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None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive
Perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Jennifer Weiner, this smart and witty debut novel follows Ramona through the forty-eight hours after her life has been upended by the discovery of her husband’s affair and an approaching Category Four hurricane.
Ramona’s got a bratty boss, a toddler teetering through toilet training, a critical mom who doesn’t mind sharing, and oops—a cheating husband. That’s how a Category Four hurricane bearing down on her life in Savannah becomes just another item on her to-do list. In the next forty-eight hours she’ll add a neighborhood child and the class guinea pig named Clarence Thomas to her entourage as she struggles to evacuate town.
Ignoring the persistent glow of her minivan’s check engine light, Ramona navigates police check points, bathroom emergencies, demands from her boss, and torrential downpours while fielding calls and apology texts from her cheating husband and longing for the days when her life was like a Prince song, full of sexy creativity and joy.
Thoroughly entertaining and completely relatable, None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive is the hilarious, heartwarming story of a woman up to her elbows in calamities and about to drive off the brink of the rest of her life.
Ramona’s got a bratty boss, a toddler teetering through toilet training, a critical mom who doesn’t mind sharing, and oops—a cheating husband. That’s how a Category Four hurricane bearing down on her life in Savannah becomes just another item on her to-do list. In the next forty-eight hours she’ll add a neighborhood child and the class guinea pig named Clarence Thomas to her entourage as she struggles to evacuate town.
Ignoring the persistent glow of her minivan’s check engine light, Ramona navigates police check points, bathroom emergencies, demands from her boss, and torrential downpours while fielding calls and apology texts from her cheating husband and longing for the days when her life was like a Prince song, full of sexy creativity and joy.
Thoroughly entertaining and completely relatable, None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive is the hilarious, heartwarming story of a woman up to her elbows in calamities and about to drive off the brink of the rest of her life.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2022
About the author
Carolyn Prusa
1 book102 followersCarolyn Prusa studied literature and creative writing at Stanford University and Boston University. She has written for Savannah Magazine, the Charlotte Observer, and other publications. She lives in Savannah, Georgia, with her husband, two sons, and giant rescue dog, Dale, who looks like a Wookiee
and sings like an angel. Find out more @CarolynPrusa on Twitter and Instagram.
and sings like an angel. Find out more @CarolynPrusa on Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews
January 11, 2023
Ha! Too late!
What does it take to make you add a book to your TBR? All that was necessary for me here was the title. I’m not going to lie and present myself as the biggest Prince fan that ever lived, but I will tell you I got grounded when my mother heard me singing along to Darling Nicky and I totally pulled a swappy-swap at the video store and slipped the Purple Rain VHS tape in another benign movie’s case in order to sneak watch it when I was just a wee young'un. When I saw this cover I was all in – no blurb reading, no ratings gandering, nada. And in an attempt at full disclosure, I’ll tell you I just assumed this was going to be a YA book.
But I was WRONG! So I had just finished a Kristin Higgins book a couple of days before and had told my husband how a good Chick Lit really warms the cackles of my heart, but it’s sometimes hard to find said good ones and I tend to not read the same genre back to back. Then I picked this puppy up and . . . .
It’s just a typical weekday for Ramona – well, aside from the Category 4 hurricane currently churning out in the Atlantic, her work/life balance being a constant struggle and the fact that she just walked into her kitchen midday to find her husband in his unders and Sarah Ellen from the school drop-off/pick-up line taking the last coconut La Croix from the fridge all decked out in her cowboy boots post coitus.
I did a quick brain adjustment from thinking this was going to be about too-cool-for-school teenie boppers and the realization that the sun truly does occasionally shine on a dog’s butt that I was going to get my wish of another potential winner in the #cluckcluck category.
And oh what a winner it was. I absolutely ADORED Ramona and her children (and I like kids in books about once per year so sucks to be every other thing I read in 2023). I also hate most all adults in real life, but I’m telling you this gal could be my best friend if she weren’t fictional. The bits analyzing their marriage were so honest and I cannot remember a time where I laughed so many times out loud while reading.
“All right. Are we finished pretending like you could forgive Desmond for his lying cheating cold dead beatin’ two-time double-dealing mean mistreating loving heart – “
“Patty Loveless? Respect.”
“Earned all this money but they’ll never take the country out me.”
“Rihanna”
“Beyoncè. Sweat Jesus, what has happened to you?”
“I know. I know!”
Don’t let the crap Goodreads’ rating fool you. Bunch of haters around this joint! I’m blown away that this was a debut novel, and I’m telling you I’ll pick up whatever Carolyn Prusa wants to put down. Every Star! Take it sleazy, y’all.
November 22, 2022
A Category Four hurricane about to hit Savannah is only one of the catastrophes Romona has to contend with today. Because she has to prepare to evacuate her 7- and 3-year-olds, she comes home early to discover her husband is having an affair. And the job she left early from is a place where her management is younger and child-free and don’t understand that as important as her job is to her, of course her kids come first.
I found this to be funny and engaging, although it in no way makes me envious of married women with children, particularly women who work outside the home even at jobs they mostly enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES NOVEMBER 8, 2022.
I found this to be funny and engaging, although it in no way makes me envious of married women with children, particularly women who work outside the home even at jobs they mostly enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES NOVEMBER 8, 2022.
