Book: Crimes Against a Book Club
Author: Kathy Cooperman
Published: May 2017
Wine Choice: Martha’s Chardonnay or a Stiff Gin Martini
Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand-Alone
Type of book: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Humorous/Crime
How long did it take me to read this book: 7 days
Overall rating: 🍷🍷🍷🍸🍸
I am trying to figure out what I was getting into when I got this book. I do not remember when I bought or downloaded it, but it has been sitting on my Kindle for a long time. I decided to read it because my current reading quest is to read books just sitting around my house or on my Kindle, Google Books, or Humble Bundle (yes, I have humble Bundle books). This book was the feel-good book I needed to deal with all the extra Life currently going on in my life. In this book, we meet Annie, a chemist turned housewife (AI wants to use a stay-in-house spouse) in a snobby book club. All the members are not snobs, just two, and well, one and the others follow suit, like Mean Girls or Heathers. Well, Annie, what I can imagine is devasting news for a parent of small children.
Along with a typical but loving husband, Annie was left alone to deal with her issues. We are also introduced to Annie’s best friend, Sarah, and Sarah is the type of friend we all have: a sweet, loyal, and analytical person. Sarah is also dealing with a manipulative boss, infertility, and just at a place where she is wondering about her life. Now, the book picks up (to me) fast after Chapter 5. The story feels like Desperate Housewives meets Weeds or Breaking Bad. I want to say more Weeds vibe. The hijinks, inner monologues, and thoughts of all the characters are phenomenal. You find yourself rooting for Valerie and wanting to see her find joy and passion in life again. The sweet misplaced Kim grows a backbone, and she confronts the issues in her life. You even have an incredible yet misguided reconciliation with Annie and Chloe.
The author does a fantastic job of making the bad guy relatable. Logically, no one should root for Annie; she is selfish and self-absorbed. Her humbling moments through the book and misguided understanding of the law will make you realize God/ The Universe (if you believe) does protect fools and babies. When we (the reader) meet Natalie, a woman desperate to fit in with the La Jolla Ladies, by any angle. Being empathetic, knowing Nataile’s situation, Sarah attempts to protect Natale from what is happening within the La Jolla community and sets off a chain reaction. Another adage comes out: “No good Deed comes Unpunished.”
All in all, the humor read made me live, cry, and even cuss these women out when they were dramatic. I love Chloe, who is misguided but still has a lovable nature. I identify with Sarah’s struggles on several levels; being overworked and underappreciated is the easiest to identify. When I had time to sit at home and read, I enjoyed 19 Crimes Martha’s Chard. It was full of citrus, which made me think of California, and the sweet oak nature was pleasant; it did have a spicy undertone that complimented the character’s personality.
Overall, read this book. It is for everyone if you are a career person, a stay-at-home parent, a person dealing with a manipulative person, or someone treated like a mushroom. This book hits all the notes, and it touches on how misogyny and lack of communication (a lack of listening) lead to Southern California hijinks. It
hints at Christopher Moore’s Humor from his A dirty job or Blood Sucking Fiends books but in a more realistic setting. It’s such a good summer read, and don’t forget Martha Stewart Chardonnay to pair while reading. The women of La Jolla would be disappointed if you did not have a drink while laughing at their hijinks.
P.S. In the book, Sarah mentions White wine; Annie is a teetotaler she does not drink, but Chloe, well,
She will take a Martini and a Vicodin to ease the pain of humiliation.
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