Fresh-Brewed Writer - Review of Savvy's story
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Synopsis:
Savvy Sheldon spends a lot of time tiptoeing around the cracks in her life: her high-stress and low-thanks job, her clueless boyfriend and the falling-apart kitchen she inherited from her beloved grandma—who taught her how to cook and how to love people by feeding them. But when Savvy’s world starts to crash down around her, she knows it’s time for some renovations.
Starting from the outside in, Savvy tackles her crumbling kitchen, her relationship with her body, her work–life balance (or lack thereof) and, last but not least, her love life. The only thing that doesn’t seem to require effort is her ride-or-die squad of friends. But as any home-reno-show junkie can tell you, something always falls apart during renovations. First, Savvy passes out during hot yoga. Then it turns out that the contractor she hires is the same sexy stranger she unintentionally offended by judging based on appearances. Worst of all, Savvy can’t seem to go anywhere without tripping over her ex and his latest "upgrade." Savvy begins to realize that maybe she should’ve started her renovations the other way around: beginning with how she sees herself before building a love that lasts.
Things I liked about this book:
1. Savvy and her internal journey. While it began from words spoken to her that caused her pain, she did decide to make changes in her lifestyle on her own to help herself feel better. I admire that.
2. Savvy has a great group of friends who support and love one another.
3. Dogs.
4. Savvy had to do some soul-searching about her job, and dang if I haven't just gone through all of that myself! I think it was very real.
Things I did not like about this book:
1. Savvy's tendency to jump to odd conclusions. (Example: Spencer was miscategorized as homeless and that was unfair.)
2. Savvy did allow her psycho ex to get in her head (although who of us hasn't had this issue?), and good golly, why was he everywhere afterward? Was he focused on trying to make Savvy feel worse, thereby making him even more of a jerk-face? or was this just part of the author's way of making Savvy self-evaluate each time? Not sure.
3. Spencer was almost too good and patient to be true.
4. There is a lot of focus on why Savvy decides to diet and exercise to lose weight. I don't see it as fat-shaming, necessarily; but I'm also a Gen-Xer who generationally doesn't see it the same as millenials or Gen-Zers likely do.
Overall, I landed on a four-star rating.
___
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
1. Savvy and her internal journey. While it began from words spoken to her that caused her pain, she did decide to make changes in her lifestyle on her own to help herself feel better. I admire that.
2. Savvy has a great group of friends who support and love one another.
3. Dogs.
4. Savvy had to do some soul-searching about her job, and dang if I haven't just gone through all of that myself! I think it was very real.
Things I did not like about this book:
1. Savvy's tendency to jump to odd conclusions. (Example: Spencer was miscategorized as homeless and that was unfair.)
2. Savvy did allow her psycho ex to get in her head (although who of us hasn't had this issue?), and good golly, why was he everywhere afterward? Was he focused on trying to make Savvy feel worse, thereby making him even more of a jerk-face? or was this just part of the author's way of making Savvy self-evaluate each time? Not sure.
3. Spencer was almost too good and patient to be true.
4. There is a lot of focus on why Savvy decides to diet and exercise to lose weight. I don't see it as fat-shaming, necessarily; but I'm also a Gen-Xer who generationally doesn't see it the same as millenials or Gen-Zers likely do.
Overall, I landed on a four-star rating.
___
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
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