October 23, 2022
This book just GETS ME. The day Prince died, I left work without asking and got a Love Symbol tattoo on my wrist. Am I a touch young for Prince? Perhaps. But when I was tiny, I was one of those ultra-lucky toddlers that had a Power Wheels when they were first on the market. Mine was, of course, a Red Corvette, and my grandma used to sit outside with me and belt out lines from "Little Red Corvette" in her raspy pack-a-day singing voice. I loved it, and I grew to love all things Prince.
Anyways. Enough about me. Ramona is relatable on so many levels — her micromanaging hipster boss, wild animal of a toddler, stagnant romance, stubborn af mother, and general sense of "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Now throw in a hurricane, a teenage neighbor, a cheating husband, and about a million other laughable little road bumps, and you get Ramona's experience in this book. Poor thing, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe these chaotic few days are exactly what she needs to live the life she really wants to.
This story is a wild ride and I laughed, I cried, I loved it. The writing is great, and the pace is so consuming that I stayed up late to finish it same-day. Brilliant! Also, I sincerely hope that Christopher's name is a nod to Under the Cherry Moon, as that one is my personal favorite of the Prince films.
Thank you to Carolyn Prusa, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Anyways. Enough about me. Ramona is relatable on so many levels — her micromanaging hipster boss, wild animal of a toddler, stagnant romance, stubborn af mother, and general sense of "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Now throw in a hurricane, a teenage neighbor, a cheating husband, and about a million other laughable little road bumps, and you get Ramona's experience in this book. Poor thing, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe these chaotic few days are exactly what she needs to live the life she really wants to.
This story is a wild ride and I laughed, I cried, I loved it. The writing is great, and the pace is so consuming that I stayed up late to finish it same-day. Brilliant! Also, I sincerely hope that Christopher's name is a nod to Under the Cherry Moon, as that one is my personal favorite of the Prince films.
Thank you to Carolyn Prusa, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
September 18, 2022
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review and boy are you getting one. Wow, so this whole book was like a train wreck you didn't want to look away from. From the kids that make you not want to have them to the husband who's weaponized his own incompetence so badly that the main character stills thinks she might love him EVEN THOUGH he's cheating on her, everyone in this book is the worst. Except maybe Bailey, who's really just along for the train wreck.
At first, I was like okay cool it's a story about a mom, Ramona, who doesn't have her shit together kind of like those Bad Mom movies that came out a few years ago and that she'd take the reigns of her own life into her hands, but here I am writing a review at 75% and she's not done anything to have any character growth. Her kids are the MOST obnoxious and just reiterate that I won't be having kids at any point in my life, because if I did and they were like hers I'd probably end up in jail.. She doesn't do anything about her husband cheating, and cares so much about her own mother she risks the safety of not only herself, but her two children and a child that she's been helping out because I'm pretty sure his parents abandoned him, to save her own mother during a hurricane. Did the author not even consider who little growth the mc has? because like they should have.
In addition to most of the characters not being likable, you also have to contend with Ramona's mother casually using homophobic language at the beginning of the book. Like it was unnecessary, especially when the gay couple was originally going to doing more to help her own child than she was. Also, there were some one liners that were kind of weird like, "Word out on the street is that teenage boys eat half their weight in food every day and I can't imagine what my Kroger bill will be once my son's balls drop." I just feel like there's a better way the author sound have wrote this. It's weird and gross honestly.
At first, I was like okay cool it's a story about a mom, Ramona, who doesn't have her shit together kind of like those Bad Mom movies that came out a few years ago and that she'd take the reigns of her own life into her hands, but here I am writing a review at 75% and she's not done anything to have any character growth. Her kids are the MOST obnoxious and just reiterate that I won't be having kids at any point in my life, because if I did and they were like hers I'd probably end up in jail.. She doesn't do anything about her husband cheating, and cares so much about her own mother she risks the safety of not only herself, but her two children and a child that she's been helping out because I'm pretty sure his parents abandoned him, to save her own mother during a hurricane. Did the author not even consider who little growth the mc has? because like they should have.
In addition to most of the characters not being likable, you also have to contend with Ramona's mother casually using homophobic language at the beginning of the book. Like it was unnecessary, especially when the gay couple was originally going to doing more to help her own child than she was. Also, there were some one liners that were kind of weird like, "Word out on the street is that teenage boys eat half their weight in food every day and I can't imagine what my Kroger bill will be once my son's balls drop." I just feel like there's a better way the author sound have wrote this. It's weird and gross honestly.
November 20, 2022
3.5⭐️
✨ "It's hard to remember who you are when you love other people so fiercely."
Read this if:
❤️🩹 You are always trying so hard, doing your best, giving it your all
❤️🩹 But nobody gives a shit
❤️🩹 You are at a crossroads in life
❤️🩹 You've asked yourself, 'How the hell did I get here?'
❤️🩹 You constantly wonder what if you'd made different choices
A delightful debut that nails what it's like to be an overworked, under-appreciated and perpetually exhausted working mom! Ramona was such a realistic, relatable and flawed protagonist. I seriously just love how wonderfully human she was (her husband though 🙄).
The author did a great job in tackling issues such as workplace discrimination, gender double standards and bosses you just want to punch in the face. I love the wry humor and the chaos of it all. And you can bet there's a lot of that, with a cheating husband, two overexcited kids and a Category 4 hurricane on the way.
