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Jenny James Is Not a Disaster
Sometimes it takes life falling apart . . . to piece yourself back together.
Single mum Jenny is on the edge of disaster. Her job is downsizing, her car won't start, her son is a teenager (enough said) . . . and it just won't stop raining. So when her darling cottage on the Norfolk coast literally falls off a cliff, taking all of her son's baby photos, her beloved couch, and almost taking Jenny herself down with it, it's the ridiculously traumatic cherry on top of her ridiculously catastrophic week.
With no job, no home, and the painful stirring of memories from when Jenny was alone, broke, estranged from her family, and pregnant, she takes a drastic step to start new. She and her eighteen-year-old son, Charlie, join their nomadic neighbor, Luke, and his dachshund, Betty, in his campervan on a road trip around England. From hiking historical sites to riding rollercoasters at amusement parks, each new stop drives Jenny forward and reminds her of the dreams she gave up long ago.
But more than that, each new destination--pulled from a hat based on random prompts like "Brontë sisters" and favorite songs--brings Jenny closer to her son, and the painful past she tried to outrun. As old wounds and difficult reconciliations open Jenny's eyes to the mistakes of her past, she is able to navigate what, and who, she would like to be a part of her future.
Single mum Jenny is on the edge of disaster. Her job is downsizing, her car won't start, her son is a teenager (enough said) . . . and it just won't stop raining. So when her darling cottage on the Norfolk coast literally falls off a cliff, taking all of her son's baby photos, her beloved couch, and almost taking Jenny herself down with it, it's the ridiculously traumatic cherry on top of her ridiculously catastrophic week.
With no job, no home, and the painful stirring of memories from when Jenny was alone, broke, estranged from her family, and pregnant, she takes a drastic step to start new. She and her eighteen-year-old son, Charlie, join their nomadic neighbor, Luke, and his dachshund, Betty, in his campervan on a road trip around England. From hiking historical sites to riding rollercoasters at amusement parks, each new stop drives Jenny forward and reminds her of the dreams she gave up long ago.
But more than that, each new destination--pulled from a hat based on random prompts like "Brontë sisters" and favorite songs--brings Jenny closer to her son, and the painful past she tried to outrun. As old wounds and difficult reconciliations open Jenny's eyes to the mistakes of her past, she is able to navigate what, and who, she would like to be a part of her future.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
43 people are currently reading
9662 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Johnson
31 books914 followersDebbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
August 31, 2024
Single mom Jenny’s life falls apart in a single day. She finds out she’s being laid off, her ancient car finally breaks down for good, and thanks to erosion from record-setting rains, her home literally falls off a cliff. Newly unmoored, she and her teenage son embark on a spontaneous RV tour with a new friend…and Jenny discovers a side of herself she didn’t realize existed.
This book was super wholesome and heartwarming. What I didn’t expect is that it’s also laugh-out-loud funny. The main character is super snarky and the voice feels like a Sophie Kinsella novel. The complicated family relationships are emotionally compelling and realistic. The book gets a bit slow in the middle, but overall I was thoroughly entertained and read it in two sittings. I’d absolutely recommend this as a summer read.
This book was super wholesome and heartwarming. What I didn’t expect is that it’s also laugh-out-loud funny. The main character is super snarky and the voice feels like a Sophie Kinsella novel. The complicated family relationships are emotionally compelling and realistic. The book gets a bit slow in the middle, but overall I was thoroughly entertained and read it in two sittings. I’d absolutely recommend this as a summer read.
January 24, 2024
Who among us hasn't dreamed, at one time, of dropping everything and embarking on a journey? Jenny James did just that—with a little nudge from Mother Nature—and found herself amid a life-changing journey. "Jenny James Is Not a Disaster" by Debbie Johnson follows a 36-year-old struggling single mom who discovers happiness and joy in an unexpected place.
Jenny James is not a disaster, even though her life may have been. After her cottage on the Norfolk coast fell off a cliff, and she lost her job in the same week, Jane is at a crossroads. It's just her and her 18-year-old son - sadly, she is estranged from her family - and she has to decide what to do with her life. When her handsome nomadic neighbor, Luke, who lives in a camper van with his dachshund, Betty, offers them a road trip around England, she accepts. As they frolic around England, she is forced to take a hard look at her life and past choices, stop and smell the roses, and come to terms with her past.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was a less light read than I thought it would be, which is not a bad thing, and full of inspiring life lessons. I loved the humor and banter between the characters, the growing relationships between them, the sharing of backstories that made them close their hearts to love, and the way the heroine reinvented herself. I also loved the descriptions of the various historical sites. I could smell the roses, so to speak, and envision those vivid scenes.
I have to say that the way Jenny went on a trip with someone who was a perfect stranger until then made me raise a brow at first. I also thought that being estranged for about 18 years from her family was unreasonable, as well as her unwillingness to share her story with her son. I loved the resolution of the heroine's issues, though, and the ending warmed my heart. Some scenes were touching, causing me to shed a tear.
The book highlights the complicated relationships between parents and children, and it's done with humor and heartfelt insights. I loved the message that "home is wherever you are happy." The author paints a compelling story of a journey of happiness, self-discovery, and individual pride. With themes of friendship, trust, love, letting go of the past, and self-discovery, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading. The gentle budding romance added to the enjoyment. Highly recommended!
