Review: Simply from Scratch

Summary: Alicia Bessette writes with compassion and tenderness to illuminate the many unexpected ways people save each others' lives every day-often without even knowing it. Poignant, bittersweet, and strikingly honest, Simply from Scratch is a radiant celebration of friendship and the strength of the human spirit.

Rose-Ellen ("Zell") Carmichael Roy wears her late husband Nick's camouflage apron even when she's not in the kitchen. That's her widow style.

It's been over a year since Nick died tragically during a post-Katrina relief mission in New Orleans. Long enough, according to the grief pamphlets, to have begun to move on with her life. But Zell is still unable to enter her attic, which is full of Nick memories. She hasn't even turned on her oven because cooking was Nick's chore. That is, until she decides to enter the first annual Desserts that Warm the Soul baking contest, hoping to donate the grand prize to Katrina survivors in Nick's memory.

Meanwhile, Zell's nine-year-old neighbor, Ingrid Knox, is learning to cope with the loneliness of growing up without a mother. With an imagination as big as her heart, Ingrid treasures her doting father but begins to plot how she will meet the woman who abandoned her so many years ago. When an embarrassing baking mishap brings Zell and Ingrid together, they form an unlikely friendship that will alter both of their lives forever. Together, and with the help of a lively and loveable cast of friends and family, Zell and Ingrid embark on winning the Desserts that Warm the Soul contest - and learn that through the many sorrows and joys of life, with a little bit of flour and a pinch of love, anything is possible. -- Dutton

When I read the description for SIMPLY FROM SCRATCH by Alicia Bessette, it definitely appealed to me. To be honest, it sounded like a book that I'd adore! And, to makes things even sweeter, author Alicia Bessette is one of the 2010 Debs from The Debutante Ball and you know how I just love all of the Deb books. Oh yeah -- and cover isn't too shabby either! Not that I'd ever admit to reading a book based on its cover, but isn't this one just one of the best? I guess what I'm saying is that I was very excited to crack open this book.

I enjoyed SIMPLY FROM SCRATCH a great deal. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that I absolutely loved it, but I did like it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my friends. The novel definitely captured my attention as well as my heart, and I found the characters to be extremely likable. My favorite character was, of course, Zell and my heart just went out to her as she struggled with her grief after losing her husband. As I read this novel, I really liked seeing Zell begin to heal with the help of her family and friends.

Another thing I definitely appreciated about this novel was how the entire story unfolded. When the book begins, Zell is a not-so-recent widow who catches her oven on fire when she turns it on without checking inside first (I'm not judging her because I would be absolutely lost -- just saying that a year had passed and she was still not wearing a bra on a daily basis.) She discovers that her husband had hidden a present in there over a year ago because he knew she'd never look in or use the oven. The reader is immediately faced with quite a few questions from the get-go ... how did her husband die?, who is this EJ?, does Zell have a serious health problem?, and what is in the box? Throughout the course of the novel, the reader discovers answers to these questions in bits and pieces.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how it explored grief and the eventual healing process. There is no doubt that Zee was devastated when she lost her husband, and she pretty much shut down her life for an entire year. Despite pleas from her family and friends, she just wasn't able to even face life in general. I loved that it was the friendship of a nine year old girl Ingrid (along with a little help from her father and her step-grandmother) that helped Zee begin to grieve in a healthier way. Zee not only had to learn to move on, but she also had to learn some important lessons about forgiveness. Overall, I really appreciated so many of the messages in this novel.

And then there's all of the "things" that I liked that existed in this novel. I just love books about cooking food and this one mentioned food stuff a lot. Some of the recipes were just plain disgusting to me, but I did appreciate how the author used food as a way of comfort and healing. In addition, I really liked that Zell had an adopted Greyhound (just like the author.) I am not a dog owner, but I have always thought that if I ever got a dog that it would be a Greyhound. And finally, I appreciated that Ms. Bessette makes so much mention of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it incurred on so many people. Through the use of Nick's emails, I feel as if the reader got a glimpse into the kind of help the victims need as well as how many wonderful people are that volunteered to help them.

