The Green Ticket

by Samantha March

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself.

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself ¬¬–– is growing up. Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.

Genres: Chick Lit, New Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Friendship

326 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2012

About the author

Samantha March is a published author, blogger, and has been passionate about creating stories since a young girl. After starting her blog ChickLitPlus in 2009, she set out to make a childhood dream a reality, and published her debut novel in 2011. She now has six published novels – Destined To Fail, The Green Ticket, Up To I Do, A Questionable Friendship and Defining Her – and one holiday novella, The Christmas Surprise, and Kristy, book 1 in The Six series. In addition to her bookish pursuits, she is also a beauty blogger with a growing Youtube channel and shares her love for makeup and beauty in review and tutorial videos. When she isn’t reading, writing, or creating videos, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs. Samantha currently lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla Aries.

Reviews

[Lucie Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finally found the time to devote to Samantha March's novel, The Green Ticket, I was so happy I'd agreed to be a part of her blog tour. It was such a refreshing read! I'd been slogging through a tome of a romance novel, which had gotten scads of fabulous reviews and which I felt was terribly boring, so switching on my Kindle and diving into Samantha's book was a true joy. Lighthearted and fun, I instantly connected with the story. It totally took me back to my college days. A time of blossoming love, great friends, lots of fun, and, in Alex's case, having to deal with some very grown up situations. I loved Alex's friendships in this book, especially her relationship with her best friend and roomie, Lila. But all the characters in the story were really engaging and very well drawn, each with their unique identity. I think Samantha did an excellent job distinguishing all the quirks and varying personalities in the story. There was a fairly large cast of characters to follow, but not once did I ever get confused as to who was who. And I really admired Alex's ability to juggle so much responsibility at such a young age while still retaining her youthful exuberance. I have a feeling Samantha March is a lot like her heroine. I often marvel at her ability to accomplish so much professionally. She really is a powerhouse of talent and The Green Ticket is a testimony to her strengths as an author and a publisher. This was a breezy and enjoyable novel that I recommend for anyone looking to escape back to their college years and relive all the ups and downs of that most fabulous stage in life.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you remember when you were in college and were unsure of what your future goals would be? Welcome to twenty year old Alex Abrams' world! Alex is in her junior year at Kaufman College in Des Moines, Iowa, studying Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship, but she's not sure what direction she wants to go in after she graduates from college. Alex works part time as a waitress at Tastie's sports bar and restaurant with her best friend and roommate Lila Medlin, but has also been looking for another job, when she sees an ad in the classifieds for a manager's position at Blissful Salon and Spa. She applies for the position and lands it, she knows this is her dream job, but she quickly finds out that everything isn't always "blissful" at the salon and spa. The Green Ticket is Alex's coming of age story where she learns the difference between being a carefree college girl and the ups and downs of the adult business world.

The Green Ticket is a delightful coming of age story that will have the reader walking down the memory lane of their own college days. Written in a fun and easy style, author Samantha March weaves a lighthearted tale in the first person narrative told by Alex Abrams, who takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery mixed in with some good old college fun and finding love along the way. With four fabulous best girlfriends who make Alex's college experience memorable; a blossoming love interest with a genuine guy named Henry Landon; and intriguing drama and issues galore at the salon; Alex finds out who she truly is and what it's like to be an adult!

I loved the author's character development of Alex, she engages the reader to follow along on Alex's journey as she navigates the complicated path of self-discovery from being a fun-loving college girl into an adult business woman. The author does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into Alex's college life with her four best girlfriends: Lila Medlin, Carmen Morales, Emma Burton, and Hannah Lovington. The relationship that these five close friends shared brought back memories of my own college friendships, so many good times mixed in with the craziness of studying for a degree, that's what the college experience is all about and the author nailed it to a tee! I especially enjoyed getting to know each of the girls, their different personalities and individual stories added to the entertainment value of the story. I really enjoyed the blossoming love interest between Alex and Henry, it was refreshing to read about a light romance without explicit sex scenes. I think what intrigued me the most about the story is the salon and spa's drama involving owners Kevin and Dani Dohlman. Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive ... trust me, the behind the scenes issues at the salon kept me turning the pages. I really loved how Alex worked her way through the variety of dilemmas that came her way at the salon. Alex's story is one that college girls should definitely read, there really is some good examples of what it's like to transition into an adult.