* I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
Jenny James is not a disaster, even though her life may have been. After her cottage on the Norfolk coast fell off a cliff, and she lost her job in the same week, Jane is at a crossroads. It's just her and her 18-year-old son - sadly, she is estranged from her family - and she has to decide what to do with her life. When her handsome nomadic neighbor, Luke, who lives in a camper van with his dachshund, Betty, offers them a road trip around England, she accepts. As they frolic around England, she is forced to take a hard look at her life and past choices, stop and smell the roses, and come to terms with her past.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was a less light read than I thought it would be, which is not a bad thing, and full of inspiring life lessons. I loved the humor and banter between the characters, the growing relationships between them, the sharing of backstories that made them close their hearts to love, and the way the heroine reinvented herself. I also loved the descriptions of the various historical sites. I could smell the roses, so to speak, and envision those vivid scenes.
I have to say that the way Jenny went on a trip with someone who was a perfect stranger until then made me raise a brow at first. I also thought that being estranged for about 18 years from her family was unreasonable, as well as her unwillingness to share her story with her son. I loved the resolution of the heroine's issues, though, and the ending warmed my heart. Some scenes were touching, causing me to shed a tear.
The book highlights the complicated relationships between parents and children, and it's done with humor and heartfelt insights. I loved the message that "home is wherever you are happy." The author paints a compelling story of a journey of happiness, self-discovery, and individual pride. With themes of friendship, trust, love, letting go of the past, and self-discovery, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading. The gentle budding romance added to the enjoyment. Highly recommended!
* I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
July 31, 2024
What a heartwarming read! After reading the blurb, I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed! It turned out to be a more thought provoking story than I expected.
Because of the blurb, you know that Jenny has a life full of normal mishaps and some more bizarre but when the events of one day wreak havoc on her life, she is at her wits end. Raising her teenage son on her own, she is faced with some hard decisions.
I really wanted to see Jenny thrive and recover from her hardships. Even though she made some baffling ( to me ) life choices, I grew to like her and longed for the story to have a sweet, happy ending! You’ll have to read it to find out!
If you enjoy stories about second chances later in life that are full of humor and a bit of romance, you will like this book.
Many thanks to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse, and Debbie Johnson for the ARC via NetGalley!!!
Because of the blurb, you know that Jenny has a life full of normal mishaps and some more bizarre but when the events of one day wreak havoc on her life, she is at her wits end. Raising her teenage son on her own, she is faced with some hard decisions.
I really wanted to see Jenny thrive and recover from her hardships. Even though she made some baffling ( to me ) life choices, I grew to like her and longed for the story to have a sweet, happy ending! You’ll have to read it to find out!
If you enjoy stories about second chances later in life that are full of humor and a bit of romance, you will like this book.
Many thanks to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse, and Debbie Johnson for the ARC via NetGalley!!!
Read
July 9, 2024DNF'd 30 mins into the audiobook, which I'm disappointed about because I was enjoying this one and loved the narrator!
Unfortunately, when Jenny and her son Charlie are talking they begin to have a conversation about Charlie's best friend Eric coming out. This may not be a reason for some to stop a book, but for me and my personal convictions, I prefer to read and support authors who don't incorporate this into their books even if it's a side character.
Unfortunately, when Jenny and her son Charlie are talking they begin to have a conversation about Charlie's best friend Eric coming out. This may not be a reason for some to stop a book, but for me and my personal convictions, I prefer to read and support authors who don't incorporate this into their books even if it's a side character.
August 3, 2024
Despite the difficulties in her life, Jenny has always tried to make the most of it for her son Charlie. Her life becomes even more difficult when an abrupt chain of terrible events leaves her jobless and homeless. She's lucky to have a sparkling knight living next door! Her neighbor Luke is a solitary man who lives in a cozy mobile home with his beloved dog, Betty. With little other options, Jenny accepts Luke's invitation to go on a cross-country journey. A voyage of self-discovery, adventure, and relationships of all kinds are what come next.
This was such a great story. Indeed, there were moments of laughter and smiles, as well as very obvious crying moments. Jenny in particular had a great sense of humor and handled some really bad situations with it. I understood her struggles and the difficulties she faced.
I like how the boy was being raised by a single mother. The relationship has a natural feel to it, complete with a certain amount of distance, inside jokes, misguided teenage angst, and, deep down, true love.
Jenny and Charlie had such a great relationship, and it was fun to witness the three of them develop closer as they traveled to interesting places together.
The narration was excellent, and the plot was charming. I could actually picture the narrative in my head because of the way she presented it. Additionally, the narrator made Jenny's persona incredibly entertaining as she handled each absurd situation.
This was such a great story. Indeed, there were moments of laughter and smiles, as well as very obvious crying moments. Jenny in particular had a great sense of humor and handled some really bad situations with it. I understood her struggles and the difficulties she faced.
I like how the boy was being raised by a single mother. The relationship has a natural feel to it, complete with a certain amount of distance, inside jokes, misguided teenage angst, and, deep down, true love.
Jenny and Charlie had such a great relationship, and it was fun to witness the three of them develop closer as they traveled to interesting places together.
The narration was excellent, and the plot was charming. I could actually picture the narrative in my head because of the way she presented it. Additionally, the narrator made Jenny's persona incredibly entertaining as she handled each absurd situation.