I did have one slight issue with this book and I'm sure it's just a personal preference thing, but I found it a little bit odd. Most of the book is written in Zell's voice and I thought the author did a great job with that. At the end of the chapters, there is part written in third person about Zell's long-time friend EJ. And, then some sort of email correspondence between Zell and her husband Nick. I thought the emails were a nice touch and a great way to unfold the story about Nick; however, I didn't really "get" the EJ part. Don't get me wrong, I loved EJ (what little I got to know about him.) I just thought it was strange how there were a few pages about him stuck at the end of each chapter. I think it's possible that it would have worked for me if he had his own separate chapters, but I just didn't appreciate the presentation. I also felt as if I was teased with EJ's story. I think he was a great character and I actually wanted more of his story.

I do think SIMPLY FOR SCRATCH would make a fantastic book club pick for women of all ages. I wasn't able to find a reader's guide, but I don't think it would be difficult to come up with a few questions on your own. Plus, I think this novel is one of those where people just start talking and move on from there -- sometimes the best type of books for discussion. Some of the themes you might want to explore include love, family, friendships, loss, grief, healing, and forgiveness.

A very big part of the story is the baking contest that Zell and Ingrid decide to enter. After many baking mishaps (Zell never claimed to be a cook!), they finally stumble across a recipe that they think is a winner. I admit that I didn't try it, but I think it has potential with the black pepper and fruit. (I'm a big fan of a walnut biscotti recipe that I make that includes pepper!) What do you think?

Scrumpy Delight

Yield: One Scrumpy Delight. Serves two to four.

* For best flavor, use fresh pineapple, and grill slices before chopping. If using canned chopped pineapple, drain juice well.

Ingredients

• 1 heaping cup well-chopped pineapple (if substituting fresh strawberries, apples, or peaches, wash and dry fruit completely
• 2 ox. spreadable goat cheese, softened slightly in microwave (may substitute other preferred soft cheeses, such as cream cheese)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• a scant 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper (sounds like a lot, but trust us)
• Polly Pinch's Super Simp Flakey piecrust (may substitute store-bought crust, or make your own from scratch using a favorite recipe)
• 1 1 1/2 oz. dark or milk chocolate bar
• 2 teaspoons whole milk or cream

For garnish:

• brown sugar
• chilled fresh raspberries (may substitute blueberries)
• fresh-ground pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Combine pineapple, cheese, honey, lime juice, and pepper in large mixing bowl.
3. Carefully lay piecrust flat on baking skeet. Repair any tears in dough with moistened fingertips.
4. Place chocolate bar in the center of piecrust.
5. Pour the pineapple mixture onto the chocolate bar. Using a spatula, spread the mixture out toward the edge of the dough, leaving about a one-inch edge.
6. Using fingertips, drag two opposite sides of piecrust to meet in the center, forming a rectangle. Brush the top of the crust with milk.
7. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
8. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pepper, if desired. Garnish with berries.
9. Using a sharp knife, divide into segments. Best served warm.

I enjoyed this heart-warming story and I think many women will agree. If you are a fan of chick lit or women's fiction or even books about food, then I suggest you check out SIMPLY FROM SCRATCH.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Review: The Life You've Imagined

Summary: Is the life you're living all you imagined?

Have you ever asked yourself, "What if??" Here, four women face the decisions of their lifetimes in this stirring and unforgettable novel of love, loss, friendship, and family.

Anna Geneva, a Chicago attorney coping with the death of a cherished friend, returns to her "speck on the map" hometown of Haven to finally come to terms with her mother, the man she left behind, and the road she did not take.

Cami Drayton, Anna's dearest friend from high school, is coming home too, forced by circumstance to move in with her alcoholic father . . . and to confront a dark family secret.

Maeve, Anna's mother, never left Haven, firmly rooted there by her sadness over her abandonment by the husband she desperately loved and the hope that someday he will return to her.

And Amy Rickart—thin, beautiful, and striving for perfection—faces a future with the perfect man . . . but is haunted by the memory of what she used to be.

Kristina Riggle's The Life You've Imagined takes a provocative look at the choices we make—and the courage we must have to change.-- Avon

It seems like it's been awhile since I've read a book by a member (or alum) of The Debutante Ball, and I can't really say why because I almost always love them! One of my favorites was a book that I reviewed last year by Kristina Riggle called REAL LIFE AND LIARS. I am always drawn to books about dysfunctional families and I thought this one was very enjoyable.

