Debbie's Spurts

This reader's personal opinion, ©2018, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by goodreads, Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers* 

This was so hit and miss with me, I need to review it.  I was drawn to this library wishlist-one because of interesting premise (think reverse Pygmalion), an author I've been meaning to try, and wanting a funny read.  

Well, I like the author's writing and the humor.  The premise somehow turned just plain mean.

It was a funny book.

Mixed feelings about the main character.  Every time I thought about DNF'ing the book, she'd do or say something I could relate to or sympathize -- none of which carried through to the end.  I did not like or connect with her or any of the characters.  I expected shallow and vain from the book description, but I expected it to be hilarious and lesson-worthy instead of the woe-is-me-I-can-get-any-guy-and-will-even-if-I-don't-want-him.  Mean-spirited on the part of the default best friend and main character often mean-spirited to others.  Still, she had her moments so did not DNF. 

I think the premise went too far.  If main character had decided to drab herself up to see if guy was attracted to her or her looks, that would have worked better for me than the frenemy harassing her into it from jealousy then pushing it too far.  By too far, I mean changing name, job and residence -- who would do that?  At least MC fought back when frenemy pushed for more like binding breasts and hinted at actual surgeries (that saved a DNF right there).

Everyone was at times judgmental, selfish, jealous, petty, mean, arrogant, blame others good qualities for why others notice their bad qualities ...

Overall all, didn't really like most of it (mostly for characters) but would read more by the author.  Ending seemed a bit rushed and could have been more satisfying without some cheating, hypocrisy and deus ex machina.  

Really close to the end there was a rape-apologist bit that would have made for an automatic DNF had it come anywhere earlier.  It totally soured the book for me despite earlier laugh-out-loud moments.  

See?  If you read the spoiler you know a big reason I disliked the main character.  I don't think she learned or grew at all from the experience other than dumping the frenemy.

*©2018.  All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher (except Penumbra Publishing) to reprint/quote in whole or in part. I may also have cross-posted on  Libib, LibraryThing, and other sites including retailers like kobo and Barnes and Noble. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties or indicate release of copyright.  

Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:

★★★★★ = All Time Favorite 
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Average.   Okay. 
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked or meh? but kept reading in hopes would improve.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Cannot imagine anyone liking.  (Might also be just an "uploaded" word spew or collection that should not be dignified by calling itself a "published book." If author is going batshit crazy in the blogosphere over reviews -- I now know why they are getting bad reviews.  Or maybe author should take remedial classes for language written in until basic concepts like using sentences sink in. Is author even old enough to sign a publishing contract or do they need a legal guardian to sign for them?)