Not My Type

Oh Mrs. Melanie Bennett Jacobson. I'm glad we are friends and that I get to read your stories. Fantastic!

Not My Type: A Single Girl's Guide to Doing It All Wrong by Melanie Jacobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. Like I could not put it down, loved it. You know, sometimes I read a book, and I think, "Amazing, five stars for a beautifully told story." (A la The Book Thief.) Sometimes I think, "That was intense...five stars!" (A la The Passage.) And then there are books like this where I say to myself, "That was entertaining and funny and sweet. I loved it! Five stars!" Not My Type is quick and reads like a great chick flick...you know, like classic Clueless chick flick, my favorite chick flick of all time and truly one for the ages.

I can't put my finger on just one reason that this story really worked for me. Maybe it was Pepper Spicer, who felt real. Maybe it was Tanner Graham, who made me say YUM. Maybe it was that the story was about changing your life through gratitude, which made me reflect on my own life. Probably it was a combination of all of the above.

Here is the thing, folks. I'm not Pepper Spicer, but I can relate. I'm living at home. I'm strapped with some serious debt. And I get what it is like to feel totally afraid that your life is cycling out of control. So maybe the reason I loved this so much is that I could appreciate Pepper's dilemma and her level of fear. So I was inspired by her story to change her life and find what she wanted. Besides that, Pepper was a down-to-earth kind of girl. I like that kind. You know, the type of girl you can trust.

Then there is one Mr. Graham. I love this guy. Well, mostly I really loved that first kiss. There is this seriously well written first kiss scene that makes your heart flutter just remembering that one time you kissed that one guy who made your heart flip flop in your chest. You know the one. The one that lit you up inside when his hand accidentally brushed against yours. The one who, with a look and crook of his eyebrow could make you weak in the knees. In other words CHEM.I.STRY. Yep, that's it. Chemistry! Tanner is smart, funny and nice. He's not a push-over, but he's not overbearing, either. He was a perfect foil for Pepper. And did I mention the kiss? It was a really perfect kiss!

But the thing I loved most is the gratitude notes. Let us face the reality of life. Sometimes, reality feels bleak, and it puts you in a place where you stop believing that there is any reason to hope or to try. However, even when you have those sorts of days/weeks/months... there are always things to be grateful for. You see, Pepper has these really wonderful parents. I love her parents, especially her father, who is a marriage and family therapist. He patiently teaches his daughter that if she can see the good in her life, maybe she can start creating more good things in her life. Now at first, the gratitude notes she writes aren't so sincere. As Pepper starts take the notes seriously, she discovers that gratitude can help her find joy. You know what? I don't think you can ever have too much gratitude in life. Ever. The notes give the story an uplifting, hopeful sort of vibe. It was lovely.

Melanie is a thoughtful writer because she is aware who her audience is, and she writes for them without being preachy or self-righteous. In fact, the in your face "oh isn't it so fun that we are insiders to Mormon lingo and culture" is probably what turns me off in a lot of LDS literature. This is different...subtle references to prayer and faith or funny references to the Cullens. I feel like the faith/culture here is authentic, so it does not have to be showy. In other words, I could recommend this to my friends who aren't LDS, and they'd still enjoy it. So that's it. I'm seriously loving Melanie's stories. Once again, well done.

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