A Los Angeles Times Bestseller A witty, timely and richly entertaining tale of a modern mother in transition Helen Fairchild is leading a privileged Pasadena existence: married to a pillar of the community; raising a water polo-playing son destined for the most select high school; volunteering her time on the most fashionable committees. It only bothers Helen a tiny bit that she has never quite fit in with the proper Pasadena crowd, never finished that graduate degree in Classics, and never had that second baby. But the rigid rules of society in Pasadena appeal to Helen, the daughter of Oregon fiber artists, even if shell never be on the inside. And then along comes a Rose Parade float, killing her philandering husband and leaving Helen broke, out of her forever house, and scrambling to salvage her once-rarefied existence. Enter Patrick ONeill, excavator of Troy and wearer of nubby sweaters. A job as Dr. ONeills research assistant is the lifeline Helen needs to reinvent herself. Ancient mysteries to solveCharity events to planSchool admissions advisors to charmIf Helen wasnt so distracted by her incredibly attractive boss, she might be able to pull off this new life. Helens world widens to include a Hollywood star, a gossip columnist, an old college nemesis, a high-powered Neutron Mom, an unforgiving school headmistress, the best Armenian real estate agent in the biz, and, of course, the intriguing Patrick ONeill. While uncovering secrets about ancient Troy alongside her archaeologist boss, Helen discovers something much more: a new sense of self and a new love. With its keen social observations, laugh-out-loud scenes and whip-smart dialogue, Helen of Pasadena delivers humor, insight and wisdom on reinventing yourself.