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52nd out of 572 books
—
476 voters
The Next Thing on My List
by
Jill Smolinski (Goodreads Author)
Meet June Parker. She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds.
But June’s life is about to change.
After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe, and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written,...more
But June’s life is about to change.
After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe, and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written,...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
April 10th 2007
by Shaye Areheart Books
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Wow, the reviews I have read about this have me confused. The concept of the book was really cute, the execution was horrible. It was silly and shallow and wow I cannot believe how many people loved it. Don't bother!
This book was ridiculous and the main character was kind of an idiot and I'm SO SICK of books that make EVERY WOMAN out to be a neurotic mess whose salvation comes in the form of some DOUCHE BAG guy. Thank you.
17 likes · like · see review
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May 21, 2008
Pati
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Pati by:
Michelle Frasier
Thanks, Michelle, I enjoyed this one. About a girl who got into a car accident with someone in the car that she had just met at a weight watchers meeting. The passenger died and had left a list of things she wanted to do and the driver felt so guilty, she decided to do everything that was on the list. Not an easy thing to do...
I really enjoyed this book, probably because I'm a list maker myself. I thought it was funny and entertaining, plus an easy read that I got through in a day.
June embarks on a life-changing mission to complete the list of an almost stranger-Marissa-who was killed in a car accident where June was the driver. The list, "20 Things To Do By My 25th Birthday", had some quirky items--go braless, eat ice cream in public--but had some poignant entries as well.
Though a decade older, June found herself imm...more
June embarks on a life-changing mission to complete the list of an almost stranger-Marissa-who was killed in a car accident where June was the driver. The list, "20 Things To Do By My 25th Birthday", had some quirky items--go braless, eat ice cream in public--but had some poignant entries as well.
Though a decade older, June found herself imm...more
June Parker's life is changed overnight when the passenger of her car, 24 year old Marissa, is thrown from the vehicle and killed. In the aftermath, June comes across a list that Marissa had been carrying in her purse: "20 Things to Do Before My 25th Birthday".
Seeing that just two items have been crossed off(#1: Lose 100 pounds and #4: Wear sexy shoes), June sets out to complete the list by Marissa's 25th birthday in six months. The list is covers it all from #6: Dare to go braless to #10: ride...more
Seeing that just two items have been crossed off(#1: Lose 100 pounds and #4: Wear sexy shoes), June sets out to complete the list by Marissa's 25th birthday in six months. The list is covers it all from #6: Dare to go braless to #10: ride...more
I finished this book quickly. It reminded me of Bridget Jones in some way -- probably tone, and the age of the protagonist.
The heroine has just been involved in a car accident; she was driving. With her was Marilissa, a 24 year old woman she had just met in a Weight Watchers meeting. She has an accident (not really her fault) and Marilissa dies. Fast forward 6 months, and nothing much is happening in her life still, but she goes to the grave. There, she meets Marilissa's brother Troy, and commit...more
The heroine has just been involved in a car accident; she was driving. With her was Marilissa, a 24 year old woman she had just met in a Weight Watchers meeting. She has an accident (not really her fault) and Marilissa dies. Fast forward 6 months, and nothing much is happening in her life still, but she goes to the grave. There, she meets Marilissa's brother Troy, and commit...more
3 likes · like · see review
May 12, 2012
Megan Richards
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
beach goers, vacationers, women in 20s/30s
An entertaining, quick read. June is a character you can root for and (sometimes) relate to, but utterly frustrating at times when she just can't get it together. I loved the take on the conventional "woman in 30s has mid-life crisis and sets out to complete goals" plot by having the protagonist be a woman who didn't set out to change her own life. Good for an enjoyable, uplifting summer or vacation read.
