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One Less Problem Without You
Meet Prinny, Chelsea and Diana. Prinny is the owner of Cosmos, a shop that sells crystals, potions, candles, and hope. It’s also a place where no one turns down a little extra-special cocktail that can work as a romance potion or heal a broken heart. But Prinny is in love with her married lawyer and she’ll need nothing short of magic to forget about him.
Chelsea works as a living statue at tourist sites around Washington, DC. It's a thankless job, but it helps pay the rent. That, and her part-time job at Cosmos. As her dream of becoming a successful actress starts to seem more remote and the possibility of being a permanently struggling one seems more realistic, Chelsea begins to wonder: at one point do you give up on your dreams? And will love ever be in the cards for her?
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a charismatic man who isn’t faithful. But no matter how many times he lets her down, Diana just can't let him go. She knows the only way she can truly breakaway is if she leaves and goes where he will never think to follow. So she ends up at Cosmos with Leif’s stepsister, where she makes her homemade teas and tinctures as she figures out whether she'd rather be lonely alone than lonely in love.
In Beth Harbison's One Less Problem Without You, three women suddenly find themselves together at their own very different crossroads. It will take hope, love, strength and a little bit of magic for them to find their way together.
Chelsea works as a living statue at tourist sites around Washington, DC. It's a thankless job, but it helps pay the rent. That, and her part-time job at Cosmos. As her dream of becoming a successful actress starts to seem more remote and the possibility of being a permanently struggling one seems more realistic, Chelsea begins to wonder: at one point do you give up on your dreams? And will love ever be in the cards for her?
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a charismatic man who isn’t faithful. But no matter how many times he lets her down, Diana just can't let him go. She knows the only way she can truly breakaway is if she leaves and goes where he will never think to follow. So she ends up at Cosmos with Leif’s stepsister, where she makes her homemade teas and tinctures as she figures out whether she'd rather be lonely alone than lonely in love.
In Beth Harbison's One Less Problem Without You, three women suddenly find themselves together at their own very different crossroads. It will take hope, love, strength and a little bit of magic for them to find their way together.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2016
119 people are currently reading
2990 people want to read
About the author
Beth Harbison
27 books1,695 followersBeth Harbison grew up in Potomac, Maryland, in the shadow of Washington, D.C. Apart from the occasional irritation at being held up in traffic by a presidential motorcade, she has remained fairly uninvolved in the politics that define her home town. Her latest book is CONFESSIONS OF THE OTHER SISTER, William Morrow 10/11/22
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
August 15, 2016
Oh it pains me to write this review. I love Beth Harbison, I've read all her books and have always enjoyed her writing. So I was excited for this book.
And it was just...no.
First, let me just say...this book should come with a trigger warning for rape. I really really wish that was a thing put in book descriptions. The same warning system a tv show uses.
The thing is, and why I'm giving it two starts instead of one, is...I FELT like there was a really good story here, an awesome story. It just...wasn't in the book.
I liked the characters, I liked them a lot. I was interested in their stories. But I felt like the vast majority of the book there was no story. We were told a lot of info about them, in some cases told over and over and over again but nothing actually seemed to happen. Prinny was in love with her lawyer but we hardly saw them interact, just got told about it. Diana was escaping her awful husband but we hardly saw him being awful, just were told over and over again how bad he was. Chelsea wanted to be an actress and we heard a lot about the struggle but saw very little of it, just a lot of her whining about how hard it all was. Nothing was happening, just the same info repeated time and time again.
And the random flashbacks were awkward and didn't add a thing to the story. I would have rather SEEN Leif be cruel, instead of odd flashbacks to years before when it was unclear WHAT he was even doing, since it was always from a nanny's pov. It was just strange
Then all of a sudden everything happened. With very little explanation and all within the last 20% of the book. It was out of no where and felt rushed and chaotic. Things weren't explained, they just kind of happened (like how the hell did he even find her?). The pacing was horrible and left me confused and lost. Most of the book felt like it dragged and was boring and then not at all.
As I said, I felt like a good story was here. If the first 80% of the book had been moved along faster and the last 20% had been expanded on, I think there was a brilliant story in that section. Focus more on Chelsea coming back from what happened to her, more on Diana really coming into her own after leaving her ass of a husband (and show some explanation as to why she stayed that long), and show Prinny and her lawyer and the connection they had (and maybe explain why he's suddenly not married). All of that could have made for an awesome book...but it just...wasn't actually in the book.
We skipped over all of it to a year later....which honestly, unless its or a short epilogue, is never really a good idea. Just bad.
I wanted to love this book and I just couldn't.
And it was just...no.
First, let me just say...this book should come with a trigger warning for rape. I really really wish that was a thing put in book descriptions. The same warning system a tv show uses.
The thing is, and why I'm giving it two starts instead of one, is...I FELT like there was a really good story here, an awesome story. It just...wasn't in the book.
I liked the characters, I liked them a lot. I was interested in their stories. But I felt like the vast majority of the book there was no story. We were told a lot of info about them, in some cases told over and over and over again but nothing actually seemed to happen. Prinny was in love with her lawyer but we hardly saw them interact, just got told about it. Diana was escaping her awful husband but we hardly saw him being awful, just were told over and over again how bad he was. Chelsea wanted to be an actress and we heard a lot about the struggle but saw very little of it, just a lot of her whining about how hard it all was. Nothing was happening, just the same info repeated time and time again.
And the random flashbacks were awkward and didn't add a thing to the story. I would have rather SEEN Leif be cruel, instead of odd flashbacks to years before when it was unclear WHAT he was even doing, since it was always from a nanny's pov. It was just strange
Then all of a sudden everything happened. With very little explanation and all within the last 20% of the book. It was out of no where and felt rushed and chaotic. Things weren't explained, they just kind of happened (like how the hell did he even find her?). The pacing was horrible and left me confused and lost. Most of the book felt like it dragged and was boring and then not at all.
As I said, I felt like a good story was here. If the first 80% of the book had been moved along faster and the last 20% had been expanded on, I think there was a brilliant story in that section. Focus more on Chelsea coming back from what happened to her, more on Diana really coming into her own after leaving her ass of a husband (and show some explanation as to why she stayed that long), and show Prinny and her lawyer and the connection they had (and maybe explain why he's suddenly not married). All of that could have made for an awesome book...but it just...wasn't actually in the book.
