This story had me baffled from the first few pages. The story starts where main character Nicole is getting ready for a Valentine’s party and a romantic evening with her boyfriend. He will finally meet her best friends, I’m thinking he might propose––until I find out he is merely Nicole’s sex-buddy of two weeks. Um, what? And that’s when I knew I was going to be in for a ride––a very unpleasant ride. This book desperately needed an editor, there were scenes that were crammed in for reasons I couldn’t figure out, the characters were immature (think peeing on sidewalks) and Nicole just came off as a big slut. I think Becky Due was trying to show an insecure woman, but I didn’t make the connection. The writing was crass (too many bathroom trips and bodily functions for me to handle) and I was basically bewildered throughout the book. And slightly horrified. I did some research on Due and her website says her books are “inspiring novels” for women, and that she is “the new voice of women’s fiction.” I’m a little scared. The reviews and ratings are scattered from a 1-5, but this truly is not a book or genre for me. Though I’m not exactly what genre it should fall under. I can’t recommend The Dumpster in good faith. It left me depressed, and I think it portrayed women badly. The main character wants a man so badly (hello, do we need a man to complete us?) that she would jump in bed with anyone. I’m not sure how that is supposed to be inspiring or leave me with confidence. I actually felt a little dirty reading the book. I will not be trying any further novels from Becky Due.