So when I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Ms. Riggle's latest novel THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED, I couldn't wait to read it. The book's description definitely appealed to me -- four very different women who, for a variety of reasons, decide to look at the choices that they've made in their lives. I was even more excited to find that the story was told in alternating chapters voiced by each of the four women. Definitely my kind of book!

I wasn't disappointed with THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED -- whew! In fact, I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I didn't want to put this book down. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that it was because I actually liked all four of the main female characters in this book. And, if you've been reading my blog lately, you already know that I've been having a hard time liking some of the characters in the books I've been reading. That I found something to like in each of the characters is really saying something.

All four of the women featured in THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED are at some sort of cross-roads in their life. Each of them are very different, both in personality and/or age; however, I was surprised to find how much they had in common. Every one of them was unhappy or discontent with their lives. As each woman reflected on her past choices and the reasons for them, they often times faced a great deal of pain. What I found so inspiring about each one, though, was that they were willing to face the difficulties and make changes to improve their situations in life. I know I'm a sucker for books about female friendships, but I loved how they depended on each other and realized how important their relationships were.

Once again, I was impressed with Ms. Riggle's writing style! Not only do I think she has an uncanny way of creating some memorable characters, but I love how she gave each one of them a voice. As I mentioned earlier, the chapters alternated between the characters and their stories, and I thought the author did a wonderful job of making each voice unique and distinct to the character. I also appreciated how the story flowed between the past and the present. I thought her transitions flowed very smoothly, and as a reader, I enjoyed how the characters' stories unfolded.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this novel were the overarching themes or messages (if you will.) I appreciated how each character really assessed her past choices and then realized where she needed to change in her present day life -- whether that be a career choice, a dependency issue, increasing self-confidence, or acceptance. We all know how difficult any type of change is, but when you have to consciously change your behavior patterns, it's often times even more difficult. I actually found these four women's stories to be not only enjoyable but heartwarming.

THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED would make a fantastic book club pick in my opinion! I can definitely see a bunch of women sitting around with some wine discussing these characters. There is a readers guide available in the A+ section in the back of the book along with an interesting interview with the author. Some of the topics you might want to explore include self awareness, accepting responsibility, mother-daughter relationships, love, careers, abuse, friendship and change. I am pretty sure that every women will find themselves not only liking these characters but also relating to them.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED and I think that many women will agree with me! If you are a fan of women's fiction, then I highly suggest checking out this book!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.

Review: The Whole World

Summary: At once a sensual and irresistible mystery and a haunting work of psychological insight and emotional depth, The Whole World marks the beginning of a brilliant literary career for Emily Winslow, a superb, limitlessly gifted author.

Set in the richly evoked pathways and environs of Cambridge, England, The Whole World unearths the desperate secrets kept by its many complex characters—students, professors, detectives, husbands, mothers—secrets that lead to explosive consequences.

Two Americans studying at Cambridge University, Polly and Liv, both strangers to their new home, both survivors of past mistakes, become quick friends. They find a common interest in Nick, a handsome, charming, seemingly guileless graduate student. For a time, the three engage in harmless flirtation, growing closer while doing research for professor Gretchen Paul, the blind daughter of a famed novelist. But a betrayal, followed by Nick’s inexplicable disappearance, brings long-buried histories to the surface.

The investigation raises countless questions, and the newspapers report all the most salacious details—from the crime that scars Polly’s past to the searing truths concealed in photographs Gretchen cannot see. Soon the three young lovers will discover how little they know about one another, and how devastating the ripples of long-ago actions can be. -- Delacorte Press

I was so excited when Emily Winslow contacted me about reading her debut novel THE WHOLE WORLD. I am participating in the 2010 Debutante Ball Challenge, and this books counts for the current year since Ms. Winslow is a 2010 Deb. Plus I have really liked every one of the Deb books that I've read in the past few years, so I was definitely looking forward to this book.

THE WHOLE WORLD is the story of a group of students at Cambridge University who seem to have pretty normal college lives. When one of the students disappears, each character begins to learn a great deal about each other and themselves.

Technically THE WHOLE WORLD is labeled as suspense on the publisher's website, and it was a book filled with intrigue. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how literary this book was as well. In a way, I don't think this novel should be labeled as just a suspense story. I thought Ms. Winslow wrote a great book with well developed characters and a well thought-out plot. And I especially appreciated how she decided to tell this story.

