Music has always been an important part of my storytelling. While I mostly listen to instrumental movie soundtracks when I am writing, my novels reference a wide range of pop songs. Since I always have a song in my head, it’s only fair for my characters to do the same. Stella Stark is a private investigator-turned-dispenser of poetic justice, a.k.a. Little Miss Petty. Malone is her hot neighbor who’s impervious to her attempts. Here are six very different songs you’ll find in LITTLE MISS PETTY:
“Man in Finance” - Girl on Couch, Billen Ted, David Guetta
When Stella bumps into Malone, he’s wearing an expensive suit. He’s also tall. She quips “Are you that man in finance I ordered? That was a fast delivery.” When Megan Boni aka Girl on Couch created these lyrics, she was poking fun at unrealistic expectations. Don’t worry. Malone may not be 6’5" with blue eyes, but he’s really the kind of guy we’re all looking for. Also, you’ll have that song stuck in your head for a while. Oops.
“All Too Well”- Taylor Swift
Stella’s upstairs tween neighbor is prone to melodramatically playing the ten-minute version of this song on repeat. Stella’s concerned about her well-being. Later, Stella fears she’ll be the one who is listening to this ultimate breakup song on repeat.
“A Horse with No Name” - America
As Stella struggles to come up with a name for her new kitten, she starts singing this song only substituting “cat” for “horse.” Is this something I, myself, might do? Absolutely.
“The Way You Look Tonight” - Frank Sinatra
This classic plays at a party where Stella shows off a particular set of skills, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what those skills are. No spoilers here.
“So Fresh, So Clean” - Outkast
I’m from metro Atlanta; thus, Outkast had to get a shoutout. In this case Stella uses the tune from the chorus to help her remember a license plate number. I confess that I have often used songs to help me remember numbers, too. I also confess to having several Outkast songs on my running playlist.
The Murder, She Wrote theme song - John Addison
What do you do after you’ve had a breakup? Besides listen to the second song on this list? You see what Jessica Fletcher has been up to. If you haven’t heard this iconic theme song lately, I’d recommend you run - not walk - to a streaming service in order to listen to this unlikely banger.
Swiftie Bonus: There are a TON of other Taylor Swift songs mentioned in this book because there are two points where entire conversations are happening just in Swift song titles. My favorite is the scene where “Look What You Made Me Do” shows up.
Cardi B Bonus: Little did I know that Cardi B would come out with “Pretty & Petty” after this book went to press. I have been known to blast it, and Stella Stark would, too.
An empowered PI parlays her talent for petty revenge into lucrative karmic justice in a sharp and funny novel full of surprises by a USA Today bestselling author.
When Stella Stark discovers that her boyfriend is cheating, she also discovers that thirty—nine isn’t too old for petty revenge. Can we say…glitter bomb? She’s lost both her job and her home—why not broaden her professional horizons as Little Miss Petty, helping wronged women achieve karmic justice? Frankly, the demand is too great to ignore.
New friends rally around her: Havisham, a bar owner with a soft spot under her gruff exterior, and Salcedo, a college student with marketing savvy. There’s just one hiccup: Getting revenge on the cheating soon—to—be ex—husband of her best—paying client is supposed to be easy. After all, he’s her neighbor. But something isn’t adding up. Malone is not only intriguingly handsome. He’s also a good listener, sympathetic, and adores kittens. He may look like the ex, but he isn’t acting like him. And how can Stella, a woman on the rebound, be even remotely tempted by the pizza—with—benefits relationship he suggests? That would be so bad for business.
There’s so much for Stella to learn—about karma, the charmer across the breezeway she’s falling for, and most importantly, herself. Love, revenge, and second chances—they all come with a little risk. And a twist.
Women's Fiction Family Life [ Montlake, On Sale: March 24, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781662532474 / eISBN: 9781662532481 ]
Sally Kilpatrick is the USA Today bestselling author of seven novels and counting. She has won multiple awards, including the Georgia Author of the Year, the Maggie Award of Excellence, the Booksellers’ Best, and the Nancy Knight Mentorship Award. She lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
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