Cherry Money Baby

Hollywood glitz collides with workingclass aspirations in this satirical tale of an impulsive starlet and a sharp-witted small-town teen.

Cherry Kerrigan loves her simple life, her family’s tiny trailer, even working at Burrito Barn. Forget college — she’s marrying her sweetheart from next door. But here comes Ardelia Deen, a glamorous starlet who sweeps Cherry into a world of fast cars and penthouse parties. Now Cherry’s small-town life just seems so . . . small. When Ardelia drops a bomb of an offer — one involving a baby — Cherry knows her life will change forever, no matter what she decides. John M. Cusick focuses his signature wit on Hollywood royalty and the wide-eyed dreams of Small Town, U.S.A. in a novel about discovering who you are . . . and changing your mind.

John M. Cusick is a literary agent for authors of young-adult and middle-grade novels and the author of Girl Parts, his debut novel. About Cherry Money Baby, he says, "Class is a touchy subject in this country. I wanted to explore how our assumptions about money, sophistication, and self-worth can cloud our vision." He lives in Brooklyn.