Shelly Bell is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and A Year to Remember. Sara Friedman is tired of being single, and something inside her snaps at her younger brother’s wedding. His big day also happens to be her twenty-ninth birthday, and Sara drunkenly announces to 300 wedding guests that she will be married by her thirtieth. When someone so kindly records her “speech” and puts in on YouTube, Sara goes viral. With a national morning show offering to help her one year journey of finding a husband and her best friend Missy backing her up, Sara dives in head first into the dating game. She accepts blind dates, tries her hand at internet dating, and finds the meaning of soul mate where she least expects it. Sara also happens to be a food addict, and has struggled with her weight throughout her life. She is determined to shed the pounds while she searches for her Mr. Right – but will thin equal happiness?
I loved the beginning of this book, and was immediately hooked by Sara’s story. Even though I have never struggled with weight or had an unhealthy relationship with food, I still felt like Sara was very relatable, which makes for a great MC in my eyes. The ending of the book took a different turn. While I knew Sara was struggling with food and that was clearly part of the plot, the ending seemed to only focus on that, and I found my interest waning a bit. But I still highly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend!
[Rating: 4]A Year to Remember Excerpt:
“Seth’s sister would like to say a few words,” Emily’s father announced over the microphone.
Horrified, I turned to my mother.
“I’m sure I told you,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
No, Mom, you failed to mention I’d have to get up and make an impromptu speech in front of an audience, who believed I cried during the ceremony out of jealousy.
Missy gave me a light jab on my shoulder. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
I shot her a dirty look and seized another glass of champagne as I made my way to the stage.
I should have made it quick and to the point. But the lack of food and the abundance of alcohol surging through my system gave me another idea.
I grabbed the microphone, pleased to know I didn’t have one ounce of stage fright.
“Shalom, I’m Sara Friedman, Seth’s sister. I’m really happy to be here today to celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone.” I should have said l’chayim and ended it there. No, I kept on talking.
“They say we each have a beshert, a soul mate, the person God has chosen for us. We spend our lives searching for it, many of us never finding it, and many of us failing to recognize it when it might be right in front of us. It’s clear to me Seth and Emily are beshert. Not two halves of a whole, but two whole souls that belong together.” So far, so good.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Shelly’s tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of A Year to Remember before August 13 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