August 20, 2024
There are so many lessons in this sweet story. Finding joy, learning to let go, welcoming love and overcoming the hard bits. It is a romance but it’s also a grand adventure and a homecoming story.
# Jenny James Is Not a Disaster
# 8/19/2024 ~ 8/20/2024
# 4.0 / 5.0
# Jenny James Is Not a Disaster
# 8/19/2024 ~ 8/20/2024
# 4.0 / 5.0
July 7, 2024
From page 1, I loved the MC. I loved the way she said things, her personality, etc. Then came the hook and I was, well, hooked! I couldn’t wait to see how the story was going to go…
Then it turned left into a “happy ending” hallmark movie.
For most readers this story will be cute, heartfelt, and leave the reader smiling and warm from all the happy endings.
At times I felt that way too, but I also was disappointed this is yet another story where a woman is rescued by a rich man. Just once I’d like the woman to rescue herself, I suppose. The whole story an unrealistic happy ending built on more implausibility. Just like a hallmark movie. I get this is meant to make the reader happy but it’s not real life and keeps creating myths and narratives that hurt most people when their lives don’t work out in the same way.
For example, the MC hasn’t spoken to her family in 20 years. She’s entirely estranged from them and calls them, they’re happy to see her, and everyone suddenly sees their part of the falling out and has massive growth and lives happily ever after. The MC and other characters all have momentous personal growth in the span of pages, very often, when most people wouldn’t achieve this in years of therapy… there’s also a lot of “quotable quotes” meaning characters say things you’ve seen on a mug or might see on a poster at hobby lobby.
There’s also a weiner dog that pulls a lassie a la “Billy fell in the well?! Thanks for telling me”.
To end on a positive, I appreciated that for a “romance” there were zero sex scenes. Or talking about throbbing loins or the MC remarking about her twitching ovaries or whatever.
If you like second chances at love stories and popcorn hallmark reads you’ll really love this book.
It’s not that I didn’t like it, I suppose I just see it for what it is and wish we stopped selling fairytales.
Thanks netgalley for my ALC.
SUMMARY: 30-something MC is a single mom to a 18yo. She hasn’t spoken to her family since before her son’s birth. They come home from school/work to find their cottage is gone. It literally eroded off the edge into the sea. What’s worse is the MC has also just lost her job.
A guy who lives in a camper comes to their rescue and the three become friends. As he sets to leave, he invites them to go with him for two weeks. They travel around together and eventually end up going to the MC childhood town so she can patch things up with her family. The MC also falls in love with the camper guy who has his own pained past.
Then it turned left into a “happy ending” hallmark movie.
For most readers this story will be cute, heartfelt, and leave the reader smiling and warm from all the happy endings.
At times I felt that way too, but I also was disappointed this is yet another story where a woman is rescued by a rich man. Just once I’d like the woman to rescue herself, I suppose. The whole story an unrealistic happy ending built on more implausibility. Just like a hallmark movie. I get this is meant to make the reader happy but it’s not real life and keeps creating myths and narratives that hurt most people when their lives don’t work out in the same way.
For example, the MC hasn’t spoken to her family in 20 years. She’s entirely estranged from them and calls them, they’re happy to see her, and everyone suddenly sees their part of the falling out and has massive growth and lives happily ever after. The MC and other characters all have momentous personal growth in the span of pages, very often, when most people wouldn’t achieve this in years of therapy… there’s also a lot of “quotable quotes” meaning characters say things you’ve seen on a mug or might see on a poster at hobby lobby.
There’s also a weiner dog that pulls a lassie a la “Billy fell in the well?! Thanks for telling me”.
To end on a positive, I appreciated that for a “romance” there were zero sex scenes. Or talking about throbbing loins or the MC remarking about her twitching ovaries or whatever.
If you like second chances at love stories and popcorn hallmark reads you’ll really love this book.
It’s not that I didn’t like it, I suppose I just see it for what it is and wish we stopped selling fairytales.
Thanks netgalley for my ALC.
SUMMARY: 30-something MC is a single mom to a 18yo. She hasn’t spoken to her family since before her son’s birth. They come home from school/work to find their cottage is gone. It literally eroded off the edge into the sea. What’s worse is the MC has also just lost her job.
A guy who lives in a camper comes to their rescue and the three become friends. As he sets to leave, he invites them to go with him for two weeks. They travel around together and eventually end up going to the MC childhood town so she can patch things up with her family. The MC also falls in love with the camper guy who has his own pained past.
May 1, 2024
I loved this delightfully sweet but comical coming of age look at Jenny James as she navigates through yet another tough time in her life.
In the past, Jenny had been estranged from her parents when she became pregnant at the age of 18. It was a tough time in her life, especially since the baby's father left her, but she got through it.
Fast forward to now, Jenny has her wonderful 18 year old son, Charlie, living with her. She has just recently met her fairly new but reclusive, attractive neighbor, Luke, who lives next door in a very nice RV campervan.
As if she is living in a nightmare, she loses her job, her car is dead, and she walks home just as her cute cliffside cottage literally slides into the sea during a rainstorm, all in one terrible day!
Luke is there and helps them dry off and warm up. Then, he ends up offering them a place to stay in his RV campervan with him and his cute dachshund Betty, who happily greets them until they can figure things out.
