"It's so easy to get sidetracked," by this witty, wonderful story.
585337
I received this book as a gift, and wrote the following as a message to the author, three chapters in:

"It is three in the morning, here in the hinterlands of Redneckistan, and I am so tired that only a half pot of half-stale coffee and the sheer force of will are holding my eyelids open.

And it is ALL. YOUR. FAULT."

I started reading this last night with every intention of falling asleep, which is what tends to happen, when I try to read books in a digital format. My plans for a sound night's sleep were thwarted, though. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The narrative voice is engaging, self-deprecating humor at its finest, as if Bill Bryson and Allie Brosh had a baby, and that baby penned a post-apocalyptic adventure about a philosophy major and feminist blogger. This is not the typical dystopian novel. There are no malignant overlords, no zombies, no global pandemics, and no oh-so-conveniently formed teams of overly prepared survivors. It's a more realistic look at a much more likely cataclysm, with an unlikely hero in a pleather jacket.

The story opens with a wistful look at fictional zombie apocalypse tales that picks apart every trope with surgical precision and snark. It continues by describing the aimless, somewhat pretentious plight of the millennial liberal arts graduate, the frustrations of an intellectual twenty-something whose most significant daily accomplishment was often finishing the crossword puzzle. This is the lovely, fallible, all-too-familiar Mab, who is soon dropped into a world that resembles nothing she's ever known, even in fiction.

I don't want to spoil the plot for you, because this is absolutely a book you should read for yourselves, so I won't summarize. I will tell you that Vet may be the most lovably derpy dog in literature since Hagrid's Fang, and the relationship between Mab and Vet made me both laugh raucously into the sleeping house, and wonder why someone was chopping onions on my sofa. Toss in a goat, a chicken, a coyote, a couple of raccoons, unexpected lava, mind-shattering geological events, tragedy, loneliness, desperation, and hilarity, and you have a book that should, by rights, take up residence on a List, somewhere, of Things You Must Read.

(edited: autocorrect)
941762
I recently read Lisa Sugarman's wonderful book. This was such a witty, intelligent and uplifting experience. The author has a way of writing that is so personal that you can amost hear her speaking these words. She shares stories of everyday life in a small, beautiful town that can really be anywhere. There is something in this book that is relatable for everyone. I heartily recommend "Life, It Is What It Is." What a joy!
3132261
"One Night" is a hugely enjoyable coming-of-age tale told from the perspective of a recently-jilted young man between his junior and senior years in high school. Even for those of us more than a few years beyond that point, author Deanna Cabinian brings back those times with a lot of understanding, heart, perspective, humor and wisdom.

The heart of the story is the developing "older/younger brother" relationship between the main character, Thompson, and Johnny, an Elvis impersonator, as they prod each other toward dealing with unresolved feelings about their past lost loves. And it's done in a fun, breezy, easygoing style that makes the book hard to put down. Also, if you like Elvis, Hawaii or Chicago, you're sure to get even more enjoyment from it.

I highly recommend "One Night" and can't wait to read Ms. Cabinian's next work.
1049807
I truly enjoyed this book and loved the Main Guy - Sir Ludwig Kessler (Lud).  When a young woman (Miss Smith) ends up with a knot on her head and nothing left of her memory, she finds refuge in the local vicar's residence.  The hospitality at the rectory leaves a lot to be desired and once the novelty of their guest begins to wear off, Rev. Mulliner is eager to hand her over to the household of Sir. Ludwig Kessler.  Ludwig is very cooperative with the plan - for one thing, he needs a governess of sorts for his teen-age sister, Abigail.  But one suspects from the beginning Ludwig is not without some fascination for the Miss Smith that goes beyond his interest in her ability to governess..

Ludwig immediately packs Miss Smith off to his home to make proper introductions to his family members which consists of his elderly cousin, Annie, who might be lacking something upstairs, but does have a penchant for humorous comments.  She immediately renames their guest as "Rose Trelawaney" - so Miss Smith becomes Rose for the duration of the story.

It becomes very apparent that Rose must be a lady, for indeed, she has all the attributes and manners of a lady.  Her persona, as written by Joan Smith is delightful.  She and Ludwig carry on with a cynical brand of humor that does nothing to disguise their growing affection for one another.  Ludwig sets himself to determine exactly who Rose is even as he very reluctantly allows her to redecorate his home which is in dire need of some splash and refinement. Before long, Rose is acting as the chatelaine of the home and Lud, Rose, Abigail and Annie are on their way to becoming a real family - there's just the identity of exactly who Rose is that hinders their desired reality.

It soon becomes obvious that Rose has some background that has given her knowledge of the art world.  When Ludwig and Rose learn of another young woman who has gone missing and that her disappearance is related to pieces of stolen or forged art, Rose becomes concerned about her own character and wonders if she was somehow involved in the young girl's disappearance. All these matters continue to be troublesome even after a visit by a Bow Street Runner indicates that he believes the disappearance of the young lady and Rose's amnesia are coincidental and not related. Soon, it becomes obvious Ludwig and Rose will never be happy together until everything is settled and Ludwig becomes more and more determined to get everything resolved.

I loved this story for the banter and heartwarming affection that builds between Ludwig and Rose.  I am slowly working through Ms. Smith's books and found this one to be absolutely delightful.
234019
In The Clasp by Sloan Crosley, We meet a group of recent college grads who are learning about life in the real world and pining for the easy breezy school days. This hilarious new fashioned coming of age tale begins at an island resort wedding where thirty-somethings, Kezie, Victor and Nathaniel see their trusted college buddy support systems dissolving before their eyes just when they need it the most. Welcome to the Pushing 30 era, where friends are beginning to get married and everyone hates their job and wonders if this is all there is. Quick-witted Sloane Crosley takes all of these insecurities and weaves a complex tapestry, complete with mystery, intrigue, romance and travel adventure, neatly bound with classic literature thread. It is a smart, and very funny series of events that left me laughing out loud. There are metaphors within metaphors involving necklaces and the ties that bind in seeking the essence of love and friendship. This modern day quest plays like a classic mad capped road comedy. Sloane has been on my list of favorite writers for years and I am so glad that she is getting some recognition with this, her first novel. So you might say I was hooked by The Clasp!
730353
The Bright Effect was a fun and witty read. The main characters forge an unlikely friendship, leading to something more. I must admit I was surprised to find that one of the supporting characters, Seth, was actually my favorite character of the book. What a great representation of friendship. I was also surprised by the plot twist and almost wished it would've happened sooner in the book leaving more time to explore the feelings of such an event. It's quite a big subject to tackle, and almost too close to home in today's society. And with such a heady topic looming overhead, I felt that the authors did a nice job neatly wrapping up the ending allowing the reader to have enough closure, but also enough enough room to dream about where the next road takes them.
4582465
If I was going to take one sentence from Julie's witty story Cardboard Characters which I would sum up as; a story about a misplaced teenager finding her way, it would be:

"But that shouldn't surprise you, since I'm clearly a hardcore gangster."

Out of context you might be saying to yourself, "Really Carole, Really?" Yes really! Read it! It's books like this one that make me miss High School. The fun, the drama, and the friendships that evolved there. Cardboard Characters really took me back (I was an art nerd, you know, painting, pottery, and whatever else got me out of gym). I had that first crush, that class I took just to relax, the place I ate lunch, the friends I hung out with and those I avoided like the plague, the crazy things we did, and I also had that semester or year when everything seemed to fall apart. For Leah, it all began with a monologue.

Disaster strikes when Leah tries her best to do her worst monologue for a part in a school play (written by another student, Minerva) and [as some sick joke to her] gets cast as the lead. Her best friend Eddie thinks it's great, Leah on the other hand, not so much. As practice for the play begins so does a bunch of other problems, mainly money problems the drama club is facing. And, from there, it just gets better. To help their troubles the student government sends in Nathan, the treasurer, and also Leah's [old] current crush.

Back to my favorite relationship of the book, Eddie and Leah. Eddie and Leah are pretty much the ultimate best friends. They pretend to be spies and thieves and have these elaborate games they play, I WANT AN EDDIE IN MY LIFE, they understand each other! And, Leah is just plain hilarious (I love evil Leah), from the very beginning I knew we were all going to get along.

"It's official: Evil Leah has been awakened. Well, Actually, lately it seems like she wakes up every once in awhile, does something dumb, and then goes back to sleep, leaving me to deal with the mess."

It's great.

While cracking me up, Julie also has a real talent for making the reader emotionally attached to her characters. Throughout the book I found myself cheering on certain characters (Kyle, an actor in the drama club) and booing others (Vinnie, student government president). The relationships between the students in drama club get stronger as the story goes and as events unfold that could mean the end to their play and the department. Working together this group of spunky teens hope to overcome some obstacles and along the way Leah begins to realize some things about her life.