We skipped over all of it to a year later....which honestly, unless its or a short epilogue, is never really a good idea. Just bad.
I wanted to love this book and I just couldn't.
July 27, 2016
One Less Problem Without You isn’t your typical chick-lit book; it contains some very dark elements (sexual assault, as well verbal and physical abuse).
Diana, Prinny, and Chelsea are tied together due to their relationships with a vile excuse for a man, Lief Tiesman. Diana has been married to Leif or 10 years. He has cheated on her throughout their marriage and has been verbally and physically abusive. The only one who understands what she is going through is her sister-in-law, Prinny.
While Leif has had no problem assaulting and abusing women, the one woman he is scared of is his stepsister, Prinny, who has psychic abilities and can see right through him. Prinny owns and operates a metaphysical store. She has to constantly defend her business and how she spends her money, as Leif is always waiting to take her to court to establish control over their father’s trust. She is harboring a crush on her married lawyer.
Chelsea is a struggling actress who works at Prinny’s store doing psychic readings. She isn’t over her ex, and is starting to question her life’s ambitions. As a result, she is in a vulnerable state, which leads to a scary encounter with Leif.
Despite the darkness, there is some romance and magic mixed in to help lighten things up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Diana, Prinny, and Chelsea are tied together due to their relationships with a vile excuse for a man, Lief Tiesman. Diana has been married to Leif or 10 years. He has cheated on her throughout their marriage and has been verbally and physically abusive. The only one who understands what she is going through is her sister-in-law, Prinny.
While Leif has had no problem assaulting and abusing women, the one woman he is scared of is his stepsister, Prinny, who has psychic abilities and can see right through him. Prinny owns and operates a metaphysical store. She has to constantly defend her business and how she spends her money, as Leif is always waiting to take her to court to establish control over their father’s trust. She is harboring a crush on her married lawyer.
Chelsea is a struggling actress who works at Prinny’s store doing psychic readings. She isn’t over her ex, and is starting to question her life’s ambitions. As a result, she is in a vulnerable state, which leads to a scary encounter with Leif.
Despite the darkness, there is some romance and magic mixed in to help lighten things up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2016
Beth Harbison's novels have been favourites of mine for their guarantee of well-paced entertainment, slightly off-centre characters, and women-friendly plots. ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU has followed that pattern, including the touches of "impractical magic" that move Harbison's stories into the gently fantastical and wishfully whimsical.
This time, however, the storyline is shadowed by the exposure of the charmingly vicious narcissist, Leif, who crosses the paths of three women in the present day, significantly changing them all. We learn their stories, alternating between them and weaving in time, until the building suspense leads to an unexpected ending...one I found myself searching back in the book's pages for clues which I had obviously missed.
The writing is not perfect; Harbison's pen becomes a bit discombobulated dipping into Leif's notorious early history, leaving his victims mid-air, rather than the proof of his personality in context. I did keep waiting for those in each fascinating vignette to reappear, to no avail.
Beth Harbison has delivered overall as she always has. However, the domestic abuse, poisonous manipulation, sexual assault, denial and resulting personal illumination are powerful themes which are new to her writing, and have been executed dramatically. I will continue to remain a fan.
This time, however, the storyline is shadowed by the exposure of the charmingly vicious narcissist, Leif, who crosses the paths of three women in the present day, significantly changing them all. We learn their stories, alternating between them and weaving in time, until the building suspense leads to an unexpected ending...one I found myself searching back in the book's pages for clues which I had obviously missed.
The writing is not perfect; Harbison's pen becomes a bit discombobulated dipping into Leif's notorious early history, leaving his victims mid-air, rather than the proof of his personality in context. I did keep waiting for those in each fascinating vignette to reappear, to no avail.
Beth Harbison has delivered overall as she always has. However, the domestic abuse, poisonous manipulation, sexual assault, denial and resulting personal illumination are powerful themes which are new to her writing, and have been executed dramatically. I will continue to remain a fan.
July 18, 2016
One Less Problem Without You focuses on three women who find their lives interwoven together. Diana Tiesman has found out that her husband has been unfaithful and is desperate to escape him. Chelsea wants to be an actress but has found herself working as a living statue around the tourist sites but takes a part-time job at Cosmos. Prinny owns Cosmos, a shop that sells crystals, potions, candles, and hope and is also the step-sister of Diana's husband but doesn't get along with him.
The Goodreads synopsis on this one is way off the mark, possibly a rough draft with the names and details having changed since that one was put up? The read is one about these three women being connected in their lives following them along in their relationships and problems in their lives and how they deal and come to terms with them.
Told from alternating prospective between the characters along with flashbacks to give a bit of backstory the book has taken some darker topics and turned them into more of a light hearted read. Diana's husband is abusive, he's also the step-brother of Prinny and grew up abusing her. There's rape also involved for those that may be bothered by it.
I went into this one thinking it was more of a romance but ended up with a deeper grittier look into these characters lives than I was expecting. Still enjoyed this read in the end though even being not quite what I expected to find.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
The Goodreads synopsis on this one is way off the mark, possibly a rough draft with the names and details having changed since that one was put up? The read is one about these three women being connected in their lives following them along in their relationships and problems in their lives and how they deal and come to terms with them.
Told from alternating prospective between the characters along with flashbacks to give a bit of backstory the book has taken some darker topics and turned them into more of a light hearted read. Diana's husband is abusive, he's also the step-brother of Prinny and grew up abusing her. There's rape also involved for those that may be bothered by it.
I went into this one thinking it was more of a romance but ended up with a deeper grittier look into these characters lives than I was expecting. Still enjoyed this read in the end though even being not quite what I expected to find.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 30, 2017
Have you ever read a book and got 1/2 way through and asked "why am I reading this?" That's the category this book fell in for me. Just didn't get it at all.
October 9, 2018
I guess I never learn.
Repeat after me- colorful cover doesn't make a happy and light read. Okaaaay. Right.
Moving on.
To Ariana Grande.
Oh yes....this title got me singing this damn song all day long.
Now on to the actual book.
Because another one bits the dust.
No bueno.
I felt like a lot of things were left out the book. A lot. There is a lot of holes in a plot line.
Another bad thing is use of flashbacks. Well now I don't like them but I understand the need of them and here they were useless.
The thing with multiple point of views, yeah not working either. It would be better with one lead and other being side characters because this way not one story of these three woman felt completed. Maybe because of above mentioned holes in the story. Author tried to cover this three characters lives and it didn't work.