The book is set up in different sections about each of the main characters. Each section is written in the first person voice of the character, so Ms. Winslow had to "pull off" telling the story from the point-of-view of different characters with very different voices. I can tell you that I was impressed with how well she managed to do this. I thought each section of the book had a distinct voice and I thought all of the characters' voices were credible. I can't imagine that, as an author, that's an easy thing to do.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about this novel were the different characters. And by different, I mean that the characters in this story were very unique. All of them were quite complex (and some were even a bit strange.) I liked how flawed each character was (quite a few had some emotional baggage), and I really appreciated how Ms. Winslow revealed their innermost thoughts and feelings (strange though they might have been.) I felt that the insight into these characters was refreshingly honest, and I loved how she slowly peeled back their outer appearances to reveal their deeper, emotional layers.

I also really liked how Ms. Winslow brought the setting of this novel to life. The story takes place at Cambridge University, and I liked seeing this area through the eyes of each character. I felt that the setting of this novel was critical; and at times, I thought it was described so vividly that it became another character. I especially liked seeing the different impressions of the town based on the different characters -- an American girl, a blind woman, a young man who'd spent his whole life there, etc. Ms. Winslow did a great job showing the many sides of Cambridge, and it's apparent that she truly knows the University.

If your group is looking for a book that's a little different than typical book club fare, then I suggest THE WHOLE WORLD. It's definitely got some suspense and mystery elements, but there is also a great deal of character development and interesting things to discuss. There is a reading guide available which has some very interesting questions. Some of the topics you might want to explore include American versus British culture, relationships, friendships, and secrets. Ms. Winslow is also available to call into your book club meeting.

I definitely recommend THE WHOLE WORLD! It seems like you can't go wrong with those Debs!

Thanks to the author for sending me a review copy of this novel.

Review: Between Friends

Summary: Thanks to modern reproductive technology-and the gift of her friend Cora's eggs-Ali Gutierrez is the mother of a fourteen-year-old daughter. Now, yearning for a second child, Ali asks Cora's permission to use another of the frozen embryos that have been stored away in anticipation of this decision. But Cora has a secret that could not only change Ali's plans for the future, but tear apart her life right now. -- Berkley

I have been a big fan of Kristy Kiernan's ever since I read her book about a child with life threatening food allergies called MATTERS OF FAITH (you can read my review here.) So you can imagine how excited I was to open a package a few weeks ago and find that it was her new novel BETWEEN FRIENDS. BETWEEN FRIENDS sounded like a book that I knew I'd adore because it deals with female relationships as well as a very controversial subject matter -- in this case, surrogate motherhood. I couldn't wait to dig in!

I should probably start out by saying that I read this book while sitting outside on the most beautiful day we've had so far this year. It was sunny and in the mid 70s with a slight breeze -- I even got a slight suntan. Better yet, the kids entertained themselves (for the most part), and I could just sit back and read. As wonderful as this day was, I don't think it influenced my opinion of this book one bit. I could have read it inside on a rainy day and felt the exact same way. BETWEEN FRIENDS was just a terrific read! It had all the elements that an entertaining women's fiction book needs to qualify as one that I'd recommend. The storyline was intriguing, the characters were well-developed and interesting, and best of all, there were lots of surprises towards the end of the story that kept me guessing!

The concept of surrogate motherhood has always been fascinating to me ever since I wrote a speech about it back in college. Putting all of the amazing medical technology aside (it really is incredible how far science has advanced in recent years), I have always wondered what it would be like to carry another couple's child. I've also wondered what it would be like for a woman who couldn't bear her own child to have another woman do that for her. So I thought when Ms. Kiernan decided to tackle surrogacy in this book that it was a perfect topic. Needless to say, I was very interested in the emotional implications that surrogate motherhood would have on the two women in BETWEEN FRIENDS. Ali and Cora weren't strangers when Cora carried Ali's baby, but rather they had been best friends for years. How would they manage being forever tied to "their" child Letty?

I actually was expecting for the two mothers issue to be the primary focus of this book, so I was a little surprised that there were additional ethical issues in BETWEEN FRIENDS. Without giving away too much and spoiling the book for the rest of you, there were other medical as well as moral issues that were explored between Ali, Cora and Letty. I absolutely loved how Ms. Kiernan tackled these issues and really caused me to think. And if a book can cause me to question my values and beliefs, that's really saying something!