Leah's confidence wanes, she starts to question and think about things like Eddie's feelings for her, Nathan and her feelings for him, and more. She's a well-rounded, relatable character and it's fun to hear her thoughts even if she is a little crazy. Not everyone is perfect.

Overall Cardboard Characters is a delightful and real YA contemporary. It has a sunny setting and a slew of great characters, cardboard and not.

And with that, I leave you with another great phrase from the inner workings of Leah's brain:

"So, I bet you're wondering what Minerva's play is about. Yeah, join the club. (But not the drama club. Har dee har har. I've been trying to figure that out ever since we started rehearsals two weeks ago."

So go, read Cardboard Characters and laugh with me at some of the inside jokes!
4745766
This book was a delight in two ways.

First, the writing and the story. An engaging story told with a gentle self-deprecating wit, as easy and fun to read as can be. Filled with perceptive observations and humor, the writing conversational and transparent, the events vivid. A blast.

Second, my own mental health. Unaware of the prior experience of Patrick and Michael, and the purchaser of an old house on Vieques several years later, I undertook its renovation only to fall into a vortex of head-smacking absurdity - paint colors applied bearing only a passing relation to paint colors specified, electric wires leading to nowhere buried in the concrete walls, the convention of not showing up at an agreed-upon date and time with no notice before and no mention after, and on and on. It was clear that this all could only happen to me. Except that it all had already happened to Patrick and Michael, and had been related in hilarious detail. Reading this book enabled me to realize that what I had feared was paranoia was in fact a literary experience. I was no longer a loser. I had become a protagonist in a literary drama with a fine tradition; and for this I will forever be grateful to the author.
2827279
Desdemona Quiggley is a free spirit determined to be mistress of her own fate. Together with two close female companions, she forms Lucy Lavender Enterprises. Unfortunately, the business falls into debt, and the ladies are in danger of losing everything they've worked so hard to gain. But Desdemona refuses to give up. In order to keep them all from debtor's prison, she conceives a wild plot to capture a highwayman in order to collect the large reward on his head.
Arriving at Yorkshire to visit his aunt, the Marquis of Daxonbury is knocked off his feet by a deadly accurate slingshot wielded by an irrepressible young female who has confused his noble person with a common footpad! Immediately caught in the delightful snare of the most fascinating woman he has ever met, Dax finds himself up to his ears in solving a villainous plot, the plucky Desdemona by his side, every step of the way. And to think Dax assumed his visit to dear old auntie's would be a dead bore!
This lively novel is full of wit and charm in the form of clever dialogue, quirky characters with sparkling personalities, and many hilariously outrageous situations. The hero and heroine are a wonderfully balanced match, both of them intelligent, stubborn, and dynamic with a shared sense of the ridiculous. If you like a book with lots of laughs along with warm affection and hot sexuality, you'll really enjoy this treasure!
846860
This book was a lot of fun.  I took to the wit and charm of the master thief, through whose perspective the story is told, right away.  And because the book is quick to jump into the ins and outs of how he plies his trade, and quick to action, it was all the easier to get swept into the story.  When he goes from a successful pair of heists to being enmeshed in a near-death with no idea how to extricate himself, its easy to empathize with him.  And now you're as curious as he is to get to the bottom of it allamid much higher stakes.

Ill definitely be following along with this series.
486848
I'm not going to tell you what this book is about, although, if I did, the review could very easily write itself as I could handily point out each and every clever thing the author did to craft their story.  So, I will merely tell you that the book is wonderfully well written with the following supporting points:

1) The main character grows and blossoms in a meaningful and enjoyable way over the course of the book.
2) The dialogue is extremely well written, witty, and rich.
3) The characters are believable enough, and yet special as well.
4) The main character, Destiny, is delightfully sardonic, without being overdone.  A delicate balance.
5) The author ties together many plot details throughout the book.  The book is not just written, it is carefully woven.  For example, by the end of the book the innocent "on my way" from the beginning has a much greater impact and meaning.
6) Mature readers may be able to guess the conclusion relatively early, but less sophisticated readers will enjoy the unfolding truth, as well as looking back over the previous chapters and remembering various clues that were left along the way.
7) There are no "cheap tricks" in the book.  As you might expect of Juvenile Fiction, there is no gore, lust, or other heavy and overused devices.  This book is well written enough for an adult to enjoy it, and safe enough for a juvenile.  Which is, as we all know, a very hard feat to accomplish without helpings of gore, lust, or hate...
8) While unlikely things happen, the nature of the book and the way it is constructed allows you to accept these moments easily without having to put much effort into suspending your disbelief.  Its all consistent.
9) The denouement is handled extremely well and leaves you feeling quite satisfied.

