Review: Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill

Imperfect Bliss

Susan Fales-Hill

Genre: Chick Lit/Comedy

Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Publisher: Atria Books

ISBN:1451623828

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Description:

Jane Austen meets the Bachelorette in this twenty-first-century comedy of manners about a suburban family, their four eligible daughters, and what happens when reality TV comes to town.With her acclaimed first novel, One Flight Up, author Susan Fales-Hill is on a roll, already leaving her chick-lit predecessors “in the dust,” as the New York Post put it. Now, in Imperfect Bliss, she offers up a hilarious take on genteel family life with a cast of irresistibly eccentric characters. Meet the Harcourts of Chevy Chase, Maryland. A respectable middle class, middle-aged, mixed-race couple, Harold and Forsythia have four eminently marriageable daughters—or so their mother believes. Forsythia named her girls after Windsor royals in the hopes that one day each would find her true prince. But princes are far from the mind of their second-born daughter, Elizabeth (AKA Bliss), who, in the aftermath of a messy divorce, has moved back home and thrown herself into earning her Ph.D. All that changes when aBachelorette-style reality television show called The Virgin takes Bliss’s younger sister, Diana, as its star. Though she fights it at first, Bliss can’t help but be drawn into the romantic drama that ensues, forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, her family, and herself.

Review

Rating:

This was a really great, light, funny and refreshing read. Yes, the plot was very predictable, but nevertheless I enjoyed the story immensely. As I said, it was kind of a light read, but I also found myself taking some of the issues talked about in the book, and things that the characters were involved in, and thinking about them more. So even though this was a pretty light, I think there is definitely some deeper meaning behind it, and will leave you with something to think about. Especially in today's society with our fixation on reality t.v., sex etc. 

The heroine (or fairy tale princess) was African American, which I really liked because it doesn't seem to be all that common in books, especially chick lit. I also like some of the issues that the character Bliss brought up, being African American. It added that deeper element to the story definitely.

I also loved the sense of humor of the writer! Like, no, really.

I thought that this book was pretty darn hilarious. The crazy mom, the easy sister, everyone. They were all perfect for the story and I immediately fell in love with them.

Overall this was a great book and I would totally recommend it to fans of funny, chick lit, and definitely satires. 

No kidding folks, this book was pretty funny.

It's sure to make you smile like a fool.

:)

*The BBB's received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are that of the reviewer. We were not compensated for this review.

Getting Married And Other Mistakes by Barbara Slate

Getting Married and Other Mistakes

Barbara Slate

Genre: Chick Lit, Graphic Novel

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: Other Press

ISBN:1590515358

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Description:

After having been a good girl and following her mother’s advice to snag a husband before she became a twenty-something spinster, Barbara Slate realized that her Mr. Right was actually Mr. Wrong and that she was living her life according to everyone’s rules but her own. After twelve years of an unblissful marriage, she made her escape.
   Now this accomplished comic artist lets it all out in a savagely funny and emotionally honest fictional narrative. Jo, her stand-in protagonist, is a successful wedding photographer (of all things) who has been dumped by her husband and desperately needs to get on with her life. She follows her friends’ advice to get laid, see a shrink, go out more, and live a little. Nothing works. Eventually she realizes that she must stop listening to what everybody else tells her and follow her own voice instead.
   Jo’s struggle with female guilt and her quest for self-awareness, told in a series of hilarious panels, is the perfect book for any woman needing to take back control of her life, or remembering when she did.

Review

Rating:

Super cute comic book for adult women. The stories in it are funny and many will be able to relate. It is the kind of book you can throw in your purse and read when you just have a few mins though you will probably read it in one sitting.

*The Book Blogging Beauties received a copy of this book for review from Other Press. All opinions are that of the reviewer. We were not compensated for this review.

Review: Paula Takes A Risk by Randi M. Sherman

Paula Takes A Risk

Randi M. Sherman

Genre: Chick Lit

Publication Date: January 30, 2012

Publisher: Friesan Press

ISBN: 1770971564

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Description:

After thirty-four years of just letting life happen to her, Paula Tenenbaum’s mundane existence was suddenly interrupted. It was bad enough to be fired from her job because she was “average”, but on that same day, her boyfriend also dumped her for being “un-dynamic.” Somehow, someway Paula needed to make a change. But before she could figure out what her first step should be, her scheming neighbor Larry tapped into her silent desperation and dreams and challenged everything that she believed about herself.
At first Paula was skeptical and scared, but quickly, she realized that she had nothing to lose, as she donned the persona of the successful, and vibrant individual that she had always dreamed of being, navigating thru business, colorful personalities and the people that she had idolized from afar.
Written with sharp humor, and huge personality, Paula Takes A Risk is the hilarious story about the metamorphosis of Paula Tenenbaum, who naively enters into an adventure that changes her life. This is a story certain to strike a chord in anyone who secretly desires change, but is afraid to make it.

Review

Rating:

First the pluses, this book is a quick easy read. That's really the only upside. Overall the book was lacking substance. To use the authors words the book was as undynamic as Paula. Paula the main character lacks any substance she just follows others, she loses her job and boyfriend in the same day only to fall for another mans scheme. To me it just made her look weak. Maybe if there was more to the story it reads like someone's brief overview of what happened there are no real details to it. No meat to the story.

*The Book Blogging Beauties received a copy of this book for review from Friesen Press. All opinions are that of the reviewer. We were not compensated for this review.

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

The Lifeguard

Deborah Blumenthal

Published: March 1, 2012

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN:080754535X

Description:

It's an unsettled summer for Sirena. Back in Texas, her family's splitting apart, but here in Rhode Island, at the cottage of her aunt, it's a different world. There are long days at the beach and intriguing encounters with Pilot, the lifeguard with shamanic skills. Sirena explores her obsession with Pilot and discovers his mysterious--almost magical--gifts.

Review:

Rating:

*Highlight over the white bits to see spoilers

To be honest when I first picked up ‘The Lifeguard’ I wasn’t all too interested in it. The description of the book sounds like the typical love story. The typical a girl is going through a tough time and falls in love during summer vacation.

But I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderfully captivating story this book told. I was really impressed by the characters. They weren’t your typical fairy tale love story main characters. Sirena had real problems. Her parents getting divorced really tore her whole world apart and instead of doing her usual routine for summer by going to camp with her best friend, Marissa. She is forced to go say with her Aunt Ellie in Rhode Island, who she barely knows.

Her life takes a lot of new turns and has new meaning as she begins volunteering at the local hospital, reading to the children. Her eyes really begin to open to the world around her. She also meets Antonio, an eighty year old man who is an amazing painter and a brilliant man. Antonio becomes a mentor to Sirena and helps her with a lot more than just getting her talent to paint back.

Then there is Pilot, who is just the most beautiful human being on the planet to Sirena. Her brain just couldn’t seem to function around him. He was gorgeous yes but he wasn’t like anyone she had ever met. He was mysterious and quiet and seems to be around whenever anyone is in trouble.

So when Sirena is in a terrible accident that brings her very close to death will Pilot be her hero and come to her rescue.

‘The Lifeguard’ was a beautiful story I found myself caught up in the story. You become very emotional. So many things happen in this story that will really tug at the heart strings. ‘The Lifeguard’ was a definite treat; I would recommend this book to anyone looking to escape into a life of love and fantasy. I give in four stars.

*The Book Blogging Beauties received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley & Albert Whitman & Company. All opinions are that of the reviewer. We are dedicated to providing our HONEST opinion about books etc. We were not compensated for this review.