I was left kinda unsatisfied by some of the character arcs but that's just me being greedy because I wanted to hear so much more from all of them. My Asian upbringing also feels that Ramona coddles her children way too much but went overboard with her mother.
It bugged me how flippant the book was about people being clearly irresponsible e.g. refusing to comply with a mandatory evacuation, and don't even get me started on the guinea pig. But I will.
Poor Clarence Thomas! His cage is clearly all wrong for him if it's small enough to be carried by one adult (my hamsters all live in larger enclosures), why is he using a glass bottle in a classroom of toddlers (and what happened after it broke?), he's probably super stressed from all the traveling but no one bats an eyelid, guinea pigs are social creatures who should not be housed alone, and more importantly: Class pets are horrible and irresponsible.
Quibbles aside, this was an uplifting and hopeful book about living, just doing the best we can each day, and simply being human ❤️
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
✨ "It's hard to remember who you are when you love other people so fiercely."
Read this if:
❤️🩹 You are always trying so hard, doing your best, giving it your all
❤️🩹 But nobody gives a shit
❤️🩹 You are at a crossroads in life
❤️🩹 You've asked yourself, 'How the hell did I get here?'
❤️🩹 You constantly wonder what if you'd made different choices
A delightful debut that nails what it's like to be an overworked, under-appreciated and perpetually exhausted working mom! Ramona was such a realistic, relatable and flawed protagonist. I seriously just love how wonderfully human she was (her husband though 🙄).
The author did a great job in tackling issues such as workplace discrimination, gender double standards and bosses you just want to punch in the face. I love the wry humor and the chaos of it all. And you can bet there's a lot of that, with a cheating husband, two overexcited kids and a Category 4 hurricane on the way.
I was left kinda unsatisfied by some of the character arcs but that's just me being greedy because I wanted to hear so much more from all of them. My Asian upbringing also feels that Ramona coddles her children way too much but went overboard with her mother.
It bugged me how flippant the book was about people being clearly irresponsible e.g. refusing to comply with a mandatory evacuation, and don't even get me started on the guinea pig. But I will.
Poor Clarence Thomas! His cage is clearly all wrong for him if it's small enough to be carried by one adult (my hamsters all live in larger enclosures), why is he using a glass bottle in a classroom of toddlers (and what happened after it broke?), he's probably super stressed from all the traveling but no one bats an eyelid, guinea pigs are social creatures who should not be housed alone, and more importantly: Class pets are horrible and irresponsible.
Quibbles aside, this was an uplifting and hopeful book about living, just doing the best we can each day, and simply being human ❤️
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
January 5, 2023
This book was interesting, because it was set in Savannah, and there was a hurricane, headed their way. However, there were lots of people involved, and the main character struck me as slightly crazy because she evacuated her family and when they got to Augusta they turned right back around to come back to Savannah. The story was funny in parts, and it was very light reading, but it was not really my cup of tea.
December 2, 2022
“𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔶 𝔟𝔢𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔡. 𝔚𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔤𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔱𝔬𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔱𝔬 𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔠𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔢.”
Ramona’s life is in a tailspin. Dig, if you will, the picture. Taking care of two young kids, worrying about her abandoned teenage neighbor and stubborn mother, and juggling her boss’s imposing demands are just a few of her woes. Roberta also just found out her husband is having an affair. Oh and all of the above is happening while a category four hurricane is literally spinning straight for her house in Savannah.
Talk about going crazy.
Now Roberta is in a race against time to get her family out of the eye of the hurricane before it makes landfall. But as she attempts to navigate the treacherous roads, she is forced to avoid life’s literal pitfalls as well.
Despite its stressful subject matter, None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive is surprisingly funny. References to Prince might seem random at first, but really they are just symbolic of a time when Roberta’s life was less complicated, I.e. 1999. Weaving the past and the present, we get to see the decisions that got Roberta to where she is today. While it served as kooky lot device, I will say journeying BACK into the eye of a hurricane with her children (and someone else’s child) in tow, is questionable at best. Then again if she hasn’t gone back, this wouldn’t be the entertaining story that it is.
Ramona’s life is in a tailspin. Dig, if you will, the picture. Taking care of two young kids, worrying about her abandoned teenage neighbor and stubborn mother, and juggling her boss’s imposing demands are just a few of her woes. Roberta also just found out her husband is having an affair. Oh and all of the above is happening while a category four hurricane is literally spinning straight for her house in Savannah.
Talk about going crazy.
Now Roberta is in a race against time to get her family out of the eye of the hurricane before it makes landfall. But as she attempts to navigate the treacherous roads, she is forced to avoid life’s literal pitfalls as well.
Despite its stressful subject matter, None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive is surprisingly funny. References to Prince might seem random at first, but really they are just symbolic of a time when Roberta’s life was less complicated, I.e. 1999. Weaving the past and the present, we get to see the decisions that got Roberta to where she is today. While it served as kooky lot device, I will say journeying BACK into the eye of a hurricane with her children (and someone else’s child) in tow, is questionable at best. Then again if she hasn’t gone back, this wouldn’t be the entertaining story that it is.