Repeat after me- colorful cover doesn't make a happy and light read. Okaaaay. Right.
Moving on.
To Ariana Grande.
Oh yes....this title got me singing this damn song all day long.
Now on to the actual book.
Because another one bits the dust.
No bueno.
I felt like a lot of things were left out the book. A lot. There is a lot of holes in a plot line.
Another bad thing is use of flashbacks. Well now I don't like them but I understand the need of them and here they were useless.
The thing with multiple point of views, yeah not working either. It would be better with one lead and other being side characters because this way not one story of these three woman felt completed. Maybe because of above mentioned holes in the story. Author tried to cover this three characters lives and it didn't work.
April 29, 2020
I liked this book better than I thought I would. Keep in mind though, this is not light reading. The characters are layered. We have a crystal shop. The owner is a …umm...spiritualist? You know, the tarot card reading, incense burning, amethyst for anxiety selling character. In the 1960's we would have called her a hippy. Now, I'm unsure of the term used. Anyway, she keeps her chakras balanced by staying away from her jerky older brother. Until his much abused wife shows up on her doorstep. Since she brings her gift of making the perfect tea for any occasion she fits in perfectly.
This is a story about the strength of women when they help each other. Each character is different but the same in their core courage. They each find their happiness by working together.
This is a story about the strength of women when they help each other. Each character is different but the same in their core courage. They each find their happiness by working together.
July 29, 2019
One Less Problem was a cute book about the power of a woman and the power of friendship, with a little dose of magic thrown in for good measure. I would say it has a slight Practical Magic feel to it.
Those qualities are definitely what I liked about One Less Problem, as well as overall good writing. This is the second of Harbison's books I've read, and while I liked the other book better, I do like her writing in general.
BUT... I had a few issues with this story.
The story is told mostly in the present tense, with a few chapters jumping to the past. This was mostly okay, but there were a few chapters told from the point-of-view of women who weren't even characters in the story. I understand why the author did this, sort of, but it was distracting.
I felt One Less Problem tipped onto the side of a little too silly, and likely wasn't meant to be silly at all. It's hard for me to explain what I mean, and I know that stinks. It's just, Leif, the big baddie, was a caricature. Not only does he ruin Diana—his wife's—life, but also his half-sister Prinny's, and even plays a hand in Chelsea's story. He was over the top, a complete sociopath. It felt like overkill. All that was needed was a silly mustache to twirl as Leif threatened every woman in sight.
One more issue that *really* got to me was the sexual assaults (yes, more than one) that bookended One Less Problem. I have no problem when used as part of responsible storytelling, but honestly, I felt it was used just to show how bad the bad guy could be. The fact that neither woman was shown to truly deal with the emotional aftermath was salt in the wound.
In hindsight, I'm not sure how to sum up my true feelings about One Less Problem. It had the great quality of strong female friendships and there were moments of great fun, but also shadowed by parts I just didn't care for. Having said that, I'm a very picky reader these days and this may be your cup of tea.
Those qualities are definitely what I liked about One Less Problem, as well as overall good writing. This is the second of Harbison's books I've read, and while I liked the other book better, I do like her writing in general.
BUT... I had a few issues with this story.
The story is told mostly in the present tense, with a few chapters jumping to the past. This was mostly okay, but there were a few chapters told from the point-of-view of women who weren't even characters in the story. I understand why the author did this, sort of, but it was distracting.
I felt One Less Problem tipped onto the side of a little too silly, and likely wasn't meant to be silly at all. It's hard for me to explain what I mean, and I know that stinks. It's just, Leif, the big baddie, was a caricature. Not only does he ruin Diana—his wife's—life, but also his half-sister Prinny's, and even plays a hand in Chelsea's story. He was over the top, a complete sociopath. It felt like overkill. All that was needed was a silly mustache to twirl as Leif threatened every woman in sight.
One more issue that *really* got to me was the sexual assaults (yes, more than one) that bookended One Less Problem. I have no problem when used as part of responsible storytelling, but honestly, I felt it was used just to show how bad the bad guy could be. The fact that neither woman was shown to truly deal with the emotional aftermath was salt in the wound.
In hindsight, I'm not sure how to sum up my true feelings about One Less Problem. It had the great quality of strong female friendships and there were moments of great fun, but also shadowed by parts I just didn't care for. Having said that, I'm a very picky reader these days and this may be your cup of tea.
May 23, 2016
I received a free ARC copy via Netgalley.com.
Wow..... just wow. There was nothing in this book that I expected there to be. I mean, I get it. One bitter little boy grew up to be a bitter, but powerful, man and destroyed so much in the 30-something years he was alive. Let's just skip to the pros and cons before this Review gives me a headache.
LIKES
1: The Characters
Beth Harbison did an excellent job of writing well rounded characters that had real emotion in them.
2:
DISLIKES
1: EVERYTHING
The biggest issue I had was that the Synopsis from Netgelly, where I requested the book, did not match the actual story line.
I hated how the book would jump back and forth from random times in the past to the present. I understand that the author was providing back story, but there had to be a better way to do it. I hated that there were so many different stories going on in this one book. I hated how Diana's story was in first person while EVERYONE else was in 3rd. I hated that Chelsea didn't share her story about Lief with the 2 women closest to her. I hate that everything seemed to wrap up into a nice little bow at the end, and it drives me nuts that after Lief died each additional chapter read like it was going to be the last, but nooooooo, there had to be at least 3 more that really made no sense, but since the book had already been written that way, I guess the ending chapters were a necessity.
I am a Beth Harbison fan, and I can't believe that this is close to a final draft of hers. This book is set to come out July 2016, but it reads (in my opinion) more like it needs another years worth of work.
Wow..... just wow. There was nothing in this book that I expected there to be. I mean, I get it. One bitter little boy grew up to be a bitter, but powerful, man and destroyed so much in the 30-something years he was alive. Let's just skip to the pros and cons before this Review gives me a headache.
LIKES
1: The Characters
Beth Harbison did an excellent job of writing well rounded characters that had real emotion in them.
2:
DISLIKES
1: EVERYTHING
The biggest issue I had was that the Synopsis from Netgelly, where I requested the book, did not match the actual story line.