Luke is a guy who usually never stays in one place for too long as he likes to travel. He eventually offers them to travel around with him since they now have literally nothing else to do, at least until Charlie leaves for college.
They decide to travel around and have a good time. I loved that Jenny named the campervan, "Joy!"
To make their trip fun, they decide to put a bunch of destination ideas into a hat to draw from. They travel all over England, seeing all kinds of great places, hiking to remote beautiful areas, waterfalls, seeing stone circles, villages, amusement parks, etc.
And then, Charlie wants to know about what happened...in the past...with his grandparents...can they go see them?
Jenny not only finds herself for the first time but finds the best way to move forward in her life and to experience joy!
I loved this book, it was filled with a lot of fun and adventure and I recommend it!
I would like to thank #NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for a complimentary copy of an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publish Date: July 9th, 2024
In the past, Jenny had been estranged from her parents when she became pregnant at the age of 18. It was a tough time in her life, especially since the baby's father left her, but she got through it.
Fast forward to now, Jenny has her wonderful 18 year old son, Charlie, living with her. She has just recently met her fairly new but reclusive, attractive neighbor, Luke, who lives next door in a very nice RV campervan.
As if she is living in a nightmare, she loses her job, her car is dead, and she walks home just as her cute cliffside cottage literally slides into the sea during a rainstorm, all in one terrible day!
Luke is there and helps them dry off and warm up. Then, he ends up offering them a place to stay in his RV campervan with him and his cute dachshund Betty, who happily greets them until they can figure things out.
Luke is a guy who usually never stays in one place for too long as he likes to travel. He eventually offers them to travel around with him since they now have literally nothing else to do, at least until Charlie leaves for college.
They decide to travel around and have a good time. I loved that Jenny named the campervan, "Joy!"
To make their trip fun, they decide to put a bunch of destination ideas into a hat to draw from. They travel all over England, seeing all kinds of great places, hiking to remote beautiful areas, waterfalls, seeing stone circles, villages, amusement parks, etc.
And then, Charlie wants to know about what happened...in the past...with his grandparents...can they go see them?
Jenny not only finds herself for the first time but finds the best way to move forward in her life and to experience joy!
I loved this book, it was filled with a lot of fun and adventure and I recommend it!
I would like to thank #NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for a complimentary copy of an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publish Date: July 9th, 2024
May 28, 2025
Big Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'Jenny James is not a Disaster' is a slice of life cozy read about a woman and her son who lose everything and take a journey through the UK, rediscovering themselves and reconnecting.
The book is funny, as Jenny, the narrator, is witty and has often funny banter with Charlie, her son. The story is also bittersweet, with many lovely descriptions of the places that Jenny, Charlie, and Luke visit, as well as their connections to pop culture references. But I especially enjoyed the trip down memory lane and how Jane had to rethink some of her past choices and see her family's perspective. Actually, the growth journey of the characters was impressive and well handled by the author. The healing process was also nicely done.
The romance, on the other hand, was not that impressive, probably because the connection was rather humane and on the level of trying to comfort each other, rather than sparks flying. Moreover, it was kind of pushed aside many times, but, fortunately, the family drama and love as well as the self-love stole the show, so that wasn't that big of a letdown.
'Jenny James is not a Disaster' is a slice of life cozy read about a woman and her son who lose everything and take a journey through the UK, rediscovering themselves and reconnecting.
The book is funny, as Jenny, the narrator, is witty and has often funny banter with Charlie, her son. The story is also bittersweet, with many lovely descriptions of the places that Jenny, Charlie, and Luke visit, as well as their connections to pop culture references. But I especially enjoyed the trip down memory lane and how Jane had to rethink some of her past choices and see her family's perspective. Actually, the growth journey of the characters was impressive and well handled by the author. The healing process was also nicely done.
The romance, on the other hand, was not that impressive, probably because the connection was rather humane and on the level of trying to comfort each other, rather than sparks flying. Moreover, it was kind of pushed aside many times, but, fortunately, the family drama and love as well as the self-love stole the show, so that wasn't that big of a letdown.
July 31, 2024
Jenny James can’t catch a break. Her job is in the possibility of closing the company. Her car won’t start and her house….it fell into a cliff. It seriously fell into a cliff. When she is trying to save her precious son’s baby pictures she almost fall and is saved by him. This grumpy man named Luke that lives in a van. While she is processing everything, she decides she needs to figure out what her next step is with her son. After learning Luke isn’t so grumpy and just might have the best ideas. She finds her joy.
I really really enjoyed this book. Starting off Jenny was honestly just so real. I felt like she was a friend that I just wanted to hug and support. I enjoyed all the characters and development. I recommend this book so much for anyone who feels like they need to start over. Because you 100% always can
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book
I really really enjoyed this book. Starting off Jenny was honestly just so real. I felt like she was a friend that I just wanted to hug and support. I enjoyed all the characters and development. I recommend this book so much for anyone who feels like they need to start over. Because you 100% always can
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book
January 23, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this book via NetGalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny has the voice of Bridget Jones and Gossip Girl combined. You love to hear the inner workings of how she’s processing all of her life’s changes (at once) but also how she observes others and thinks about how their inner workings connect to hers. We see the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly of how Jenny embraces her new life and how she faces her fears while pushing her son and friends to feel comfortable doing the same. I enjoyed the “ride” - and how we could see a bit of ourselves within her!
