“Romantic Comedy of the Year!”“This novel is a Netflix movie waiting to happen.”“I loved every second of this book!”“Warning: This author causes book hangovers.”“Oh my. Be still my heart.”“Laugh out loud of epic proportions.”“Loved it. Still laughing.”Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. … laughing.”
Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago.
After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives head first into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy.
Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him?
A romantic comedy novel for the ages. Order now. Don’t delay. Operators are standing by.
more
Ruth is on a quest to find a man who checks all her boxes. She’s a type-A high-powered workaholic, on her way up the corporate ladder in a male dominated space. She’s learned to be fierce, callous and dedicated in order to compete, so needless to say, it isn’t easy finding Mr. Right, a man who would be happy to play second fiddle to her career.
Nick is quite the opposite. He also had experience in business but finally rejected it and the wife who reveled in it. Nick is now Zen and at one with nature when he meets Ruth. By every objective measure they aren’t a match, but chemistry is everything and their draw is irresistible, so the inevitable happens and they finally admit to their mutual attraction. What happens after that I won’t spoil for you.
This story is a little different from most romances. The love interests are both 45 years old, the woman is the alpha, the man doesn’t have a six pack, and this story is written by a man. You won’t find that very often. The author betrays himself a little by giving Ruth some man-like qualities, but in this case it works since she has adapted to living in a man’s world for the most part. Her dating antics were amusing to say the least, my favorite being the speed-dating scene. Some real quirky characters there. Let’s face it, speed dating and on-line dating are inherently funny.
This is my first book by this author. I think his style is perfect for bringing some lighthearted humor into the mix after reading something intense, so lucky for me he has a lot of books to choose from when I need a lift. There’s no sex or profanity if you care about that. Strictly PG.
This is the my first book from this author and I so happy to have found him. From the first line this book grab me and I could not put it down.
This was a fun read that had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
I can’t wait to read his other books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ruth and Nick…..absolutely loved this book. Laugh out load funny. It’s not PMS…..its you was used at the best moments. What happens when your perfect mate checklist doesn’t get your juices flowing. You go off the list and maybe fall for your landscape designer.
Honestly, I LOVED Ruth’s character. I think she epitomized a fair percentage of the female population climbing their way to the top of corporate America, while still trying to stay in the game life wise. It’s definitely a balancing act, and one that she lost sight of until her unfortunate flight (which, by the way, was TOTALLY SCARY! I mean, I placed myself in her shoes for those pages and yeah, no thank you…~shudder~) made her reconsider the importance of her work and home/love life (or lack thereof) ratio. I get it, she was good at what she did, no scratch that…GREAT at what she did…but when do the achievements ever become enough? When does that last one make us feel like the top dog, winner over all, champion of the masses, etc and let us feel comfortable in our life? It’s not the number of wins or the height of our successes that make us feel at one with ourselves and our lives, but the ability to bask in their glow with the ones we love. Whether they be blood relations, our chosen family/friends, or a significant other, those bonds allow of to share our feelings of elation and truly shine at our best.
So yes, this is a FABULOUS book that shows the world how women do in fact run things more often than not, but it’s also a fun-infused Contemporary Romance that reminds us that no matter how hard we may fall, the ride was worth the effort, so picking yourself back up off the ground and trying again is an absolute must because we owe it to our selves!
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
4.5 STARS
Ruth Harper seems to have it all…a great career and a beautiful home, yet she doesn’t spend her time nurturing her personal relationships, for example with her parents. Her only friend is her PA. She doesn’t do relationships or feelings….especially love. However, all that changes with one night on an airport runway, and she decides she wants more out of life, maybe even love.
She decides she will use the same methods to find love as she did to find success in the business world. Well, we all know how this is going to turn out. She just wants a man who understands her drive and ambition without feeling threatened. Is that too hard to ask? However, she keeps coming back to her sweet landscape designer, Nick, whom proved what a gentleman he was during her spinning class.
