Summer Reading Recommendation

It seems like there are a lot of
"Summer Reading Recommendations"
going around on blogs right now,
so, since I'm clearly not going to have
this baby, I thought I'd distract
myself  join in the fun and throw a
recommendation out there!

Arwen and I binge-

read this book in about two days

each.  It's a bit of a modern-day Jane

Austen knock-off novel.  The heroine

is Elizabeth Benning (not Bennet)

who has a sister Jane and a best

friend Emily (not Charlotte) Lucas.

There are Collinses who give woo.

But it's far from a simple modern-

day retelling of "Pride and Prejudice".

Susie Andres does a charming job of developing the character of her heroine "Liz", "Lizzy", or "Elizabeth".  Elizabeth is not a young heroine, she is 32-33, has just lost the job she loved to work since her graduation from college, and has moved back home with her parents now that her best friend is getting married.  Elizabeth isn't depressed about her state in life (which I appreciate--nothing worse than a washed up old maid waiting for a man to make her life right!) Elizabeth is a lady with many resources, and the book is based upon a rivalry she has with her brother-in-law.  Their relationship is also well developed and surprisingly complex.  This book is mostly about Elizabeth fighting really hard to prove herself and learning (from Mr. Right) that that is what is making her unhappy.  The key to finding "paradise" begins with not caring how another might be judging her.  

Of course, there are very funny side plots, characters, and a wonderful running theme of Elizabeth's aversion to peanut butter.  I'd recommend this for mothers and their tween-and up-aged daughters to read and enjoy together as fun summer "chick flick" style reading.  

Many references to stomach troubles with peanut butter aversions, a black eye won in a softball game victory, and a hilarious scene or two in an elevator with a would-be suitor, (and I've got to include the entire chapter in which Elizabeth is dressed up as an Ewok, for trick-or-treating with her Star Wars themed nephews, might be enough to entice a husband or son to pick the book up themselves!

Thoroughly enjoyable!  A super summer read!