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The Bikini Car Wash

by Pamela Morsi (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 192 ratings · 46 reviews

After Andrea Wolkowicz abandons corporate life to help care for her sister, she quickly wears out the want ads in their rust-belt hometown. Time to be her own boss.Every mogul knows the best idea is an old idea with a new twist. So Andi proudly revives her father's business: an old-fashioned car wash…staffed entirely by bikini-clad women. That ought to get traffic—and bloo...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published July 1st 2010 by Mira (first published June 22nd 2010)

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Sep 01, 2010 Angie rated it 2 of 5 stars

A couple of Tell Me What to Reads ago, one of you lovely people recommended I give Pamela Morsi's THE BIKINI CAR WASH a shot. It wasn't selected that go-round, but the title (surprise, surprise) stuck in my head and I would find myself thinking of it and grinning at random times here and there. So when I noticed it was available on NetGalley, I went ahead and downloaded it to DH's Kindle to have on hand on our trip to D.C. earlier this month. And, yes, I appreciate the irony that I read and revi...more A couple of Tell Me What to Reads ago, one of you lovely people recommended I give Pamela Morsi's THE BIKINI CAR WASH a shot. It wasn't selected that go-round, but the title (surprise, surprise) stuck in my head and I would find myself thinking of it and grinning at random times here and there. So when I noticed it was available on NetGalley, I went ahead and downloaded it to DH's Kindle to have on hand on our trip to D.C. earlier this month. And, yes, I appreciate the irony that I read and reviewed this one that wasn't chosen before the book that was actually selected for Tell Me What to Read this month. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we promise to read... But I needed something different from what I'd been reading to sort of help me out of the world of the previous book, so to speak, and this contemporary women's fiction seemed like it might do the trick. I have never read anything by Morsi before and the only thing I knew going into this one was that it featured a former high powered businesswoman who, when she winds up back home in the small town where everyone knows her name, somehow opens up a rather unique car wash.

Andrea Wolkowicz is uncomfortable, confused, and in need of a job. Chafing at the ties that bind her to the small town of Plainview, she's walked out one too many job interviews knowing she wouldn't get the job because she was hideously overqualified. With an aging father and a developmentally challenged twin sister to look after, Andrea doesn't give herself much time to grieve over her mother's death. Determined to throw herself wholeheartedly at the task at hand until it conforms to a shape more to her liking, she goes down to clean out her father's old car wash business and has an idea. Along with a couple of other down-on-their-luck women in town, Andrea puts her considerable inhibitions aside and decides to open up Plainview's first Bikini Car Wash. That is what they'll call it and the name, well, it pretty well sums up exactly what the paying customers will get. Three women washing and detailing their cars while clad only in bikinis. It's a runaway hit and Andy begins to think about breathing normally again. Then popular boy turned family grocery store owner and operator Pete Guthrie stops in to say hi and things spiral downward from there. The city council is soon inundated by complaints from horrified citizens and Pete's dad's a prominent member of the council. Meanwhile, her dad's acting suspicious. Her sister's becoming more unmanageable. And Andy herself is engaging in what can only be termed a tryst with the town golden boy. What seemed like such a good idea has turned into a particularly messy can of worms and Andy's not sure she'll ever get the lid back on.

This is a very quick and easy read and I admit I thought the premise was hilarious. It promised light, pleasant fare when I needed it most. And I liked it all right. It just never crossed over into holding my attention and keeping it. Andy and Pete were cute, both fairly innocent and likable types who certainly deserved to find each other. But they never won me over. The townspeople and family members were plainly predictable and I just never cared about any of them enough to really invest enough of myself in the story to meet it in the middle, if you know what I mean. Most of the subplots felt cheesy and distracting more than anything else. The strongest aspect of the story--for me--was the burgeoning relationship between the three women who run the car wash itself. A waitress on the outs with her husband, a former grocery store employee/train wreck waiting to happen, and practical, reserved Andy. The three of them had literally one and only one thing in common, but found friendship working together in an environment they would normally find unthinkable. That was the real strength of the story and so naturally I wanted more from them and less of everything else. I believe a more in-depth exploration of that facet of the novel would have ensured my undivided attention. That said, I didn't bail but read it through to the end. Then I put it down knowing I wouldn't think about it again. Which proved to be the case. If you're in the mood for something along these lines but appreciate sophisticated writing and genuine charm and depth in your characters, give Sarah Addison Allen or Julie James a shot.(less)

