Thursday, November 11, 2010

Review: And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper

"If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."
Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?


What a great book.  If you're looking for a lot of laughs in a contemporary romance, you should pick up And One Last Thing...

To be honest, I wasn't certain I would like this book.  The back cover copy sucked me in, and Ms. Harper's wit and smart-ass-y dialogue is fully evident in Lacey, but who wants to read about a woman discovering her husband is having an affair or the aftermath of such a discovery?  It was almost too much -- at first. 

Then she meets Lefty Monroe.  And there's a flicker of a spark. 

Forget the fact that he looks like Wolverine or that he's always awake when Lacey is awake.  Ignore that he -- and his family -- continually discover Lacey in various shades of undress.  Monroe is just a normal guy, something Lacey needs but doesn't want to want at this stage in her life. 

There's a little bit of melodrama ("the big misunderstanding") I could have done without, though I recognize its value as a plot point and a way to push Lacey firmly toward Monroe.  I was also a bit disappointed because the ending felt rushed; I wanted more time with Lacey and Monroe, to see them together in their new relationship, feeling things out.  I can only cross my fingers and hope we'll meet up with Lacey and Monroe again in the future. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails