Make Nice (Pre-Order July 14th 2026)

Make Nice by Ryan Effgen Pre-Order July 14th 2026

Perfect for fans of Sandwich and The Wedding People, Make Nice is an irresistible comedy of manners and a sharp, heartfelt debut from Ryan Effgen about family, secrets, and the beautiful chaos of trying to behave.

When three generations of the Pickford family arrive at the storied Grand Hotel on a ritzy Lake Michigan island, they are determined to spend the long weekend doing one thing: making nice.

Pete, the nation’s foremost snail scientist, hopes to escape family drama by hunting for a rare Carthusian mollusk. Viv, newly separated and secretly reeling from the revelation that her husband is gay, is resolved to keep things pleasant for her teenage daughter. And Corey — charming, hapless, and wildly out of place — arrives with five pounds of cocaine and a plan to sell it to the first oblivious rich vacationer he can find.

But as crushes spark, teenage rebellion flares, business schemes collapse, and long-buried family truths begin to surface, the weekend spirals rapidly out of control. Why did their feckless patriarch insist on this particular island getaway? And why does Corey, the family screw-up, seem to be the only one who knows what’s really going on?

By turns hilarious, tender, and sneakily wise, Make Nice is a sparkling novel about family dysfunction, generational misunderstandings, and the strange truth that the people who drive you most crazy may also be the ones who finally set you free.

A sharply observed, laugh-out-loud debut about love, loyalty, and learning when — and when not — to behave.