Jenny has the voice of Bridget Jones and Gossip Girl combined. You love to hear the inner workings of how she’s processing all of her life’s changes (at once) but also how she observes others and thinks about how their inner workings connect to hers. We see the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly of how Jenny embraces her new life and how she faces her fears while pushing her son and friends to feel comfortable doing the same. I enjoyed the “ride” - and how we could see a bit of ourselves within her!
July 9, 2024
Happy Publication Day!
For anyone who has ever been down on their luck, they know how hard it is to recover. Jenny James is not a Disaster reminds readers it’s possible to embrace the calm before, during, and after the storm and that every day is a good day to try to find joy.
Single mom Jenny is raising her 18 year old son, Charlie, doing the best she can. She is optimistic even when she gets a message that her bank account is overdrawn by seventy-two cents and will be charged a $25 overdraft fee without a deposit by midnight. She tries to remain hopeful when a coworker tells her that their company may soon close. And she tries to find the silver lining when her car won’t start again after picking up her son when she gets off work. Saying she’s having a rough day would be an understatement. But the worst is yet to come.
Forced to get the bus, Jenny and Charlie walk to the cliff side rental cottage she’s turned into a home for them but it’s not there. Due to month long rains, her home has slid on the cliff side. As Jenny tries to frantically recover pictures blowing around she almost falls over the cliff herself when a stranger pulls her back, rescuing her.
What do you do when you’ve literally lost everything? Having walked away from her family as a teen, Jenny has no one to rely on but herself. Thanking the stranger, Luke, who saved her from literally going over the edge turns into a couple more visits to his place which is a motor home. Not sure what to do next, Luke offers a suggestion: take a couple of weeks to travel with him in his motor home while she decides her next steps. After finding out her work is officially closing, she decides this just may be the break Charlie and her need so they hit the road!
The journey that unfolds is raw yet heartwarming. I absolutely love how Jenny remained positive and hopeful, refusing to ever give up. The playful and sarcastic banter Jenny has with both her son and with Luke made this a delight to listen to!
This is a must read for anyone who has lost it all or has had to start over again. Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Johnson, and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
For anyone who has ever been down on their luck, they know how hard it is to recover. Jenny James is not a Disaster reminds readers it’s possible to embrace the calm before, during, and after the storm and that every day is a good day to try to find joy.
Single mom Jenny is raising her 18 year old son, Charlie, doing the best she can. She is optimistic even when she gets a message that her bank account is overdrawn by seventy-two cents and will be charged a $25 overdraft fee without a deposit by midnight. She tries to remain hopeful when a coworker tells her that their company may soon close. And she tries to find the silver lining when her car won’t start again after picking up her son when she gets off work. Saying she’s having a rough day would be an understatement. But the worst is yet to come.
Forced to get the bus, Jenny and Charlie walk to the cliff side rental cottage she’s turned into a home for them but it’s not there. Due to month long rains, her home has slid on the cliff side. As Jenny tries to frantically recover pictures blowing around she almost falls over the cliff herself when a stranger pulls her back, rescuing her.
What do you do when you’ve literally lost everything? Having walked away from her family as a teen, Jenny has no one to rely on but herself. Thanking the stranger, Luke, who saved her from literally going over the edge turns into a couple more visits to his place which is a motor home. Not sure what to do next, Luke offers a suggestion: take a couple of weeks to travel with him in his motor home while she decides her next steps. After finding out her work is officially closing, she decides this just may be the break Charlie and her need so they hit the road!
The journey that unfolds is raw yet heartwarming. I absolutely love how Jenny remained positive and hopeful, refusing to ever give up. The playful and sarcastic banter Jenny has with both her son and with Luke made this a delight to listen to!
This is a must read for anyone who has lost it all or has had to start over again. Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Johnson, and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
July 10, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny James Is Not a Disaster was such a fun book to listen to. In this, you will obviously meet Jenny, but you also get to hear (or read) about some adventures. Sure, when it rains, it pours (or whatever the saying is). So, it definitely sucks when things go from bad to worse.
Or maybe it doesn't since her new neighbor is kind of cute? Enter Luke, the guy with the very nice RV campervan. On the day Jenny loses her job, her car, and who knows what else... Luke, the angel, is there to offer up some help. It also doesn't hurt that he has the most adorable dachshund named Betty either.
Throwing caution to the wind, Jenny and her son Charlie join Like on an adventure. They decide to travel to all these places with one goal in mind: to just have fun. Along the way, they are bound to have some sparks of romance between Jenny and Luke. As well as some family drama between Charlie and Jenny. Which is completely understandable since he doesn't really know what happened between Jenny and her parents.
In the end, it's an emotional journey and a fun adventure. I'm definitely happy that I got the chance to dive into this and look forward to the next book Debbie writes!
"So, this is my story. A story of falling and getting back up again. Of stepping back and moving forward. Read it in whatever voice you like—for me, that will be my own voice.
The voice I've finally found, and the voice I finally listen to."