I hated how the book would jump back and forth from random times in the past to the present. I understand that the author was providing back story, but there had to be a better way to do it. I hated that there were so many different stories going on in this one book. I hated how Diana's story was in first person while EVERYONE else was in 3rd. I hated that Chelsea didn't share her story about Lief with the 2 women closest to her. I hate that everything seemed to wrap up into a nice little bow at the end, and it drives me nuts that after Lief died each additional chapter read like it was going to be the last, but nooooooo, there had to be at least 3 more that really made no sense, but since the book had already been written that way, I guess the ending chapters were a necessity.
I am a Beth Harbison fan, and I can't believe that this is close to a final draft of hers. This book is set to come out July 2016, but it reads (in my opinion) more like it needs another years worth of work.
August 21, 2016
This was a really well written book that I really enjoyed. It's kind of dark and has several sad moments. There is abuse and other things so be forewarned. I really liked the three characters Prinny, Diana and Chelsea and how they all intertwine. I also liked the flashbacks that explained some of the behaviors of the characters. Very enjoyable and well worth the read.
I won this on Goodreads.
I won this on Goodreads.
May 3, 2024
I haven’t had very good luck with this author, which is a shame, really, because the titles of her books are so catchy and look like fun. If you are looking for a whimsical chick-lit type of story, this is not the author. Instead, this book is more women’s fiction with some dark undertones.
One Less Problem Without You introduces the reader to three women, Prinny, Chelsea and Diana. Prinny owns and operates a new age mystical store named Cosmos. Chelsea works in the store as well as trying to get her acting career off the ground. Diana is Prinny’s sister-in-law who has just left her cheating creep of a husband and is welcomed into the fold by Prinny. All three of these women have had the worst luck when it comes to finding the one, but find acceptance, support and friendship with one another.
There are some triggers in this book for me such as domestic violence, sexual assault and adultery, but these events moved the story forward and gave me more empathy for these characters. The story moves at a good pace and the bond these women form was heartwarming to witness. These women were easy to relate to and root for. The story is told from all three women’s perspectives both in the past and in the present.
My Final Verdict: I recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction who like books that feature strong characters who rise above the struggles and disappointments life has handed them to take back their power.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of One Less Problem Without You from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One Less Problem Without You introduces the reader to three women, Prinny, Chelsea and Diana. Prinny owns and operates a new age mystical store named Cosmos. Chelsea works in the store as well as trying to get her acting career off the ground. Diana is Prinny’s sister-in-law who has just left her cheating creep of a husband and is welcomed into the fold by Prinny. All three of these women have had the worst luck when it comes to finding the one, but find acceptance, support and friendship with one another.
There are some triggers in this book for me such as domestic violence, sexual assault and adultery, but these events moved the story forward and gave me more empathy for these characters. The story moves at a good pace and the bond these women form was heartwarming to witness. These women were easy to relate to and root for. The story is told from all three women’s perspectives both in the past and in the present.
My Final Verdict: I recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction who like books that feature strong characters who rise above the struggles and disappointments life has handed them to take back their power.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of One Less Problem Without You from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2016
Man, its been SO long since I have read anything by Beth Harbison - I need to catch up on a back log. Seriously, Hope in a Jar and Shoe Addicts Anonymous are beloved favorites of mine. I will always remember that they were the first two books I read after I graduated from law school and actually had time to read for pleasure again.
Beth Harbison's characters are always so relatable to me and she does a wonderful job at creating character connections. This story was no different as I was immediately drawn into Diana's plight from the first chapter. Diana thought she was marrying her perfect guy, only to learn that he was not the person she thought he was. At that point, she's in so deep and he has damaged her self-esteem so much, that she stays and puts up with his repetitive cheating and poor treatment. Oftentimes, this type of character will annoy me because I don't understand that mentality of staying in a bad relationship for the sake of whatever. However that didn't happen with Diana. I genuinely liked her and empathized with her situation.
Lief Tiesman, Diana's husband, is a sadistic SOB. From the time he was a child, he was torturing animals and his half-sister, Prinny. Now he tortures his wife, and probably any other female that he comes across. His ego is through the roof and he really cares about no one but himself. Needless to say, Lief was a disturbed individual and made a great villain for this story. He was one of those characters that you hope gets killed off in a most gruesome way.
Prinny is sweet, eccentric, and somewhat psychic. She was tormented by Lief her entire childhood and she never quite understood why... and he continues to torment her now as an adult. Luckily for Prinny, she has a buffer in the form of her attorney, on whom she has a major crush. Prinny runs a metaphysical shop and probably has her head in the clouds much of the time, but she was so nice and quirky that you can't help but like her character.
Chelsea is a struggling actress, and that struggle is starting to break her spirit. At 29 years old, she thought she would already be a star... not juggling two jobs in between auditions and memorizing lines. I wasn't quite sure of her purpose in the story, some of it seemed like filler. However, a tragedy occurs in the second half of the book that entwines her life more closely to Prinny and Diana. The seriousness of Chelsea's tragedy seemed a little glossed over to me - she recovered fairly easily and with minimal trauma. Though I think it fit with the story and I wasn't overly upset by that. I don't think, at that point of the story, I would have wanted to read a long drawn out account of recovery.
The book gives us an account of Lief's bad deeds from the time he was a teenager going forward. There are snippets of his bad acts that build your hatred of him as the story progresses. By the time I was a quarter into the story, I wanted to sock it to the loathsome Lief myself. But we see Diana, Prinny and Chelsea each deal with Lief on her own terms, while coming closer together as friends and co-workers. I think the story highlights the importance of maintaining a support group of friends and loved ones in your life... otherwise you end up isolated like Diana with no one to turn to when things go bad.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 1 flame. Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.
Beth Harbison's characters are always so relatable to me and she does a wonderful job at creating character connections. This story was no different as I was immediately drawn into Diana's plight from the first chapter. Diana thought she was marrying her perfect guy, only to learn that he was not the person she thought he was. At that point, she's in so deep and he has damaged her self-esteem so much, that she stays and puts up with his repetitive cheating and poor treatment. Oftentimes, this type of character will annoy me because I don't understand that mentality of staying in a bad relationship for the sake of whatever. However that didn't happen with Diana. I genuinely liked her and empathized with her situation.
Lief Tiesman, Diana's husband, is a sadistic SOB. From the time he was a child, he was torturing animals and his half-sister, Prinny. Now he tortures his wife, and probably any other female that he comes across. His ego is through the roof and he really cares about no one but himself. Needless to say, Lief was a disturbed individual and made a great villain for this story. He was one of those characters that you hope gets killed off in a most gruesome way.