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Jul 13, 2010 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Andrea “Andi” Wolkowicz left the big city and her corporate job for the simple life in Plainview to care for her sister, Angela “Jelly” and her father. Andi knows she needs to get a job to help support her family.

Pete Guthie is the owner of Guthie Foods, local supermarket. When Pete first comes in contact with Andi, things don’t go smoothly.

Andi comes up with the perfect idea to reopen her father’s old car wash business. This car wash will have a twist. Hence…Plainview Bikini Wash and Wax. Thi...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Leigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Andi Wolkowicz hasn't been able to find work in her hometown. She left her career to move back and help her Dad take care of her mentally handicap twin sister after her Mother died.

Down to her two dollar diet (she limits herself to just carrying $2.00 in her purse for bus fare) she finds out that her Dad still owns the local car wash. A simple comment by her Dad about the benefits of being your own boss, gives Andi the idea of opening a new business.
When that idea is rejected by the city couns...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Ally! rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Feb 14, 2013 Mary Cain rated it 3 of 5 stars

From the cover and the title, I expected more fun from this story. It was a good book, with some great characters, but it's pretty tame. If you're looking for steamy, this is definitely not it. I didn't feel the connection between the Andi and Pete. I didn't really get why Andi was attracted to Pete in the first place. He has a weakness for Mallomars, and he's depicted in the beginning as a chubby, middle-aged guy running a grocery store. But then all of the sudden, Andi's seeing him as the "hig...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Tonya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads

An eye full and the perfect end of the summer beach read!!! The Bikini Car Wash isn't what it really seems. I know some people will think, a bikini car wash? I don't want to read that! However, it goes beyond that. It is about fighting for something you want and believe in; finding out who you really are and love. I always love a good love story. Who doesn't? Pamela Morsi outdid herself with this one though!

I was stumped at first wondering what Pop was up to, sneaking around like that. I had my...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Bayareabookaholic rated it 3 of 5 stars

An amusing romance. Andi has returned home from Chicago (ditched a Great job)in the wake of Mom's sudden death to help Pops with her sister Jelly who suffered brain damage at birth.
Pops is an equanimous guy,takes it all in stride. Andi is looking for work and none is to be had in tiny town where they live. Taking desperate measures, she reopens Pop's car wish, with a twist- three women in bathing suits are washing the cars. Lots of controversy for tiny town.
Lots of internal drama, amid the bro...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this book! I am a big fan of Pamela Morsi's books, but I have only read her historical romances. Each of the characters were so well drawn that they seemed so real. I especially loved the character of Jelly, the mentally challenged twin sister. She was such a sweet, lovable character. I would consider this book more fiction than romance. I read this so quickly; I couldn't put this down. I found the storyline and the characters compelling. I will definitely look to read more of Pam...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Rowena rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've never read anything by Pamela Morsi before but I remember reading a review of this book (where I can't remember now) and thinking, "Hmm, that sounds like something I'd want to read" so I put it on my list (that ever growing books I want to read list) and when I saw it on NetGalley, I just had to get it.

I'm so glad that I did because this book was such a treat. I will say that it took me a few days to really get into the story but once I got a feel for the characters, it was easy to jump rig...more I've never read anything by Pamela Morsi before but I remember reading a review of this book (where I can't remember now) and thinking, "Hmm, that sounds like something I'd want to read" so I put it on my list (that ever growing books I want to read list) and when I saw it on NetGalley, I just had to get it.