The Green Ticket is an enjoyable coming of age story that has enough fun, romance and drama that will keep the readers entertained. It is a story that is lighthearted and a breath of fresh air, kudos to author Samantha March on a wonderful second novel.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. I read it every free chance I had. I thought it was a good story and it kept me interested until the very end. The Green Ticket had a good pace to it and enough action to keep me wanting to finish it.

I connected with a lot of the characters in this book. All of the characters were believable and real. Alex was very well-written. In the beginning, she was a bit naive but she grows up. I respected her final actions and decisions. That took courage and guts. She also turned out to be a great manager...I wasn't sure at first. I liked that the salon gave her a chance despite not having graduated yet or having any experience. I wish more companies and businesses would take chances like that.

I felt for Dani. She just didn't want to see what was going on. She seemed to truly care about Alex and wanted to be her friend. Lila, Carmen, Emma, and Hannah were great friends to Alex and each other. They are what I see when I think of a group of girls in college that are so close to one another. Henry was a good boyfriend and a nice match for Alex. Kevin was a class A jerk, womanizer, and creep. I really disliked him. He gave me the heebie-geebies!

I also enjoyed the fact that there was no sex for the main character or most of her friends. Yes, we hear about other sexual escapades...but it isn't what you think of for college kids. There was some clean romance for Alex and her friends.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book. It was a fun read.

Will I read it again: The Green Ticket just may be a book that I revisit at some future time.

http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Lost in Literature

4.5 stars!

The Green Ticket is the story of Alex, a college student, who finds the perfect way to get out of her embarrassing, bra-showing waitress job when she sees an ad for a salon manager for hire. Seriously, she loves pedicures... how hard could this job be?

The Green Ticket is an adorable, emotional, cringe-inducing chick lit story with all the ups and lows of a good plot. I instantly fell in love with Alex and felt for her. I couldn't believe some of the things that were thrown at her, and how amazingly she learned to deal with it all. She's won me over with the first "My eyes! My eyes!" moment where she saw something she shouldn't have. Had me giggling while cringing at the same time.

I really enjoyed the struggle Alex found herself in between morals and money... doing what she felt was right, while turning down money she so badly needed. Is the money worth the guilt she felt? What a struggle she found within herself, and a long journey to figure it all out.

I would definitely recommend The Green Ticket to others. It was a quick, enjoyable read with lots of drama and an adorable romance all tied into one.

[Laura Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young college student tries to answer the question, "What do I want to do with my life?" followed by "How far am I willing to go to accomplish it?" while tackling long latent issues stemming from her past in Samantha March's "The Green Ticket."

Alex Abrams is a junior in college who is taking business classes without really knowing what she wants to do. At the same time, after living off of her supportive older sister for years, she wants to have more financial independence. When she sees a posting for a job as manager of a salon and spa, Alex knows she can do the job if the bosses are willing to take a chance on a college student.

Her prayers are seemingly answered when she is hired. But what she thought was a dream turns out to be a nightmare, when her philandering boss wants to pay Alex off for her silence regarding his bad behavior. She could use the added money, but questions whether or not she can do it at the cost of her morals. With a band of tight-knit friends to support her, Alex quickly learns the lesson that appearances are deceiving, and the truth may not always be pretty.

Alex made for a good narrator. At times she seemed a little too perfect: keeping a workout schedule and sticking to it, handling her money responsibly, eating salads instead of ordering pizza, landing her dream job at 20. Then she makes some questionable decisions that jeopardize her morals, not to mention her academic and professional futures. This keeps her more human and relatable, giving her room to grow and change as a character.

It was good to see her have trouble balancing her life as a student and a professional, because realistically, that is what would have happened. Add in her moral dilemma at work, and the story became intriguing in addition to realistic.

