Summit Author Pens Romance Novel Set In Suburban New Jersey

SUMMIT, NJ — Lifetime "Jersey girl," and current Summit resident Andrea Stein recently released her debut novel, which is very much inspired by her home state.

Her novel "Typecast" follows the life of a "perpetually single, 31-year-old preschool teacher," named Callie Dressler, whose life is upended when her pregnant sister Nina, along with Nina's husband and four-year-old child, move in with her while their house is under construction.

Things become further complicated when a new movie everyone is talking about is written by her ex-boyfriend — and, here's the kicker, is based on their breakup.

Originally born in Brooklyn, New York, Stein currently lives in Summit but is a prior resident of Hoboken and grew up in Springfield. Taking inspiration from her surroundings, the new book is set in fictional suburban New Jersey communities.

The book was released in September and already has loads of positive reviews.

Buzzfeed placed the book on its "Best Main Characters We've Gotten To Know in 2022," and it was a Scary Mommy pick of "New Books We Can’t Wait to Cozy Up with This Fall."

Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Stein’s novel presents a charming tale of first love and second chances that’s likely to entertain fans of the works of Emily Giffin…A heartwarming modern romance for movie mavens."

Stein was raised in New Jersey before attending a "small, quirky" liberal arts college and a large, preppy university, both in New York State. A book publicist by profession, she lives with her husband and sons in suburban Summit — where the boys attended preschool at a place much like "Bouncy Castles" in the book.

The book is currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and more.

Check out Stein's website here for more information.