Prinny is sweet, eccentric, and somewhat psychic. She was tormented by Lief her entire childhood and she never quite understood why... and he continues to torment her now as an adult. Luckily for Prinny, she has a buffer in the form of her attorney, on whom she has a major crush. Prinny runs a metaphysical shop and probably has her head in the clouds much of the time, but she was so nice and quirky that you can't help but like her character.
Chelsea is a struggling actress, and that struggle is starting to break her spirit. At 29 years old, she thought she would already be a star... not juggling two jobs in between auditions and memorizing lines. I wasn't quite sure of her purpose in the story, some of it seemed like filler. However, a tragedy occurs in the second half of the book that entwines her life more closely to Prinny and Diana. The seriousness of Chelsea's tragedy seemed a little glossed over to me - she recovered fairly easily and with minimal trauma. Though I think it fit with the story and I wasn't overly upset by that. I don't think, at that point of the story, I would have wanted to read a long drawn out account of recovery.
The book gives us an account of Lief's bad deeds from the time he was a teenager going forward. There are snippets of his bad acts that build your hatred of him as the story progresses. By the time I was a quarter into the story, I wanted to sock it to the loathsome Lief myself. But we see Diana, Prinny and Chelsea each deal with Lief on her own terms, while coming closer together as friends and co-workers. I think the story highlights the importance of maintaining a support group of friends and loved ones in your life... otherwise you end up isolated like Diana with no one to turn to when things go bad.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 1 flame. Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.
August 18, 2016
One Less Problem Without You by Beth Harbison was the first book I have read by this author. I found the pages just turned themselves as I read it. It is the story really of three women, and one man.
Diana is married to Lief (the man!), however the cracks are well and truly there and as we meet them Diana has found she has had enough of his infidelity and abuse. She leaves him and turns to Prinny - his half sister, for help. Diana has a special gift that she has learned for mixing teas, all kinds of teas! I am not sure I'd take a cuppa from her if I was on the wrong side of her.
Prinny is someone who growing up put up with a lot from Lief, he went out of his way to be mean to her. Now with their Dad dead he resents her share of the money she received in the will and is forever threatening her and her business. Prinny has an ability to at times know what is going on for another person - she has some psychic ability.
Chelsea, is an aspiring actress and in the meantime works part time at Prinny's shop, and makes a good fortune teller as well. For awhile it was a little difficult to see why she was in the story but as things transpired it was no accident.
Lief - pure evil or mad and insane? I certainly did not like him in any way. I know these kind of people exist, we see them on our TV screens every so often after some crime they have committed. So will it be Lief who commits the crime in this book?
The book is a little dark, and I am not sure really that I agree with the choice of one of the women. Even though I know she was totally driven to it. Did she have the right? Did I read the book right?Would make a good book club discussion.
Diana is married to Lief (the man!), however the cracks are well and truly there and as we meet them Diana has found she has had enough of his infidelity and abuse. She leaves him and turns to Prinny - his half sister, for help. Diana has a special gift that she has learned for mixing teas, all kinds of teas! I am not sure I'd take a cuppa from her if I was on the wrong side of her.
Prinny is someone who growing up put up with a lot from Lief, he went out of his way to be mean to her. Now with their Dad dead he resents her share of the money she received in the will and is forever threatening her and her business. Prinny has an ability to at times know what is going on for another person - she has some psychic ability.
Chelsea, is an aspiring actress and in the meantime works part time at Prinny's shop, and makes a good fortune teller as well. For awhile it was a little difficult to see why she was in the story but as things transpired it was no accident.
Lief - pure evil or mad and insane? I certainly did not like him in any way. I know these kind of people exist, we see them on our TV screens every so often after some crime they have committed. So will it be Lief who commits the crime in this book?
The book is a little dark, and I am not sure really that I agree with the choice of one of the women. Even though I know she was totally driven to it. Did she have the right? Did I read the book right?Would make a good book club discussion.
July 7, 2016
Never have I wanted so badly to take a character out. I mean stop his breathing, exclude him from Planet Earth, just take him out to be heard from no more. This was one sinister "little" guy.
That being said, anytime an author can make me feel strong emotions like that - that is a winner, winner, chicken dinner for me (translation: great book). HA!
This was a great book and my feelings for Leif started building early. As the book progressed, they just grew. The story does go back and forth to try and explain a few things. Although there's no explanation for that behavior.
Anyway, I found the book very entertaining with some lovable characters who you just wanted to put under your wing and just hide. Hide them from the mean people. They were just too sweet. You couldn't help but want to be their friends. A fun and recommendable book!
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, anytime an author can make me feel strong emotions like that - that is a winner, winner, chicken dinner for me (translation: great book). HA!
This was a great book and my feelings for Leif started building early. As the book progressed, they just grew. The story does go back and forth to try and explain a few things. Although there's no explanation for that behavior.
Anyway, I found the book very entertaining with some lovable characters who you just wanted to put under your wing and just hide. Hide them from the mean people. They were just too sweet. You couldn't help but want to be their friends. A fun and recommendable book!
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2016
This book was missing something.....
July 6, 2018
A perfect way to spend an afternoon. This would be a great book club read, you could make the drinks at the end.
July 26, 2016
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beth Harbison returns following If I Could Turn Back Time (2015) with ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU — three women whose lives are at a crossroads, connected by one man, an evil monster.
A contemporary domestic suspense with a little grit, danger, some magic, courage, new friendships, and some special cosmos! Hat’s off to St. Martin’s Press and Harbison for another chic and stunning cover! -the best.
Three women who would rather "be lonely alone, than lonely in love."
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a man with two personalities. He is abusive, handsome, young, rich, charming, selfish, sadistic and unfaithful to his wife. A wife who knows she is in an unhealthy relationship, and cannot seem to break free of this man. Addiction.
For seven years she has tried to the perfect wife. From sex, home, cooking, however, he is unfaithful and now she finds herself sneaking in the bathroom to check his phone and the sluts he is texting. He was like a bad addiction. She needed an elixir. The perfect nightcap. She has no money to leave and thinks of Prinny. She has nowhere to go. Her parents were gone and she was estranged from her sister
What about killing her husband? (Sleeping With the Enemy). Being with him was killing her. She would rather die than go through this anymore. She had two options.
