In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the residents of Runnymede face new challenges: civil defense, racism against the only Japanese resident of Runnymede, and other events, both comic and dramatic, such as mistaking migrating Canada geese for German bombers, and how the sisters open the Curl n' Twirl salon to pay off a debt due to damage caused by one of their fiercest fights.

The narrative spans a decade in the life of the sisters and the zany inhabitants of Runnymede, ending in 1950, with Wheezie and Juts feeling older and wiser, and just as dedicated as ever to their fractious relationship.

Though he finds the novel to fall flat at times, is forgiving due to the entertainment Loose Lips provides: "Brown's comedy is like a visit with relatives whose behavior both amuses and horrifies you.

"[1] Similarly, the Kirkus review enjoyed the return to the familiar and beloved Runnymede and its "wacky" denizens and found that Loose Lips is filled with "vivid characters and strong women.

"[3] Critic Sybil Downing concludes that "although Loose Lips is light and generally forgettable, Brown's keen observations on life and its comedic side so often edged by tragedy make it worth the read.