One thing that I really liked about BETWEEN FRIENDS is how Ms. Kiernan chose to tell this story. I especially liked that she used alternating points of view from each of the main female characters. I liked that I was able to see inside of each of the women's minds and truly understand their feelings. Even when I disagreed with a character's actions, I was at least able to see the motivation behind them! Had the entire story been told by just Ali, Cora or Letty, I think I would have wanted something more.

I admit that there were numerous times throughout this book where I was pretty sure where the storyline was heading. In fact, I was almost worried that Ms. Kiernan was going to let me down with the ending of the book because it seemed so predictable. Boy, was I wrong! There were at least two times (but more like four) where I was caught off guard with the characters' actions and the turn of events. I enjoyed the story for a wide variety of reasons, like the plot and the character development; however, the twists and turns were an added benefit which really made this book memorable to me.

Trust me when I say that BETWEEN FRIENDS is a perfect book for book clubs! There is a reading guide in the back of the book which explores all those ethical and moral issues that I hinted at earlier. I haven't been able to find the guide on-line yet, but when I do, I will be sure to link to it here. In addition to the thirteen thought-provoking questions, you might also want to talk about what is the definition of family. Some other topics to explore include female friendships, honesty, loyalty, marriage, dating, teenage sex, mother/daughter relationships, and my absolute favorite -- the central theme of "control." So many good things to think and talk about!

If you are looking for a terrific read that will keep you thinking and will also deeply touch your heart, then I highly recommend BETWEEN FRIENDS. Make sure you also check out Ms. Kiernan's guest post!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: Winging It

Summary: A hilarious and poignant cautionary tale about two very different types of creatures, thrown together by fate, who learn to make the best of a challenging situation -- feather by feather.

Like many new bird owners, Jenny and Scott Gardiner hoped for a smart, talkative, friendly companion. Instead, as they took on the unexpected task of raising a curmudgeonly wild African gray parrot and a newborn, they learned an important lesson: parrothood is way harder than parenthood.

A gift from Scott's brother who was living in Zaire, Graycie arrived scrawny, pissed-off, and missing a lot of her feathers -- definitely not the Polly-wants-a-cracker type the Gardiners anticipated. Every day became a constant game of chicken with a bird that would do anything to ruffle their feathers. The old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you -- literally -- never applied to Graycie.

But Jenny and Scott learned to adapt as the family grew to three children, a menagerie of dogs and cats, and, of course, Graycie. In this laugh-out-loud funny and touching memoir, Jenny vividly shares the many hazards of parrot ownership, from the endless avian latrine duty and the joyful day the bird learned to mimic the sound of the smoke detector, to the multiple ways a beak can pierce human flesh. Graycie is a court jester, a karaoke partner, an unusual audio record of their family history, and, at times, a nemesis. But most of all, she has taught the family volumes about tolerance, going with the flow, and realizing that you can no sooner make your child fit into a mold than you can turn a wild parrot into a docile house pet. Winging It is an utterly engrossing reminder of the importance of patience, loyalty, and humor when it comes to dealing with even the most unpleasant members of the family. -- Gallery Books

I have to disclose that I am a really big fan of Jenny Gardiner. I've been following her since she was a contributor to the Debutante Ball, and I love reading her hilarious (and need I say insightful?) tweets. I thought her first novel SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER (my review) was a terrific, and I've been anxiously awaiting her next book for what seems like a long time. So I am happy to say that WINGING IT: A MEMOIR OF CARING FOR A VENGEFUL PARROT WHO'S DETERMINED TO KILL ME is now available, and it was well worth the wait!

For those of you who don't know Jenny Gardiner, she is a very funny woman. Her wit is sharp and quick, and I just knew a memoir about her spunky parrot would be full of laughs. And I have to say that WINGING IT was full of many cute (and some not-so-cute) stories about a wild animal. I did find myself laughing a lot at Graycie the parrot, although I think often times I was laughing more at Jenny and her reactions than the parrot.