January 6, 2022
I loved everything about this book! It hit home in so many areas as a mom (and a Gen X fan of Prince), but the author's sense of humor had tears rolling down my face as we went along with Ramona's adventures. And then, all of a sudden, I'd realize it was a tear of recognition - really found a way to capture the heart of the hurricane as a mom and a woman at this stage in life, especially when things get complicated. I was fortunate to get my hands on a galley's copy and am so giddy that this is Prusa's first novel - can't wait to read more!
P.S. I can completely picture this as a movie or Netflix series - it's that vivid!
P.S. I can completely picture this as a movie or Netflix series - it's that vivid!
January 9, 2023
This was a cute little read that I totally picked up at the library because of its title. It moved along rather quickly and was a one-day read for me. Worth it!
January 14, 2023
“It’s hard to remember who you are when you love other people so fiercely.”
Personal review : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having just lived through a cat 4 hurricane in southwest Florida, and still dealing with the after effects, I loved the quirky, comical outtake on surviving a natural disaster with small kids. This is a funny and realistic look into motherhood - messy, energetic, comical, and heart breaking at times! I read a lot of reviews that said the characters were unlikeable- but I beg to differ, I loved to watch Ramona grow through the short days in the novel, and also reminisce on her times before children. The kids were so very well written in their roles, and Clarence Thomas, the hamster had me laughing as they drug him into the eye of the storm. The characters were very relatable and I loved all the supporting characters - Bailey, Ramona’s crazy mother Adelaide, her friends, not Kenneth, though! This is the story of the importance of finding individual happiness and your identity, as Ramona grapples with the news of her husbands infidelity. Loved all the mentions of Prince in this fabulous debut novel from author @carolynprussa. Thank you @aardvarkbox for this great monthly selection.
Synopsis: Ramona’s got a bratty boss, a toddler teetering through toilet training, a critical mom who doesn’t mind sharing, and oops—a cheating husband. That’s how a Category Four hurricane bearing down on her life in Savannah becomes just another item on her to-do list. In the next forty-eight hours she’ll add a neighborhood child and the class guinea pig named Clarence Thomas to her entourage as she struggles to evacuate town.
Personal review : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having just lived through a cat 4 hurricane in southwest Florida, and still dealing with the after effects, I loved the quirky, comical outtake on surviving a natural disaster with small kids. This is a funny and realistic look into motherhood - messy, energetic, comical, and heart breaking at times! I read a lot of reviews that said the characters were unlikeable- but I beg to differ, I loved to watch Ramona grow through the short days in the novel, and also reminisce on her times before children. The kids were so very well written in their roles, and Clarence Thomas, the hamster had me laughing as they drug him into the eye of the storm. The characters were very relatable and I loved all the supporting characters - Bailey, Ramona’s crazy mother Adelaide, her friends, not Kenneth, though! This is the story of the importance of finding individual happiness and your identity, as Ramona grapples with the news of her husbands infidelity. Loved all the mentions of Prince in this fabulous debut novel from author @carolynprussa. Thank you @aardvarkbox for this great monthly selection.
Synopsis: Ramona’s got a bratty boss, a toddler teetering through toilet training, a critical mom who doesn’t mind sharing, and oops—a cheating husband. That’s how a Category Four hurricane bearing down on her life in Savannah becomes just another item on her to-do list. In the next forty-eight hours she’ll add a neighborhood child and the class guinea pig named Clarence Thomas to her entourage as she struggles to evacuate town.
January 23, 2023
3.5 I'm going to go ahead and round up. I liked Ramona. She was spunky and cute and really juggling a full life. As her live started to implode, I liked her ability to shove it all down and still take care of the family. Sure, she was putting herself on hold, but I feel like most mom's do this as well.
The hurricane just added fuel to the fire. Ramona's life in shreding to pieces at the same time she needs to dive for cover from a major weather event. I loved her kids and they flare they added to the story. I loved her very real emtions and frustrations. The toilet moment made me tear up for her, so heartbreaking. I think it would be easy to find yourself in Ramona's shoes and the struggles she hit against are very relevant to today. Bailey and her mom were just additions to the story to love.
All in all, it was cute and dealt with some real life crumbling momnts.
The hurricane just added fuel to the fire. Ramona's life in shreding to pieces at the same time she needs to dive for cover from a major weather event. I loved her kids and they flare they added to the story. I loved her very real emtions and frustrations. The toilet moment made me tear up for her, so heartbreaking. I think it would be easy to find yourself in Ramona's shoes and the struggles she hit against are very relevant to today. Bailey and her mom were just additions to the story to love.
All in all, it was cute and dealt with some real life crumbling momnts.
September 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book and liked that it included the sometimes hilarious, yet utterly mundane life moments that people have to deal with interspersed between hurricane preparation and a devastating betrayal, such as a toddler “feeling like the poopy is coming” but unsuccessfully getting the poo into the toilet while singing the Paw Patrol song. Even in the midst of a natural disaster and processing that you have a cheating husband, a mother still has to deal with literal sh*t like that lol.
I’m kind of shocked at the reviewer comments calling the children “awful.” They really weren’t? They were just KIDS displaying kid behavior. They weren’t terrible humans like a lot of adults. No one has to want kids of their own, but I do find it strange to hate even the mention of kids. Some of the same people promoting being a more gentle parent instead of being the hard ass parent that traumatizes them are also some of the same ones saying a toddler is “bad” for not being fully potty trained. Very weird and disappointing mindsets from some people claiming to be progressive.
