Tracy Flick Can't Win

Written by Tom Perrotta and Full Cast

Narrated by Lucy Liu, Dennis Boutsikaris, Jeremy Bobb and 3 more

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon

“Tom Perrotta is…one of the great writers that we have today. I love this book.” —Harlan Coben

An “engrossing and mordantly funny” (People) novel about ambition, coming-of-age in adulthood, and never really leaving high school politics behind—featuring New York Times bestselling author Tom Perrotta’s most iconic character of all time.

Tracy Flick is a hardworking assistant principal at a public high school in suburban New Jersey. Still ambitious but feeling a little stuck and underappreciated in midlife, Tracy gets a jolt of good news when the longtime principal, Jack Weede, abruptly announces his retirement, creating a rare opportunity for Tracy to ascend to the top job.

Energized by the prospect of her long-overdue promotion, Tracy throws herself into her work with renewed zeal, determined to prove her worth to the students, faculty, and School Board, while also managing her personal life—a ten-year-old daughter, a needy doctor boyfriend, and a burgeoning meditation practice.

But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be. Her male colleagues’ determination to honor Vito Falcone—a star quarterback of dubious character who had a brief, undistinguished career in the NFL—triggers memories for Tracy and leads her to reflect on the trajectory of her own life. As she considers the past, Tracy becomes aware of storm clouds brewing in the present. Is she really a shoo-in for the principal job? Is the Superintendent plotting against her? Why is the School Board President’s wife trying so hard to be her friend? And why can’t she ever get what she deserves?

A sharp, darkly comic, and pitch-perfect chronicle of the second act of one of the most memorable characters of our time, Tracy Flick Can’t Win “delivers acerbic insight about frustrated ambition” (Esquire).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jun 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797139098

Tom Perrotta

Tom Perrotta is the bestselling author of ten works of fiction,including Election and Little Children, both of which were made into critically acclaimed movies, and The Leftovers and Mrs. Fletcher, which were both adapted into series. He lives outside Boston.

Reviews for Tracy Flick Can't Win

[Michael Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Suburbia, updated and with black humor, the story engages and entertains consistently. The plot is thin but workable. And the performance by a big cast does not distract and, in fact, enhances the author’s complicated story structure that echoes what I take to be Tom Perrotta’s sympathy for all of us.

[Constance Sahlmark · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written. I realized this because of how my teeth were set on edge; my annoyance at certain personalities; my frustration with backroom politicking... You know a good author when they can put you right there in the thick of it

[Momreadsbooksinbtwn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember watching the movie “Election” many moons ago, based upon the novel written by Tom Perrotta. Recently I noticed that Tom Perrotta was releasing the sequel, “Tracy Flick Can’t Win” on June 7th. After watching a video interview of Tom Perrotta, where he discussed his new novel, I knew I had to read it. The story picks up where Tracy Flick is Assistant Principal of Green Meadow High School, a mom with a 10-year-old daughter, and seems to be undergoing a mid-life crisis. Tracy becomes aware that the longtime principal, Jack Weede, has finally announced his retirement and she thinks that she is a definite shoo-in for this promotion. Well, hold your horses, not quite yet Tracy! In comes a cast of characters, including the superintendent who befriends Tracy and seems to have her back, but may not have her best interests in mind. The President of the School Board, who is heading up a selection committee for the new Green Meadow High School Hall of Fame, thinks that with his substantial charitable donation to the school he might be able to influence the necessary school improvements. The old high school football star, who had an unmemorable short NFL career, is in the front running for the school’s Hall of Fame recognition and is going through the steps of his recovery program and making amends with everyone he has wronged. The high school’s front desk receptionist and her compromising relationship with the principal. Does Tracy Flick come out on top and become the new Principal? I found this book to be absolutely hilarious and I binged through the audio. This story is told from multiple points of view. This cast of narrators does a phenomenal job, especially since most of them are TV/Movie actors, it really comes through in the narration. This book is not for the faint of heart, it has dark humor and quite a bit of profanity. I am thinking of reading some of Tom Perrotta’s backlist.