She turns to her sister-in-law, Prinny. Ending up a Cosmos, a cute shop in Washington, DC that sells crystals, potions, candles and lots of hope. Also some special teas, herbs, and extra special yummy cocktails.
The owner Prinny— is in love with her married lawyer, Alex and wants to forget him. She had to settle for her time with him being business related. She needed financial independence. She is also the step-sister of wicked older step-brother, Leif. She knows all too well her brother’s abusive behavior.
Leif was powerful. He was doing everything he could to sabotage her inheritance, and her life. This is why she opened Cosmos. She needed to have a legitimate business, expenses, a storefront so her Leif couldn’t accuse her of being incompetent.
Chelsea works part-time at Cosmos, with a desire to be an actress. However, she wonders if her dreams will ever be a reality as far as her career or love. Even though she could read cards and she could definitely read people. She was no psychic, but she was extremely good at reading voices, gestures, and choices.
“When one’s love life is unsatisfying, some acquires things to make up for it. Sometimes the things are lovers, sometimes the things are children, but most of the time things are things.”
Alternating from past (7-25 yrs, ago) to the present we hear about Lief Tiesman (with Diane and with Pinny). With a plan of revenge, some spicy sweet kava, wine, potent herbs, cocktails, magic, a booming new business, girl power, and three determined quirky women you will root for.
A perfect beach read, Beth combines her wit and a little grit and mystery crossing over to the dark side (hope to see more of this). Harbison would be a great domestic suspense, chick-grip-noir writer), which is so popular today. For fans of Paul Treick Deboard, Susan Crawford, and Paula Daly.
Gals, you will love the Cosmo chic cover, three gals whose lives connect, a bad guy, and "Diana’s Drinks" with 30-yummy cocktail recipes included at the end of the book. Need I say more?
JDCMustReadBooks
Beth Harbison returns following If I Could Turn Back Time (2015) with ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU — three women whose lives are at a crossroads, connected by one man, an evil monster.
A contemporary domestic suspense with a little grit, danger, some magic, courage, new friendships, and some special cosmos! Hat’s off to St. Martin’s Press and Harbison for another chic and stunning cover! -the best.
Three women who would rather "be lonely alone, than lonely in love."
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a man with two personalities. He is abusive, handsome, young, rich, charming, selfish, sadistic and unfaithful to his wife. A wife who knows she is in an unhealthy relationship, and cannot seem to break free of this man. Addiction.
For seven years she has tried to the perfect wife. From sex, home, cooking, however, he is unfaithful and now she finds herself sneaking in the bathroom to check his phone and the sluts he is texting. He was like a bad addiction. She needed an elixir. The perfect nightcap. She has no money to leave and thinks of Prinny. She has nowhere to go. Her parents were gone and she was estranged from her sister
What about killing her husband? (Sleeping With the Enemy). Being with him was killing her. She would rather die than go through this anymore. She had two options.
She turns to her sister-in-law, Prinny. Ending up a Cosmos, a cute shop in Washington, DC that sells crystals, potions, candles and lots of hope. Also some special teas, herbs, and extra special yummy cocktails.
The owner Prinny— is in love with her married lawyer, Alex and wants to forget him. She had to settle for her time with him being business related. She needed financial independence. She is also the step-sister of wicked older step-brother, Leif. She knows all too well her brother’s abusive behavior.
Leif was powerful. He was doing everything he could to sabotage her inheritance, and her life. This is why she opened Cosmos. She needed to have a legitimate business, expenses, a storefront so her Leif couldn’t accuse her of being incompetent.
Chelsea works part-time at Cosmos, with a desire to be an actress. However, she wonders if her dreams will ever be a reality as far as her career or love. Even though she could read cards and she could definitely read people. She was no psychic, but she was extremely good at reading voices, gestures, and choices.
“When one’s love life is unsatisfying, some acquires things to make up for it. Sometimes the things are lovers, sometimes the things are children, but most of the time things are things.”
Alternating from past (7-25 yrs, ago) to the present we hear about Lief Tiesman (with Diane and with Pinny). With a plan of revenge, some spicy sweet kava, wine, potent herbs, cocktails, magic, a booming new business, girl power, and three determined quirky women you will root for.
A perfect beach read, Beth combines her wit and a little grit and mystery crossing over to the dark side (hope to see more of this). Harbison would be a great domestic suspense, chick-grip-noir writer), which is so popular today. For fans of Paul Treick Deboard, Susan Crawford, and Paula Daly.
Gals, you will love the Cosmo chic cover, three gals whose lives connect, a bad guy, and "Diana’s Drinks" with 30-yummy cocktail recipes included at the end of the book. Need I say more?
JDCMustReadBooks
July 18, 2016
The thing I love about Beth Harbison's novels is more often than not, before you even crack a page, you're enticed by the delicious covers. Remember the cupcakes on the covers of IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME and WHEN IN DOUBT ADD BUTTER? Check out this lovely martini, or is it a cosmo on the cover of ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU (ST.MARTIN'S)? I don't know about you, but I think I'd like to drink, at least, one right now.
ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU brings three women together who would rather "be lonely alone, than lonely in love."
Prinny owns Cosmos, a Washington DC area shop that sells crystals, potions, candles and lots of hope. They also offer romance and heal a lot of broken hearts.
Chelsea wants to be an actress and works as a living statute, while working part-time at Cosmos. It's safe to say she doesn't know what's in her future, but she's having some inner conflict about when to give up her dream of stardom.
Diana Tiesman is married to a compulsive cheater, who also happens to be Prinny's half-brother. He has been having affairs their entire marriage, but Diana has been addicted to the sex and knows she now has to leave. She has no money, but she remembers Prinny and decides to ask her for help.
This may all sound a bit confusing, because to be honest, it was kind of confusing reading ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU. But the thing is, like with all Beth Harbison's novels, I fell in love with the characters. They just jump off the page in all their quirkiness, originality and likability. The wacky story makes sense with the wacky characters, so once again, ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU is another Beth Harbison winner.
Take a copy to the pool or beach. There are a few drink recipes in ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU, but my favorite is "Let Him Eat Humble Pie." There's enough vodka in that drink to make you forget any problems you may be having with any man!
For all things BETH check her out on Facebook, her website www.bethharbison.com and on twitter @BethHarbison
ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU will be published Tuesday, July 26th. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an advance copy of ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU for an honest review.
ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU brings three women together who would rather "be lonely alone, than lonely in love."
