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The One That I Want

by Allison Winn Scotch (Goodreads Author)

3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 · rating details · 1,609 ratings · 299 reviews

Tilly Farmer is thirty-two years old and has the perfect life she always dreamed of: married to her high school sweetheart, working as a guidance counselor in her hometown, trying for a baby. Perfect.

In fact, on the surface you might never know how tough things used to be. At seventeen, Tilly lost her mother to cancer, her father drowned his grief in alcohol, and she play...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published June 1st 2010 by Crown

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Jan 25, 2011 Cecilia Solis-sublette rated it 2 of 5 stars

Okay, I should have known when the reviews were written by People Magazine and Cosmopolitan that ihs book was bound to be a little "fluffy". Who knew that such literature was possible? Sadly, though, I read the whole darn thing. Why? Because the author was good at creating a realistic character. This book is a Lifetime movie. It's interesting while you're reading; you know you should be doing something more productive but can't help yourself, and then when it's over you think..."Wow, I can't bel...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, disappointing, reviewed, blog_etb, review-copies, challenge-1010

I won this ARC from Crown Publishing's "Read It Forward" program. I requested it thinking that it would be something of a late-bloomer's coming of age story, which I love because as much as I love teen coming of age stories, it seems to me that the ones with adults finding themselves pack a little bit more of a punch and a bit of a deeper meaning. This story both was and wasn't what I'd thought and expected.

Tilly Farmer is stuck in a rut and doesn't even know it. She's 32 and describes her life...more I won this ARC from Crown Publishing's "Read It Forward" program. I requested it thinking that it would be something of a late-bloomer's coming of age story, which I love because as much as I love teen coming of age stories, it seems to me that the ones with adults finding themselves pack a little bit more of a punch and a bit of a deeper meaning. This story both was and wasn't what I'd thought and expected.

Tilly Farmer is stuck in a rut and doesn't even know it. She's 32 and describes her life as "perfect". She's lived in one town all of her life, loved one man all of her life, and her only goals are 1) to have a baby, 2) to stay perfectly happy in the same way as she is now, and 3) to plan prom. Again.

Until Tilly comes into contact with a fortune-teller who gives her the gift of "clarity", and soon afterward Tilly's life starts to fall apart around her.

This "clarity" is my main issue with the book. It's misleading. I felt misled. Tilly has created her own little perfect worldview and refuses to see things as they really are, deluding herself into thinking that the status quo is perfectly fine, and can't understand why others may not like it. She's a guidance counseller who doesn't understand why her students would want to move out and away from what she sees as the perfect town which allows for the perfect life. So I'd expected the "clarity" to give her insight into other people's perceptions and feelings, but instead it was more of a half-hint glimpse of the future that's coming without any context at all. I actually think that this part could have been switched to simple dreams, or a fortune-telling or removed altogether and the story wouldn't have suffered.

I couldn't identify with Tilly, and so I didn't really care what happened to her. I liked the secondary characters a LOT more than I liked her. At least they knew who they were and didn't delude themselves completely. The story didn't feel finished to me. I don't think that Tilly really came full circle and learned who she was. It seemed more to me like she just swapped one perfection-substitute for another.

I won't talk too much about the editing, because this was an uncorrected ARC, but I do want to mention one thing that bugged me - the author's almost melodramatic use of the word "broken" that Tilly uses to describe everything that isn't "perfect". Her friend is depressed because her husband was caught fooling around with his co-worker, she's broken. The townspeople have secrets, they're all broken, and the town's broken. It just seemed ridiculous to me to use that word for such mundane everyday stuff. True, you might feel broken when your life falls apart, but "broken" is so dramatic a word that it should be used sparingly when it fits, not for every little thing that goes wrong.

Anyway... This was an OK read. I think that it could have used a bit more fleshing out and plumping up of the characters, especially the main, but it wasn't bad. (less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: one-of-favorite-authors, awesome-covers

Random find on the mail library display this week. Thought I'd give it a go (I like the cover) and so far so great! Love it!
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I absolutely loved this book. It's a super light fiction story about an early 30ish lady who is content living her small life in her small town and being perfectly satisfied. She goes to a town carnival and runs in to someone from the past who has a fortune telling tent and the lady passes on the gift of 'clarity'. Shortly after, her perfect conte...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

See this review on 1776books.net...
http://1776books.blogspot.com/2010/09...

