For more background on The Manic Pixie Dream Girl, check out my previous post, The Myth of The Manic Pixie Dream Girl. But, in short, the MPDG exists to bring excitement and inspiration into the male MC’s life. She is often the woman: young, beautiful, and on her way out.
My Book Reviews
My favorite genres are contemporary romance, women's fiction, suspense, and psychological thrillers. I mostly read books on my kindle, and I listen to audio books every morning when I go for my run.
I do NOT love star ratings for novels. For each book review, I give background, my thoughts, and if I would recommend it. Full disclosure: if I'm not into a book, I don't finish it. Since I review books I finish, most of them will be positive.
The Myth of The Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Many of us appreciate a good love story where we can expect a happy ending. Except for when it comes to the manic-pixie-dream-girl trope (or MPDG). Then, the opposite is true. MPDGs tell a different kind of love story–the bittersweet type. Often, with MPDGs, the ending is sad.
The term manic pixie dream girl was first coined by film critic Nathan Rabin in his review of the 2005 film Elizabethtown to describe female characters portrayed as whimsical, …
Book Review: The Last One to Vanish by Megan Miranda
I'm a big fan of Megan Miranda's novels. They're always twisty, with a protagonist who's both hiding something and is misunderstood. She's usually an outsider recovering from some sort of trauma, but now she must also solve a mystery. In addition, a Miranda novel is often atmospheric, set in some off-the-beaten-track small town that's worth visiting. And yet, it's always a town full of secrets.
The Last to Vanish employs that premise full tilt. …
Book Review: Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
Bye, Baby, by Carola Lovering, begins in a frenzied, panicked burst. Billie West stands in a New York apartment that is not her own, hearing her best friend Cassie's screams coming from the apartment above. Cassie's baby daughter is missing and understandably, she’s freaking out. For a moment, however, Billie is gratified when Cassie insists on calling Billie. Because she needs her in a time of crisis, and Cassie hasn’t needed Billie in so long. The moment is …
Four Reasons Why Jane Austen’s Persuasion Couldn’t Get Published Today
Jane Austen is the OG romance writer. Emma and Pride and Prejudice are just about flawless. But what about her final novel, Persuasion? When I began my WIP, I Bet You Think About Me, (a VERY LOOSE modern retelling of Persuasion), I realized what a quiet, contemplative novel it is. Sure, it’s got Austen’s signature wit and charm. But (warning – shocking statement ahead) I don’t think it could get published today.