I'm so glad that I did because this book was such a treat. I will say that it took me a few days to really get into the story but once I got a feel for the characters, it was easy to jump right in. Andie is back in Plainview after having lived in Chicago and made a name for herself at work. Her mother died and she has come back home to help him take care of her twin sister, Angela aka Jelly. Jelly is disabled and needs to be babysat and Andie wanted to be around to help out.

Only, she wasn't really around because when she gets there, I saw Walt with Jelly all of the time or Jelly was by herself some of the time. Andie was always at the car wash cleaning it or getting it ready to open up. But whatever rocks her socks. When we first meet Andie, it was hard to like her because she was such a b word to Pete. Yeah, I understood that she was a nerd in high school and Pete was the popular guy who hung out with the guys that tormented her and called her names but instead of taking the high road and showing him that she has risen above those idiots from high school, she becomes this raging beast who snaps at Pete every chance she got and it got to be too much at times.

Pete on the other hand, I absolutely loved. Right from the jump when we find out that he's not the same hard muscled hottie from high school but a guy who's still hot just not in shape. He eats Mallomars and he runs the family grocery store now. He was this normal guy who wasn't a saint and who wasn't a bad boy but someone that I could actually see myself knowing in real life and I ate it up. It was a nice change of scene from the typical heroes from our books.

The most interesting part of this book was Jelly and how the Dad thought she was his shining accomplishment. Jelly is disabled and I loved how patient he was with her and how evident his love for her was. It was the cutest thing. I adored Walt and wanted him to get his happy ending as well.

My favorite line of the book?

"It was everything Andi could have ever hoped for. Until the cops showed up."

LOL.

The romance between Pete and Andi was cute. I adored how easy it was between them. Pete wants more from their one night stand and though Andi is hesitant, she can't help but want to keep having sex with him so their relationship just sort of grows until it blossoms into a love that surprises them both.

Things I didn't like? Pete's Dad, Andi's reaction to Walt's announcement but those parts of the story didn't ruin the book for me. I loved how Pete continually stood up to his father and I loved watching Tiff and Cheryl come into their own with the issues that they faced throughout the story, they were a good addition to an entertaining story.

Overall, this book was cute. I'm so glad that I read it and I will definitely be reading more from Pamela Morsi in the future. The characters were warm, charming and totally engaging. The story flowed extremely well and I was glad to have read it. It was a good time of a read.(less)

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Nov 27, 2010 Ty rated it 4 of 5 stars

The characters were great. The storyline was realistic and the sub characters had lots of personality. The book was realistic. I also liked that you could see it happening today at the closed down carwash in every town next to the small grocery store that is struggling in today economy. It was fun to imagine the old lady upset and picketing. It was more of a book then I was expecting. I even liked the twin sister and related to the difficult relationship that has always been connected with the s...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Zee Monodee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance

Took me a little while to get into this one - the opening point-of-view is a tad jarring, until you realize who's who (and this can take a few pages...) and everything starts to fall into place.

So don't give up on this one if nothing is making much sense in the first chapter. Give yourself time to adjust, and if needs be, re-read the start and chapter 1 until everything settles into your mind.

Then sit back and enjoy a lovely little treat!

I love books that take place in small towns and tight-knit...more

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Sep 10, 2010 Janga rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a huge Pam Morsi fan. While I like some of her books better than others, I always close a PM book glad that I read it and feeling enriched as a reader and enlightened as a writer. This holds true for her older historicals and for her recent romance/women's fiction hybrids. Both Last Dance at the Jitterbug Lounge and Red's Hot Honky-Tonk Bar were among my top reads for their year of publication. This one may not quite reach that level, but there were many things I loved about this book.

