Once in a while, when you're lucky and stack the odds in your favor by reading just every damn thing, you find a novel like Amy Falls Down. And you realize, maybe twenty percent of the way into the book, that this is a sequel. And you know what? That's awesome, because it's means there's more, even if it goes back in time. So you sink into the story like putting on really fuzzy comfy pants and settling in for a good, long read. It's a delectable novel that lets you luxuriate in it while you enjoy the story.

Amy Gallup is a youngish 60-something writer. She has a number of well-reviewed short story collections to her name, but makes a living teaching fiction writing workshops. And then, one late December morning, she hits her head. Hard enough to knock her out. But instead of going to the emergency room, she puts on a caftan and turban and gives an interview. And then she does to the ER. And that's when the fun begins.

Willett's narrator seems like she might be a bit of a self-insert, but I do not care even one little bit. Amy is a remarkable character-- so fully realized that there are moments when you forget it's fiction. She's sardonic, but kind. She's funny, but she doesn't mean to be, which makes her that much funnier. She has all the time in the world but very little patience for impracticality. She's great. You want to be her best friend and also be her at the same time.

The novel is laugh out loud funny, but not in a hooting way. In a lots and lots of long giggles way. You will try to relate Amy's adventures to your friends, because they are that great. But then you won't quite get there, because there is just too much story to sum up.

I'm looking forward to going back and reading Amy's first adventure with her aspiring writers. And then I'll keep my fingers crossed that there will be more stories-- a check on the publicity tour for Malignant Creativity or a look at her novel. But I'll mostly keep that to myself, because Amy would want me to get on with my own thing and leave her to hers.