This book was such a fun, fun read. It is by Suzie Andres who wrote Homeschooling with Gentleness and A Little Way of Homeschooling. This is her first novel and it is a hysterical mash up of Pride and Prejudice (and other Austen novels), The Happiness Project with some You've Got Mail thrown in there too, all set on the outskirts of the professorial social life of a small Catholic college.
We follow Lizzy month to month for a year, as she tries to make herself happier (she was already pretty happy). She's got a rivalry going with her brother-in-law, Pat, that drives her to take on things she never would on her own. Meanwhile she does have to confront the fact that she is 32, single and unemployed. Into her life comes Mark O'Reilly, a Colin Firth look alike (hmm, is the guy in Bridget Jones named Mark?), and Ralph and Gretchen, two good looking blondes who seem to be a couple or ought to be, anyway. Lizzy's life is already full of Jane, her husband Pat and their five boys she loves to play Auntie to. And she's got her best friend Emily who is soon to be married.
This book has so many funny puns and absurdities in it, like the fact that Lizzy's replacement at a recital she was supposed to be in is the aforementioned Ralph (Lizzy was busy being sick to her stomach so she couldn't play). Or the fact that Ralph has four sisters all named variations on Mary (devout Catholics will laugh). There is a lot of resorting to chocolate to deal with the hilarious stress that enters Elizabeth's life, mostly due to her own goofy perception of things. This book is a really fun romp through speed dating, Vanagons, children's literature, softball and Ewok costumes and much more.
I had a great time reading this book. Two thumbs up!
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Faith,
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the final version of Suzie's novel though I did enjoy the draft version. After reading your review, I can't wait for a quiet afternoon to start reading my copy of 'The Paradise Project'. It sounds delightful!