In what is shaping up to be the publishing event of the summer, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT by international bestseller Judy Blume publishes in the US tomorrow.  This is Judy's first novel for adults in more than 15 years.

In 2004, Judy was awarded the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. She lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband.

Knopf's first printing is 350,000 copies and the praise is pouring in. This weekend at BookCon, the line to get a book signed by Judy stretched for over four hours. Here's a look at what's been happening:

· Last week's issue of The New York Times Magazine featured a phenomenal piece on Judy, and her journey towards writing this deeply person story, that is well worth a read. Please find it linked here.

· IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT has already been chosen as an LA Times “Summer Reading Guide” pick, one of USA Today's “25 Hot Books for Summer”, Publishers Weekly's “Pick of the Week”, People Magazine's “Book of the Week”, and one of Nylon Magazine's summer picks.

· The novel has been featured in The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar (a Q&A with Judy and Chloe Sevigny), Time Magazine, People, The NY Daily News, The Guardian, and CBS. Additionally, Good Housekeeping featured an exclusive sneak peek of the novel.

Praise for IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT:

"Devastating secrets are uncovered, moving love stories play out or fade to black. Blume, whose fiction for adults has the same emotional immediacy as her books for children, makes us feel the pure shock and wonder of living, the ways we get through catastrophe — and the ways we fail. But our connections might save us. ‘Terrible things can happen in this life but being in love changes everything,’ one character says. We are all passengers in this world, Blume suggests, fastening our seatbelts, hoping we reach our desired destinations and bracing for what comes next.” – The New York Times

“Characteristically accessible, frequently charming, and always deeply human.” – Publishers Weekly

“There is no surprise that [In the Unlikely Event] is smoothly written, and its story compelling. The setting—the early 1950s—is especially well realized. . . A new Blume novel will always be big news.” – Booklist (starred review)