Jenny James Is Not a Disaster was such a fun book to listen to. In this, you will obviously meet Jenny, but you also get to hear (or read) about some adventures. Sure, when it rains, it pours (or whatever the saying is). So, it definitely sucks when things go from bad to worse.
Or maybe it doesn't since her new neighbor is kind of cute? Enter Luke, the guy with the very nice RV campervan. On the day Jenny loses her job, her car, and who knows what else... Luke, the angel, is there to offer up some help. It also doesn't hurt that he has the most adorable dachshund named Betty either.
Throwing caution to the wind, Jenny and her son Charlie join Like on an adventure. They decide to travel to all these places with one goal in mind: to just have fun. Along the way, they are bound to have some sparks of romance between Jenny and Luke. As well as some family drama between Charlie and Jenny. Which is completely understandable since he doesn't really know what happened between Jenny and her parents.
In the end, it's an emotional journey and a fun adventure. I'm definitely happy that I got the chance to dive into this and look forward to the next book Debbie writes!
February 4, 2025
I have read a few books by Debbie Johnson, and I think this one may be my favorite. It's about finding yourself, forgiveness, perseverance, and putting yourself on the list of people you care for. I liked it.
March 5, 2025
I started this whilst my mum was in hospital last week… and honestly it felt like I could be pronounced Jenny James any day. This heartfelt story cheered me out of a funk I honestly didn’t really know I had climbed into. Seriously contemplating motorhomes and an adventure now! :)
September 3, 2025
I thought this was a clever story line. So many bad things happened to Jenny in the beginning of this book. I thought how is she going to handle all of this. Such a cute story of eventual happiness. My favorite quote was from her son, Charlie. “Home is wherever you’re happy.” So true!
March 2, 2025
2.5 too depressing for me right now. couldve been uplifting but just not what i was looking for
July 14, 2024
Jenny James is Not a Disaster is a funny, sweet, heartwarming read peppered with regrets which only serves to make the characters more likable.
After a bout of bad luck, Jenny, a single mom, is forced to make some changes in her life. Through a series of adventures and a break from the routine of daily life, she begins to reflect on her past, and open up to different points of view—all without taking herself too seriously, of course.
I loved the British humor this book offered and the self-deprecating manner of the characters. While flawed, Jenny and the people she meets along the way, made this an easy and enjoyable read.
Have I mentioned that I love flawed characters?
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
After a bout of bad luck, Jenny, a single mom, is forced to make some changes in her life. Through a series of adventures and a break from the routine of daily life, she begins to reflect on her past, and open up to different points of view—all without taking herself too seriously, of course.
I loved the British humor this book offered and the self-deprecating manner of the characters. While flawed, Jenny and the people she meets along the way, made this an easy and enjoyable read.
Have I mentioned that I love flawed characters?
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2024
I really enjoyed the audio version of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. Jenny, a single mom of an 18-year-old son, is having a rough time, to say the least. In a dramatic fashion, she meets a neighbor she's only seen (and assumed to be grumpy and rude) but never talked to. Meeting him takes Jenny and her son on wonderful new adventures as well as redemption of broken family relationships. It was a funny, sweet book with great narration. It was a wonderful story about letting yourself be open to change and saying yes to life, and, when you do, you never know what amazing things might happen.
June 9, 2024
Sweet women’s fiction, with a tiny bit of a romance.
Jenny left home at 17, had a baby at 18, and her boyfriend left them soon after. Estranged from her parents, she has lived for 18 years as a single mum to her son Charlie.
Until the day their life fell apart — she got laid off, her car broke down, and their coastal Norfolk cottage fell off a cliff into the sea.
This forces Jenny and Charlie to change their routine; and courtesy of their neighbor who lived in a motor home, they find themselves on the roadtrip of a lifetime.
Jenny left home at 17, had a baby at 18, and her boyfriend left them soon after. Estranged from her parents, she has lived for 18 years as a single mum to her son Charlie.
Until the day their life fell apart — she got laid off, her car broke down, and their coastal Norfolk cottage fell off a cliff into the sea.
This forces Jenny and Charlie to change their routine; and courtesy of their neighbor who lived in a motor home, they find themselves on the roadtrip of a lifetime.
January 20, 2024
Jenny James Is Not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson is an enjoyable contemporary fiction that left me feeling uplifted and a smile upon my face.
This was a feel-good contemporary fiction that takes the reader along for a ride of overcoming obstacles, finding meaning, looking for that silver lining, and finding hope in a future that now doesn’t seem quite as dark. Jenny, Charlie, and Luke are great main characters, and through their gathered trip, we get to see them truly blossom.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/9/24.
This was a feel-good contemporary fiction that takes the reader along for a ride of overcoming obstacles, finding meaning, looking for that silver lining, and finding hope in a future that now doesn’t seem quite as dark. Jenny, Charlie, and Luke are great main characters, and through their gathered trip, we get to see them truly blossom.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/9/24.
July 8, 2024
Jenny James is not a Disaster.
On the contrary…Jenny James is witty, real, full of heart and humor and one of my most favorite characters I’ve read this year.
Jenny is a single mom to 18 year old lovable Charlie. She has been on her own since she is 17 years old after a terrible falling out with her parents. She has always managed on her own, working hard to make sure Charlie has a happy life. Until one awful day when she finds out she will be losing her job, her car breaks down and her beloved cottage on a cliff above the ocean shockingly falls into the sea.
