2012: #51 – Ex and the Single Girl (Lani Diane Rich)
Title: Ex and the Single Girl
Author: Lani Diane Rich
Format: Kindle
Pages: 257
Release Date: November 14, 2005
Publisher: 5 Spot
Source: personal copy
“It’s not you, it’s me…
…well, maybe it’s a little you.”
Penis Teflon. That’s what Portia Fallon calls the man-repelling curse that keeps men from sticking to the women in her family. When Portia gets dumped — on Valentine’s Day no less — she fears she’s inherited the curse. So when her mother calls her home, she leaves wintry Syracuse and her PhD work behind, and heeds the call. A summer back home in Truly, Georgia, and she’ll be able to regroup and finally finish that dissertation…
She should have known it wouldn’t be that simple. Her mother, Mags, is crazier than usual, and that’s a high bar; Aunt Vera keeps smiling over of an emotional crisis she won’t talk about; and Grandma Bev has her surly turned up to eleven. On top of that, there’s a British writer in town they’ve decided will be Portia’s “Flyer” — a one-night-stand meant to clear a girl’s energy so she can get the ex out of her system. It’s the perfect plan, until Portia falls for her Flyer, and the ex shows up in town with a ring and a promise to stick for good. Now Portia has to figure out what she really wants, and what she’s willing to risk to get it.
My thoughts:
For the most part, I liked this. Portia was an interesting character with more than her share of family strife. Unfortunately, I hated almost every other character in the book. Except Ian, I liked him. The rest of them can take a long walk off a short pier. Her mother, grandmother, and aunt were a bunch of horrid, selfish bitches. It’s no wonder that Portia thinks she’s messed up. What kind of mother pushes her daughter to sleep with a stranger within hours (if not minutes) of her meeting him? Ridiculous. Not to mention her detestable ex.
If Portia’s family had been more likeable, I could have easily given this 4 or 4.5 stars.
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat
Other reviews:
- “It is clear that Rich is gifted in developing character, and although the plot is sometimes thin, she has created a compelling story.” — OnceWritten.com
- “Still Ex and the Single Girl is a fun and fast read about following your heart and finding your place in the world.” — Trashonista
- “This is a book that manages to be a fun read while also exploring visceral concepts of vulnerability, so that by the time I reached the ending, I was invested enough in the character’s happiness to cry and smile over the ending.” — Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