Her relationship with friends was enjoyable to watch. These girls are a tight-knit group who do everything together and were a solid portrayal of the relationships modern girls have in their college years. The girls are imperfect and sometimes act out, which made them perfect for the story. College students and recent graduates are an audience too often forgot in the publishing world, and it is refreshing to see March continue to highlight this group in her work.

At times, Alex and her friends' conversations and scenes added a little too much chatter. The beginning of the story gave a lot of character background that could have been revealed later to add more action earlier. However, all of this was well-written enough it did not detract from my overall enjoyment.

As a lover of romance, I was glad to have a little of it amidst the rest of the story. The young man who sweeps into Alex's life is definitely crush-worthy and enhances the story without taking too much attention from other major aspects of the book.

With a negative history involving men -- a father who abandoned her, her roommate's boyfriend, a series of lackluster dates and now a philandering boss -- examples of good men, such as her brother-in-law and her new love interest and his friends was was a positive inclusion to show a better balance. By seeing these better examples of men, Alex is able to have faith in the opposite gender, which shows her growth as a character.

Though seemingly a story about a young woman finding herself and building a future, at its heart, "The Green Ticket" is about friendship. This story features the good, the bad and the in between when it comes to friends. There are examples of friends who will use tough love or hugs to lead a friend in the direction best for her. There are friends who appear to be perfect, but are back-stabbing and unfaithful in reality. Alex is fortunate the first kind is there to have her back when the second kind mess with her life.

March shows she is growing as a writer with her second book. Though I enjoyed her first book, this one was even stronger, leaving me excited to see the world she creates in her third book. The story is entertaining and filled with dynamic characters that would certainly appeal to a young and new adult audiences while also drawing on fans of Chick Lit.

Rating: 4 of 5

Originally published at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha has done it again with a wonderful story with characters you come to love, or hate, in some cases. Alex and her friends are college students trying to find their way in the world, dealing with school, work and boyfriends. It has been, ahem, quite a few years since I have been in college but this story took me back there. The girls are having fun while trying to become the wonderful adults they will end up being.

Alex lands her dream job but then finds herself having to deal with some awkward situations and an unethical boss at work. Is she going to be able to do the right thing? She loves her job but hates having to keep secrets.

I loved the mix of characters that are Alex's friends at school. They all have different personalities but they are all there for each other and support whatever is going on in their lives. As they mature they make decisions that will separate them but you just know that they will remain friends for life, there is nothing like that college bond among friends.

Alex is the one that grows the most, I think. After she gets the job at Blissful, she really changes and becomes a very responsible woman. She is torn between making the money she knows she could make by going along with the shady dealings of her boss or getting out with her honor intact.

The Green Ticket is a realistic look into the college lives of a group of young women and a chance to watch them try to figure out what they want out of life. It is also a great look at right vs. wrong, money vs. morals. The Green Ticket is a truly wonderful story and I am excited to see what Samantha writes next.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a fan of the writing style of Samantha March. She wowed me with her debut novel, Destined to Fail, and I can say without hesitation that her sophomore novel, The Green Ticket, was just as compelling to read. The character of Alex is such a sweet character with a big heart that you can't help but root for her through the entire book. She finds herself with a dream job, at such a young age, as the manager of a hot salon and spa. But things aren't what they appear on the outside as Alex finds herself sucked into one dramatic situation after another. Creepy owner, Kevin, threw off that sleazy vibe from the get go, but his sweet and seemingly naive wife, Dani, appeared to be earnest in her attempt to be friends with Alex.

While the drama at the job attempts to take over and control her life, we meet Alex's friends and a hopeful boyfriend. The girls that Alex calls her best friends are simply the best. We all want to have that group of girlfriends that will be there for you and do anything for you - Alex has them. They provide the perfect amount of side story to keep it interesting without overpowering the main character and what is going on with her.

I've said it before and I stand by it - Samantha March is so talented and I dare you to read her books and not enjoy them. Clearly she has a big career ahead of her and you won't regret The Green Ticket. I give it five stars and look forward to what Samantha has next.