Allison Winn Scotch is quickly rising the ladder to rival Picoult and Scottoline status. It is no surprise that she writes from the female perspective, with a female protagonist searching for meaning in her life. Her books are heartwarming and, even with the hint of the supernatural as in The One That I Want, very true to life.

This is the story of Tilly, a thirtysomething woman living in the same town she grew up in, havi...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Lydia Laceby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star-must-read

Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes

The One That I Want was an emotionally charged read that kept me up late tearing through the final pages. Funny and insightful, this tale of having all you’ve ever wanted and questioning the path not taken, was full of insights on love, marriage, relationships in all it’s forms and growth that can sometimes tear us apart. Women’s fiction with a deeper emotional tone and a paranormal aspect, this novel was heavier than lighter chick lit fare.

The One That I Want...more

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Aug 15, 2010 Bailey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Interesting premise, I would say. The plot is good, and I really wanted to find out what happened to the motley cast of characters. Tilly, however, was annoying to say the least. Before her dose of 'clarity,' I wanted to tell her to grow up and move on. She couldn't accept change at all. When anyone made the utterly audacious decision to uproot themselves and leave the medium-sized town of Westlake (gasp!), she just could not understand their reasoning. A personal quibble that I had involved Wes...more Interesting premise, I would say. The plot is good, and I really wanted to find out what happened to the motley cast of characters. Tilly, however, was annoying to say the least. Before her dose of 'clarity,' I wanted to tell her to grow up and move on. She couldn't accept change at all. When anyone made the utterly audacious decision to uproot themselves and leave the medium-sized town of Westlake (gasp!), she just could not understand their reasoning. A personal quibble that I had involved Westlake, a town of 81,000. In my opinion, this should not be the tiny 'everybody knows everybody' type town (at least not in my experience). While that size is small and obviuosly is not a city atmosphere, I don't feel like the gossip would be quite as intense as Winn Scotch tried to make it, and I definitely don't think it's the kind of thing where you never leave the house without seeing someone you know. I've lived in a 'small town' of that size for many years have never had those kind of experiences that Tilly comes to loathe. Obviously, this wasn't integral to the outcome of the book, but it bugged me!

I also disliked the sentence structure (many, many, many commas, colons, semi-colons), flow of time (one paragraph it's morning, another evening, another 5 days later), and rapidly used profanity. I can tolerate curse words sparingly; it just naturally comes out in everyday conversation and in thought processes as well. However, Tilly would just go off on these furious rampages, and I just wanted to tell her to chill. Personally, I think an educated character like Tilly should have been able to express her emotions more rationally no matter how angry or outraged she might have been. Since I've only ranted thus far, I should say that the cover is awesome! What an amazing shot. Also, the writing was descriptive and vivid on the whole. For this reason, I'll try another Allison Winn Scotch novel another time.

But overall, I struggled with this one. I kept reading because the premise won me over and had me flipping pages. If you like chick-lit with a magical yet realistic twist, then try The One That I Want. I had lots of personal problems with it, but you all aren't me (whew!) so maybe your experiences will be different!

-Bailey @ windowseatreader.blogspot.com(less)

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Aug 11, 2010 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 14, 2010 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Jul 13, 2010 Girls Gone Reading rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tilly Farmer and I have a lot in common. We are both 32. We both married our high school sweethearts. And we both work in high schools in the towns where we grew up. You would think that all this similarity would breed familiarity, but I found Tilly very difficult to take until the very end of the book. Ironically, I think it was all these similarities that made it harder for me to like her, made me focus on our differences. Tilly, in the beginning, loves prom (I avoid the sponsor for weeks befo...more Tilly Farmer and I have a lot in common. We are both 32. We both married our high school sweethearts. And we both work in high schools in the towns where we grew up. You would think that all this similarity would breed familiarity, but I found Tilly very difficult to take until the very end of the book. Ironically, I think it was all these similarities that made it harder for me to like her, made me focus on our differences. Tilly, in the beginning, loves prom (I avoid the sponsor for weeks before so I don’t have to chaperone), always smiles to fix a problem (anyone who knows me will tell you that I prefer yelling), and thinks her boy-man husband is adorable when he falls asleep watching another baseball game (um…I don’t even know how to answer this!).

