Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Self Helpless

Title:                    Self Helpless
Author:                Rachel Hall
Publisher:            Peninsula Psychology Publishing
Market:                Chick-lit
Genre:                  Fiction (humor and romance)
Series:                 ---
Length:                318 pages
Pub. Date:           March 12, 2014

Description (from Amazon):
Jenny Peterson is a single, self-help junkie looking for her soul mate. But despite being an expert in self-improvement, her life still seems to be stuck in a rut. Her designer clothing rental business, even with its well-heeled Orange County clientele, is mysteriously losing money. And although it goes against every fiber in her moral makeup, the one guy she pines for happens to be her best friend’s husband. But are her fortunes about to change? A super-cute mystery guy has just recommended a new self-help book, and from the moment she opens the pages of A Better Life, her world is turned upside down in ways that not even Dr. Phil could have predicted.

My Review:
This is the first book I’ve ready by Rachel Hall.  Part of what attracted me to the book was that Jenny is a fashionista and funny, and it reminded me of the Finley Anderson Tanner mysteries by Rhonda Pollero (Sadly, she no longer writes books).  It was definitely worth my time to read this book.

Yes, Jenny is great with fashion, and she’s funny.  We read her sarcastic thought that are left unsaid.  Jenny is an imperfect main character.  Being a little overweight and having some acne in an appearance dominated profession are two obstacles in her life.  I enjoyed her character.  However, there is one event in the book that I really wish wouldn’t have happened.  Jenny, what were you thinking?!

Hall has done a great job writing this book.  I loved Jenny’s character right away, and I wanted to find out how her obsession with Marc ended up and if anything was going to happen with Brice.  Reading this is like listening to your own internal monologue at times.  It helps you connect to Jenny and understand her better.    She’s an underdog that I cared about and rooted for throughout the book.  There are a couple of things that happen in the book that are surprising, and one of those is a bit shocking, too.  I didn’t see it coming.

The book that Jenny buys helps her to grow and mature throughout the story.  Again, she is an imperfect character, and she doesn’t always do the right thing.  Isn’t that true with all of us though?  Everyone makes poor choices from time to time, but fortunately for Jenny, there are people in her life who are willing to give her a second change.  She has people to pick her up when she has fallen.

I would recommend this book to anyone over age 18 who likes chick-lit, humorous stories about fashionistas, and female underdogs who enjoy self-help books to help them succeed in the romance department.

Thanks to Goodreads First Reads and Rachel Hall for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

No comments:

Post a Comment