At this crossroads in her life, she surprisingly accepts an offer to join her standoffish neighbor Luke on an adventure in his motorhome. Jenny, Charlie and Luke set out on a roadtrip across England to various destinations that they pick from a hat. The sights, the scenery, the laughs and the companionship are healing to all of them.
This is a poignant novel exploring motherhood, love, family, grief and learning to live in the present. There are many little nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout this book and it was relatable in so many ways. The fact that we often place worth on material things instead of realizing what is truly important in life is explored deeply. The author did a great job showcasing this.
I loved the journey (literal and figurative) of Jenny, Luke and Charlie (Betty too!) it was such a heartfelt, wonderful story that made me laugh out loud, shed some tears and smile at the growth and contentment that the characters discover. This will definitely be one of my favorite books this year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
On the contrary…Jenny James is witty, real, full of heart and humor and one of my most favorite characters I’ve read this year.
Jenny is a single mom to 18 year old lovable Charlie. She has been on her own since she is 17 years old after a terrible falling out with her parents. She has always managed on her own, working hard to make sure Charlie has a happy life. Until one awful day when she finds out she will be losing her job, her car breaks down and her beloved cottage on a cliff above the ocean shockingly falls into the sea.
At this crossroads in her life, she surprisingly accepts an offer to join her standoffish neighbor Luke on an adventure in his motorhome. Jenny, Charlie and Luke set out on a roadtrip across England to various destinations that they pick from a hat. The sights, the scenery, the laughs and the companionship are healing to all of them.
This is a poignant novel exploring motherhood, love, family, grief and learning to live in the present. There are many little nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout this book and it was relatable in so many ways. The fact that we often place worth on material things instead of realizing what is truly important in life is explored deeply. The author did a great job showcasing this.
I loved the journey (literal and figurative) of Jenny, Luke and Charlie (Betty too!) it was such a heartfelt, wonderful story that made me laugh out loud, shed some tears and smile at the growth and contentment that the characters discover. This will definitely be one of my favorite books this year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2024
4.5⭐️ There are bad days and then there are epically horrible bad days. Jenny James is having the latter. On her best days her life is a struggle. She’s a single mom to a teenage son and she’s doing it ALL on her own. When a miserable rainy day gets worse with a broken down car and looming unemployment, it enters “are you kidding me” territory when her modest home literally slides off a cliff and into the ocean. What’s a girl to do? If you’re Jenny James, you pick up the pieces of your life, gather up your few remaining belongings, and take off on a motor home adventure with your mysterious neighbor, his weiner dog, and your teenage son - all in the hope of finding your joy.
JENNY JAMES IS NOT A DISASTER packs an emotional wallop. Debbie Johnson gives us a tender look at starting over. There’s a tremendous amount of wisdom and heart in Jenny’s story. Ms. Johnson paints a realistic portrait of family - of knowing when to hold on and when to let go, of forgiveness and shifting perspective, and of unconditional and infinite love. I adored this book, these characters, and the way in which the author allows the story to unfold.
Don’t sleep on this book. It’s utterly captivating (and there are dogs!).
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
JENNY JAMES IS NOT A DISASTER packs an emotional wallop. Debbie Johnson gives us a tender look at starting over. There’s a tremendous amount of wisdom and heart in Jenny’s story. Ms. Johnson paints a realistic portrait of family - of knowing when to hold on and when to let go, of forgiveness and shifting perspective, and of unconditional and infinite love. I adored this book, these characters, and the way in which the author allows the story to unfold.
Don’t sleep on this book. It’s utterly captivating (and there are dogs!).
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
March 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
I loved this book so much that I almost devoured it in one sitting. The characters were well developed and easy to root for and the writing was beautiful as well.
After a series of crazy disasters, Jenny, a 30 something single mom to a teenager, finds herself on a cross country motor home trip with her neighbor who she barely know. When Jenny, her son, Charlie and Luke travel she learns a lot about herself and what she wants in life and she forges a beautiful relationship with Luke, despite his complicated history. She also reunites with her estranged family. It's a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!
I loved this book so much that I almost devoured it in one sitting. The characters were well developed and easy to root for and the writing was beautiful as well.
After a series of crazy disasters, Jenny, a 30 something single mom to a teenager, finds herself on a cross country motor home trip with her neighbor who she barely know. When Jenny, her son, Charlie and Luke travel she learns a lot about herself and what she wants in life and she forges a beautiful relationship with Luke, despite his complicated history. She also reunites with her estranged family. It's a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!
October 22, 2024
This is a delightful book that I could not put down. When Jenny finds out she is losing her job, just as her son is going to university, she thinks that is the worst that can happen. Then her car breaks down and strands her in the middle of a torrential rain storm, and when she and her son walk to theire cottage in the storm, they discover that their cottage is gone - it has crumbled over a cliff as the storm erodes the cliff far enough back to swallow their house. They are rescued by a man who has been staying nearby in a mobile home, and with no place to go, no job, and nothing to do, Jenny accepts his invitation for her and her son to travel around England with him for the summer. Things work out well, and the story continues from there.
