Che-Michelle Tales

Book: How to Be a Better Adult
Author: Jacque Aye
Published: January 24. 2023
Wine Choice: Tost Original (Sparkling White Tea, Cranberry, and Ginger)
Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand-alone
Type of book: Novel
Genre: Fantasy/Surrealism/Fiction
How long did it take me to read this book: One Week
Rating:🍷🍷😵‍💫😵‍💫🙃

1. Step One: read Jacque Aye’s Book.
2. Step Two: I wonder if you have an omniscient author who is creating your stress and cussing them out.
3. Step Three: Read Jacque Aye’s Book.

When I first saw this book on Amazon, I was suckered in by the character’s large eyes, curly hair, and she was black! The premise drew me in a woman tired of her job and struggling with her finances. I will be honest: my finances kept me from purchasing this book until last month. I was like, F*** It. I need to read this book because my life is in shambles, which I was hoping this books would give me hope. I brought the book and the audio because I am always driving. Always! The book opens, and we are introduced to Hope Obiako. A mid-twenty-something-year-old is trying to navigate life as it spirals out of control. When I say spiral out of control, she loses her job, loses her only friend in the city, and other surreal events occur. One of these surreal events is a manual to help usher Hope into being a better adult. The rules are weird, but it takes you on a trippy adventure through Atlanta. You will learn about these rules in chapter four if you read the book.
As the book progresses, there are moments when you want Hope to win but she makes questionable decisions, and you end up side-eying Hope. Another exciting part of the story is that everyone in the book is an odd stickler for the rules, to the point that their assholery is comedic. This book reminds me of the movie “Sorry to Bother You,” nothing is what it seems, yet you are buckled in to see what happens next. Sidenote: I went back to read the description of the book. Even the Book Overview on Amazon reads, “This book is “Sorry to Bother You” meets the surrealism of “Atlanta.” Yes, as I read this book, the surrealism of words jumping off the page, as a book tells you how to get back in control of your life or do the exact thing a magical book tells you to do. At the same time, it makes you look at the absurdity of life and rules. Reading this book and the Goddess Effect (https://chemichelletales.com/?p=508 ) made me realize that I am not living. I am stagnant and stuck in this broken cycle; both books help illustrate two diverse ways to seize your life back! Also, something that stood out in this book was that as Hope learned to become a Better Adult, she started to like herself and be honest with who and what she wanted out of life. She took accountability for mistreating people and asked for help when needed.
By the end of the book, you find yourself rooting for Hope but buying into the story’s absurdity. The author introduces us to a new character, Mona Kitt, who we will find out in book number 2. Because I read this book on my lunch break, I did not get a chance to enjoy any wine or cider with the book. Thinking back on how crazy everything played out and how Hope ended up on top, I suggest buying and sipping Tost’s original non-alcoholic drink. It is refreshing, crisp, and not too sweet yet, and it reminds me of Hope. I drank the original Sparkling White Tea, Cranberry, and Ginger. It was refreshing, sweet, and the perfect complement to all the Shenanigans in the book.
I would rate this book two wine glasses, with two confused smileys and an upside-down smiley. I enjoyed the book, and once it found its stride, it was a fun read. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes Awkward Black Girl, Atlanta, and Sorry to Bother You mixed in the novel.

Until Next Time,
Che Michelle