My novel The Coat Check Girl will be published on October 22, 2024 by Roan & Weatherford’s Radiance imprint as the first in a three-book series. It is now available for preorder and you can get it through your favorite independent bookstore or wherever you buy books.

The Coat Check Girl is a ghost story set in the summer of 1999 in the restaurant worlds of New York and New Orleans. It was inspired by a beloved haunted hangout where I spent a fair amount of time in the early years of the millennium.

Now available for preorder on Bookshop, Amazon, and from your local bookstores!

Advance praise for The Coat Check Girl:

“I devoured this impressive debut novel… An intimate ghost story baked into a deliciously gripping look at 90s restaurant culture, The Coat Check Girl serves up a bold new voice in genre-bending fiction.” —Hannah Bos, co-creator of the award-winning HBO series “Somebody Somewhere.”

“Was the fact that my mother was a coat check girl when she met my father a reason I loved Laura Buchwald’s The Coat Check Girl? Possibly. But it might have also been the crisp dialogue, evocative writing, and masterly description of the New York and New Orleans restaurant worlds that had me flipping pages. This is a terrific first novel, a ghost story with style and humor and insight, and a protagonist in Josie Gray that I won’t soon forget.” —Tom Barbash, author of Stay Up With Me and The Dakota Winters

“Many fine novels have been written about a young single New Yorker trying to figure out her life—but few are as fresh and original as Laura Buchwald’s The Coat Check Girl. From the behind-the-scenes view of an upscale restaurant to the delightful array of staff and patrons to the rich explorations of loss and grief to the unexpected ghostly visitors—Buchwald’s story holds surprises on every page. A layered and truly satisfying read by a writer who knows how to tell a story.” —Barbara Josselsohn, author of Secrets of the Italian Island and The Forgotten Italian Restaurant

“A charming debut about navigating the grief process and finding your place in the world, The Coat Check Girl is a quick read with surprising depth. Laura Buchwald has created a world of magic and mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. She deftly captures the texture of New Orleans and tone of New York City on the dawn of the new millennium. You’ll fall in love with Josie and the Bistrot family of lovable misfits.” —Ophira Edut, author, The Astrology Advantage (Simon & Schuster)

“Ghostly, enchanting, and wise. Filled with characters who feel like friends.” —Jill Dearman, author of Jazzed

“I had a hard time putting The Coat Check Girl down. It is a fast-paced, entertaining novel that is both heart-breaking and uplifting. Buchwald’s characters are expertly drawn and so likable as to feel like our closest friends. The book is also filled with beautiful prose and such exquisite descriptions of both New York City and New Orleans, that you will be transported into each place. I was moved by this book and you will be, too!” —Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author of The Stories We Cannot Tell

 “The Coat Check Girl is a sensual, engaging novel, full of atmosphere, fun, and flavor. Laura Buchwald’s gorgeous debut is about our universal search for wholeness and connection. While this book is wonderfully entertaining, don’t be surprised if you find true spiritual comfort within its endearing depths.” —Claudia Zuluaga, author of Fort Starlight

“A tender story about loss and love with a sprinkling of the supernatural that adds an otherworldly glow.  Laura Buchwald gently probes the hearts of her characters with an equal measure of precision and forgiveness; The Coat Check Girl is a spirited debut by a novelist to watch.” —Kitty Zeldis, author of The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights 

“This captivating debut will take you on a journey through grief, love and the supernatural, set against the vivid backdrop of late 20th century New York City and New Orleans. Buchwald’s The Coat Check Girl is an emotional, haunting and totally devourable escape.” —Elena Perez, author of The Art of Disappearing