“Fizzy and fun.” – bestselling author Jacquelyn MitchardRowen “Ro Ro” Walverstein is ready to reinvent herself. She had high hopes for her twenties, but now, three years in, nothing is turning out like she imagined. From her frumpy wardrobe and dead end job to her boring social life, each day is a letdown. When her boyfriend Sherman leaves her, Ro Ro decides it’s time to take action and turn her … action and turn her life around.
She hires a tough-love life coach named Crystal Class to get her back on track. Crystal is older, wiser, and very pulled together. She’s also a little bit unorthodox in her teaching methods. If Ro Ro can survive Crystal’s extreme tactics, there’s a good chance she could find herself standing on top of that elusive golden mountain of evolutionaryness that Crystal keeps telling her about. But getting up there isn’t going to be easy.
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This is a hard book to review because the main character, RoRo really isn’t likable and doesn’t manage to redeem herself through the novel. But I think that is kind of the point. She is completely superficial and blissfully oblivious. At 23 she decides that she wants more in life than what she has and the way to do that is to emulate someone who *looks* like they have the life she wants. So that is how she chooses a life coach.
Reading the book is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. There are some admittedly funny moments, but many are just cringe-worthy as it is obvious what is going to happen yet RoRo just sails ahead unaware. Likewise, the conclusion is not a result her personal growth and actions, but a confluence of events that come out in her favor.
The narration/journal style telling worked well for this book and the narrator captured the feel of the characters perfectly. As a satire of the genre, I think it accomplished what it set out to do.
Coached by Holly Tierney-Bedord is about how one young lady changed her life around and became a better person.
Can Rowen fix everything that she doesn’t like about herself?
Rowen
Rowen “Ro-Ro” for a bit in the book, is not always focused on her life. She is at a job that she doesn’t like, her so-called boyfriend isn’t there anymore, and she just doesn’t want her life the way it is. Rowen decided instead of trying it out on her own to go to a life coach. The book is written as a diary-type format. Basically, someone who writes down everything that is going on in their life.
What I like about Rowen is that she felt like she needed this, and it seemed to have been working despite the way that Crystal was going on about it. Another thing that I like is that Rowen was doing a great job of changing things on herself. The one thing that I disliked is that Rowen should have kept those bunnies that she got from her grandpa.
The Romance
Rowen throughout was trying to get her boyfriend Sherman to realize that he doesn’t need to go out of state to be happy since Rowen is here where he belongs. Well, it doesn’t work the way that she has wanted, and I think that is a good thing. Sherman didn’t seem like the type of guy that is right for her. Rowen has seen a guy around that she thinks is cute but doesn’t talk to him. She does end up eventually talking to him, and everything has worked out fine for her since. I think that is great of her, and I am glad that she isn’t caught up on Sherman since she shouldn’t change herself for a guy. Change yourself for you.
The Narrator
Ms. Julie Kelly does a fantastic job of bringing Rowen’s voice to life and the other characters as well. I do have to say that this has to be the funniest audiobook that I have listened to just from listening to the narrator’s voice change for certain characters. I give Julie Kelly five stars.
Four Stars for Coached by Holly Tierney-Bedord
Coached by Holly Tierney-Bedord is a great read, and I think that Ms. Bedord has done a fantastic job on this one. I can’t wait to read more books that she narrates. I am giving this book four stars and recommending it to my chick-lit fiends.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this audiobook review of Coached by Holly Tierney-Bedord.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
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This book, especially the audio version narrated by Julie Kelly, is a delightful, witty satire about trying to make yourself over and discovering your true worth. Highly recommend for a fun, laugh-out-loud, and ultimately satisfying read that makes you feel wonderful!