[Cat Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha March does it again! Her second novel, THE GREEN TICKET, is yet another story that I could not put down. From the moment I met Alex, the main character, I knew that she was going to be someone I'd root for. And, once again, Samantha March creates an interesting cast of supporting characters. I loved Alex's friends and the amazing bond they shared. Henry, Alex's love interest, is totally crush-worthy and I really enjoyed how their relationship played out throughout the novel. It was also very interesting to get a 'behind-the-scenes' glimpse of what goes on behind the counter at a salon & spa… and how Alex deals with everything that is thrown her way when her dream job turns out to be more of a nightmare. THE GREEN TICKET was a great read and I am definitely looking forward to Samantha's next novel!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book The Green Ticket from the goodreads giveaways. When I first picked up this book I thought it was going to be a quick fun read. I have never read anything by this author. I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the storyline.

At first it just seems to be a coming age story of a group of college friends. They are all trying to find themselves in the word one party at a time. Then the book takes on a more mature tone once the main character Alex accepts a mangers position at a thriving Salon.

Overall the Green Ticket is a great book to read. The reader is engaged from start to finish. The characters and storyline are relatable. In the end the author really gives the reader something to think about. The classic dilemma of money verses morals. I am looking forward to reading more books by Samantha March.

[Ashley Byland · Rating 5 out of 5]

review coming soon!!

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot tell you guys how excited I was to read The Green Ticket. This is the second novel from the fabulous Samantha March - author and book blogger extraordinaire (she runs the popular site Chick Lit Plus). I read and loved her debut novel, Destined to Fail late last year So, did her second novel live up to the expectations I had? Oh yeah. I loved it.

One of the things I remember liking about Destined to Fail was that I could really relate to the characters. The girls were college students and it hasn't been that long since I graduated from university. The Green Ticket was just the same way. I could completely relate to Alex's lifestyle at school. She and her girlfriends all lived in the same dorm at their college. That brought back fond memories of my dorm in first year and then living with some of my closest friends for the next three years. It was so much easier to hang out when they were just upstairs or down the hall - instead of 3 hours or 6 hours or...apparently Google can't calculate the directions from where I live now to where one of my old roomies is in Nunavut. OK, a ridiculously long way away. Point is, I miss the days when my friends lived close enough that I didn't have to put on real shoes to see them (something Alex mentions in the book). I really liked that aspect and I think March does a great job of writing some really real friendships - so much so that I wish I could be one Alex's friends, too!

What I also liked about this book was that the romance wasn't the central storyline. This is a minor spoiler as you'll notice that it's not even mentioned in the synopsis. Now, don't get me wrong, I love that there was a (wonderfully written) romance with Alex and Henry but I'm glad it wasn't the main focus. I do think that they are an adorable couple and am glad they found each other.

The only negative I found with this book was that there was a chunk of time that was just skipped over - from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve. March caught me up and let me know what happened during that period of time but I just found it odd that over a month was just bounced over.

I couldn't believe the...well...crap, that Alex had to put up with at Blissful. I don't know what I would have done if I had been in her position. Though, I doubt I'd ever be in her position because there's no way that I would have had enough confidence in myself to run a spa when I was in my third year of university. I really admired Alex and I thought she was a fabulous main character.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alex, a junior in college, gets her “dream job” as a manager at Blissful, a thriving salon and spa, she’s excited and willing to finally have an adult job. Alex is ready to start a busy life of scheduling appointments for customers and employees, coming up with marketing and advertising plans, along with getting special attention from her bosses (Kevin and Dani, a married couple), all while trying to still have enough time for her friends and boyfriend.

Her life at Blissful was hardly what she expected. Trying to keep her male boss’s affairs a secret from his wife, who she’s become friends with, along with trying to watch over the rest of the employees, Alex goes home each night exhausted and her mind reeling with emotions. When Alex begins to receive hefty checks from Kevin to keep his secrets, she’s her morals are weighed. Will she take the money and keep quiet, or will her better judgement get the best of her and realize that having it all doesn’t really mean that life really is greener (or wealthier) on the other side? Alex’s character is put difficult situations — her male boss is a cheater and she sees her best friend trying to achieve goals of her own.

