A darkly funny, clever novel about a woman who embezzles from her children’s private school — and runs away before anyone notices. 
In The Misfortune of Marion Palm, Emily Culliton delivers a sharply observed, darkly comic portrait of a modern woman in moral freefall.
 
Marion Palm is a Brooklyn mother with a knack for quiet deceit. For years, she’s been skimming money from her daughters’ school to fund her comfortable life. But when the finances collapse and her secret threatens to surface, Marion grabs a pile of cash and disappears — leaving her bewildered husband and daughters to pick up the pieces.
 
Told from multiple perspectives — Marion on the run, her husband Nathan at home, and their daughters navigating the chaos — the novel dissects privilege, identity, and the absurd performances of family life. Culliton’s prose sparkles with wit and empathy, turning a crime story into a nuanced character study.
 
Both hilarious and heartbreaking, The Misfortune of Marion Palm examines what happens when a woman decides she’s done playing by the rules — and how far she’ll go to reinvent herself once she breaks free.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A brilliant mix of satire, suspense, and social commentary.
Perfect for readers who love flawed, complex female leads.
Dark humor balanced with emotional depth.
Captures the absurdities of modern motherhood and privilege.
Fresh, witty voice reminiscent of Maria Semple and Ottessa Moshfegh.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette? and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
Readers who enjoy sharp, darkly comic literary fiction.
Book clubs exploring themes of identity, rebellion, and self-destruction.
Anyone who appreciates intelligent humor with a feminist edge.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed The Misfortune of Marion Palm, you might also like:
Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner — a witty dissection of marriage and identity.
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney — money, family, and sibling chaos.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid — modern satire with heart and insight.