Reviewer: Annie
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
When small lies have big consequences…
Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends-and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman-Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.
Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in real life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are.
Review:
Izzy (Elizabeth) Lane is a single-mother to a five-year-old boy named Noah. She is trying to make ends meet after her husband Bruce leaves her. She is forced to move back to the home she grew up in. I wish she was able to convince herself that she was lucky she had a place to go home to.
Her ex-husband loses his job, leaves Philadelphia to go to California for about a month with his girlfriend, “to network himself”. No connection to Bruce. Did not like this man. He was leaving his responsibilities.
When being introduced to her friends; Jade and Rachel, there is no pull to feel attached to either of one of them. As a matter of fact, they were not really even paying attention to Izzy, but she just let it slide. I was disappointed by how they treated her. I was still waiting to feel any sort of attachment to any character….still waiting to like someone.
A recipe for a great book requires a few things….I mean, you have to like someone, or dislike them enough that you create a connection of discontent….those connections were lacking. I felt rather “flat” when reading this book, and sad that I was not connecting to anyone.
Until Finally, We are introduced to Mrs. Geraldine Feldman! I really liked her spunk. She was 85 years-old and so interesting. She is the same neighbor that Izzy had growing up. Mrs. Feldman was a super likeable woman! I believe there could have been a book based on their relationship alone. She filled many needs for both Izzy and Noah; serving not only as a friend and neighbor, but a surrogate Mother and Grandmother. Mrs. Feldman was my favorite character in the book. I loved when Izzy and Mrs. Feldman met for tea and chats. They were the best part of this book.
After her divorce, Izzy began a blog she named, “Bizzy the Blogger”. Izzy writes about being single and dating…She was making up stories about a “boyfriend” named MAC (named after her computer…lol…cute!) She jokes that her next boyfriend would be named Dell. She was creating a large web of lies on this blog.
She blogged about bad dates with other men, and how dating Mac was going. She has a HUGE following, and once Jade realizes that Izzy’s blog can bring more traffic to her “Pop Philly” site, she makes Izzy an offer she cannot refuse.
Izzy takes the job to Blog for “Pop Philly”…Her blog will now be named “Philly over Forty”. I was intrigued with what she was writing. It was fun when she was telling the truth. It was cool how she was generating traffic from people living outside of Philadelphia, too. She was inspiring people to get out there and date and feel better about themselves.
While this story did not ignite a sense of urgency to read, it was a good story.
It was just that. A Good Story.
3.5 Stars