So as the novel begins, Tilly is “blind” in more ways than one. The fact that it took her two hundred pages to recognize that her husband was a poor spouse was aggravating. The way that she makes excuses for her alcoholic father was not helpful. And the way Tilly spent so much of the book telling me everything was perfect made me want to scream. She ignored the issues in her life for too long in the novel for me to truly love it. And it was this slow beginning that made her ultimate discovery-which came very quickly in the end-lose its punch.

The shining spots of this work came in the end. When Tilly finally finds clarity, she is inspirational. She relaxes and lets the other people in her life handle their own problems. She learns to let go, and that her students, her siblings, and her spouse are able to think without her constant guidance and cliched advice. Tilly almost won me back in these last wonderful fifty pages. She further reminded me of our similarities, when she realizes what she has given up for her family. “I abandoned it: for Darcy, for my family, for my father. I lost myself for them, which we all have to do every once in a while but probably shouldn’t do forever.” What mother, wife, teacher hasn’t sacrificed a lot for their family only to occasionally want it back?

Scotch shows she is a good writer in lines like the ones above, but it was too little, too late to win me back entirely. This is the first time that I have ever read her work, and I would like to read Time of My Life-her first novel. Allison’s blog, Ask Allison, is always witty and insightful, and although I never comment I always wish I would. The One that I Want is an interesting idea, but I hope that Scotch’s other works cuts to the chase a little faster, and that maybe the characters don’t have lives so close to mine!(less)

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Jun 27, 2010 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Clarity.

Isn’t it something we’ve all wished for at some point in our lives? Clarity in regard to a decision we must make, a choice we’ve already made, or perhaps something else entirely – that insight we crave, the answers to the questions we may not have even realized we had. In a way, it’s a monumental theme that can tie everyone together, that common thread that can be interwoven between people, even when the idea of clarity means something unique for each person. It’s also one of the main me...more Clarity.

Isn’t it something we’ve all wished for at some point in our lives? Clarity in regard to a decision we must make, a choice we’ve already made, or perhaps something else entirely – that insight we crave, the answers to the questions we may not have even realized we had. In a way, it’s a monumental theme that can tie everyone together, that common thread that can be interwoven between people, even when the idea of clarity means something unique for each person. It’s also one of the main messages in Allison’s new book The One That I Want, which I absolutely loved.

Allison has an incredible propensity for crafting novels that not only pull you into the story, but also make you relate it to your own life, sometimes without even thinking twice. I would be reading a scene in TOTIW, entirely absorbed by the characters’ world, when I’d suddenly find myself thinking about how a choice Tilly made could apply to one I have – or haven’t – made myself. And it’s not just Tilly who’s so relatable. It’s all of the characters. They’re human, they’re real, they’re images of who we are as people. And, the mark of a truly talented author, it’s easy to relate to parts of almost every character. That’s one of the things that intrigued me the most about this novel. The characters paint a picture that goes all the way across the spectrum. Many of them are different in important ways, yet I found myself both understanding and relating to so many of them.

There’s Tilly, the small town girl who let some of her big dreams fall by the wayside. There’s her husband Tyler, who has done the same … until now. There’s her sister Darcy, who learns that sometimes those big dreams, the ones you thought were going to take you to new places, end up bringing you right back where you belong. There’s her advisee CJ, a high school senior whose perspective is imbued with hope and light. That’s just a sampling of the diverse characters who Allison portrays with such ease. She has the ability to make us understand her characters’ motivations, even when we don’t agree with their decisions. And, as always, her book tells a story that resonates long after the final page is read. The ideas remain, the implications for our own lives resound in our minds as we consider not only the characters’ journeys, but also our own.(less)

