"In her latest novel, The Nearly Girl, Lisa de Nikolits takes us deep into the complex workings of an extraordinary mind. Amelia Fisher, the protagonist of de Nikolits's latest offering, reminds readers of the importance of passion and adventure in a world that wishes to keep our wilder urges contained. Like a modern-day Joan of Arc, Fisher's attempts to carve out a 'normal life', take her to the fringes of social acceptability-showing us how mythic the idea of 'normal' really is. Through a story that urprises, page after page, The Nearly Girl will take readers on an unexpected adventure-where the lines between the rational and irrational are blurred. From hoarding to the fear of public speaking, this psychiatric thriller excavates the phobias, idiosyncrasies and character oddities that make us human at the core."
—Andrea Thompson, author of Over Our Heads
"Playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote in 1881, "The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children." Lisa De Nikolits updates this cautionary observation in her latest book, as the reckless life choices of a young woman and her schizophrenic, acid-dropping mate are visited upon their daughter. Beautifully told, The Nearly Girl softens its sting with convivial depictions of Toronto bohemians, before revealing the ugly aftermath of people shipwrecked upon the foolish choices of youth. The Nearly Girl is as bleak and beautiful as the Rosedale Ravine after a hail storm."
—Elaine Ash, editor of Walking the Dunes with Tennessee Williams
"A fast paced and illuminating story where endeavoring to conform to society's perception of normal, exposes the masks of illusion. Amelia Fisher's unconventional upbringing with an LSD addicted poet father and an emotionally distance body building mother leads her to attending sessions with a crazy doctor. Whose unorthodox method called D.T.O.T. - 'Do the Opposite Thing' has significant repercussions on his patients including Amelia. A chance discovery propels Amelia and fellow attendee, Mike with whom she is in love, are plunged into a life-threatening situation instigated by the doctor's own dark secret. Hidden twists abound with growing tension culminating in a surprising ending."
—Mandy Eve Barnett, published author & freelance writer
"The Nearly Girl is completely mesmerizing! Lisa de Nikolits' tale of family dysFUNction is chock full of comedy, drama and page turning suspense. Anyone who has ever felt alienated by the unwritten rules and norms of society will find a kindred spirit in Amelia, the "Nearly Girl" daughter of a female bodybuilder and a tortured poet, who believes that rainy days are just perfect for picnics on the beach and who fears that getting on the right bus will lead her to a dead end. Told with warmth, humor and populated with vividly original characters, The Nearly Girl illustrates the importance of keeping the magic in an increasingly corporate, cookie-cutter world."
—Heather Babcock, author of Of Being Underground and Moving
"Amelia Fisher is a brilliant, beautiful, charming, young woman who should have the future and world brightly gift-wrapped in her slender hands. However, she has to reconnect with her acid-dropping, addle-headed father, Henry, a man she hasn't seen since childhood. Then there is her cognitive therapy group led by the unconventional Dr. Carroll, a man whose methods are either genius, or deeply damaging. This sprint-paced novel has it all from restraining orders to sex in office bathrooms, and a nail-biting ending! Lisa de Nikolits' skill is proven in this dynamic rapid page-turner which enchants and delights readers with suspense and unforeseen twists and surprises!"
—Michael Fraser, author of The Serenity of Stone
"In The Nearly Girl, Lisa de Nikolits, author of Between the Cracks She Fell, has created another memorable heroine. Amelia Fisher, who can never quite do what she should, is the nearly girl of the title. The daughter of two incredibly dysfunctional parents, Amelia is required to attend a therapy group to help with her problem. The group's leader, Dr. Frances Carroll, is the most dysfunctional character of all. His mantra, Do The Opposite Thing, has disastrous results. A very funny book."
—Lynne Murphy, contributing author to Thirteen O'Clock and The Whole She-Bang
"The Nearly Girl by Lisa de Nikolits is a clever, fast-paced, and enjoyable read with a cast of quirky characters. They range from Henry the supremely creative poet to his estranged body-building wife and her reliable and loving mother, from the not-quite-right psychiatrist Dr. Carroll, who applies his unorthodox cognitive behaviourial therapy research called DTOT (do the opposite thing) to the lovable misfits who populate his required class. And then there's Amelia, Henry's daughter in so many ways, who attributes her inability to conform to the norms of society to her fear of being boringly normal. The novel traces Amelia's life, from her eccentric childhood love of birthday parties outside in the freezing rain to her current predicament of having to take Dr. Carroll's advice to retain the funding that finances her thesis on the unconventional Joan of Arc. In the course of escaping Dr. Carroll's clutches-in more ways than one-Amelia discovers her true self and encourages the reader to do the same."
—Gina Buonaguro, co-author of The Wolves of St. Peter's