Add this to your "to-read" list then snatch it up quick and read it right away! It's the story of a woman named June and how her life unfolds as she struggles to complete someone else’s list of things to do before my next birthday. Isn't that a cute concept for a story? And it contains all the elements I love in a book... Lots of humor and even some touching moments that brought tears to my eyes (without being too sappy). I adored the voice of this book and felt like my best friend (literally my...more
Premise: June is giving a ride to a girl she just met at a Weight Watchers meeting, when they're involved in a car wreck. The passenger is killed, and June finds a list of things that the girl wanted to accomplish before her 25th birthday. For a not entirely altruistic reason, she sets out to complete the list herself.
There were times when I wanted to give this book a 4 (because I really did enjoy reading it), but overall, I felt that it was just too "cutesy." There are some things you can see c...more
There were times when I wanted to give this book a 4 (because I really did enjoy reading it), but overall, I felt that it was just too "cutesy." There are some things you can see c...more
1 like · like · see review
This review is based on reading the first 35 pages and the last chapter of the book. I couldn't read any more than that. I really wanted to like this book. I loved the premise of it: a woman's car passenger dies in an accident and she finds her list of "20 Things To Do Before I Turn 25" and does them for her, and in the process finds meaning in her own life. But I didn't like the author's writing style. It didn't draw me in and I got easily bored. It felt like she was writing a screenplay more t...more
6 likes · like · see review
I really enjoyed this book!!! It was a light, easy read but still managed to have a lot of depth. I found it relatable which made it even more fun to read. Oh and there are tons of laugh out loud moments, which I love!
2 likes · like · see review
Has the spunk and energy of a Janet Evanovich book . . . in fact, now that I think about it, this is like a West Coast Stephanie Plum. Instead of sizzling Ranger the bounty hunter, we have sizzling Runner the massage therapist . . . instead of the hot Italian Morelli, we have Martucci . . . instead of sexily-clad sidekick Lula, we have sexily-clad sidekick Brie. The doughnuts were the same on both coasts.
All that said, this book sneaks up on you with a surprisingly meaningful and thoughtful stor...more
All that said, this book sneaks up on you with a surprisingly meaningful and thoughtful stor...more
2 likes · like · see review
This is not a great thinker book, but that's okay. Sometimes you need a lighter read between reading Dostoevsky and the book on Math given to you by your son at Christmas. This was one of those books that, while pointing in the Chick Lit direction, actually has a little more thought and scope than some of those flashy covered novels about young-and-single-working-in-publishing/marketing/advertising/fashion making her life's dream come true. It's kind of a surrogate "Bucket List", only in this ca...more
June Parker is 30-something, works in a job where she hopes to become upwardly mobile, enjoys her life and her friends, is looking for love and struggles with losing the ten pounds that always manage to creep up on her. As she is leaving a Weight Watchers meeting, she offers a ride to a fellow group member. Unfortunately, they are involved in an accident, which kills her passenger Marissa. The accident that was in no way June’s fault but as any of would, she still blames herself. She finds a lis...more
There were moments in the story that I would rate 5 stars quickly followed by moments that earned 0 stars. In the end, there seemed to be more that bugged me than I loved. I liked the premise of the book...and this book certainly made me think (which is a BIG deal to me.) But some things were just too unbelieveable (the family seemed too forgiving and at peace too early after the loss, one character is painted as a creepy/unattractive guy for the first 95% of the book and then turns into the goo...more
This was an easy and enjoyable read that provided me with a few chuckles (e.g. the massage scene, teehee). The message was a bit deeper than usual chick-lit fare and the writing was slightly better than many more popular and comparable novels (e.g. Shopaholic, 50 Shades).
Still, it suffered from many of the downfalls that are common to the women's genre... Are we, women of the 21st century, really so preoccupied with finding a man and getting married (and then popping out kids)? Are we that obse...more
Still, it suffered from many of the downfalls that are common to the women's genre... Are we, women of the 21st century, really so preoccupied with finding a man and getting married (and then popping out kids)? Are we that obse...more
34-year-old June offers 24-year-old, newly thin Marissa a ride home from a weight-watchers meeting. On the way home, they are in a car accident and Marissa is killed. June finds a list in Marissa’ purse outlining 25 things Marissa wanted to do before turning 25. After meeting Marissa’s good-looking brother at the cemetery, June decides to do all the things on Marissa’s list. Some of the things are really dumb – go braless, kiss a stranger, but June tries to follow through and complete them all....more
Synopsis:
After a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June Parker finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written: “20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday.” The tasks range from inspiring (run a 5K) to daring (go braless) to near-impossible (change someone’s life).