I admit when I started this book I thought to myself how is the author going to be able to pull off a 250 page book about the antics of a parrot. Not that Graycie doesn't provide fabulous material for her owner, but I wasn't sure I wanted to read that much about a bird (I'm not a huge bird lover and I think I would be terrified to ever meet Graycie.) Although I admit that every once in awhile, I would just giggle over something Graycie would say or do; and I'd think to myself that she wasn't that bad. As a mom, I could kind of relate to Jenny and her relationship with Graycie. Sometimes, you just want to kill your kids (well, not really kill but you get my drift) and then they say or do the sweetest thing and all is forgotten!

As I read about Graycie and her behavior, I was absolutely amazed that the Gardiner family stuck with her. And it wasn't just Graycie, but the Gardiner family did have some interesting luck when it came to their other animals whether it be bad behavior or unique illnesses. I honestly can't say that my family would have been as dedicated and devoted to our pets, especially a bird who enjoyed taking bites out of people's bodies. And that's one of the things that I loved about this story -- seeing how loyal and committed the entire Gardiner family was to each other and their pets. Talk about a heartwarming story!

I was pleasantly surprised by WINGING IT, not because I didn't think it would be a cute story about a misbehaving parrot, but because it was so much more than that. I knew it would be funny and I was expecting it to be touching, but I was truly impressed with how insightful this book was about family life. Whether you understand the Gardiner family's devotion to Graycie or not, you have to respect that Graycie is an integral part of their family and they are as loyal to her as they would be anyone else.

I also found this book to be somewhat motivational, and I certainly wasn't expecting that when I picked it up. Jenny Gardiner is a successful mother, wife, and writer who totally seems to have it together; and I found that so admirable. Despite what "bad" things happen to her (from finding her house covered in bird poop, to losing a pet, to having a child with a serious illness), she deals with everything with a sense of humor. I am so incredibly envious of her and her ability to keep her entire life in perspective.

Check out the book trailer where Jenny Gardiner dishes on Graycie:



I highly recommend WINGING IT to pet lovers as well as anyone who appreciates a good story about family dynamics. It is a very funny, yet very touching book, about the love and perseverance of a close-knit family. Make sure you come back tomorrow because Jenny will be stopping by to answer a few of my questions!

Thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of WINGING IT!

Since Jenny is a Penn Stater (and so am I), this review counts as part of my Back-to-School Feature. Make sure you check out all of posts I have written about fellow Penn State writers, and feel free to add your links about any posts related to your favorite school. In fact, if you feature a book related to any school that you attended, root for or even live near, it can count -- it's all about school spirit.

Review: The Opposite of Me

Summary: Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully constructed life implodes.

Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be. -- Washington Square Press

THE OPPOSITE OF ME by Sarah Pekkanen is one book that I have been dying to read. A little over a year ago, I subscribed to Ms. Pekannen's email newsletter in anticipation of learning more about her debut novel; and I have been following her ever since. In fact, I actually won her monthly newsletter contest way back in December of 2008; and I even won an ARC of THE OPPOSITE OF ME on Christmas Eve! I already considered myself a fan of Ms. Pekkanen's before the book was even released (not that the awesome presents had anything to do with it!)

So I admit that while I was anxious to read THE OPPOSITE OF ME, I was also a little concerned. I had been building up anticipation of this book for over a year. I mean -- what if I didn't really like the novel? Well, I am so happy to say that I didn't have to worry about that. I really, really liked THE OPPOSITE OF ME, and I know that many women will agree with me. It's just one of those books that was a pleasure to read.

THE OPPOSITE OF ME is really, at its heart, Lindsey's story. Lindsey is a successful 29 year old advertising exec who seems to have it all on the outside; however, the reader quickly can see that Lindsey is carrying a lot of baggage around. She has never felt like she can live up her to very beautiful twin sister, so she has overcompensated by proving herself as a career woman ... if she can't be the beautiful one, she can be the smart, successful one. I really found myself liking Lindsey (despite her faults) and I thought the author did a wonderful job of developing her character.

When Lindsey's world falls apart, she heads back home to her parents. Like many adult children who return home, she has some adjustment issues (which proved to be very entertaining at times.) Lindsey hopes to find some comfort in the familiar, but she learns that it's never that simple. She has to face her "perfect" sister's marriage plans as well as re-discovering her feelings for her ex-boyfriend. I really think in so many ways that THE OPPOSITE OF ME was a coming-of-age story for Lindsey (even though she was 29 years old!) Throughout the course of the novel, Lindsey learned a great deal about herself, her relationship with her sister, and what would make her truly happy.