Firs...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

The blurb for this book paints a picture of a light-hearted chick-lit book, but the book is surprisingly less amusing than expected. Though there were many strong elements of the book, ultimately the lackluster romance undermined the story, and i just never felt a real connection with Andi or Pete. They seemingly ended up together because neither had a better option in their small town which doesn't make for riveting fiction. Not a bad summer read but not as captivating as I had hoped. 3.5 stars...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Gail rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, womens-fiction, romance, library-book

This is a cute, cute book. I've always liked Pam Morsi's writing, back when she was doing historical romances, and now when she's changed to contemporary women's fiction. In this one, the heroine has moved back home from the Big City after her mother's death to help her dad take care of her mentally disabled sister. She applies for, but doesn't get a marketing job with the local grocery store, run by a guy she had a crush on back in high school--one who never looked twice at her. He's at odds wi...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

If I hadn't read the "Lovesick Cure" and already decided to read more Pamela Morsi, this one would have done it. A really good upbeat book with life lessons twisted into it.
Favorite quote "People had a right to their expectations. But they didn't have a right to insist that other people live up to them."

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Jul 26, 2012 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Bikini Car Wash was quick read. Definitely a lighter book. I enjoyed the book, and appreciated the view of Jelly. This put a different spin on the book and made it better than some of the chick lit I have read in the past. This is a feel good book and ends well.

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Nov 13, 2012 Rachel711 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 7th-grade

I personally love this book. It shows how people in the world can be sufficient and come up with ideas to wow the crowd and to help them out. Andi has to help her father with her special needs sister. While two other women out of work join with her and help her out. This show the world and how it is full with opportunities.

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Jul 21, 2010 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, contemporary

Juxtaposition between morals and making a living, loving your work, and what community means...some great themes handled in a very smooth "show vs tell" way. And the sex, while frequent, is kept under the covers, which I appreciate.

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Jun 13, 2011 Tressa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I admit that I started reading with trepidation as I love Morsi's historical romances. But, I shouldn't have doubted as I really loved the characters. Morsi retained the small-town feel and the book felt comfortable.

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Jul 19, 2010 Becky Albritton rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this one. It was a good story with real life situations. Granted sometimes Pop was a little too nice but overall the characters were interesting and had some depth to them. It's a fun summer read I would definitely recommend it!

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Mar 26, 2013 Fedora rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable read about a woman returning to her family in a small town. The main characters are very likeable and this is a "happy sighs" story all around :)

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Jan 02, 2011 Diane Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

I look forward to reading other books by this author. This book is not what you might think from the title.....should be a 3 1/2 star book!

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Nov 30, 2011 Kara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Meh. There was nothing nuanced or thoughtful about this book. It just was. OK for a long weekend read, but nothing I'd spend money on.

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Jan 09, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute plot. Left a couple of subtle loose ends. My favorite of the Morsi novels so far, but she isn't my favorite author.

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Sep 03, 2010 Ann (Noumena12) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: permanent-collection

Definitely worth a read! Morsi puts together an interesting set up characters with Jelly being my favorite!

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Nov 13, 2010 Elvis rated it 5 of 5 stars

What can I say. I loved it so true to life today and with a humerous side. Good read.

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Aug 26, 2012 Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just like Rachel Gibson said - "....warmed my heart and made me smile".

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Nov 11, 2010 Tamra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Loved this story of small town life, small business, and second chances.

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Mar 28, 2011 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. Pamela Morsi is an author that always has lots of emotion in her books

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Dec 12, 2010 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, summer-breezy-books

This was pretty much a nothing book...it was a great book to fall asleep to sincxe the characters didn;t really stay with me one way or another...

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About Pamela Morsi

Pamela Morsi is a USA Today, Waldenbooks, and Barnes & Noble bestselling author of romance. She broke into publishing in 1991 with Heaven Sent and has been gracing readers with at least a book a year ever since. Two of her novels, Courting Miss Hattie (1992) and Something Shady (1996), won the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award, the highest honor in romance publishing, and others have bee...more

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