Anyway off my soap box, I laughed and related to many of the predicaments the MC, Ramona, found herself in as she navigated a Category 4 hurricane (my first hurricane experience was Harvey less than 1 year after moving to Houston), while also processing the discovery of her husband’s affair, still having to be present and productive for work, and being a functional parent.
I felt like the story was at its best when showing the dynamic of being a working mother in corporate America amongst coworkers and bosses who don’t understand family commitments. Being a parent shouldn’t hinder anyone in the workforce as long as they get their job done, but unrealistic expectations such as attending zoom meetings during a hurricane evacuation abound in corporate America.
I specifically recall an old coworker of mine tell her direct report, a recent college grad who didn’t want to come in the office once Harvey was announced a Category 4, that she wasn’t worried and was going to come in, but if she felt it was so dangerous to just let her know in a very condescending tone. The goal was to guilt trip this young hire about being concerned for her personal safety. 🙄 (This same coworker ended up stranded in a different state because she still decided to travel that weekend, without her laptop, and was rendered completely useless for an entire WEEK before she was able to catch a flight back to Houston. She was the one who ended up ineffective, not the employee just wanting to stay safe smh.)
Where I felt the story’s narrative weakened was the age-old excuses made for a cheating husband, and all the supporting characters sharing their dismay but still seemingly assuming Ramona would eventually just get over it after being angry for a few days. Ramona herself had some very frustrating inner dialogue that just didn’t seem realistic for someone who literally caught another woman in her house after a sordid tryst with her husband. Yes she was angry, but it was like the type of angry you get about much lesser transgressions. I just felt like it perpetuated the stereotype that it’s okay for a man to cheat because he’s not getting the amount of sex he wants in a marriage, despite the fact that he did NOTHING to ease her mental load or any of the tasks that he expected of her to keep the family running, which led to her being perpetually exhausted.
The last shortfall I noticed was the Prince reference in the title. There are abrupt disruptions within the story where Ramona brings up a popular Prince song, or his Super Bowl performance, but other than that there is no substantial tie-in with Prince. It seemed like more of a way to grab attention with his name in the title than anything else.
Overall, I thought this debut touched on some very real topics that definitely need to be discussed more, but it was mostly surface level, and didn’t truly incorporate Prince into the mix.
I’m kind of shocked at the reviewer comments calling the children “awful.” They really weren’t? They were just KIDS displaying kid behavior. They weren’t terrible humans like a lot of adults. No one has to want kids of their own, but I do find it strange to hate even the mention of kids. Some of the same people promoting being a more gentle parent instead of being the hard ass parent that traumatizes them are also some of the same ones saying a toddler is “bad” for not being fully potty trained. Very weird and disappointing mindsets from some people claiming to be progressive.
Anyway off my soap box, I laughed and related to many of the predicaments the MC, Ramona, found herself in as she navigated a Category 4 hurricane (my first hurricane experience was Harvey less than 1 year after moving to Houston), while also processing the discovery of her husband’s affair, still having to be present and productive for work, and being a functional parent.
I felt like the story was at its best when showing the dynamic of being a working mother in corporate America amongst coworkers and bosses who don’t understand family commitments. Being a parent shouldn’t hinder anyone in the workforce as long as they get their job done, but unrealistic expectations such as attending zoom meetings during a hurricane evacuation abound in corporate America.
I specifically recall an old coworker of mine tell her direct report, a recent college grad who didn’t want to come in the office once Harvey was announced a Category 4, that she wasn’t worried and was going to come in, but if she felt it was so dangerous to just let her know in a very condescending tone. The goal was to guilt trip this young hire about being concerned for her personal safety. 🙄 (This same coworker ended up stranded in a different state because she still decided to travel that weekend, without her laptop, and was rendered completely useless for an entire WEEK before she was able to catch a flight back to Houston. She was the one who ended up ineffective, not the employee just wanting to stay safe smh.)
Where I felt the story’s narrative weakened was the age-old excuses made for a cheating husband, and all the supporting characters sharing their dismay but still seemingly assuming Ramona would eventually just get over it after being angry for a few days. Ramona herself had some very frustrating inner dialogue that just didn’t seem realistic for someone who literally caught another woman in her house after a sordid tryst with her husband. Yes she was angry, but it was like the type of angry you get about much lesser transgressions. I just felt like it perpetuated the stereotype that it’s okay for a man to cheat because he’s not getting the amount of sex he wants in a marriage, despite the fact that he did NOTHING to ease her mental load or any of the tasks that he expected of her to keep the family running, which led to her being perpetually exhausted.
The last shortfall I noticed was the Prince reference in the title. There are abrupt disruptions within the story where Ramona brings up a popular Prince song, or his Super Bowl performance, but other than that there is no substantial tie-in with Prince. It seemed like more of a way to grab attention with his name in the title than anything else.
Overall, I thought this debut touched on some very real topics that definitely need to be discussed more, but it was mostly surface level, and didn’t truly incorporate Prince into the mix.
April 21, 2022
2.5 rounded to 3 stars…Ramona is a stressed out mom in the middle of a literal hurricane. She suddenly finds herself balancing a life flung up in turmoil, which leads to some crazy adventures.
Soooo…I was 100 percent drawn to this book by the title. It’s clever and I expected a humorous rom-com type of book. That’s my fault…don’t make assumptions. It’s meant to be in the mom humor space.
TBH, I found Ramona and her humor to be annoying and her decisions to be nonsensical. I lost track of the number of times I mumbled, “Oh come on.”
Thanks to #netgalley and #atriabooks for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.
Soooo…I was 100 percent drawn to this book by the title. It’s clever and I expected a humorous rom-com type of book. That’s my fault…don’t make assumptions. It’s meant to be in the mom humor space.
TBH, I found Ramona and her humor to be annoying and her decisions to be nonsensical. I lost track of the number of times I mumbled, “Oh come on.”
Thanks to #netgalley and #atriabooks for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2022
Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. I can't identify with any of the characters, but especially the main character, so they are all unlikable to me. The writing is simple and dry, kind of like a story or report written by a kid for class. Sadly, I just don't care what happens to anyone in this book. I requested it based on the cover and title, thinking it would at least be funny. "Don't judge a book by its cover." Message recieved.
November 16, 2022
Sometimes chaos is what you need to get the life you want. Although I’m sure Ramona would have liked to have dealt with one thing at a time but that isn’t life. I loved the Prince references sprinkled through the novel.
November 13, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster/Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Carolyn Prusa - 4.5 stars rounded up!
A Category 4 hurricane is heading right towards Savannah, Georgia, and that isn't even the worst of Ramona's issues. Over the next 48 hours, we go along for a crazy ride as she navigates her life - including a cheating husband, a demanding boss, a stubborn mom, and being responsible for two young kids and a stray neighbor, along with an assortment of animals.
This book was just pure entertainment and I laughed out loud more times than is polite to mention. Please don't tell me how serious all these issues are - they are! - but this book just makes you smile! It's so relatable and just so much fun - don't miss this!
A Category 4 hurricane is heading right towards Savannah, Georgia, and that isn't even the worst of Ramona's issues. Over the next 48 hours, we go along for a crazy ride as she navigates her life - including a cheating husband, a demanding boss, a stubborn mom, and being responsible for two young kids and a stray neighbor, along with an assortment of animals.
This book was just pure entertainment and I laughed out loud more times than is polite to mention. Please don't tell me how serious all these issues are - they are! - but this book just makes you smile! It's so relatable and just so much fun - don't miss this!
November 11, 2022
As a diehard Prince fan, I got this book based on the title, having no idea what the book was about.
Our story takes place over a 48-hour period of time. Romana is trying to evacuate for a Category 4 hurricane. At the same time, she discovers that her husband is cheating, she has to get her children out too and make sure her mom is safe and deal with work.
It's a lot.
Basically, its chaos. But it perfectly captures the tendency of women to try to do it all when there is no possible way. Romana's story is messy and but she is relatable. So it keeps you interested.
This was a quick read and even though sometimes I just wanted to scream at our main character: GIRL, it was an enjoyable story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.
Our story takes place over a 48-hour period of time. Romana is trying to evacuate for a Category 4 hurricane. At the same time, she discovers that her husband is cheating, she has to get her children out too and make sure her mom is safe and deal with work.
It's a lot.
Basically, its chaos. But it perfectly captures the tendency of women to try to do it all when there is no possible way. Romana's story is messy and but she is relatable. So it keeps you interested.
This was a quick read and even though sometimes I just wanted to scream at our main character: GIRL, it was an enjoyable story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2023
I wanted to love this, but between the flashbacks and the fact that she drove BACK into a hurricane with a van full of children…that was hard to swallow. I did like the angst with her husband and the air of realism the story had overall, but I just didn’t like any of the characters except for Bailey.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
January 19, 2023Dnf @ 70%
This book is great for someone. I am not that someone.
This book is great for someone. I am not that someone.
January 1, 2023
[none of this would have happened if prince were alive | review]
•
“Prince doesn't answer. He doesn't know what it feels like to be left in a world that used to have a tiny guitar-wielding deity shrouded in lush fabrics emanating freedom, sexuality, vulnerability, and funkiness and now it doesn't.” 🕊
•
🌟2/5🌟I bought this solely for the title. This is definitely outside of my normal genre so perhaps a lot of this rating can be attributed to that - or at least that's what I want to think. My biggest issue with this book is that the title makes you think that Prince is going to a vital aspect of this story - but besides a few halfhearted, disconnected flashbacks of the main characters college days and and naming two of his most popular songs, there was literally nothing about Prince that contributed to this story in a meaningful way. The only thing that saved this book was the pacing. It was fast paced and chaotic enough to maintain my attention for 300 pages but I did not care about any of these characters or for how the book ended.
•
“Prince doesn't answer. He doesn't know what it feels like to be left in a world that used to have a tiny guitar-wielding deity shrouded in lush fabrics emanating freedom, sexuality, vulnerability, and funkiness and now it doesn't.” 🕊
•
🌟2/5🌟I bought this solely for the title. This is definitely outside of my normal genre so perhaps a lot of this rating can be attributed to that - or at least that's what I want to think. My biggest issue with this book is that the title makes you think that Prince is going to a vital aspect of this story - but besides a few halfhearted, disconnected flashbacks of the main characters college days and and naming two of his most popular songs, there was literally nothing about Prince that contributed to this story in a meaningful way. The only thing that saved this book was the pacing. It was fast paced and chaotic enough to maintain my attention for 300 pages but I did not care about any of these characters or for how the book ended.
June 10, 2022
In 48 hours, Ramona’s life is turned upside down. First, there is a hurricane coming and second, she discovers her husband is having an affair. So she evacuates with her kids, a kid without a family to go home to and her kid’s class pet, all while juggling her demanding job and while attempting to convince her mother to evacuate.
I feel like I am not the target demographic for this book, however it was still an enjoyable read. The reflections on what it is having to take care of kids and aging parents was also interesting and one that I have not really thought about before. In all, this is a solid and promising debut for the author, @carolynprusa
Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for a honest review. This book will be out November 8th, 2022
I feel like I am not the target demographic for this book, however it was still an enjoyable read. The reflections on what it is having to take care of kids and aging parents was also interesting and one that I have not really thought about before. In all, this is a solid and promising debut for the author, @carolynprusa
Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for a honest review. This book will be out November 8th, 2022
January 9, 2023
Title: None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Was Alive
Author: Carolyn Prusa
Publisher: @atriabooks
Release Date: November 22, 2022
Format: E-book 336 pages
Star Rating: 2
I was sent an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. The cover and title definitely intrigued me but it just didn’t do it for me. I can admit it may not be my lane because it was very character driven and not much plot.
The characters were extremely unlikable and the kids were awful 😂 some lines were funny but overall just not enjoyable. There didn’t seem to be much of a story more of just complaining about life.
I can see someone liking it if they are fans of Maria Semple.
Author: Carolyn Prusa
Publisher: @atriabooks
Release Date: November 22, 2022
Format: E-book 336 pages
Star Rating: 2
I was sent an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. The cover and title definitely intrigued me but it just didn’t do it for me. I can admit it may not be my lane because it was very character driven and not much plot.
The characters were extremely unlikable and the kids were awful 😂 some lines were funny but overall just not enjoyable. There didn’t seem to be much of a story more of just complaining about life.
I can see someone liking it if they are fans of Maria Semple.
January 10, 2023
Ramona’s inner dialogue is my jam…
As one that is in throes of my late 30s and motherhood. I deeply related… cackled… and went along on this crazy path through a category four hurricane.
Also it was a debut?!? This is what has drawn me to the Aardvark Bookclub box… fresh new picks that don’t disappoint!
The Prince references made me make a playlist and reminisce… it was the humor in straight up dire times that felt real and made you want to hug every mama out there that is just trying.
If your a fan of zany, fast paced comedies, and let’s just say it again Prince. Then this is a must… also any parent that has read Giraffes Can’t Dance… your welcome!
As one that is in throes of my late 30s and motherhood. I deeply related… cackled… and went along on this crazy path through a category four hurricane.
Also it was a debut?!? This is what has drawn me to the Aardvark Bookclub box… fresh new picks that don’t disappoint!
The Prince references made me make a playlist and reminisce… it was the humor in straight up dire times that felt real and made you want to hug every mama out there that is just trying.
If your a fan of zany, fast paced comedies, and let’s just say it again Prince. Then this is a must… also any parent that has read Giraffes Can’t Dance… your welcome!
December 27, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. This was not quite what I expected or hoped for at the beginning of it, but it was entertaining. The main character was funny and relatable at times but also very annoying. I was hoping for more character growth and a more concrete ending, but overall, I did like it.
December 31, 2022
This was a fun and fast read!! I loved the flashbacks to Ramona's days in college, and the references to Prince's songs.
I could empathize with Ramona in dealing with her widowed mother, Adelaide's antics, and felt her anxiety and anger towards her.. Alex and Nanette were a hoot!! I also felt the pain and anger she felt towards her cheating husband, Desmond.
How she manages to keep the kids rounded up (including the neighbor kid Bailey) and a gaggle of pets while weathering a Cat Four hurricane is amazing!!
I could empathize with Ramona in dealing with her widowed mother, Adelaide's antics, and felt her anxiety and anger towards her.. Alex and Nanette were a hoot!! I also felt the pain and anger she felt towards her cheating husband, Desmond.
How she manages to keep the kids rounded up (including the neighbor kid Bailey) and a gaggle of pets while weathering a Cat Four hurricane is amazing!!
November 28, 2022
A people pleaser who is afraid of any conflict gets cheated on and makes horrible decisions, with Prince shoehorned in. The main character didn't have the growth that she thought she did in the end because she's still letting her husband walk all over her. The man just came home when she told him she needed space, and then she's like "oh it was partially my fault". Bullshit. He cheated on her for months because he wasn't really happy but he also wasn't happy and they weren't having sex as often as they did before kids. He's not sorry that he cheated, he's sorry that he got caught.
She also isn't becoming a better person because she totally snapped at her boss after years of being a doormat. I really believed that man when he said he didn't realize it was a problem because she'd never said anything even close to that. Real change would be if she said "I don't have power and I will be at home dealing with Hurricaine related repairs and family emergencies for the next week. I'm here to take brief phone calls from team members but I can't charge my phone easily and I will be very busy. I will be back in the office next week.". Then continued to set reasonable boundaries and advocate for herself from then on. Saying "I'm a mom so I need to be at home and you've never made me feel valued" is such bullshit. This is coming from someone who has kids.
