I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

I read my first Lisa Scottoline novel in April of this year.  This book is so much different from One Perfect Lie.  This book is more of a comedic memoir than a mystery or thriller.  Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella, write about their funny lives in a series of essays.  Serritella writes about her hiatus from men and the insanity of forcing guests to make wedding dresses from toilet paper at bridal showers.  Scottoline writes about her disabled dog that is in a wheelchair and how she only wears a bra when she absolutely has to.  Both women write about their daily lives in a way that is both self-deprecating but also empowering to women.

There were definitely some very funny parts in this book but I wouldn't say that it was the funniest thing that I have read.  I have read a lot of comedic essay books by authors like Jen Lancaster who have me laughing from the first page to the last.  What I did really like about this book was the very endearing relationship that Scottoline and Serritella display in their work.  They seem to really love what they do (writing) and love each other.  I really enjoyed reading that.  The writing style is very easy to read and I was able to finish the book very quickly.  This is a great book to read when you need something light and entertaining.

My rating:
★★★★☆

Reviews of Books Like This One:
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
I Have Everyone, Except You by Clinton Kelly
Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing by Jennifer Weiner

This book is currently available and can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Read more reviews on this book on Goodreads.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in order to review it but that did not have an effect on my review of the book.  This is my honest opinion of this book.  I am a participant in the Amazon Affiliates program.  By clicking on the Amazon link and purchasing this product, I receive a small fee.  I am not associated with Goodreads or Barnes and Noble in any way and the links provided are available strictly for your convenience and not to imply a relationship of any kind.

Still Here: A Novel by Lara Vapnyar: A Review

Sergey has been living, and struggling, in the United States for awhile.  His wife, Vica, is perpetually angry at him because he can't seem to keep a job, despite his PhD earned in Russia and his MBA earned in the US.  Vica is frustrated because she gave up medical school in Russia so that she could follow Sergey to the US and now she works in a cancer hospital, where she can't seem to fit in.  Sergey has an idea for an app which will keep a person's online persona alive once a person has died.  Vica desperately wants Sergey to develop and pitch the app so that she can be a rich man's wife like her friend, Regina.

Regina is married to Bob, a wealthy American who develops web applications.  She used to be a respected translator but has since become depressed since losing her mother to cancer.  She spends her days watching TV and eating foods that an app recommends to her based on her viewing habits.  Her mother's best friend, Masha, wants her to adopt a child but Regina is unsure whether or not she could manager with such a task.

Vadik is a programmer that can't seem to find his place in the world.  He loves his job but he can't find a woman that he loves or a city that he feels at home in.  He moves from place to place and dates multiple women, sometimes at the same time, that he meets on social media.  The story follows the group of friends and their relationships.

One of the first reviews that I read about this book was that it was "Friends with a heavy Russian accent."  I was under the impression that this was a comedic novel of sorts.  While there are some funny parts in it, I wouldn't say that the book is completely dedicated to being a comedy.  That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it, though.  There were some very current, interesting themes in the book.  The book touched on themes of our obsession with social media and family.

While it is an immigrant story, it is a completely different immigrant story than we currently read.  The characters are upper-middle class immigrants that try very hard to assimilate into American culture.  I thought that was very refreshing to be able to see an immigration story that wasn't cliched and stereotypical.  The story may be literary fiction but the writing style is very easy going and feel's almost like chick lit when reading it.  Overall, I really liked this book and I think it would be great for anyone looking for a book about immigrants that is different from others.  Those that like novels based on current themes will really like this book.

My rating:
★★★★☆

More reviews of books like this one:
The Guest Room by Christ Bohjalian
The Heirs by Susan Rieger
Tell Me How This Ends Well by David Samuel Levinson

This book is currently available and can be purchased from major booksellers.  Read more reviews on this book on Goodreads.  Visit the publisher, Penguin Random House, for booksellers and information about the book.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  This is my honest opinion of this book.  I am not associated with Goodreads in any way and the links provided are available strictly for your convenience and not to imply a relationship of any kind. 

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