Prinny owns Cosmos, a Washington DC area shop that sells crystals, potions, candles and lots of hope. They also offer romance and heal a lot of broken hearts.
Chelsea wants to be an actress and works as a living statute, while working part-time at Cosmos. It's safe to say she doesn't know what's in her future, but she's having some inner conflict about when to give up her dream of stardom.
Diana Tiesman is married to a compulsive cheater, who also happens to be Prinny's half-brother. He has been having affairs their entire marriage, but Diana has been addicted to the sex and knows she now has to leave. She has no money, but she remembers Prinny and decides to ask her for help.
This may all sound a bit confusing, because to be honest, it was kind of confusing reading ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU. But the thing is, like with all Beth Harbison's novels, I fell in love with the characters. They just jump off the page in all their quirkiness, originality and likability. The wacky story makes sense with the wacky characters, so once again, ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU is another Beth Harbison winner.
Take a copy to the pool or beach. There are a few drink recipes in ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU, but my favorite is "Let Him Eat Humble Pie." There's enough vodka in that drink to make you forget any problems you may be having with any man!
For all things BETH check her out on Facebook, her website www.bethharbison.com and on twitter @BethHarbison
ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU will be published Tuesday, July 26th. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an advance copy of ONE LESS PROBLEM WITHOUT YOU for an honest review.
July 14, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I'm torn about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed reading it and I breezed through it very quickly. That says a lot about the readability and the pacing. On the other hand, I felt the plot could have been tighter. The flashbacks didn't really work for me, especially the ones from the perspective of a character who had no role in the book in the present. And things seemed to work out just too conveniently for all three characters. Finally, the plot reminded me a lot of Driving with the Top Down - female characters escaping their lives/bad men/bonding together.
Despite my issues with the book, it's definitely worth the read. I enjoyed the characters and felt a stake in each of their stories.
I'm torn about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed reading it and I breezed through it very quickly. That says a lot about the readability and the pacing. On the other hand, I felt the plot could have been tighter. The flashbacks didn't really work for me, especially the ones from the perspective of a character who had no role in the book in the present. And things seemed to work out just too conveniently for all three characters. Finally, the plot reminded me a lot of Driving with the Top Down - female characters escaping their lives/bad men/bonding together.
Despite my issues with the book, it's definitely worth the read. I enjoyed the characters and felt a stake in each of their stories.
September 7, 2018
Don’t let the fun cover of this book fool you as it did me. It has a very dark side. I was tempted to stop listening quite a few times. Luckily, it’s a short story and I didn’t have anything else on my audio. bookshelf. I had some major issues with the author not ever using the word rape ever in this book. It was more or less danced upon. Also, neither the wife nor Chelsea went straight to the ER to do a a rape kit and have it documented. I believe the author had a chance to write something that could have a positive an affect on a woman from an awfully tragic situation, but she didn’t. In this day and age rape is not a topic that should be danced around. I wanted to see more encouragement for women to be strong and do the right thing so the creep can be brought to justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
Three likable women. Prinny opens Cosmo, a store for mysticism. Chloe is a wanna be actress and acts as the fortune teller. Diana is married to Prinny's step-brother, Lief. Diana finally decides to leave Lief due to his adulteries, and goes to work for Prinny, as "the last place he would look." Her specialty is teas.
This book is about subjects usually not to my taste but I was hooked by page 50. I always give books at least 50 pages. I think it was the women. Their problems were real, and they solved them by themselves, yet with mutual support. A light read with a final twist.
This book is about subjects usually not to my taste but I was hooked by page 50. I always give books at least 50 pages. I think it was the women. Their problems were real, and they solved them by themselves, yet with mutual support. A light read with a final twist.
June 6, 2017
This book reminds me of one of those "Six degrees of separation" scenarios. One man impacts the lives of numerous women; many who end up helping each other. The very last couple of paragraphs definitely tickled me.
July 19, 2017
Tea, cocktails, girlfriends. Adorable! Oh how I wish this shop existed in my neighborhood! I would be there constantly!
Darling darling summer read. I adore you Beth Harbison.
Darling darling summer read. I adore you Beth Harbison.
May 5, 2018
I hate to do this and I usually love Beth's books but this was terrible. So hard to follow and boring. Sorry I wasted my time reading it.
November 8, 2018
A decent read but not super memorable. I am happy I finally read it but it's nothing I would really recommend for any reason.
Meh read!
Meh read!
June 7, 2019
Entertaining, but went pretty dark for a baby blue book with a cocktail on the cover! Revenge fantasy.
May 15, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley.com and to the publisher for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I have read and loved all of Beth Harbison’s book and am eagerly awaiting her “Shoe Addict’s Christmas” later on this year. I wish I could say the same for “One Less Problem Without You.” I couldn’t even find something I even liked about this novel to put in my standard review on www.FluffSmutandMurder.com. Instead – here are all of the things I had an issue with:
1) Why bother including the chapter from Kathy if she never showed up in the novel again? Yes, it was backstory but it seemed pretty useless.
2) If Leif and Prinny shared the same father but different mothers, wouldn’t that have made the half siblings instead of step siblings? And that makes the rehearsal dinner passage just gross.
3) Why didn’t Leif live with his mother growing up? The only mention of her is that she was some sort of doctor who prescribed sleeping pills and anti-depressants for Diana but she’s never in the actual story. She would have been a better backstory chapter of a mother’s blind devotion to her psycho son instead of Kathy.
4) Just one conflict scene between Diana and Leif? Seriously? If she was so hell bent on getting away from him why just the one scene?
5) If Prinny could see so much in the future, wouldn’t she see her future with Alex?
6) What was the point of Chelsea anyways? There seemed to be much more focus on her whiny self instead of the two women, Diana and Prinny, who really had more reason/more to gain with Leif out of their lives.
7) What kind of hospital doesn’t do a toxicology scan on a patient’s blood?
Unfortunately, none of the women were terrific characters. I get that they had their reasons to be afraid of Leif and all he could do but HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING in the story!! He was all talk, no action and I was just left scratching my head..why?
Overall Grade: C-
www.FluffSmutandMurder.com
July 27, 2016
Meet Prinny, Chelsea and Diana. Prinny is the owner of Cosmos, a shop that sells crystals, potions, candles, and hope. It’s also a place where no one turns down a little extra-special cocktail that can work as a romance potion or heal a broken heart. But Prinny is in love with her married lawyer and she’ll need nothing short of magic to forget about him.
