Skinny Vanilla Crisis

by Colleen Alles

Middle-aged high school English teacher Holden Averett is gearing up for a well-deserved break. Finally, a relaxing summer spent napping and soaking in the West Michigan sun. Until, that is, his wife of 18 years drops a bomb on the last day of school: move out by the end of the week. Sophia wants a trial separation. She also might be in love with someone else.

Spinning from the shock and desperate to fill his unexpectedly fraught summer, Holden takes a job as a barista at a coffee shop in a strip mall. His hopes to stay anonymous while he convinces Sophia to take him back are dashed when in walks a woman from his past—a woman he barely remembers at first. A charming woman. An enchanting woman. In other words, a woman who changes everything.

Genres: Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Michigander, librarian, wannabe writer.

Reviews

[Colleen Alles · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the comedic, cappuccino-frothy SKINNY VANILLA CRISIS, English teacher Holden gets thrown out of his comfortable, stable home by his wife who's got her eye on someone new--yet this midlife disaster just might be the new chapter he's been waiting for."
~Kristina Riggle, Author of "Real Life & Liars" and "Vivian in Red"
USA Today bestselling author

“Holden Averett's summer misadventures in Skinny Vanilla Crisis are both hilarious and heartbreaking. Despite Holden's missteps and dreamy middle-aged ennui, you can't help but root for his honest, espresso-fueled journey to self-awareness, culminating in a surprising and satisfying redemption. Best if read with a good cup of coffee!”
~E.A. Quinn, Author of "The Billionaire’s Bodyguard"

[Ashley Latinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great summer read. It is light but grabs you by the heart and is a very well rounded read. I felt connected to all of the characters and could see pieces of myself in all of them. I really enjoyed reading the husbands perspective of a relationship on the rocks. This is especially fun to read on the shores of Lake Michigan.

[Libby Wahlstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun, lighthearted read for summer evenings on the deck!

[Rebecca Klanderman]

It’s very well written. Not the sort of story I usually spend time with, but it still drew me in and kept me connected.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a mocha frap extra shot with whip (don’t forget the perfectly patterned drizzle of chocolate sauce) and curl up somewhere sunny with this great summer read. Cute story. Great characters. Recommend.

[Stephanie Caye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and it moved at a good clip. I'd reach the end of a chapter and think, "Okay, just one more..." over and over. Very vivid writing and relatable characters. Even though the husband was the MC, the wife wasn't vilified, which was nice because I really sympathized with her view of the marriage/relationship. They both had issues and that made it realistic and thorny. As I read, I couldn't predict with any certainty how it was going to end, which is something I love in a book.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read ad great fun for the beach or a summer day. The novel takes place over a summer where a high school teacher and his wife are having a trial separation - against his will. The book is written from the husband’s point of view, and it was fun to watch him flounder as he takes a job as a barista at a local cafe. The author did a good job of making all the characters relatable, even though flawed. I kept rooting for them all to see sense. No spoilers here though!

[Kyle Hepp · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stuck with the book because it was set in Grand Rapids, but that didn’t really add anything to the story. The middle age male teacher talking about how attractive his teenage students are, hard pass. The man going on and on about how he’s “falling in love” with one of said former students when her character has no substance and he never gets to know her beyond her physical attractiveness? Yuck. I did not like this book at all.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, the author is a former colleague, but I think I'm keeping that separate from my review here. It's a light read and not my usual stuff (I do often like light, but mysteries or less-realistic fiction). That said, the characters are well developed and the narrative pulls you along. It's a good quick read! :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read that pulled me in quickly. Great writing, the characters are well-developed and realistic, it's light-hearted and fun while not skirting around the tough aspects of life and marriage. I enjoyed it!

[Adrianna Triche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it bad I wanted to tel Holden to communicate better and stop being an alcoholic the whole time? I was so attached to the characters and could really sympathize with all the main characters. It was a great quick read that made me think. Loved it ❤️

[Hannah Snow]

A good book for a summer day. To be paired with iced coffee (or beer). Also fun if you have any connection to West Michigan/Grand Rapids. Lots of local love!

[Sarah Stadtfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read you don’t want to put down!

[Rose Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer read or cozy rainy afternoon. Good book either way!

[Jennifer Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, well-developed page turner with believable characters that made me laugh and even made me teary. This debut novel is a great summer read I would highly recommend.