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Jun 25, 2010 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Plot synopsis: Tilly Farmer is a blah sort of woman, who find solace in her daily activities, which include planning prom at the local high school where she is employed as a guidance counselor. Then, randomly, she is reunited with an old friend at the local fair. The old friend, Ashley, who is posing as a fortune teller, forcibly imposes an odd ritual on Tilly which appears to mainly consist of pressing vegetable roots into Tilly's palms. Suddenly and miraculously, Tilly is able to see into the...more Plot synopsis: Tilly Farmer is a blah sort of woman, who find solace in her daily activities, which include planning prom at the local high school where she is employed as a guidance counselor. Then, randomly, she is reunited with an old friend at the local fair. The old friend, Ashley, who is posing as a fortune teller, forcibly imposes an odd ritual on Tilly which appears to mainly consist of pressing vegetable roots into Tilly's palms. Suddenly and miraculously, Tilly is able to see into the future. However, her visions are mere teases at the real issues which lie in the immediate future... these include: her husband leaving her for a coaching gig in vaguely accessible Seattle, Tilly's crush on an art teacher at the school where Tilly works, and a near-death experience for Tilly's crazy younger sister. In the end, Tilly finds peace with herself and accepts the "gift" which Ashley has bestowed upon her, the gift of "clarity." She concludes that leaving her husband is beneficial and embarks upon a new life. She quits her job as guidance counselor and applies to graduate school for photography.

My take- the book was a real page-turner; in fact, I finished it on a flight from Houston to Charlotte. (3 hours) However, it lacked originality. I like the general message, which is, essentially, don't look for a man and a secure job to make you happy. Rather, listen to yourself, follow your dreams, blah blah. Good point. HOWEVER- was there not a slightly more original way to say this? Also, I have a problem with books that are fluidly fantasy/reality. Especially this one, which was mostly firmly grounded in reality, except when Tilly would convulse and experience her "visions." I think that if the author is trying to be visceral, she would be more successful by either making the novel entirely reality based, or making it a bit less realistic, if that makes any sense.

I guess maybe, in the long run, I was just hoping that the message the author is trying to convey could be done in a creative and inspiring way, rather than being very, very chick lit.(less)

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Jun 06, 2010 Bookworm rated it 3 of 5 stars

In The One That I Want , Tilly Farmer is a married 32 year old guidance counselor, working for the same high school she graduated from. She is married to Tyler, her high school sweetheart, and the two are now trying to have a baby. They both live in the town they grew up in. One afternoon Tilly goes to the town carnival and decides to see the fortune teller, who happens to be one of her old classmates. The fortune teller gives Tilly the 'gift of clarity' and sends her on her way.

Tilly's life is...more In The One That I Want , Tilly Farmer is a married 32 year old guidance counselor, working for the same high school she graduated from. She is married to Tyler, her high school sweetheart, and the two are now trying to have a baby. They both live in the town they grew up in. One afternoon Tilly goes to the town carnival and decides to see the fortune teller, who happens to be one of her old classmates. The fortune teller gives Tilly the 'gift of clarity' and sends her on her way.

Tilly's life is far from perfect. Her mother died to cancer when she was 16, leaving her 2 sisters, her father and herself heartbroken. Tilly managed to cope, but her father succumbed to alcoholism and her younger sister still resents him for it. Now that Tilly has seen the fortune teller, she suddenly has strange episodes where she has visions of the future. When she 'sees' her father getting into his car drunk, then receives the phone call from the police station telling her he is being held for DWI, she begins to wonder how powerful this 'gift of clarity' really is.

Before she knows it, Tilly begins to have other visions of the future, including one where she sees her husband packing his belongings and leaving town. Tilly begins to realize that things aren't what she thought they once were.

I both liked and disliked The One That I Want . The storyline was interesting and I enjoyed the magical realism aspect of it, but for some reason I just could not connect with Tilly's character. She wasn't annoying or anything, I just didn't feel any type of connection to her.
I hate to sound nitpicky, but one thing that bothered me was the language in the story, at times it felt uncalled for and distracting. Don't get me wrong, I'm the first one to drop the 'F' bomb in conversation, but in this story it just distracted me a bit. It felt like it was overdone in some of the conversations. I know Tilly was mad with the situation, but I'd rather have seen her less on the defense.