One thing I loved about this novel was how it explored the relationship between sisters -- and in this case, twin sisters. Having a sister who is almost nine years younger, I can't say that I experienced first hand the competition and rivalry like Lindsey and Alex had; however, I could still relate to many of the feelings that Lindsey experienced about her sister. I absolutely adored how Ms. Pekannen explored the sister dynamic thing and had both women realize that they didn't know everything about each other (or themselves for that matter.)

Since I have been following Sarah for awhile now, I wasn't really surprised by her writing style. I was expecting the book to be well written, and I just knew that it would be funny. What I wasn't sure about was whether THE OPPOSITE OF ME would be just a light, chick-lit type read -- not that there's anything wrong with that. The novel definitely seemed to start out that way with Lindsey having a high-powered job, living in New York City, having man problems, etc; however, as I read the book, I was pleasantly impressed with how the story became much more involved and even deeper than I initially thought.

I also admit that I was surprised a little by the ending of this novel. I was kind of expecting things to be wrapped up in a neat little bow, and they weren't really that clear cut. I don't want to give too much away, but I did want to say that appreciated how the author didn't take the easy way out with the ending of this book. I found the story to be much more rewarding without a traditional happy ending.

THE OPPOSITE OF ME would make an excellent discussion book for female book clubs. The story is obviously very entertaining, and there are also some deeper issues that can be further explored. There is a reading guide available with some wonderful questions. It also includes a great Q&A with the author. I think Lindsey is a fascinating character and I'd love to analyze her. Some of the other topics for discussion include family dynamics, sibling rivalry, the bond between twins, sisterly relationships, career choices, and happiness.

Needless to say, THE OPPOSITE OF ME was a wonderful read. I highly recommend it to fans of chick-lit as well as women's fiction. It's a heart-warming story that at the same time is very funny. I can't wait to see what Ms. Pekkanen has to offer us next!

Thanks to the author and SheKnows for sending me an ARC of this novel.

The Debutante Ball 2010 Reading Challenge

I have decided to join another challenge. This time it's The Debutante Ball 2010 Reading Challenge hosted by Jen – Devourer of Books and Swapna – S. Krishna’s Books. I am so excited about this challenge, and I just wish I had thought of it. I am a huge fan of The Debutante Ball, and all of the Deb's books that I've so far have been awesome!

Here are the details:

The Current Debs Challenge

Host: Jen – Devourer of Books

Basically, the idea here is to read books by the 2010 Debs. A list of all books by all members of The Debutante Ball can be found on the Debutante Ball books page. We would love for you to read all five books by these five lovely ladies, but as we know that this may not be possible, so you can join at the 1, 3, or 5 book level.

For more information, check out the FAQs. Or, go ahead and sign up!

The Previous Debs Challenge

Host: Swapna – S. Krishna’s Books

I’m sure you can all guess, but the idea here is to read books from the PREVIOUS Debs. Again, ALL books by these ladies can be found on the Debutante Ball books page. You’ll notice on that page that the author’s debut book is followed by (Deb 20xx), indicating which year they were originally part of the Debutante Ball. We would strongly encourage those of you signing up for this portion of the challenge to make at least some of the books you read the author’s actual debut book. You can sign up to read 2, 4, 6, or 8 books.

For more information, check out the FAQs. Or, go ahead and sign up!

For Everyone

Yes you can:

* Overlap with other challenges (although you can’t count books by the 2010 Debs in the Previous Debs Challenge if you are doing both)
* Change your level of commitment – in fact, we hope you’ll love these books so much that you’ll decide you want to read all of them!

This challenge runs from January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010. Anyone who is signed up for either challenge by January 11th will be entered to win one Debutante Ball book. If you’re signed up for both you’ll have two chances of winning! We may also have a prize for one person who completes the challenge.

Since it seems like I'm signing up for a lot of challenges, I am going to start small with this one (well not that small since I am signing up for both parts of the challenge.) I can always bump up and read more books if time permits! For The Current Debs Challenge, I am going to read 3 books; and for The Previous Debs Challenge, I'm going to try to read 4 books!

I've read quite a few of the Deb's books over the past few years and I've never been disappointed. This challenge should be terrific -- come and join me!