September 24, 2025
5 Stars for Jenny James Is Not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson. Jenny James’s life falls apart in a single day: she finds out she’s being laid off, her car breaks down, and when she returns home, she finds her house has literally fallen off a cliff. Homeless, jobless, estranged from her family, Jenny and her teenage son embark on a spontaneous RV tour with handsome nomadic neighbor, Luke and his pup Betty…and Jenny discovers a side of herself she didn’t realize existed. It's just her and her 18-year-old son - sadly, she is estranged from her family - and she has to decide what to do with her life. As they explore England, she is forced to take a hard look at her life and past choices, come to terms with her past, and try to figure out what she wants for her future.
“Are you scared?” she asks, leaning across toward me. I nod dumbly—I am scared. I’m terrified. “Good,” she says briskly. “All the best things in life are scary to start off with."
This book was wholesome and heartwarming.
“Are you scared?” she asks, leaning across toward me. I nod dumbly—I am scared. I’m terrified. “Good,” she says briskly. “All the best things in life are scary to start off with."
This book was wholesome and heartwarming.
May 29, 2025
This was one of the most enjoyable and heartwarming books I’d read recently, a light read but thought-provoking. Jenny James, single Mom to 18-year old Charlie, learns that the carpet business she works for locally may close their office for good, causing employees to relocate elsewhere. This is something Jenny would not want to do. Then her elderly car, “Nina,’” refuses to start (eventually deemed too expensive to repair) and she and Charlie take the lengthy bus trip home. They walk home in stormy weather to relax, only to find their cliffside cottage sliding to oblivion, possessions flying about.
Trying to grab some treasured pictures as their belongings swirl away, Jenny is rescued by Luke Henderson, who is staying in his motorhome in a nearby field. He and his friendly dog, Betty, turn out to be hospitable, and Jenny and Charlie eventually decide to travel for about a week with Luke to check out the mobile life. Gradually, their horizons change and contentment grows. The characterizations are lovely—Jenny sees life apart from her daily work grind and endless penny-pinching to survive. Charlie thrives beside the kind, mature male he has never experienced as his father had left the family when he was a toddler. And Luke enjoys the company and the exploration the three do together of areas of interest chosen from scraps of paper the three have written and choose from a hat.
This is a fun read with themes of eventual family reconciliation for Jenny and Charlie and healing of traumatic life events as well as building of deep friendships for Luke. An easy read in summary, with many life lessons about finding joy.
Trying to grab some treasured pictures as their belongings swirl away, Jenny is rescued by Luke Henderson, who is staying in his motorhome in a nearby field. He and his friendly dog, Betty, turn out to be hospitable, and Jenny and Charlie eventually decide to travel for about a week with Luke to check out the mobile life. Gradually, their horizons change and contentment grows. The characterizations are lovely—Jenny sees life apart from her daily work grind and endless penny-pinching to survive. Charlie thrives beside the kind, mature male he has never experienced as his father had left the family when he was a toddler. And Luke enjoys the company and the exploration the three do together of areas of interest chosen from scraps of paper the three have written and choose from a hat.
This is a fun read with themes of eventual family reconciliation for Jenny and Charlie and healing of traumatic life events as well as building of deep friendships for Luke. An easy read in summary, with many life lessons about finding joy.
July 11, 2024
Loved this. It was touching and real, no fake meet cutes or relationship problems. Everything worked naturally. The trio of Charlie, Jenny and Luke on a road trip was adorable. Nice to just read about people loving each other for once. No deep squabbles (some past issues) and no overwhelming sadness. Betty was the best.
July 29, 2024
Jenny James was a cute contemporary romance with humorous and tender moments. I couldn't really relate to any of the deeper moments that the characters experienced but felt emotional regardless.
I received an ALC from HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ALC from HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2025
Thanks a lot, Debbie Johnson; your book Jenny James Is Not a Disaster made me cry. I hope you're happy.
Seriously, though, I haven't been brought to tears by a book in what feels like decades, but when I hit a certain touching spot at the end of Jenny and Charlie's adventures with Luke, the tears came. Perhaps it was because I'm a mother and a daughter familiar with the challenges those relationships bring, combined with the skillful manner in which Johnson portrays the moment in question, but it hit me, to use a now defunct saying, in all of "the feels".
This not at all a disaster of a book has it all - catastrophe, recovery, plenty of humour, richly described locations in England that I now want to see, cute dogs, relationship drama, and romance. What more can one ask for, except maybe not to be brought to tears? (Honestly, though, I don't mind that either.)
Superbly written, Johnson has another hit of a page turner on her hands. I'm so happy to have received an ARC of #JennyJamesIsNotaDisaster from #NetGalley.
Seriously, though, I haven't been brought to tears by a book in what feels like decades, but when I hit a certain touching spot at the end of Jenny and Charlie's adventures with Luke, the tears came. Perhaps it was because I'm a mother and a daughter familiar with the challenges those relationships bring, combined with the skillful manner in which Johnson portrays the moment in question, but it hit me, to use a now defunct saying, in all of "the feels".
This not at all a disaster of a book has it all - catastrophe, recovery, plenty of humour, richly described locations in England that I now want to see, cute dogs, relationship drama, and romance. What more can one ask for, except maybe not to be brought to tears? (Honestly, though, I don't mind that either.)
Superbly written, Johnson has another hit of a page turner on her hands. I'm so happy to have received an ARC of #JennyJamesIsNotaDisaster from #NetGalley.
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