Like I said, the storyline was interesting. I did enjoy the friendship Tilly has with her best friend Susanna. I liked how the two support each other through thick and thin. There's a scene where Tilly and a few of the girls get together for Susanna's birthday. They have dinner and drink wine and just vent, that felt realistic and I always enjoy female friendships in stories.
There is a plot twist and the end that I thought was good also. All in all, this was an okay read for me. I do recommend it, others might love it. Though I didn't particularly love this book, I would definitely read Allison Winn Scotch again.

read my full review here
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/201...(less)

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May 31, 2010 Liz Fenton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tilly Farmer thought she had it all. Married to her high school sweetheart and trying for a baby, it seemed like life couldn’t be any more perfect. But when a chance encounter with a childhood friend gives her the “gift” of being able to see into the future, her life comes crumbling apart when these visions start to come true. Soon her recovering alcoholic father starts drinking again and her marriage starts coming apart at the seems. Tilly’s always been the one that takes care of everybody else...more

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May 31, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

From My Blog....

Well-written and beautifully descriptive, The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scott is a novel about happiness, a simple word, yet difficult to obtain. I struggled in the beginning thinking I was about to read another clichéd (a baby will make Tilly's good life perfect), and at times unrealistic (the friend turned psychic), novel. Thankfully my earliest judgments were proven entirely incorrect. Yes Tilly does gain insight, rather the gift of clarity, from her classmate Ashley Sim...more

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Jun 18, 2010 Danielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, for-review

What do you do when suddenly your perfect life is turned completely upside down? When everything you once treasured and cherished is swept away from before your eyes. This is what Tilly finds after a quick visit with an old friend, who's now turned to a life of fortune telling, gifts her an incredible ability to see the future. The friends, the love, the town, her job, it all suddenly lacks the luster of years past and she's left wondering if it's her who's changing or if it's always been this w...more What do you do when suddenly your perfect life is turned completely upside down? When everything you once treasured and cherished is swept away from before your eyes. This is what Tilly finds after a quick visit with an old friend, who's now turned to a life of fortune telling, gifts her an incredible ability to see the future. The friends, the love, the town, her job, it all suddenly lacks the luster of years past and she's left wondering if it's her who's changing or if it's always been this way.

We all come to realizations in our lives, some sooner and others later in life. Unfortunately for Tilly it came at a point when she was finally settling into things, feeling like life was progressing happily and with very few bumps in the road. Yes, her best friends were separating and having their own marital problems, but her own marriage was going wonderfully. Tilly was walking around with "blinders" on so-to-speak. Her husband was upset with their current situation, her father was suffering a relapse of alcoholism and there were a number of other problems including her lack of ability to get pregnant. All of these things (and more) finally contribute to her slow descent into a more realistic outlook on life, something I'm not entirely sold on.

After reading this I've realized that I'm possibly more optimistic than I had previously thought. Granted, I've traveled, lived quite a bit of life before marrying and having my own family, but I'm not one hundred percent positive that those are things you absolutely need to have to be happy in life. I definitely think it's possible to enjoy a happy life all while staying in the same town and enjoying the same company year in and year out. But what I think Allison Winn Scotch was trying to get at in this book was more the importance of living with our eyes wide open to the things around us and not taking what we have, be it there in front of us or just opportunities, for granted.

Throughout the course of the story Tilly discovers that maybe there was more she wanted than the same "high school" experience lived year after year. She got so caught up in taking care of everyone around her that it was difficult to think it was even possible to put herself first. That there would ever be the opportunity for herself to pursue something as simple as a trip to Paris or a college degree in something she truly loved. She suddenly has the "clarity" to see the possibilities that have always laid before her.

The One That I Want is a book about choices. About choosing to live life or allowing it to be lived for us. To allow the choices of others affect us to the point that we lose our own ability to live. Allison Winn Scotch has put to paper the story of a girl who's life is wide open before her, just like us all, no matter our current situation. Life is meant to be lived, no matter where you are or how you do it, but it's important to be honest with yourself about your choices. And never forget the possibilities.
(less)

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Aug 19, 2010 Alex Mili rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a fluffy read, but I’m glad I read it. Based on the book jacket’s description, I was expecting the melodrama and depth of Anna Quinlin. Winn Scotch is not Quinlin, but she wants to be and she has the potential to be.

