Pay in installments of $6.21 with
,
and
Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 21 - Jul 26
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
monsters a fans dilemma Mothers and Other Fictional Characters : A Memoir in EssaysUSA Today Bestseller Sensitive, searingly intelligent, and beautifully written. Claire Dederer, author of Monsters: A Fans Dilemma This isfor reala masterwork, one I will return to over and over." Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year In this intimate and riveting memoir, Best American Essayist Nicole Graev Lipson breaks through the ready made stories of womanhood, rescuing truth from the fiction that infiltrates our lives. What does it take to
USA Today Bestseller“Sensitive, searingly intelligent, and beautifully written.” —Claire Dederer, author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma
“This is—for real—a masterwork, one I will return to over and over." —Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year
In this intimate and riveting memoir, Best American Essayist Nicole Graev Lipson breaks through the ready-made stories of womanhood, rescuing truth from the fiction that infiltrates our lives.
What does it take to escape the plotlines mapped onto us? Searching for clues in the work of her literary foremothers, Lipson untangles what it means to be a girl, a woman, a lover, a partner, a daughter, and a mother in a world all too ready to reduce us to stock characters. Whether she’s testing the fragile borders of fidelity, embracing the taboo power of female friendship, escaping her family for the solitude of the mountains, grappling with what to do with her frozen embryos, or letting go of the children she imagined for the ones she’s raising, Lipson pushes beyond the easy, surface stories we tell about ourselves to brave less certain territory.
As Lipson journeys through this thorny terrain, literature becomes her lodestar. Kate Chopin’s erotic story “The Storm” helps her reckon with the longings stirring below the surface of her marriage. Watching her son absorb the stifling codes of manhood, she finds unlikely parenting inspiration in Philip Roth’s most cartoonish overbearing mother. Summoning Gwendolyn Brooks, she asks, Can destroying one’s frozen embryos be understood as a maternal act? And accompanied by Shakespeare’s gender-bending heroine Rosalind, she seizes on the truest meaning of loving her oldest child.
Risky and revealing, nourishing and affirming, rigorous and sexy, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters is a shimmering love letter to our forgotten selves—and the ones we’re still becoming.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.2 ★★★★★
Based on 29 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
No Bending Required, No Hands Needed
Size: 12 Wide, Color: Cognac Napa Leather
The shoe is a good fit and run true to size, and color and quality are as advertised. Easy to slip on and off, without bending to do it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Nice
Size: 9, Color: Black
Very comfortable. Worth the money
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Good purchase
Size: 9.5, Color: Black
Value and quality was good
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
★★★★★ 5
The "Lazy Professional" Look: Is Hands-Free Luxury Actually Real?
Size: 9.5, Color: Black Napa Leather
Living down here in Florida, my footwear needs are pretty specific. It’s hot, it’s humid, and I spent half my life rushing from the car into work or a meeting. I’ve reached that age where I value efficiency just as much as style—maybe more. I’ve been eyeing the Marc Joseph New York Hands-Free Slip-on Penny Loafers for a while, and after putting them through the wringer, here is the honest truth from someone who just wants to look sharp without the hassle.
The "Just Step-In" Reality
Look, the big selling point here is the "Hands-Free" tech. We’ve all seen the commercials for those athletic slip-ins, but finding that in a legitimate leather penny loafer is a different game. Does it work? Yes, surprisingly well. The heel counter is firm enough that it doesn’t collapse when you slide your foot in, but it doesn’t feel like a piece of plastic digging into your Achilles once you’re in. For those of us who are tired of bending over or hunting for a shoehorn every morning, this is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade.
The Florida Factor: Comfort and Style
The leather is actual calfskin (on most models), which is a must for the Florida heat. Synthetic shoes turn into a sauna within ten minutes, but these breathe reasonably well. The aesthetic is classic—it’s a "professor" shoe through and through. You can wear them with chinos and a blazer for work or throw them on with some nice jeans for a weekend lunch.
Inside, they’ve got a gel heel insert and a padded footbed. It’s not quite "walking on a cloud"—let’s not over-hype it—but it’s a massive step up from the hard, flat soles of traditional dress loafers. I’ve spent four hours on my feet lecturing, and my arches didn’t hate me by the end of the day.
The Sizing Gamble
Here’s where you need to be careful. The consensus from other guys (and my own experience) is that the sizing is a bit of a coin toss. They tend to run a little large and sometimes wide. If you have narrow feet, you might find the sides "gaping" or flaring out when you walk, which kills the sleek look. I’d recommend ordering a half-size down if you’re usually between sizes.
The Breakdown
The Pros:
True Hands-Free: You can actually put these on while holding a coffee and a briefcase. No hands needed.
Legit Materials: The calf leather feels premium and smells like the real deal.
Versatility: Perfectly bridges the gap between a "car shoe" and a formal loafer.
Comfort: The gel insert makes a noticeable difference for long-duration wear.
The Cons:
Sizing Inconsistency: They can run wide, leading to some "heel slip" if you don't get the perfect fit.
Break-in Period: The heel is stiff by design (to allow for the slip-on feature), so expect a day or two of minor stiffness.
Price Point: They aren't cheap, though often on sale.
Value for Money
Are they worth it? If you’re comparing them to high-end Italian brands that cost $500, these are an absolute steal. They look 90% as good for a fraction of the price. However, if you're used to $60 mall shoes, the jump to $150+ might feel steep until you realize you’re paying for the convenience of never having to touch your shoes to put them on. For a daily driver in a professional setting, the value is definitely there.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Step In Look Good
Size: 11.5, Color: Cognac Napa Leather
I am wearing these shoes as I write this review, and they look and feel great. I have a bit of a disability with drop foot on the right leg and bilateral neuropathy and have been wearing step in shoes for about 10 years. But the first company that introduced leather dress and casual shoes stopped making them and now only makes sport and casual shoes. So I have been searching for some that meet my need for shoes like this and this company has given me three pairs, so far. Easy to get into, comfortable to wear, and good looking. And they take polish very well, too. (Remember how to do that?). We may buy another pair or two in different styles as well.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026