I really loved the plot of this book and was eager to see how it would turn out, especially with all that the main character is up against. This book was a quick read that had me wondering what would happen each chapter. It isn’t until something shocking (though somehow it fits this character) does Alex realize what I think Alex knew to do all along. I loved how there was no blah part of the book and I wasn’t reading anything that didn’t involve the book. The end of “The Green Ticket” surprised me a bit, though in a good way and I think it ended as it should have. Whew, thank goodness! I’d love for there to be a continuation, maybe where Alex is in two, three or five years from the end of where the book ended.

This was easily one of the top three books I’ve read of 2012 and I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

[Jo Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character, Alex Abrams, is 20-years-old and a college junior. When we first meet Alex, we are informed that she is a waitress at Tastie's, which is described to be on the style of a Hooters. Alex has four best friends, Lila Medlin (her roommate), Carmen Morales, Emma Burton, and Hannah Lovington; their friendship is so realistic that I truly admired it. Despite the fact that Alex is the main character, I feel as if Samantha allows us to get to know ALL of the characters that are mentioned in this novel. When Alex is hired to work at Blissful Salon & Spa, that is when the real drama begins! I don't want to ruin the novel for anyone, but the things that were going on at Blissful just blew my mind!! If I was in Alex's place, I don't know HOW I would've handled everything that was thrown her way. There were so many aspects of this novel that I appreciated: I loved the friendship between Alex and her friends, I loved how Alex was mature, but still a young adult who liked to party every once in a while, and last, but certainly not least, I loved how Samantha went into amazing details about Blissful and the business aspect; I felt as if I was a part of the novel. Throughout the entire novel, I never knew how it would end, and I loved that. Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book...although I didn't know what to expect, I knew this book would teach me a valuable lesson, because I always learn lessons from Samantha and her novels. This is definitely one of THE BEST BOOKS OF 2012!! Everyone should buy this novel!!

[Nash Norden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t tell how surprised I am with The Green Ticket by Samantha March. It wasn’t what I expected. I was surprised that I really enjoy the book.

Alex, a college junior was thrilled when she got her dream job at ‘Blissful’ to manage a successful salon and spa. What she didn’t expect was that her dream job can turn into a nightmare. Sure, her boss, Dani can be really sweet. But working under her husband, Kevin Dohlman, can be a nightmare! Alex had to deal with Kevin’s affairs and his attitude.

I love The Green Ticket. The character, Alex was sounded so real! I love watching Alex and her friends grew up throughout the story. Alex had her fears and doubt. I adore how the way Alex dealt with her problem and dilemma was realistic and believable. I was most surprised with what happened between Alex and her boss toward the end of the story. It was unexpected.

The Green Ticket wasn’t really a love story although there is a subtle touch of romance. The Green Ticket was more of a story of how a college girl survived her life balancing her life between her studies, works, friends, family and her love life. It mostly tackled the subject of ethics where Alex had to choose between her principle and money. Reading The Green Ticket was very absorbing. Once I picked it up, it was hard to put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen to Alex with her work and how her life will turn out. I can’t help but wanting to know what will Alex do in her situation. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Jencey/ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Samantha March and Marching Ink. For sending me a copy of The Green Ticket. Samantha is a true friend and I would like to introduce her once again to you for her second novel.

Synopsis:

You go to college, and then you’re about finished; ready for that first job. Alex is about finished with college. She feels that she has found the perfect job. A spa in her town is hiring for a manager. Alex doesn’t think she stands a chance but lands the job as the manager. The job seems perfect, but something is not right. Employees take her into their confidence. Will Alex find the courage to confront her superiors with the knowledge? She has friends on the side Carmen, Hannah, Emma, and Lila. What could make life better?

My Thoughts:

The second book is a great read! I found the author showed tremendous growth in her writing. I found the characters believable. The antagonist in this story is extremely believable. Most of the characters are very sweet, and very positive. Setting seems familiar since it once again describes Iowa which the author knows best. I wonder if she would be willing to branch out in her next novel. I also feel it is great that this author use a setting not often used by other authors.