My critique of this book is that it isn’t sure if it wants to be melodramatic or philosophical or a combination of both. The melodrama unfolds as the protagonist has a “life crisis” (not quite a mid-life crisis because she’s too young, but not a post-adolescent or quarter-lif...more This is a fluffy read, but I’m glad I read it. Based on the book jacket’s description, I was expecting the melodrama and depth of Anna Quinlin. Winn Scotch is not Quinlin, but she wants to be and she has the potential to be.

My critique of this book is that it isn’t sure if it wants to be melodramatic or philosophical or a combination of both. The melodrama unfolds as the protagonist has a “life crisis” (not quite a mid-life crisis because she’s too young, but not a post-adolescent or quarter-life crisis because she’s too old). Her life crisis is that she desperately wants a baby, slowly realizes that her marriage is falling apart, remains in perpetual mourning of her mother who died young, nurses her alcoholic father back to sobriety, and tries to maintain family harmony despite an antagonistic sibling.

The melodramatic “life crisis” is the springboard for the philosophical (existentialist) question of whether to abandon one’s life and identity for something more. That’s where the title comes in. Do you live the life you have, or the life you want? Perhaps you learn to want (appreciate) the life you have, while accepting the baggage that is indispensable to your identity and existence in that life.

(TANGENT ALERT: The title prompts a brief digression from the philosophical aspect of this novel. The title is also an indulgence in Winn Scotch’s apparent obsession with the musical Grease - - “You’re the one that I want, oooh, oooh, oooh!”. The protagonist is a high school guidance counselor who is in charge of the school’s production of Grease. END OF TANGENT)

Although the “life crises” are sustained throughout the novel, the melodrama is too amateurish. There is no building of anticipation of the key melodramatic events. They just happen. The flat melodrama leaves no choice but for Winn Scotch to simply tell us her answer to the philosophical question she poses (her answer is that you need to want, accept and appreciate the life you have).

Despite these critiques, I still recommend this book because the characters are so carefully chosen. It is fitting that the protagonist is a guidance counselor who is going through the life crisis, wondering whether she wants this life or another. She mentors young people at the pivotal stage in life where they’re making decisions that will change the course of their lives (whether to stay local or leave your hometown to go to college elsewhere). Her husband is an ex-jock (a personification of every lyric of Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days) who wants to move away to coach young athletes. He wants to relive the glory days of his past life, but he wants to leave his hometown that has the manacles of his current life. The expository backgrounds of these characters are perfect for a novel that poses the question of whether to accept one’s lot in life. These characters are interesting enough to make me want to read more of Winn Scotch in the future, with hopes that she’ll overcome her weaknesses at crafting melodrama. (less)

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Jun 09, 2010 Staci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tlc-tour, 2010-reads

My Thoughts:
This is my first experience with Allison Winn Scotch, but it won't be my last. I love her writing and absolutely fell in love with this book. Tilly is a character that I could totally relate to, she like myself is the oldest. We're the ones that keep it together. The ones that get excellent grades, play sports, and still find time to hold down a job. And we're the ones that shoulder the responsibility even though no one asked us to. When Tilly's world falls apart after the death of h...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: women-s-fiction, read-in-2010, sent-for-review

Allison Winn Scotch’s The One That I Want is all about those dreams deferred — the hopes we have for ourselves when we’re still fresh and young, and then the quiet lives we eventually settle for. Some of the time. Beyond that, it’s the story of a family — a wounded family — and how they must come together, get angry and really talk before things can get better.

What I liked about the story was our anchor, Tilly, a woman who fills her days heading up the prom committee and choosing the school musi...more Allison Winn Scotch’s The One That I Want is all about those dreams deferred — the hopes we have for ourselves when we’re still fresh and young, and then the quiet lives we eventually settle for. Some of the time. Beyond that, it’s the story of a family — a wounded family — and how they must come together, get angry and really talk before things can get better.

What I liked about the story was our anchor, Tilly, a woman who fills her days heading up the prom committee and choosing the school musical — "Grease!" — because she’s unable to put the past behind her. Aware that her marriage is far from sizzling, it’s still impossible to compute that Tyler, a man she’s loved since she was sixteen, is now just a bump on the couch in front of ESPN. Fixing others’ problems seems to be better than confronting her own — until she has no choice but to acknowledge them. With Ashley’s gift of “clarity,” Tilly finally grows a backbone.

