Jenny James Is Not a Disaster: A Novel by Debbie Johnson
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Web ID: 19876182Charming, perfect feel-good read!
Jenny James has had her share of bad days. A single mother of a teenage son (with plenty of teenage attitude), she has a mediocre job with a less-than-mediocre paycheck, a car on its last leg, and too many discarded dreams to count. But then comes the day when her job is made redundant, her car dies its final death, and her home -- a cozy little seaside cottage on an English cliffside -- falls into the sea during a vicious storm. Literally. With no home and no job, Jenny and Charlie join their kind but aloof neighbor, Luke, and his dog Betty, on his nomadic road trip around England. Each new destination, decided by a topic from a hat, brings all three of them -- four, counting the dog! -- closer, but also forces them to realize they can't outrun the events of their past. Jenny must eventually face her long-estranged family, Charlie must navigate his path into adulthood with pieces of an unknown past, and Luke must face the devastating tragedy that changed his life all those years ago. I loved this book for so many reasons! The friendship that developed as they traveled was both strong and sweet. The author did not sugar coat past mistakes or the difficulty in facing them, but did so with hope for the future. The English road trip reminded me of places I've visited and added many to my bucket list. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, feel-good, easy read -- and an armchair tour of England! It was a perfect summer escape and just what I needed. This audiobook was narrated beautifully by Beth Eyre -- highly recommend! Thank you to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse, NetGalley, and author Debbie Johnson for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Sweet story
Jenny James is having a “no good, very bad, horrible” week. Her old car won’t start, her cliff side house falls into the sea during a bad storm, and she loses her job. Luke, who’s camping in a nearby field in his motor home, rescues her and becomes a sounding board for her. She, and her 18 year old son Charlie, need to make plans for the future, but Jenny has a difficult time knowing what to do. Luke suggests she and Charlie travel with him in his motor home for a week or two to give her time to sort things out. Jenny Jones Is Not A Disaster, by Debbie Johnson, tells of their adventures, the reconciliation with her family, and their budding relationship. It’s a funny and sweet story of two people with lots of emotional baggage who find their way to each other. There is some language scattered throughout the book. I was able to read an aRC on #NetGalley.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining!
What a fun book and a wonderful reminder to all of us that our worst moments often lead to our best moments. When Jenny has everything imaginable go wrong in her life, car beyond repair, job lost, house blown over a cliff in a horrible windstorm, she has to rely on the kindness of a stranger, Luke. Although she had previously labeled him an "unfriendly," something wonderful happens when she needs his help. If you can imagine a recreational vehicle named "Joy" that is exactly what this story is about. Charlie, Jenny's son, is a true delight and the repartee between mother and son just plain wonderful. How Jenny learns to re-invent herself and truly find Joy is what this story is all about. This story wanted me to buy a recreational van and start visiting all the places I've never had time to go to in the past, whether in England, where this story takes place, or in the United States, where I live. I heartily recommend this book. Although I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel, my opinion are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Getting back up when life floors you!🙃
🌊🏡🌧From calamity city to freedom and joy! What a transformation from the first chapters of Brit Jenny James's story to the end! Her initial problems in Norfolk were catastrophic and yet, her eighteen year-old son Charlie and a kind stranger who's a motor home nomad help her "weather the storm" and embrace the freedom of starting fresh and unencumbered. This is a nice piece of women's fiction, maybe felt a slight bit slow for me, about second chances, coming to terms with the past, and embracing joy wherever you find it. Single mom Jenny has lived her life since a teenager making a stable environment for her precious son. But he's on the cusp of independence and that plays into her insecurities about the future. She's a very real, very sympathetic character. As is typical, perpetually-starving teen Charlie. And Luke, the caravan nomad with a tragic backstory who takes the pair under his wing and gives them a month of non-stop touring and activity throughout the English countryside in summer. There is a very, very slow-burn bit of sweet romance, but the author focuses on Jenny's trial of fire (rain and wind?!) and how she makes her way to the other side. Inspiring, real and a good read. Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com