review 1: oh dear. This book was meant to be quirky and upbeat and funny and you were meant to get Olivia and think she was worth all the trouble she caused but no way, this is not what happened for me. The beginning of the novel has you feeling for her - she's living in a trailer park, she's working a dead end job, her dad is a little on the strange side but they get along ok. Then she makes poor choice after poor choice and her persona descends into infantilism to the point of arguing like a 2 year old and throwing tantrums in a 7 year olds bedroom, and being treated like a child that you wonder how any of the characters can love her or admire her, and I also began thinking if there was some twist and we had been lead to believe she was an adult but in fact was actually a kid. I w... moreas disappoined when I was reminded of how old she really was, and that no, there was no shifty plot to make her into a child, she was just an irritating hick with the personality of a 2 year old. Alas. So with this in mind you can expect to struggle with the men in the story, how anyone could see her as a partner is beyond me and don't even get me started on the gay thing. Just don't. I didn't enjoy it, don't read it, unless you want to throw an Olivia sized tantrum and scoff down half a pie with cool-whip. review 2: I really like the characters in this book. They're realistic, and well-rounded. Their flaws and lives are relate-able, which makes it easy for me to sympathize and empathize with their plights. Once I started reading this book, I was drawn in and eager to know more. You're immediately introduced from a plain girl from the wrong side of the tracks in Nebraska simply living her life, and then story began to be turn into something that had me holding my breath, wondering what was coming next. Still a normal life, in the grand scheme of the world, but the story telling was great and that made a normal life worth delving into. When it came to the relationship of George and Olivia, I was so confused - but I enjoyed being confused. Normally, an author writing this kind of thing would have me frustrated and annoyed, but this portion of the plot was told just the right way that it left me satisfied as a reader. Two thumbs up for me, I definitely recommend it. less