The dynamics between the three Everett sisters really made the novel for me, illuminating how complicated and awesome it is to be a sibling. And while The One That I Want has a touch of that magical realism we usually see in books by Sarah Addison Allen, I didn’t question Tilly’s new abilities. Within the context of the story, they definitely worked, adding a new dimension to a familiar plot. I found the characters and dialogue realistic and could relate to each of them in turn. While it irked me how much the girls maligned their father, especially rebellious Darcy, I couldn’t blame them for their mistrust.

I read the book quickly and enjoyed watching the burgeoning relationships, but the destruction of others was difficult to experience. Scotch did a remarkable job of documenting breakdowns in a realistic fashion, but it felt a bit like watching a trainwreck. Maybe that was the point. Regardless, my stomach was knotted on more than one occasion — and that took my enjoyment level down a notch.

For fans of family dynamics, women’s fiction and contemporary dramas, The One That I Want would make a fine addition to your to-be-read stack. Just be prepared for a few twists and a little sadness before the sunshine, too.(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Marie desJardins rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: couldn-t-finish

I admit I haven't yet finished this book, and I promise that if and when I do finish, if my opinion has changed, I'll update the review. But 50 pages in, I'm pretty sure I won't change my mind.Tilly is an annoying, self-absorbed, stuck-in-the-past, still-organizing-her-high-school's-prom-as-a-guidance-counselor caricature of a can't-grow-up person. Then an old friend who has become some kind of psychic magics her somehow, with the Gift of Clarity, and then she starts to resent the things she's d...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

What do you get when you add a smidge of substance to some good ol' chick-lit fluff? The One That I Want. It's an easy, breezy beach read that also makes you think for a minute or two. You have to give credit to Scotch for striving to give us more than just the average girly-girl fare.

Still, I was a bit annoyed with one of the basic tenets of the plot. The main character, Tilly, is given the "gift of clarity" by a fortune-telling former friend, and soon after begins experiencing future events ev...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Mire Ajeti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-2011-advisory-books

Tilly Farmer has the perfect life, the life she always wanted, or at least she thinks so. The life she deserves after so much sadness and having to grow up too fast as the family caretaker and surrogate mother. Most people would want high school to end fast, but no Tilly Farmer. She lives in the same town all her life and is the guidance counselor of her old high school. As her life is going uphill, like having her husband wanting a baby, planning the perfect prom theme for school and putting th...more

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Jun 29, 2010 Kirsten rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a strange book. I wanted to like it, and it really grabbed me in the beginning, but the writing got to me after a while - many strange similes and metaphors and occasionally a really poor word choice (that word, I do not think it means what you think it does). The protagonist seems to blame a mystical event at the hands of a pseudo-fortune teller for all her troubles, and yet it is not a catalyst at all: it merely lets her see the truth of what's already going on around her. Also, it was...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Jodie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Well if you are looking for a light, easy and fun read with a little bit of reality in it this book will satisfy you. If is definite chick lit, but I did find it to be better than most. The writing is okay, the characters are certainly well done, I did feel a connection with them. Set in small town America with the requisite proms, high school musical, cheerleaders, baseball team and blokes who still think they are gods in their 30's and beyond because they hit the home run in high school.

The m...more

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Jun 04, 2010 Nely rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, own

Tilly Farmer is living the perfect life.... She's married to her high school sweetheart, Tyler, her best friend is not only her oldest friend but also her co-worker, she lives in the same town that she grew up in with her immediate family living close by and she and Tyler have finally reached an agreement that it is time to make a baby. Life can't get any better.

One afternoon during a school festival Tilly wanders into a booth to find her old middle school friend, Ashley, who is now a fortune te...more Tilly Farmer is living the perfect life.... She's married to her high school sweetheart, Tyler, her best friend is not only her oldest friend but also her co-worker, she lives in the same town that she grew up in with her immediate family living close by and she and Tyler have finally reached an agreement that it is time to make a baby. Life can't get any better.

