Product Description
In her waggish as well as distressing memoir, The Break-Up-Diet, Annette Fix shares her story about how she regularly believed in happily-ever-after as well as was bustling operative her Five-Year Plan: wed her golf-pro boyfriend, homeschool her preteen son, turn a important writer, as well as retire to Fiji. When her live-in beloved calls it quits, Annette finds herself upon The Break-Up Diet, immoderate immeasurable amounts of chocolate as well as sportive bad visualisation by diving blindly in to a shall… More >>
November 8th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Well, first the positive side: if you’re looking for a fast, easy read that is total chick lit, this is a great choice. It has all the classic elements including a fairy tale wrap-up, but since it’s a memoir, it should make a reader feel hopeful that such happy endings do really happen. The cute gimmick of the “recipes” were actually done very well and were funny to read in and of themselves, while not interrupting the flow of the narrative or being annoying.
On the other hand… well, memoir or not, there are many elements of this story that are just so hard to believe that it makes it a little hard to relate. The main character is a single mom stripper… so one is less sympathetic to the whole “diet” part of things – to be a successful stripper in LA, she’s got to be pretty thin to start with. The single mom thing is one of the nicer parts of the story because the kid is a great character, but he remains a sub-plot that could have made for a more interesting story had it mainstage attention. She suddenly on a whim yanks him out of school and is able to successfully home-school him? Again, hard to believe.
Overall, I was disappointed. There were many elements of this story that could have made for a really good tale if given more space and attention and better writing. I never really loved the heroine, so I didn’t care quite enough about her to cry for her or rejoice with her. However, as beach fare or a quick escape, it wasn’t bad. Perhaps its problems are typical for a first novel and the author will improve with future efforts – we’ll have to wait and see!
Rating: 3 / 5
November 8th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
As somebody currently suffering a broken heart and on what I call The Broken Heart Diet, I found this book while surfing the web. It resonated with me in general ways. First, I could relate with the pain of her loss. Second, like me, she was trying to do certain things to “cure” herself (ie. I’m enrolled in an ASL class and currently trying hypnotherapy). And third, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a similar memoir myself. When I found this book as part healing, part research, I thought, hey, maybe I have enough material to work with something. I also related to the Author’s humor as it’s very similar to mine. So, with that being said, I feel that this book found me.
On the other hand, being the logical mind that I am and a fiend for knowledge, I found myself wondering, what was the two years really like with Kevin? What kind of deeper hindsight moments did she have? Why would you even consider dating somebody who is a customer at a strip club? Why didn’t you finish those 8 credits for your BA? What ever happened to Wonderboy’s father? So much more detail I would have loved to indulge upon. I would have eaten that all up with pleasure.
All and all, for any woman that has suffered a devestating broken heart, it’s an easy, quick read that makes you realize that you are not alone.
Rating: 4 / 5
November 8th, 2009 at 11:27 AM
This is a wonderful book to have women read. Most women have gone through the experiences Annette Fix illustrates in this diary inspired book. It will make you laugh, cry, and wonder where your “happily-ever after” will occur. It is easy reading and very entertaining. A great book to have as a conversational piece.
Rating: 5 / 5
November 8th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
I loved this book. I met the author in person and she is a doll. Having spent my adolescence in Orange County I can say a LOT of this book rang true for me, and my experiences. The author is funny, honest, and heart-breakingly blunt. Fast, wonderful read.
Rating: 4 / 5
November 8th, 2009 at 2:00 PM
After spending two blissful years with her live-in boyfriend and her pre-teen son, Annette Fix was very content with her life. That was until Kevin unexpectedly broke up with her without any plausible explanation. From that horrible instant Annette’s emotions went on a downward spiral with no safety net in sight to apprehend her fall. And, just like that Annette found herself on THE BREAK-UP DIET – an unwanted diet overflowing with painful despair, countless tearful moments, daily struggles to function normally, hatred, bitterness, unhealthy eating habits and most of all guaranteed weight loss. Will Annette be able to find the courage and strength to overcome the negative and depressing effects of THE BREAK-UP DIET?
Wow! That’s the only word I can use to describe Annette Fix’s memoir in THE BREAK-UP DIET. This is one book that will definitely hit close to home and I am sure that once you dive into this book, you will not want to put it down until the very end. On more than one occasion I found myself wishing that I could give Annette a hug and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Annette tried to use every trick she could think of win Kevin back; yet, no matter how hard she tried he would not renew their relationship and because of this Annette wanted to give up on life; but, she knew that she needed to be there for her son. So, she tried to move on in life without Kevin by reentering the dating pool hoping to find her new prince charming. By the end of THE BREAK-UP DIET I had gone through a multitude of emotions that ran from laughter, teary-eyed, agreement and joyfulness. This truly was a heartfelt story that I enjoyed immensely.
Contessa
Romance Junkies Reviewer
http://www.romancejunkies.com
Rating: 4 / 5