To assuage her guilt, June races to achieve each goal herself before the deadline, learning more about her own life than she ever bargained for.
My Opinion:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I got threw it in o...more
After a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June Parker finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written: “20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday.” The tasks range from inspiring (run a 5K) to daring (go braless) to near-impossible (change someone’s life).
To assuage her guilt, June races to achieve each goal herself before the deadline, learning more about her own life than she ever bargained for.
My Opinion:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I got threw it in o...more
The bright cover on this caught my eye, and it looked like a light, quick read, so I picked it up. I ended up really enjoying it and passing it on to my sister to read. I loved the idea that the main character decided to finish someone else's bucket list. I don't know how realistic it is, but I was willing to go along for the ride. Some people put things on their own bucket lists that would be a stretch for them: climbing mountains, running marathons, travelling places they wouldn't pick for a t...more
I have to say- it is a terrific book. Absolutely a must read. It seemed kind of quirky and fun but I had no idea how thought provoking it would be. It is a story centered around June, who is stuck at a ho-hum job but doesn't really seem to be doing anything with her life. She's kind of a wall flower because of her doing nothingness. (This kind of resembles me lately). She unfortunately is involved in an accident that kills her passenger on the way home from a Weight Watchers meeting but discover...more
On the recommendation of a friend, I downloaded this from Amazon. Within the first few pages it had me hooked. The death of someone you know, even if it's someone you weren't particularly close to, can be a life-changing experience. But June Parker would never have expected exactly how life-changing the death of Marissa Jones would be. They met at a Weight Watchers meeting and when June spots Marissa waiting for a bus later that night, she offers Marissa a ride home. During the ride Marissa unbu...more
Sep 21, 2011
Stephanie (Nur Lesen ist schöner...)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites
Marissa und June haben genau EINE Gemeinsamkeit: sie wollen sich endlich von ihrem überflüssigen Körperfett trennen und abnehmen. Und das bei Weight Watchers. Daher kennen sie sich auch, nicht mehr und nicht weniger.
Marissa läuft seit kurzem erst "erleichtert" durch ihr Leben, denn sie konnte bereits einen persönlichen Erfolg verbuchen. Endlich scheint sie ihr Leben in den Griff zu bekommen!
Ihr Angebot June auf dem Nachhauseweg mitzunehmen zeugt daher allein aus Nächstenliebe und guter Laune. Un...more
Marissa läuft seit kurzem erst "erleichtert" durch ihr Leben, denn sie konnte bereits einen persönlichen Erfolg verbuchen. Endlich scheint sie ihr Leben in den Griff zu bekommen!
Ihr Angebot June auf dem Nachhauseweg mitzunehmen zeugt daher allein aus Nächstenliebe und guter Laune. Un...more
Jul 11, 2011
Tiffany Cooke
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like books about characters, not so much plot
Shelves:
2010
I picked up this book because I could relate to the title. I am a list keeper: to do lists; store lists; bucket lists. As soon as one thing is finished and crossed off, I'm on to the next item. I don't take time to celebrate the accomplishments. I don't even give it a conscious thought anymore. I, too, move on to "the next thing on my list."
When we meet June Parker, she is slowly recovering from a car accident that killed her passenger, Marissa. June and Marissa were not friends; they were bar...more
When we meet June Parker, she is slowly recovering from a car accident that killed her passenger, Marissa. June and Marissa were not friends; they were bar...more
Dec 29, 2010
Doreen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Easy Readers book club
Recommended to Doreen by:
Womens Nest book club
An enjoyable, easy read! This book had every opportunity to be sappy, silly, and ridiculous, yet it wasn't! The author carefully allowed the fun and uniqueness of the story to play out, without creating a sugary-sweet,
mess. The main character struggles through completing the items on someone else's 'Life List' of things to do. She came by this list as the result of a fatal traffic accident.