One afternoon during a school festival Tilly wanders into a booth to find her old middle school friend, Ashley, who is now a fortune teller. After a quick recap from Tilly as to how perfect her life has turned out since they were friends, Ashley tells her that she is going to give her the gift of clarity.

Now by clarity, Tilly never expected that she would start seeing future events. And these events are not what she expected nor does it seem can she do anything to change them. As her perfect world slowly starts to crumble she must find a way of understanding her deeper feelings and can't help but find herself questioning why the foundation to such a perfect life came undone so easily.

Wow! Allison Winn Scotch has yet again made me fall in love with another one of her books. Not only does she create a variety of likeable and relateable characters, but you find yourself caring for them and even holding your breath to see how the turn of events will play out. You not only care for Tilly, but for her sisters Luanne and Darcy, her best friend Susanna and even for her old friend Ashley not to mention some of the residents of the town of Westlake. Women of all ages will be able to relate to one aspect of this novel or another. Although it is considered to be chick-lit, I would not say it is a light read without depth. This will definitely appeal to readers who have questioned the "what if"... what if we had we chosen a different path in life. Tilly is faced with many tough questions regarding her life choices and you will find that you cannot help asking yourself some of those same questions - very thought-provoking.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this and really didn't want it to end. Highly recommended.(less)

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Feb 24, 2010 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this book. I love Allison Winn Scotch and her books just keep getting better and better. In her new book, Tilly, a guidance counselor, is suddenly given the gift of clarity. By looking at photos, she gets visions that allow her to see into the future. The only problem is the future doesn't look that rosy. Why is her husband attempting to move them across the country and why is the life that she once believed to be perfect, suddenly in upheaval. A...more

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Aug 13, 2010 AZLB rated it 3 of 5 stars

I got this book from the Read it Forward program...what a great way to find new authors.

The story is about a woman, Tilly, who lives in the small town she grew up in and loves holding on to the memories of high school. She finds this as happiness, at least she thinks so. She is the person in the family who takes care of it all and shoulders most of the burden of family issues. There is at least a couple facets of the main character that any mother/wife/sister could relate too.

Tilly then receive...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Desire May rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good book...parts of it were hard to read because the emotions were so real and raw. Sometimes looking at life as the glass is always half-full can be a coping mechanism as well, it lets the person ignore the signs that are right in front of them. I could really empathize with Tilly and the anger and betrayal she felt after her husband decides the life they built is not the one he wants and tells her this via email, after failing to return from the guys annual fishing trip. I give Tilly credit f...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Linda Bouley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-relationships

This was an interesting character study of the aftermath of the tragic death of a young mother. It spans the days as she lingered dying and the paths of her husband and two daughters as they try to carry on without her. There is a complacency on the part of Tilly because she burden's herself with caring for the other two, an anger on Darcy's part as she holds a deep secret and the husband takes to drinking himself into a stupor every night. It takes years and Tilly's husband leaving her for the...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tilly is 32, and trying for a baby with her beloved husband, while working at a great job and living in the town she grew up in. It's a wonderful life, except it isn't. A fortune teller at the school fair - who is a former friend of Tilly's - gives her a gift, the gift of clarity. And suddenly Tilly is having "flash-forwards" to events that haven't happened yet, but are not things that figure in her perfecdt life.

Chick lit, or hen lit, call it what you will, this is a woman's novel about growing...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 07, 2010 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Who remains in one's hometown after high school graduation vs. who gets out of Dodge is a question that has gained more attention in the past 25 years in conversation (judgmental ones, of course) and literature. Who stays vs. who leaves may be of little importance because some understand the pragmatics behind the decision, or the lack of choice borne of missed opportunities, education etc. This novel plays skillfully with this idea, capturing the dreams of high school seniors through the eyes of...more

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About Allison Winn Scotch

I'm the author of a bunch of novels, including The Song Remains the Same (April, 2012) and Time of My Life.

As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I'll only post about books I've enjoyed. (Just in case you're wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)

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Quotes from The One That I Want

“There is the before. And then there is the after. Happiness is what you choose, what you follow, not what follows you. These are the things I have seen, these are the things I now know, these are the things I will carry with me as I go.” — 4 people liked it

“I might have felt broken, but at the end of it all, I didn't allow myself to break.” — 3 people liked it

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