Coming via Knopf on July 14, 2026
about Make Nice
An irresistible comedy of manners about siblings, money, love, and snail science, and what happens when a petty thief—a charming grifter with a half-baked scheme—joins his family vacation on a ritzy island in Lake Michigan.
“If you enjoy my novels, then Make Nice is for you! Ryan Effgen chronicles the hijinks and complicated dynamics of a weeklong family vacation in a gloriously depicted Mackinac Island—replete with fudge shops, lake views, and horse-drawn carriages. Engaging and charming, perfect for your own summer vacation.”
—Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket
“When the Pickford family returns to the Lake Michigan island where they spent childhood summers, they explore not only sandy beaches and fudge stores . . . but long-hidden family secrets. I can’t decide which Pickford sibling I love the most. There’s Pete (a snail scientist) and Viv (whose husband’s sexy secret has nothing to do with her)—but my favorite has to be Corey, the wayward little brother who’s hoping to fix his life by selling five pounds of stolen cocaine to a rich stranger at the hotel his dad is paying for. Make Nice is true, tender, and sneakily hilarious…the perfect novel to make you treasure your own imperfect family.”
—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
“Tired of our long national nightmare? Take heart in Make Nice, a witty, tender family saga that will have you grinning from ear to ear as you bury your head in the sand for a few blissed-out hours. And trust me when I say: it is very, very good sand.”
—Joshua Ferris, A Calling for Charlie Barnes
“A brilliantly funny, big-hearted novel full of family drama, scandalous secrets, big dreams, and long-shot gambles, with love and fireworks aplenty. Effgen’s debut is pure pleasure, and I relished every page.”
—Amy Poeppel, author of Far and Away
Make Nice is available for pre-order now:
Also, your local, independent bookstore would love to hear from you!
Check out the bookstore finder at indiebound.org.
…other publications and info…
SHORT STORIES
The Inappropriate Behavior of Our Alleged Loved Ones
published in Best New American Voices 2007
– “The best of the best new voices may well be Ryan Effgen…” – Deseret News
– This short story was developed into a short film which premiered at the Charlotte Film Festival.
Rowing to Russia
published in Fiction Magazine
Background Action
published in Pindeldyboz
The Pirate’s Life for Me
published in Painted Bride Quarterly
– This story was performed on stage at Virginia Arts and Letters Live 2008
FELLOWSHIPS
The Virginia Commission for the Arts
George Mason University Narrative Completion Fellowship
BLOGS
Some years back, I wrote a couple of blogs while between other projects. These are mostly nostalgic little pieces about songs, albums, and record stores: