If you’re old here, allow me to apologize for the umpteenth reminder that I am not a blurb reader. If you’re new here – I am not a blurb reader. I am If you’re old here, allow me to apologize for the umpteenth reminder that I am not a blurb reader. If you’re new here – I am not a blurb reader. I am addicted to a cartoony cover and a catchy title so that’s what hooked me here. I’m also always looking for the next . . . .
Or what I like to call the “Mom Com,” and from the title/cover art I thought maybe that’s what this would be. I probably would have skipped it over had I read it was about a very young and ill-prepared financially new mom who takes to Only Fans as a source of income with her fresh-out-of-rehab father as her roommate. That just sounds like A. LOT.
Turns out I sort of loved this one. I guess I’ll always be a fan of an underdog story. And while there were most DEFINITELY times I wanted to shake the shit out of Margo for being so naïve, the way the author broke the fourth wall and had Margo recognizing her errors in hindsight was a smart way to keep me invested.
Maybe venture out of your comfort zone and give this one a whirl in June.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more
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 a
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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. ...more
All we wanted was a place to call our own. To have something that belonged to us. What we got was our lives and homes ripped into bloody shreds.
AAll we wanted was a place to call our own. To have something that belonged to us. What we got was our lives and homes ripped into bloody shreds.
Amy, Liz, Jess, and Melissa are your average suburban moms. They do all their mom duties on the daily – counting down until they can swill boxed wine and get a break from their husbands and kids. The gals are moving on up courtesy of . . .
A mom’s only clubhouse? Talk about the perfect escape . . . or it could have been perfect had the groundbreaking ceremony not unleashed a demonic entity into the neighbourhood.
Okay, are you looking for something light? Are you interested in horror, but skeeeeeeered of being too scurrrrred? This one may be for you. I love a good comedy/horror mashup and this one was a lot of fun.
I actually read this book a couple of years ago, so if you are interested in what I had tFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I actually read this book a couple of years ago, so if you are interested in what I had to say you can find it HERE. If you know me, you know I’m not generally much of a re-reader so you’re probably wondering why an exception was made. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Abbi Waxman’s upcoming release I Was Told It Would Get Easier and found myself smiling from ear to ear when the mom in that book, called a mom from this book. Everyone – meet Frances. She’s the epitome of a best friend. Don’t know the difference between a regular friend and a “best” friend? Well, it looks a little something like this . . . . .
I encourage all you fellow momcom/chicklit/whateveryouwanttocallit fans to spend some time with Frances (and the rest of the families in her neighborhood). Hopefully you’ll find her as funny and endearing as I do and she’ll make you want to be more like her when you grow up like I am feeling right now. Please note, however, I called dibs on her being my best friend already so don’t even think about stepping into my territory or I will hurt you : )
I originally gave this 4 Stars, but I just loved it so I’m giving it all 5. And now I’m going to have to re-read The Garden of Small Beginnings because there’s a dang callback to Lilli from that one!...more
I Was Told It Would Get Easier is all about how . . .
Parenting teenagers is something of a shit show.
Jessica and her daughter Emily are taking a week long trip with a group of other parents and children to tour various East Coast colleges. The intention was for a bonding experience, but not only do Jessica and Emily seem to no longer speak the same language, but Jessica is dealing with multiple work crises and Emily is waiting for the shoe to drop regarding a cheating scandal at her high school.
While I'm sure you don’t have to be a parent to enjoy this one, it sure adds another dimension due to its relatability. Finding a balance between work and home life, raising a “normal” kid in a world full of overachievers and other types of parents . . . . .
It’s the world’s most wonderful and most terrible job, and if you do it well enough, you get fired.
And the greatest thing of all? My best friend Frances from Other People’s Houses makes a cameo appearance. To that I have only one thing to say . . . .
After being off the intertubes for a couple of weeks with the fam, Imma knock as many of Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
After being off the intertubes for a couple of weeks with the fam, Imma knock as many of these old reviews off the to-do list as possible before the end of the year when there becomes pretty much zero chance I’ll ever do a wrap up. Let’s start with what I read over my little Christmas staycay. Luckily, there’s not much since I kept finding myself falling down rabbit holes of reality television programs I have managed to avoid in the past but somehow winded up binge-watching in marathons over the last nine days such as . . . . .
I think Khloe might be my spirit animal. Fat Khloe, that is. The new Khloe wouldn’t sit around for seven hours in a row eating garbage like I kept doing.
I read Christmas Shopaholic on Christmas Eve and it was everything it was supposed to be. If you’re familiar, these books all sort of follow a zany, slapstick, over-the-top sort of storyline that covers whatever is going on in Becky Brandon née Bloomwood’s life. This time around it’s hosting her first giant family Christmas gathering. Per usual . . . . .
I’ll be on vacay (at my house – don’t think you can rob me without me murdering Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
I’ll be on vacay (at my house – don’t think you can rob me without me murdering you) until after Christmas so Imma knock another review out today and make me feel like I accomplished something this year by posting 200 reviews.
Been There, Married That is the type of book you pick up when . . . .
It’s the story of what happens when Agnes’ megahit Hollywood producer husband Trevor decides to divorce her, believing the grass is sure to be greener on the other side. What follows is a completely over-the-top tale that could easily be found in Webster’s next to the definition of . . . .
When I read this (a while ago, because you know I suck at timely reviews) I thought this would be a great poolside selection. Alice NEVER being serious (I mean EVER - even when in mediation discussing the potential of losing custody of her children) irritated the shit out of me, but I still stand by that opinion. Now that the holidays are quickly approaching, this might be a great escape from the stresses of the season as well. Got a house full of Griswalds? Run a bubble bath and soak in with Agnes’ antics.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! ...more
Three years ago Amy Byler’s husband of 18 years went on a business trip and never came back, leaving Amy with a 12 and 8 year old to raise on her own. Now he’s back, looking to make amends with the children by taking them for a week over their summer break. What’s Amy to do with her newfound freedom?
Just kidding. She signs up for a librarian conference at Columbia University in NYC. But while she’s there she does rediscover she’s more than just a mom, freshens up her look and even dabbles back in the dating scene. After all . . . .
“This is your momcation.”
“That’s not a word.”
“You’re right. Ok. Your . . . Your momspringa.”
“My what now?”
“Momspringa. Like rumspringa? Where the kids go wild before they settle back down to buggies and monochrome dressing? You’re the Amish one; you know what that is.”
“I’m not Amish. I’m from Amish country. And this isn’t a momspringa. It’s a trip to New York by myself for a few days, not an extensive exploration of the outside world that exists far from my insulated, isolated existence among my family.”
“You say tomato . . .”
And while anyone who is currently living with or has formerly lived with a teenaged human probably feels something along these lines on a weekly basis . . .
This is fiction and Amy’s daughter Corinne (and more particularly her journal communications with her mother regarding the summer reading list Amy has assigned her) was a delight . . .
After careful consideration I have decided NOT to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is probably “Very Important” but definitely not “Very Interesting.” And instead I am going to read Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel, which let me tell you is already off to a very exciting start.
The “Mom Com” has become my jam. I find the light and humorous to be the perfect buffer between heavier reads. Not to mention these are also perfect selections when your day looks like this . . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Broken rules of not quoting quotes since I suck at being timely and this has already been released (quite some time ago - again Suck = Me). Just note that these might not be accurate since I had a reader copy and not the final product. ...more
“When did peanut butter become the grade-school equivalent of anthrax?”
Meet Jen . . . .
“At the ripe old age of forty-six, I have two girls in college and one boy starting kindergarten. And I’m the oldest mom in the grade. Oh sorry, the wisest.”
This is her second round of class mom duties, but the first time having a husband in the equation. You see, back in the day Jen spent her time uhhhhh traveling . . . .
Her oldest’s father may or may not have been Michael Hutchence of INXS fame (God rest his soul) and her second daughter’s father was definitely a roadie. But Jen is older and (as referenced above) wiser now, she’s a stay-at-home mom to little Max and is married to the love of her life Ron. Class Mom follows Jen’s antics during Max’s first year of school and her (hopefully) final year of being the class mom.
Let me first put a warning out there that this book is DEFINITELY not for everyone – because the main character????
The weirdest thing is this Jen is what I wanted People I Want To Punch In The Throat’s Jen to be like and what a strange little coinky-dink that this book takes place in my (well really Kemper’s) neck of the woods (but I have to associate with people from that side of the ‘burbs constantly due to kids’ baseball and they are JUST LIKE THESE WOMEN). Lululemon (or LaRoe, depending on budget) mommies who think that their Little Billy is the Best Little Billy Who Ever Billied and make you question your decision to ever let someone rent out your uterus since you’re now forced to interact with awfulness for 18 years. Jen says everything I wish I would say and, for the most part, I found her to be the most delightful kind of asshole. Spoilerish opinions ahead: The only things I really couldn’t get on board with was the flirty-text relationship with her former high school crush turned current fellow parent. Call me old fashioned, but I don’t approve of that behavior. I also could have lived without the big “life goal” being to complete a mudder because seriously????
But other than those minor quips, this thing is worthy of 4 Stars while you discover along with Jen that . . . .
“The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” - Erma Bombeck
Not only did this have me literally LOLing, but from what I can see of the author’s profile, she’s not from here but boy oh boy did she nail this portion of flyover country. And all the references to local places!!! I was fully prepared to chew my own arm off if she mentioned Garozzo’s one more time because . . . . .
The only thing she got wrong? Minsky’s pizza is pretty much the equivalent of Pizza Hut to me at this point since there’s one on every corner. She could have least given a shout out to Da Bronx or better yet, my personal fave Tim’s Pizza! Home of the Ballpark Pizza – polish sausage and sauerkraut. Don’t knock it ‘til you tried it : )
If you’re looking for a character like Madeline in Big Little Lies (but prefer to leave tFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
If you’re looking for a character like Madeline in Big Little Lies (but prefer to leave the dead body out of the picture) Abbi Waxman’s Other People’s Houses might be the book for you. The story here is the aftermath of what happens when one of the neighborhood wives is caught in flagrante delicto by the carpool mom. So obviously there’s some real shit to deal with, but I’m going to choose to focus on Frances . . . .
You can decide for yourself if you would like to challenge me to a death match in a dark alley in an attempt to steal her from me. But I’m warning you . . . .
“Let’s not get into the atom splitting of who’s doing more work, stay-at-home parents or not; let’s just agree it’s a shit show for all of us, and move on.”
Wait, it gets better. Like analyzing your toddler’s fave television program . . .
She watched Steve do his thing, and continued her inner debate about how Salt and Pepper could have managed to conceive and produce both Paprika and Cinnamon. Salt was a crystal, pepper was a seed pod from a plant, paprika was also a seed pod. OK, so yes, she could see that, but cinnamon was the inner bark of a tree. She had wondered this before, which is why she had Wikipedia’d all that stuff and had, in fact, a fairly high level of knowledge about the international pepper trade as a result. It still bothered her, and she worried that Mrs. Pepper was a little tough on Paprika, especially once the baby came.
But the following is the line that sealed the deal . . . .
Frances pulled off her sweatshirt and bra, enjoying that first scratch of tit-freedom.
If you're an old lady with floppy mom tits, you totally know after that moment you're like . . . .
The other characters are nearly as good as Frances. Don’t believe me? Go read my friend Kristie’s Review. I'm with her and can’t wait to read more by this author.
I checked my copy of this book out from the library, but this is one instance where I really wish I would have known about/requested/received/whatever an ARC so I could have been shoving it down everyone’s throat before it was even released . . . . but I wouldn’t have been able to share the magic which is Frances quotes so maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t....more
I had ZERO intentions on ever reading this when it kept appearing on both my GR and InstaFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I had ZERO intentions on ever reading this when it kept appearing on both my GR and Instagram feeds. While I’ll give props where they are due admit that title is über catchy and 5-Star worthy all by its lonesome, merely the mention of the word “Lululemon” tends to make me a little . . . . .
And it reminded me of all the book-reading good times I used to have back when I still had a waistline and some estrogen – so despite my best efforts to be one and done when it comes to books in a series I found myself breaking my own rule for like the umpteenth time this year and . . . . . .
Okay, so the story here is about Emily who has made her way from the first assistant’s desk at Runway to a “Rachel Zoe” of sorts who not only makes her clients look good, but covers their tracks when they do things that make them look bad. Emily’s clients have been dropping like flies for a newer make and model and she finds herself unable to put a positive spin on her most famous client’s most recent escapade . . . .
Emily decides to head for the away from the Hills and to her old friend Miriam’s place in Greenwich. It’s there that she will learn how to navigate a different sort of water – one full of overpriced yoga pants and overachieving stay-at-home moms. It might even be the place to revamp her career and flip the script on the story behind Miriam’s friend Yolanda’s DUI and crumbling marriage.
What can I say? This is the summer of the Mom Com for me. Apparently I’ve matured a little as well because I sort of found Emily to be insufferable for quite a good chunk of this third go ‘round. The good news is I made a potential new BFF in Miriam. And Karolina? I channeled my girl crush and pictured a younger version of one my fave former housewhores . . . .
(And you just KNOW that smarmy David Foster would probably try to sell some bullshit to the tabloids in an attempt to not make him look like the vile uggo he is just like Karolina’s husband.) I didn’t even have to feel bad about my fixation on/addiction to the Hos either : )
“I feel like we just stepped into an episode of Housewives. Only without all the screaming. And with much better taste.”
The only other thing that didn’t quite work for me ????
How Hard Can It Be?H.A.R.D. No one ever said being a mom was easy, but try being a mom pFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
How Hard Can It Be?H.A.R.D. No one ever said being a mom was easy, but try being a mom pushing 50 who has been attempting to raise semi-functional humans and finds herself trying to re-enter the workplace thanks to a combination of a giant manchild of a husband who has decided riding his bicycle and taking classes is his new passion rather than going to a paying gig every day and an old “fixer upper” of a house that has morphed into something more like this . . . .
What’s a girl to do? The only thing she can. Blow the dust off her old CV, commit a little bit of white lying by knocking seven years off her age on all of her job applications and invest in some new undergarments . . . . .
If you enjoyed Bridget Jones (well, you know, up to the point where she had some miracle baby at 50+ years old and the thing crapped the bed), this might be for you. I kept thinking this is how Bridget’s life would have turned out if she had married Daniel Cleaver. She would have remained a highly functioning dysfunctional crazyperson – he would have maybe pulled his act together up to the point where he had a midlife crisis and then everything would start to fall apart . . . hilariously. And if nothing else, we could ALL take a little comfort in the fact that . . .
"No matter how old I am, Madonna will always be older than me."
I’m pretty sure this is the summer of the “mom com” for me. I’ve read like three of them in the past couple of weeks and they have each been such a delight. I have not yet read I Don’t Know How She Does It (this book’s predecessor), but didn’t feel like I missed out on anything as this worked perfectly as a standalone. I am happy there’s more by Allison Pearson, however, because apparently smiling is now my favorite (well, and porn and stabby stuff, but whodathunk I’d like all this mommy shit, right?).
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review....more
Kelly (and the Book Boar)
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