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Book Review: Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax

April 2, 2010 by Darlene

Magnolia Wednesdays was a really great read for me!  I had to laugh from the very beginning when Vivi, an investigative reporter, gets shot in the butt while covering a story.  She ends up on You Tube in a very embarrassing video that she is quite certain has been seen by everyone in the world.  After this Vivi’s life seems to unravel right before her eyes.  Not only is she without a job because she finds out she’s being replaced by someone younger and quits but she ultimately finds out the reason for her crazy outbursts seem to be because she is pregnant at forty-something.

Vivi decides to relocate to suburban Atlanta and stay with her sister Melanie and her kids Shelby and Trip.  Melanie’s husband passed away not long ago and while Vivi had gone out to be with her for a while, she wanted nothing more than to leave and get back to her life and job.  Vivi’s really never been one for spending quality time with her family.  Her idea of a visit is in and out.  It so happens that while Vivi is desperately trying to land herself a job she comes up with the idea of going to live with her sister and writing a column about the suburbanites in Atlanta from an outsider looking in. 

Vivi finds she has more than enough material to write several columns.  She follows her sister, niece and nephew around and finds that the people around them and their lifestyle in general provides her with all kinds of angles to write about.  As her column becomes known in Atlanta people are running her down like crazy saying she has no right to write such downright mean things about them.  However nobody knows it’s her writing this column as she is writing under a false name, Scarlett Leigh.

As time wears on though and Vivi’s pregnancy becomes much more noticeable, Vivi finds herself starting to really like these people.  Not to mention how close she’s becoming with her sister Melanie.  Vivi had no idea how much Mel had to deal with on a daily basis as a single mother and she is in awe of her.  In the beginning Vivi actually believed what she wrote but as time goes on she realizes that really these people are all doing the best they can for their families and all she’s doing is hiding behind a name.

I really liked Vivi because aside from her many flaws she really is a likable character.  The only thing she drove me literally crazy on was her inability to let her boyfriend know she was pregnant.  Stone is a reporter as well but he works from war torn countries and that’s where he was stationed during her pregnancy.  She didn’t want him to worry and be distracted and therefore doesn’t tell him about the baby.  At these times I just wanted to give her a big slap upside the head because it wasn’t fair to keep it from him. Other than that I loved how she grew as a person and realized the importance of family before it was too late.

Magnolia Wednesdays had it all for me – it had me laughing at times and crying at others.  It is a novel that is funny and heart warming with a few twists thrown in for good measure.  Aside from Vivi, the whole cast of characters are great and you find yourself really beginning to feel a part of their lives as you flip through the pages.  I will definitely be reading more of Wendy Wax in the future!   You can see more about Wendy and her books on her website!

My thanks to…Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting for my review copy of Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax.

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Filed Under: 2010 ARC Challenge, 2010 Book Reviews, 2010 eBook Challenge, 2010-100+ Challenge

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Blodeuedd says

    April 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I do not like that kind of babydrama, she deserves that slap.

    Other than that it sounds like a really good book

  2. lilly says

    April 2, 2010 at 11:19 am

    It really sounds like a perfect book to get me out of this winter sluggishness and move forward into spring. Funny and heartwarming is what I need now.

  3. Robby says

    April 2, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    This sounds great! Your review has convinced me that I need to buy it. The cover is beautiful.

  4. Serena says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Sounds like you really enjoyed this one even though you wanted to slap the main character! I would probably want to slap her too. Great review.

  5. bermudaonion says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    I'm so glad to see that you loved this! Wendy Wax is so nice, and I hope her book is a huge success.

  6. Sandy Nawrot says

    April 2, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    I'm so pleased that you liked this one. I've never met Wendy, but through Kathy she sounds like a treasure!

  7. Nise' says

    April 2, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    Great review! I have this one on my wish list.

  8. drey says

    April 2, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    I second lilly ~ This sounds wonderful for getting out of the winter blahs! =) Thanks for the review, Darlene!

  9. Nikola says

    April 2, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    This review was so funny, I can only imagine what the book must be like! I'm gonna have to read this one! 🙂

  10. Staci says

    April 2, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    How embarrassing to be shot in the buttocks and to have it captured on video!!! Sounds like another winner!!!

  11. Stephanie says

    April 2, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    The sad thing is I can totally imagine a video clip of someone being shot in the butt making the rounds on You Tube. That is exactly what would happen. Sounds like a fantastic read!

  12. naida says

    April 3, 2010 at 12:27 am

    This sounds very good Dar, great review. Its great when a book can make the reader both laugh and cry 🙂
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  13. Sherri says

    April 3, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for the review.

  14. caite says

    April 3, 2010 at 6:32 am

    laughing from the very beginning is a good sign.

  15. Alice Teh says

    April 3, 2010 at 10:37 am

    Shot in the butt?!?! This is another great review I've read about this book. Thank you for that, Dar! I've been seeing this book around on book blogs and it's in my wish list.

  16. Andreea says

    April 3, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Thanks for your great review! Sounds like an enjoyable read!

  17. Melody says

    April 5, 2010 at 1:36 am

    I'm currently reading this book, Dar! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Great review! 🙂

  18. Veens says

    April 5, 2010 at 7:50 am

    I just totally love that cover and i like yur review! I am sure I am going to buy this if i find it here.

    Thank you!!

  19. Zibilee says

    April 5, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Oh this does sound like a good read! I am glad you loved it so much and think I will be adding this one to my wish list. Great review, Dar!

  20. Lisa says

    April 6, 2010 at 5:00 am

    I'm reading nothing but good things about this book. Definitely going to have to pick it up!

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