What was your first job like after college? Was it at all what you expected?

[Step Into Fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would ever think that your dream job could turn into a nightmare? And who ever thought getting lots of money would be such a huge burden to carry. That is exactly what Alex Abrams has to deal with in The Green Ticket. Having previously read Samantha's debut novel, Destined To Fail, I was very excited to dive right into her next book, and she did not disappoint with this novel.

Read full review at Step Into Fiction

Review completed by: Ashley

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked The Green Ticket by Samantha March. I really enjoyed the characters, they were like people you would know in real life.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. There was a dip in the story, but worth keeping going through that bit.

[Elise Hedlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. Although I felt that the times in which the scenes took place skipped around a lot and some important moments were not given the description and amount of time they needed, I really did enjoy the book. I loved all the characters and really cared about what happened to them, and although books I tend to read generally aren't set within a workplace, I really liked that this one was. I was invested in the characters and the salon and I really like the ending, which I felt wrapped up the book the best way possible. Overall, it was a very fun read!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I enjoyed this book so much. I was hooked from the first chapter. I loved the relationships between the girls and all their different personalities. Great book and so well written. I didn’t know what the twist was being to be and when it would happen so I was engaged throughout the whole book and kept guessing. Highly recommend.

[Nichol Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Chick-lit book.

Samantha March is quickly becoming one of my favorite Authors. This is the second time I've stayed up all night because I can't put her book down. Her storied are well written and pull you right in. You feel like you are living the characters lives with them, like you are a part of their story to. I love it. For sure will be reading again.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. I totally didn't expect the boss to be gross like that. I feel like Alex and her friends were definitely people I knew in college. The friendships in this book are great.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really liked this book. I thought the writing was great. I was always entertained and fell in love with the characters. Great book. I would recommend!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book by this author so far! A little cliche at times, but definitely had me hooked to see how it ended!

[Rachelle Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good!!!

This book kept me in such suspense I literally could not put it down! Way to go Sam! It’s just as good as all the others I have read!

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this was a novel I enjoyed overall, I felt that there was a huge focus on relationship issues/problems - even though that was supposed to be one of the main plot points, it just seemed a little bit too focused on at times. I would have also liked it if there had been a little bit more about Alex Abram's college life.

[Sara Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided with a copy of THE GREEN TICKET by Samantha March in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins with Alex Abrams, college junior, who lands her dream job as a manager at a successful salon and spa. She is very eager and excited to have a real adult job that entails scheduling, conference calls, handling employee conflicts and massages … but she might be in over her head as she slowly realizes that her boss, Kevin Dohlman, might be her worst nightmare. A few weeks in she discovers that he is not only difficult to work for, but he is also quite the ladies man at work – but, he happens to be married to the other manager of the spa. So, what’s a gal to do? She tries to ignore it and move on because she really wants to keep the job, but it only worsens. And on top of trying to manage her school work, her own relationship with her new hottie of a boyfriend, her friendships and her own life, things become complicated. Juggling everything becomes quite a task and it is only a matter of time until everything comes toppling down on her, but will she spill the beans about Kevin first in order to save herself and everything else that she cares about? Or is she willing to risk it all to keep her dream job?

Obviously, I was very excited when Samantha asked me to read/review her second novel … and I couldn’t have loved it more. Yes, this book is definitely directed toward a much younger audience (think college age), but even though I am far past that time in my life (yikes! I’m almost 30!), I was definitely able to relate and find myself thinking back to my time in college. Samantha does an amazing job at creating real conflict and believable characters and relationships. From the get go I knew that Kevin was bad news and I was glad that Alex was mature enough to realize it. I also loved Henry from the get go. He was so charming and sweet and I think Samantha did such a great job at constructing such a strong love interest. Overall, this book is very entertaining and engaging. It grabs you from the early chapters and pulls you in until the very end. This is a great second novel from Samantha and I can’t wait to see what book #3 brings! I recommend you get your hands on it quick!