Chelsea works as a living statue at tourist sites around Washington, DC. It's a thankless job, but it helps pay the rent. That, and her part-time job at Cosmos. As her dream of becoming a successful actress starts to seem more remote and the possibility of being a permanently struggling one seems more realistic, Chelsea begins to wonder: at one point do you give up on your dreams? And will love ever be in the cards for her?
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a charismatic man who isn’t faithful. But no matter how many times he lets her down, Diana just can't let him go. She knows the only way she can truly breakaway is if she leaves and goes where he will never think to follow. So she ends up at Cosmos with Leif’s stepsister, where she makes her homemade teas and tinctures as she figures out whether she'd rather be lonely alone than lonely in love.
I love Beth Harbison so when I got pre-approved for this book, I just had to read it immediately and boy am I glad that I dropped everything and did! These women come together for several different reasons, but the story they each share is so good, I just loved every minute of it.
This is definitely one of the author's darker books with very serious themes but with that being said I still feel that the story of these women was told eloquently and with just enough detail to hook the reader but not too much that it became long winded and drawn out.
Prinny was my favorite of the three women and she captured my heart from her first chapter but all the women have a very special place in my imagination now. Great read!
Chelsea works as a living statue at tourist sites around Washington, DC. It's a thankless job, but it helps pay the rent. That, and her part-time job at Cosmos. As her dream of becoming a successful actress starts to seem more remote and the possibility of being a permanently struggling one seems more realistic, Chelsea begins to wonder: at one point do you give up on your dreams? And will love ever be in the cards for her?
Diana Tiesman is married to Leif, a charismatic man who isn’t faithful. But no matter how many times he lets her down, Diana just can't let him go. She knows the only way she can truly breakaway is if she leaves and goes where he will never think to follow. So she ends up at Cosmos with Leif’s stepsister, where she makes her homemade teas and tinctures as she figures out whether she'd rather be lonely alone than lonely in love.
I love Beth Harbison so when I got pre-approved for this book, I just had to read it immediately and boy am I glad that I dropped everything and did! These women come together for several different reasons, but the story they each share is so good, I just loved every minute of it.
This is definitely one of the author's darker books with very serious themes but with that being said I still feel that the story of these women was told eloquently and with just enough detail to hook the reader but not too much that it became long winded and drawn out.
Prinny was my favorite of the three women and she captured my heart from her first chapter but all the women have a very special place in my imagination now. Great read!
October 14, 2016
This is the weakest link in the "I'm in love with a sociopath" trio of books that I read this week, but it was still a decent read. The other two books are The Good Girl and You, which are both way more terrifying, but Leif, the jackass at the center of this book, is no slouch in the jerk department.
One thing that bugged me, and this is probably not the author's fault, but the description on Goodreads describes Prinny as Lief's stepsister, when she is actually his half-sister. They have the same biological father. That's annoying, but only half annoying as the name "Prinny". It rhymes with Ninny. And then you explain that it is short for "Princess" and then I'm through. Barf.
I liked Prinny despite her name. She was the most likeable person in the book. She took in Diana when there was nothing for Prinny to gain from that and plenty to risk in causing her brother to come on her even harder, as he's done her whole damn life. But Prinny is psychic, so she probably knew that is would all turn out alright in the end.
This book was "meh" for me, as Joe Goldberg in You was a much more compelling and terrifying sociopath than Leif, who was more of a run of the mill narcissist. Why Prinny's mom (also psychic) didn't protect her daughter (or the unfortunate hired help in their house) from sadistic young Leif is beyond comprehension. As was Chelsea's entire existence in this book. The only interesting thing I got from Chelsea is the perspective of human statues as a career. You are better off with the plumber, Chelsea, clearly.
This book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything I'm going to think about late in the evenings. And the title is tough to remember, so it's even less likely I'll recommend it, but that is a failing of my memory rather than of the book.
One thing that bugged me, and this is probably not the author's fault, but the description on Goodreads describes Prinny as Lief's stepsister, when she is actually his half-sister. They have the same biological father. That's annoying, but only half annoying as the name "Prinny". It rhymes with Ninny. And then you explain that it is short for "Princess" and then I'm through. Barf.
I liked Prinny despite her name. She was the most likeable person in the book. She took in Diana when there was nothing for Prinny to gain from that and plenty to risk in causing her brother to come on her even harder, as he's done her whole damn life. But Prinny is psychic, so she probably knew that is would all turn out alright in the end.
This book was "meh" for me, as Joe Goldberg in You was a much more compelling and terrifying sociopath than Leif, who was more of a run of the mill narcissist. Why Prinny's mom (also psychic) didn't protect her daughter (or the unfortunate hired help in their house) from sadistic young Leif is beyond comprehension. As was Chelsea's entire existence in this book. The only interesting thing I got from Chelsea is the perspective of human statues as a career. You are better off with the plumber, Chelsea, clearly.
This book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything I'm going to think about late in the evenings. And the title is tough to remember, so it's even less likely I'll recommend it, but that is a failing of my memory rather than of the book.
July 30, 2016
I have read very few of Beth Harbison's books. However, the title intrigued me, the cover even more so. I wasn't disappointed. This book has everything I enjoy - love, hate, great characters and an absolutely wonderful plot.
I think my favorite character was Prinny. The reason is that she was a character who didn't try to conform to what society dictates. She has her own shop, Cosmos, and she's psychic. Oh, and she also has a sociopath for a stepbrother! But he's slightly afraid of her, which is really fortunate for her because he is a total creep and has a vicious mean streak. I also loved Diana, who happens to be married to the creep.
There's lots more, but I will leave readers to discover the nuances for themselves. The only problem I had was keeping the characters straight sometimes. It was probably my concentration at the moment, but it was enough to take away half a star.
I received this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. I do highly recommend this book. It was a great read!
I think my favorite character was Prinny. The reason is that she was a character who didn't try to conform to what society dictates. She has her own shop, Cosmos, and she's psychic. Oh, and she also has a sociopath for a stepbrother! But he's slightly afraid of her, which is really fortunate for her because he is a total creep and has a vicious mean streak. I also loved Diana, who happens to be married to the creep.
There's lots more, but I will leave readers to discover the nuances for themselves. The only problem I had was keeping the characters straight sometimes. It was probably my concentration at the moment, but it was enough to take away half a star.
I received this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. I do highly recommend this book. It was a great read!
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