Gilmore Girls Star To Publish First Novel In 2027

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Years after the end of the hit series, one of the titular Gilmore Girls is making her debut as a novelist in 2027.

Kelly Bishop, who played family matriarch Emily Gilmore throughout the original 7-season run of Gilmore Girls along with its 2016 Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, will be releasing her first novel, Broad Appeal, in Fall 2027.

Bishop, known for her acclaimed roles in A Chorus Line and Dirty Dancing, will be transitioning into a new phase with her literary debut. After publishing a memoir in 2024, The Third Gilmore Girl, Bishop is stepping into a different role with her debut novel, a cross between Sex and the City and The Golden Girls.

Published by William Morrow and written with New York Times bestselling author Ali Rosen, Broad Appeal focuses on Roz, a woman in her late 70s whose “comfortable Upper West Side life is upended when rising housing costs threaten her ability to keep the apartment she loves.” Rather than lose her home, Roz takes on three roommates who, through the course of the novel, become family. Roz’s roommates include her “eccentric entomologist sister-in-law, a former trophy wife rebuilding after financial disaster and a spirited dance teacher she met while protesting gentrification in Spanish Harlem.”

Broad Appeal is available for pre-order through this link.

With the novel blending the tongue-in-cheek style of banter found in shows like The Golden Girls with the spice of a later in life Sex and the City, Bishop’s novel will set the scene as the core characters get closer by proximity and, eventually, by choice. William Morrow revealed the novel to be a sharply witty, often intense story that brings the complexities of human relationships to the forefront, exploring a phase of life that many don’t find themselves digging into on the page frequently. Bishop, who proved to be a natural talent with her memoir, brings her own brand of storytelling to the novel.

Bishop herself shared that her excitement for Broad Appeal comes from the exploration of the story as a whole, explaining that she’s “always believed that growing older doesn’t mean growing smaller.” Getting the chance to tackle a story about women in a later phase of their lives than is traditionally explored is the perfect avenue for Bishop, who has been known for years for her charming performances and ability to dig into unexpected emotions at every turn.

Bishop, who won a Tony for originating the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line before going on to play Baby’s mother, Marjorie Houseman, in Dirty Dancing, has had a plethora of experiences to pull from for her novel. Long before Gilmore Girls, Bishop was already moving through the industry with an unexpected intensity, and The WB series placed her in a fascinating role throughout its original run from 2000 to 2007. After playing Emily Gilmore for seven seasons, Bishop went on to continue working with creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, taking on the role of Fanny Flowers on Bunheads from 2012 to 2013, then appearing as Benedetta in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel seasons 4 and 5.

With her novel, Broad Appeal, bringing the stories of four separate characters to life, Bishop’s debut novel will have a ton to mine from as she moves through a story of friendship, heartbreak, humor, and found family.

Gilmore Girls