The main character, June, is not super-woman. She's not a strong, amazing, driven human being. Not at firs...more
mess. The main character struggles through completing the items on someone else's 'Life List' of things to do. She came by this list as the result of a fatal traffic accident.
The main character, June, is not super-woman. She's not a strong, amazing, driven human being. Not at firs...more
May 03, 2010
Sarah
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Book clubs for older women who enjoy light reading
Shelves:
book-club
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
5 likes · like · see review
Jill Smolinski's The Next Thing On My List isn't anywhere near the sobfest you would expect it to be, considering our narrator is completing tasks dreamed up by a dead woman. It's actually an incredibly entertaining, heartwarming and inspirational novel that had me flipping the pages from day one.
The strength of book, for me, came in the form of June and Smolinski's sense of humor, which was pitch-perfect. Any off-color jokes would certainly have not been well-received by the audience -- me -- b...more
The strength of book, for me, came in the form of June and Smolinski's sense of humor, which was pitch-perfect. Any off-color jokes would certainly have not been well-received by the audience -- me -- b...more
I was just looking for something light to listen to at the gym on my Ipod with this book, and this book was light but unfortunately way too light. And, I must admit, the accountant/statistician in me nearly choked when at one point the mean and the average were described as two different calculations. Usually I manage to suppress that side of me when I read chick-lit, but come on!!!
Given the premise--a woman is completing a list of "20 things to do before I am 25" of an acquaintance who dies in...more
Given the premise--a woman is completing a list of "20 things to do before I am 25" of an acquaintance who dies in...more
This book is an insanely fast read, which is good since I read it from start to finish in one sitting. I didn't have any intention of reading this book when I did, but once I had picked it up to read the first sentence out of pure curiosity, I found myself staying up until 2am to find out what happened. The strange mix of sorrow, guilt, lighthearted humor, and hope was very appealing for a summer read.
June Parker, 32 years old, offered a ride to a woman in uncomfortable shoes at her Weight Watch...more
June Parker, 32 years old, offered a ride to a woman in uncomfortable shoes at her Weight Watch...more
I picked this book up at the library on a whim and I'm glad I did, it was a really cute story. The plot is simple - June needs to finish a "list of things to do before I die" list for Marissa, who died in a car wreck they shared. Checking all the items on the list is June's big wake-up call as she faces her guilt, grief, loneliness, and sense of identity.
I think there is something very satisfying about crossing items off lists, and it was fun to read the story to see how each item was eventually...more
I think there is something very satisfying about crossing items off lists, and it was fun to read the story to see how each item was eventually...more
I read this for our book club. We had slogged through "Rebecca", "The Fault in our Stars", and "Jane Eyre" and enjoyed all three but it was time to lighten things up a bit and this book did the trick. It is a very easy fast read but I found myself laughing out loud several times. I woke up in the middle of the night having finished about 3/4ths of the book wondering what would happen next. The characters rang true and were all likable in their own ways. The dialog between the characters was auth...more
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I am the author of the novels Objects of My Affection, The Next Thing on My List and Flip-Flopped. I love calling in to book clubs, so visit my web site if you're reading one of my books and would like me to join in the discussion.
More about Jill Smolinski...
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20 trivia questions
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“People are living too much or too little, and I wondered if anyone out there is living the right amount.”
—
10 people liked it
“How is it that you're such an expert on home pregnancy kits?"
You're asking that question of an Italian stallion like myself? The women call me 'sperm of thunder'. I don't dare stand too close for fear I may impregnate them with just a whiff of my manhood.”
—
7 people liked it
More quotes…
You're asking that question of an Italian stallion like myself? The women call me 'sperm of thunder'. I don't dare stand too close for fear I may impregnate them with just a whiff of my manhood.”
