Going Away Party

Found this after enjoying Pederson's novel "Beginner's Luck". This story was very different but equally entertaining and enjoyable. About time someone wrote about how parents tell kids today that everything is easier when in many ways it's actually much more difficult. Nicely captures frustration of college and the job market in the Technological Age and also the complexity of a child/parent relationship that is transitioning to adult child/parent. But most of all, Pederson is just really funny and observant. The jokes keep getting worked in there along with the quirks of the modern age a la Erma Bombeck and I didn't want to put it down.

This book reads very fast and has lots of good laughs but it also takes a serious look at trying to balance your religion with your personal life. The main character has been raised Catholic and her mother converted from Protestantism when she married. It asks the big questions about how to know when you meet the right person and if there is such a thing. The main character is sarcastic but it's apparent that's only because she's scared and has to make some big life-changing decisions. It also looks at how we think kids have it easier today but in many ways it's tougher for them. There's a great sex scene near the end.

Was suprised that this is the same Laura Pedersen who hosts "Your Money and Your Life" on Oxygen. She is funny on the show but I thought she only wrote about personal finance for The New York Times and this is like a stand-up comedy book. I enjoyed it and think it would make a funny movie. My husband kept hearing me laugh out loud and wanted to know what was so funny and I had to read him parts and finally I said just read it yourself when I'm done.

I was surprised at all the humor packed into this small story. But in addition to the laughs there was a sweetness to the plot once all the threads were pulled together at the end (in a surprising way). The characters were quirky and interesting yet believable through and through. Moms and daughters will especially love it. I hope there are many more Pedersen novels to come. She is a really funny writer!

I never heard of this writer before and just picked the book up off a friend's coffee table. It's not heavy going, though there are some thoughts on life and relationships, but it's definitely laugh-out-loud funny. The main character reminded me of my own daughter at that age (and maybe even a bit of myself if I care to think about it). "Going Away Party" is a great gift for any 20-something-year-old gal and also for any mom of a young woman who is in search of hope that those years will eventually end and everything will be okay.