When the weight of the scenario hits you, its quite likely to make you cry like a baby.  If you want a book that makes you feel something, then Pearson definitely delivers.  You will feel sorrow, but oh so much enjoyment.  Which is really what makes this book so magical.  Pearson has hit a wonderful balance.
3831624
When you do something a lot, or you research something ad infinitum, you tend to notice when someone else does it well. This is so well written- great dialogue, beautiful metaphors, unexpectedly personified things. I sort of expected the main character to be a dog, but she wasn't. She made up for it with a great sense of humor and hints at more to her backstory. A fast and short but so satisfying story- I simply must buy the rest now!
746413
As a seasoned reading specialist, I'm always searching for stories that both captivate the young reader with scintillating wit and inspire, through the characters and plot, a genuine change of heart toward others.  In The Tale of  Bruce Wayne, Ms. Billerbeck does just that, by presenting Bruce as an extraordinarily fun-loving, tap-dancing chicken, who refuses to allow fame and fortune to cloud his sensitivity toward an ostensibly mean-spirited acquaintance.  A story of this nature proves--as Bruce so poignantly does--that taking the time to listen and care about someone who may SEEM cruel and heartless, can indeed not only evoke the best in one's SELF, but also enhance and even revolutionize the life of another.  And, after all, isn't that what life SHOULD be all about?  Amanda Billerbeck makes that point crystal clear as she masterfully orchestrates the comical events of the story, leaving the reader feeling both heartened and genuinely introspective.  In so doing, Ms. Billerbeck successfully achieves her goal of fusing whimsical humor with the pathos we all experience on our own personal journey we call LIFE.
1717130
Set in Italy, this fun and witty tale involves a young American who, when left alone after her Italian father dies, ends up participating in an engagement charade meant to protect a depressed and anxious mother from worrying about her youngest son. Alix is forced to balance her compassion with her conscience when the elder son of a family in the jewelry business asks her to pretend to be the fiancee of the younger black sheep in the family.

If a romance is dull, I set it very quickly with no intention to return, but this one caught my attention right off because the author, Jane Arbor, (Eileen Owbridge) has a sense of humor and hits all the right romance buttons, such as better-than-usual, frustrating tension-building misunderstandings. Arbor even includes some unexpected plot twists and a even a touch of mystery. You'll end up falling for the guy, too.
4318949
"Do-Over!" will make you want to read it over and over. The book is exceptionally funny and witty. Robin is brave enough to write about things that he was not successful in during his childhood and has had enough courage to do them over. It was very entertaining to read about a 48-year-old in camp, kindergarten, and other places that no other 48-year-old adult, a father of 5, would go for any other reason than losing a bet. Robin's sense of humor and way of describing things makes you laugh out loud even in public. His sincerity and genuine desire to replace the bad memories with new and better ones is very endearing. As I followed Robin's journey of doing over kindergarten, prom, exchange program in Japan, etc. I thought of a couple of things I could do over myself, and that's the beauty of it: Each of us can think of a few things we want to undo or redo, but only Robin had the guts to actually do it.
2184707
As this book was written by one of my former high school students (in fact, I'm acknowledged in the preface), I found it witty and entertaining.  Max makes his character likable, but vulnerable.  I felt many times I was reading his life story (which I might have been!).  There were several twists and turns to the story that caught me off guard, also.
2410888
This book is, true to its title: awesome!

It had me laughing and reading passages to various people which in turned, caused them to laugh as well. It's full of little blurbs on life's simple pleasures (i.e. popping bubble wrap) and the writing is very witty and often sarcastic, which is right up my alley. I particularly loved the passage about playing on old, "dangerous" playground equipment (you know, the merry-go-rounds, things made of wood causing splinters, and the fireman pole)!

You don't have to read this cover to cover (although it can be hard not to), you can jump around and find an interesting blurb and read it.  It's a perfect book to have on hand when you're running errands and are waiting for the dentist/DMV/etc.

It's nice to stop taking life so seriously, slow down, and enjoy/laugh at the little pleasures that many of us share and often overlook. Get this book, it is hysterical and you'll want to share!