Friday, June 20, 2008

Odd Mom Out


"We shouldn't have to change to make other people feel more comfortable. I shouldn't have to change me so others will like themselves better. That's wrong, not right. Don't change to please others. Don't become less you so others won't feel threatened."
(p. 313-314)

"Sometimes life is good, Marta. Sometimes life is freaking fabulous. Don't you know that? Life isn't just bad things. Life can also be wonderful." (p. 396)

Marta Zissner has always done her own thing. She has lived her life the way she wanted and couldn't care less what others did or think of her. Everything changes when her daughter, Eva, wants to be friends with the queen bee of her fourth grade class. Marta is a single, working mother who rather wear t-shirts and flip-flops instead of designer brands. The stay-at-home mothers snub her and basically ignore her when she begins to volunteer at Eva's school. Deep down Marta doesn't care, however it means a lot to Eva that she tries to befriends the other mothers.

Marta is extremely independent and built walls around herself to avoid anyone, especially men, to get close to her. This, surprisingly, has worked for the last 10 years until she meets Luke. From their first encounter, she begins questioning her choices and begins to see how lonely her life is. Together, Luke and Eva help Marta face her fears and for the first time, she feels alive.

This was the first book I read by this author and it will not be the last. I LOVED this book!! I was hooked from page one. I loved Marta's spunk and how she handled herself with the stay-at-home moms. I felt her internal struggle with trying to validate her daughter's feelings about being friends with the popular girls, however trying to raise her daughter to just be herself. Marta prides herself on being independent and created a world that she doesn't allow anyone in, in fear that it will disrupt her life. Then she meets Luke and realizes that she hasn't been living at all. I can't wait to read the follow-up "Mrs. Perfect". 4.5/5

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