandemic successor to great American epics of suburbia and consumer culture, such as Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections. . . Maum delivers a sharp critique of capitalism and the sacrifices people make to find a sense of belonging, without ever sounding preachy or losing the pacing of this novel.”

“A scathingly funny novel of suburban competitive consumption . . . This clever book will prompt readers' reflections on what it truly takes to be happy—that is, after they stop laughing.” 

One of LitHub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026

“The eat-the-rich farce we need, from one of our funniest writers.” —LitHub

A Los Angeles Times Best Book of June

One of Town & Country’s Must-Read Books of Summer

"Alan Opts Out is a smart, funny, and all-too-timely tale of Americans on the edge of collapse, trying to figure out how to lead lives of authenticity and connection while also drowning in late-stage capitalism. Maum delivers wry humor without sacrificing compassion, offering what is both a sharp satire and also a surprisingly tender portrayal of people who are way, way over their heads, and just trying to be free."—Elizabeth Gilbert

"Like all good satire, Alan Opts Outis vivid, lacerating and funny. But it also presents uncommon empathy for those it skewers—the desperate social climbers in lush and wealthy suburbs, a fierce little universe where nothing is more precious than an immaculate cherry hedge, or membership in an exclusive club filled with people you can’t stand. Only the sane opt out.”—Carl Hiaasen

"Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny, and profound. Alan Opts Out is a delight.”—J. Courtney Sullivan, author of The Cliffs and Maine

"Witty, sharp, and tender, Alan Opts Out skewers late-stage capitalism and material ambition while keeping human hearts—a family of them—at its center. Courtney Maum's eye for details is unmatched. She creates a family you quickly embrace, along with one of most unforgettable fictional parties of all time. Beneath the critique is a case for love: when the trappings fall away, love is what remains."—Rachel Khong, author of Real Americans

"Courtney Maum exposes how much of our lives—and our bank accounts—we sacrifice just to fit in. When a husband decides to downsize his life just as his wife races to supersize hers, their marriage becomes a referendum on the American obsession with more. A brilliant, hilarious reminder that what we already have might just be enough."—Nathan Hill, author of The Nix and Wellness

"Funny, surprising, empathetic, and human, the best satire reminds us that the only rational reaction to a world gone mad is to embrace the irrational, and to redefine what matters most. If this book lands in your hands, I beg you to opt in. It's chicken soup for the late-stage capitalist soul. (Or should I say lobster bisque.)"
 —Steven Rowley, author of The Guncle

"A sly, propulsive, and painfully hilarious family drama—this novel felt distinctly Franzenian to me, like if The Corrections had been written a full decade after the confirmed death of the American dream. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud; reading this book reminded me how much fun a novel can be.”
 —Caro Claire Burke, author of Yesteryear

"This hilarious novel imagines what happens when an ad exec has a revelation about the evils of his industry. The ripple effect on his family and community will have you in stitches.”