[Lydia Laceby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 Star

Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes.

I became immersed in The Green Ticket quickly, eager to find out what would happen to Alex. A novel about growing up quickly and discovering the person you want to be, with some fun and love along the way, The Green Ticket is an easy, fun read about growing into adulthood.

Alex is a great character to root for. I wanted her to succeed, to come into her own, and to follow her dreams. I hated seeing anyone trying to thwart them, or upset her. Sometimes I just wanted to hug her, and she wasn't the only great character. I loved her circle of close friends. They're all so wonderful and supportive and many of the scenes of the five of them together made me laugh. I was completely transported back to my university days full of primping, parties, boys, and maybe some learning on the side. I really enjoyed her love interest, Harry. He comes across as genuine and real and nothing pleased me more than having her fall for a great guy! Her bestie and roommate, Lila, was such a fun character and their love and concern and support for each other came shining through.

One thing I will say for Samantha's writing is that she has great stories that resonate and have great messages. Sometimes though, as I was reading, I seemed to crave some heavier hitting scenes and maybe to get out of Alex's head sometimes from having her describe things. I wanted to see them in a scene where they might have a bit more impact. Also, I might have liked to see some of the characters act a little 'out of character' to give them a bit more depth and dimension.

Young Adult isn't entirely my genre, although I'll pick one up from time to time and overall, I enjoyed this coming of age tale and I'm sure anyone who regularly reads Young Adult will love The Green Ticket.

Thank you to Samantha March for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex is a smart, driven, independent college junior, who knows what she wants and doesn’t want to live off her big sister forever. You can relate to her strive to make a buck and her ambition for something better.


Specializing in business, Alex treats the whole job hunt with delicate precision, organization, and dedication. You got to admire her fierce professionalism. The only thing that bugged me was that she was way too enthusiastic and chipper. Her friends were the embodiment of the classic drunk, party drones so typical in college life.


Still, you root for Alex all the way. Of course, working in a spa wouldn’t really suit me, but Alex loves it. Too bad the job turns out being more than she can handle. The truth was I think she was too “green”—too young, too naïve—for a management position. Then she soon realizes that the business is cold and dirty. Her boss is a chauvinistic playboy creep that thinks he can get away with a pay-off. What’s a new manager to do?


Alex will get the rancid and bitter taste of the real world, putting a damper to her “marshmallow and lollipop” fantasies. The stress of dealing with a jerk of a boss always berating and belittling her will take its toll. Being overwhelmed and too tired to even eat are things we all can relate to. That’s why I would never take a management position because everything falls on you. Where she works can be described in one word: toxic.

I wish I’d catch my boss having an affair. Of course, I wouldn’t feel comfortable working for him anymore, but I’d definitely take the $10 grand and quit. Screw morals!

Certain parts of the story lagged more than others, and the dialogue was mediocre, but the basis of the story was endearing and inspirational.

[Jenn (Booksessed)]

I loved the premise of this novel and thought it was very easy to relate to. Who hasn't had a job that was more demanding than they thought, or a boss they just couldn't stand?

It took a few chapters to really get into but I'm glad that I stuck with it until the end. I feel like I always learn valuable life lessons from Samantha's books and it's easy to put yourself in the character's situation and think "how would I handle this?"

The characters were really engaging, whether you liked or hated the character. I really loved that Alex had a very diverse group of friends But my favorite parts of the book were that Alex had a very full, busy life and had to deal with complex emotional issues.

The only part of the book that I wasn't crazy about was Alex's constant complaints that with her obligations at the salon, she never had any time to do her homework or study; that her grades were starting to fall because she had so much on her plate. Yet, there was never any real consequence on that front. Her grades seemed to be fine near the end of the novel. That was the most unrealistic part of the novel and it was somewhat irksome. It may be a bit harsh but I would have sort of liked to see some consequence from Alex neglecting her studies.

But overall, I really liked the novel and I loved the ending. Had the book ended any other way I may have been disappointed, but I loved the story and most of the characters and I couldn't help rooting for Alex to be victorious.