Monday, July 18, 2011

Blog Tour Review: 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

Tags: romantic comedy, POC, Mississippi, Los Angeles

Summary

Growing up in small-town Mississippi with an abusive mother and classmates who make fun of her, midnight-skinned and wild-haired Davidia Jones makes her escape into Molly Ringwald films. Davidia dreams of her own Molly Ringwald Ending one day, in the form of the most popular boy in school and her crush, James Farrell of the Farrells of Farrell Fine Hair, sweeping her off her feet in front of the whole school. But after a particularly bad school joke, Davidia decides to head west, to LA, where she renames herself Davie and transforms into a sultry lounge singer.

However, Davie’s past catches up with her in LA when, 16 years after high school, she crosses paths with James Farrell again. A lot has happened in the meantime. Will Davie’s history prevent her from ever getting her happy ending?

Review

I have been hearing unequivocal love for this book for, oh, about two years or so before I finally had the opportunity to participate in a blog tour for 32 CANDLES. First stop: dive into the book that a small but important contingent of the blogging population has been raving about ever since its publication. And I wasn’t disappointed. I so wasn’t disappointed, in fact, that 32 CANDLES is easily one of my favorite books of 2011 so far, and one of the most adorable books I have ever read.

The star of the show is Davie Jones. Neurotic without going overboard, self-reflective without it getting in the way of pure entertainment, and unapologetically weird, Davie stands out from the slew of debilitatingly neurotic female protagonists that usually feature in romantic comedies. Davie is like a black Bridget Jones without the weight obsession, which, let’s admit it, got frustrating real quickly. Davie’s weight obsession equivalent is her endless fascination with James, which in her high school stage was admittedly a bit scary. But somehow Ernessa Carter, through the voice of Davie Jones, makes everything okay. We don’t judge Davie for her neuroses; we love her all the more for them.

No romantic comedy is complete without a swoon-worthy romantic interest, and James has got the role down pat. He is a perfect black man, and yet somehow his perfection seems like a perfectly natural part of his character, instead of a fictional construct forced upon readers that screams “I am perfect! I am perfect!” without ever actually showing us why. So, another point in 32 CANDLES’ favor. Yay!

I’m sure there are many other reasons I can go on and on about—how the secondary characters take on lives of their own; or how the plot, while twisty and turny, wraps itself up in the most delightful and unexpected of ways—but I hope it suffices to say that 32 CANDLES will retain a permanent position on my shelf, as something I will reread whenever I want a dose of a good ole romantic comedy that won’t ever fail me. Brava, Ernessa Carter, and I want more!

Similar Authors
Emily Giffin
Helen Fielding

Cover discussion: I like it! I like that there's clearly a black woman on the cover, and the woman's wild hair is definitely reminiscent of Davie's. At the same time, there's this sort of retro-esque funkiness in the colors that hints at the 80s, Molly Ringwald motif, as well as Davie's zaniness. Nicely done!

Amistad / June 28, 2011 / Paperback (reprint) / 352pp. / $13.99

Copy sent for review by publisher as part of TLC Book Tours.

About Ernessa Carter
Ernessa T. Carter has worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, a music journalist in Pittsburgh, a payroll administrator in Burbank, and a radio writer for American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood. Carter’s also a retired L.A. Derby Doll (roller derby). A graduate of Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA program, she now lives in Los Angeles. 32 Candles is her first novel. She blogs at www.fierceandnerdy.com.

This review is part of TLC Book Tours' blog tour for 32 Candles. The next stop is tomorrow at Freda's Voice. Click here for the entire tour schedule!

9 comments:

  1. You know, I hadn't heard about the blogging community's small but fierce love for this book until I got offered for the blog tour - but they were so right, no? Ever page made me laugh. It was the perfect blend of serious romance, comedy, and a story about finding yourself. Davie's far from perfect, yet you love reading about her.

    I loved your review, and I agree with everything in it. It's very ramble-worthy. :)

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  2. Uh oh, I haven't even heard of this but it looks like such a gem. It sounds like something I'd like as much as Anna and the French Kiss :) Thanks so much for the review!!

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  3. Oh, wow, I'm glad that this lived up to your hopes! I've also heard a lot of good things about this and need to get my hands on it.

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  4. This one is definitely on my list.Hope to get it soon

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  5. you sold me at "black Bridget Jones without the weight obsession!"

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  6. I agree completely. I was so surprised by this book and loved it SO. MUCH. Davie is awesome.

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  7. I'm thrilled that this book wasn't a disappointment AND that it will be one of your best reads of the year - woohoo!

    Thanks for being on the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.

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  8. Just wanted to say thanks so much for the review. I just recently read Emily Giffins's first two books on my last vacation, so getting compared to her is certainly a thrill. And how much do I love "black Bridget Jones without the weight obsession." Squee!

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  9. James is not just the perfect Black man but the perfect man period! lol.

    I am THRILLED you loved this book and that it's one of your favorites of the year. I still remember you commenting on my review that you were intrigued by it, success =D

    Definitely permanent fixture worthy.

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Hello! I'm so excited to read what you have to say. Due to high amounts of spam, I'm forced to disabled anonymous comments for the time being. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes, and I hope you can understand and still appreciate the content here!

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