Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Married by Heather McElhatton has the funniest title I’ve heard of in a while. In fact, when I found out this was the second book succeeding Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single, I thought I was onto something hysterical. I needed a fun and light read and devoured this book like a sinfully good cupcake.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The premise is funny but the words and the language, not so much. Think Mean Girls grown up. I’m reminded of that short lived series GCB (watched one episode with Pumpkin) in which church ladies backstab everyone in the name of Christianity. Plus there was lots of Samantha, aka Sex in the City language thrown in for extra funniness.
The problem is, I didn’t find it funny. I found it mean-spirited and raunchy. I’m not sure exactly why it turned me off, but it did. I wanted a free spirited Bridget Jones meets Shopaholic type book and while it certainly had many of those same traits, I didn’t love it like I loved Bridget Jones.
To be sure, Jennifer Johnson is NEUROTIC. Gotta love that about her. She’s good-natured, generally, and wants to do good. But for some reason, always seems to mess things up. Jen tries to do good with the bad cards she’s been dealt but she keeps getting knocked around by a scheming Mother in Law. Fortunately, Jen has made some very powerful friends who help her out of her troubles and into more.
I would like to see less church bashing, less slang use of female genitalia, less cursing, and more Jennifer Johnson. But don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself and make your own decision. You might love it!
P.S. Is there really such a thing as an Ice Empress refrigerator? If so, I HAFTA get one!
I give this book a neutral two paws; it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
