A smart, funny, tremendously satisfying novel, Love Is a Canoe explores the fragile nature of love and marriage through the eyes of an aging author whose 1971 book on relationships made him a beloved guru to thousands of readers. Now a widower, Peter Herman passes the time with a woman he admires but doesn’t love. Reflecting on his long but sometimes turbulent marriage, Peter begins to question the advice he has doled out over the years. Then he receives a call from an ambitious young editor at his publishing house. She wants to spark new interest in his classic book by sponsoring a contest for struggling couples. The prize? A session with Peter, who can surely keep any relationship afloat. His tale alternates with the story of Emily and Eli, Brooklynites coping with jealousy, self-doubt, and the demands of their careers. As their story lines begin to merge, the characters deliver a stirring meditation on the hopes and fears that make us human.