This main character is supposed to be so empowered but the end of the book but she's just not. I also didn't like how the neighbor kid was thrown in there to pad the book, and how her GAY FRIENDS couldn't be mentioned without talking about how they were gay. We get it, those are your diversity characters. Those are also not the first gay people a 16 year old zennial has meet. It just felt exploitative.
That being said I did manage to make it to the end soI guess it doesn't deserve less than 3 stars.
She also isn't becoming a better person because she totally snapped at her boss after years of being a doormat. I really believed that man when he said he didn't realize it was a problem because she'd never said anything even close to that. Real change would be if she said "I don't have power and I will be at home dealing with Hurricaine related repairs and family emergencies for the next week. I'm here to take brief phone calls from team members but I can't charge my phone easily and I will be very busy. I will be back in the office next week.". Then continued to set reasonable boundaries and advocate for herself from then on. Saying "I'm a mom so I need to be at home and you've never made me feel valued" is such bullshit. This is coming from someone who has kids.
This main character is supposed to be so empowered but the end of the book but she's just not. I also didn't like how the neighbor kid was thrown in there to pad the book, and how her GAY FRIENDS couldn't be mentioned without talking about how they were gay. We get it, those are your diversity characters. Those are also not the first gay people a 16 year old zennial has meet. It just felt exploitative.
That being said I did manage to make it to the end soI guess it doesn't deserve less than 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2023
Disclosure: I chose this book solely based on the title, which says to me there's a whole market to be exploited that uses Prince references in the title.
As for this particular book, it was a one-thing-after-another plot. Small misadventures keep coming hot on the heels of each other. Here, the backdrop of an impending hurricane raised the stakes of normal parenting trials: potty training accidents, temper tantrums, missed snacks. I'm generally not a general fan of the bad luck comedy. Nor do I like mommy lit.
What kept me engaged enough to finish was that Prusa didn't go too wild with the misfortune (no class pets die) and she allowed ambiguity to make situations feel real rather than rely on tidy resolutions.
I would have appreciated more Prince.
As for this particular book, it was a one-thing-after-another plot. Small misadventures keep coming hot on the heels of each other. Here, the backdrop of an impending hurricane raised the stakes of normal parenting trials: potty training accidents, temper tantrums, missed snacks. I'm generally not a general fan of the bad luck comedy. Nor do I like mommy lit.
What kept me engaged enough to finish was that Prusa didn't go too wild with the misfortune (no class pets die) and she allowed ambiguity to make situations feel real rather than rely on tidy resolutions.
I would have appreciated more Prince.
Read
March 6, 2023I had to DNF this. The narrator was terrible, the writing was immature which was exacerbated by the terrible narration...
I am so disappointed. Is this better in physical form?
I haven't DNF'd a book in so long, but coming off of my first 1 star review of the year onto this, I just couldn't put myself through another terrible book.
I won't officially rate a book I didn't finish, but I can't bring myself to finish it.
I am so disappointed. Is this better in physical form?
I haven't DNF'd a book in so long, but coming off of my first 1 star review of the year onto this, I just couldn't put myself through another terrible book.
I won't officially rate a book I didn't finish, but I can't bring myself to finish it.
July 5, 2023
Full disclosure: I picked this book up totally based on the title. No other reason. That I ended up enjoying it makes me glad I did.
Turns out that, for Ramona, Prince represents a simpler time in her life. Before she had kids, she felt more creative. Before she had to take a job to supplement her family’s income, she felt freer. Now, 6 months after Prince’s untimely death, Ramona’s life is in chaos. She’s having trouble balancing work/life; she doesn’t feel valued at work; she’s just caught her husband cheating and, to top it off, a hurricane is bearing down on Savannah. The world without Prince in it is a sad world indeed.
I needed something light this week. This quick little read was just right. I chuckled, I commiserated, I felt Ramona’s frustration. I found her pretty relatable and her kids reminded me of my grandsons! Lol. The references to Prince that are sprinkled throughout made me smile. And the hope Ramona finally finds when she has a chance to really process her situation is gratifying.
I didn’t read this expecting great literature, but it was fun and it has Prince! For me, it was enough!
Turns out that, for Ramona, Prince represents a simpler time in her life. Before she had kids, she felt more creative. Before she had to take a job to supplement her family’s income, she felt freer. Now, 6 months after Prince’s untimely death, Ramona’s life is in chaos. She’s having trouble balancing work/life; she doesn’t feel valued at work; she’s just caught her husband cheating and, to top it off, a hurricane is bearing down on Savannah. The world without Prince in it is a sad world indeed.
I needed something light this week. This quick little read was just right. I chuckled, I commiserated, I felt Ramona’s frustration. I found her pretty relatable and her kids reminded me of my grandsons! Lol. The references to Prince that are sprinkled throughout made me smile. And the hope Ramona finally finds when she has a chance to really process her situation is gratifying.
I didn’t read this expecting great literature, but it was fun and it has Prince! For me, it was enough!
May 9, 2023
Ok, 5 stars may seem extreme, but this woman is so relatable for Gen X Moms. I’m a big Prince fan, so I grabbed this off the quick shelf at the library—why not? She had me laughing and nodding—especially as I’m from FL and have lived through my share of hurricanes. Some infidelity didn’t really feel necessary, but if that’s the vehicle to justify the window onto the critical importance of communication in a marriage, fine. It was a quick, fun read
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