I have read several books by this author, and I have enjoyed each one. This one is my favorite one by far. He does a great job of telling a wonderful story complete with awesome characters.
Ruth was a fantastic character! He did a great job of capturing both sides to Ruth…the strong, unyielding, and determined business woman and the tender side of her that is looking for love.
Nick was a perfect match to Ruth even if she couldn’t see it at first. He as patient, kind, and really appreciated the woman she was. She could be herself with him…faults and all.
This is really a great chick lit read told with the perfect combination of humor, wit, and romance.
This was such an enjoyable,entertaining and also thoughts provoking read.
Ruth and Nick have opposite personalities, they are like the yin and the yang.She is a ruthless,stressed workaholic. He is a relaxed, exterior designer who always takes time for himself. Ruth hires Nick to fix up her her backyard and the chemistry between them is clear since their first encounter even if the situation is also pretty funny. They are opposites but both of them miss Love in their lives and maybe this will be their time to find their happily ever after.
I really liked their interactions and I started cheering for them since the first chapter.
I recommend to start reading this story as soon as possible if you need to unwind and have a good time.
I’ve never read any novel written by Rich Amooi but it was such a pleasure that I’m already looking for his previous works.
I’ve really become a fan of this author after the last two that I read and loved. And let’s just say I’m not getting any younger instead of talking about how I’m getting older, three years away from 50 as of this past October. So the title and of course synopsis of this one called to me. It still makes me feel old to have a character that is 45 years old with an adult daughter like Nick has, but I guess it’s only true! Now, while I may not be quite the workaholic that Ruth is, I definitely get where she’s coming from. I do work two jobs, and could probably quit one and just stop buying as much stuff as I do, but I am lonely and can’t seem to meet anyone, so I think my stuff makes me happy, so I have to keep working in order to buy it. It’s a vicious circle.
But about the book, Ruth was hilarious, and her dating misadventures even better! I loved her friend Dee, and it was impossible not to fall in love with Nick. While I wish we’d maybe had a few more chapters from his point of view towards the middle, we always got his chapters when we needed him. Their whole relationship development was perfect, how it started as acquaintances with attractions to each other, to friends who were attracted to each other, to finally giving in and just accepting that everyone around them was right and they were meant for each other. The big end obstacle to overcome came right when I expected it to, and almost at the exact moment I expected, but even though it started out as what I thought would do it, it quickly changed and I was definitely surprised and saddened. I do like that the author was able to fix or wrap up the issue in a way that was quick and not over drawn out like they can be sometimes.
Once again, I’ll say that this author is going to be one I’ll be checking out all his new stuff, and I need to find time to go back and ready his books I’ve missed out on.
Ruth is a 40 something single woman who is more worried about her career and roses, than in finding a HEA with a man. That is until she has a near death experience and realizes life is passing her by. All around here are happy couples, people with someone to share a happy life with, and she decides she wants a piece of that happiness. What she doesn’t realize is, that happiness can be found in her own back yard.
Nick is a 40 something, divorced male had his own near death experience, and realizes that stress and being miserable is no way to live. He finds himself working for workaholic Ruth and tries to teach her that there is more to life than working day and night.
This story takes you on their comical journey. Great story line, awesome characters, fantastic detailed descriptions to detail, and engaging dialogue.
Written as 1st person, multi pov, with a HEA.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Would I read more from this author? Yes
Sassy Beta Reading and Review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Confronted with a mysoginist butthole, she tells him the truth: it’s not PMS. It’s you! Some males seem determined that a strong opinion from a woman must be hormonal.
When I shared the title of this amusing romantic comedy with my closest remaining gay guy friends, I thought they would laugh as much as I did. They survived a breast cancer scare and uterine cysts treatments with me. I was a complete hormonal nightmare through all of that, and after all the treatments, I was presented with a survivor shirt, a PMS with an uzi mug, and a big supply of hot chocolate and chocolate candy – and ever read crackers. Amusingly, both guys independently agreed they thought it was an hilarious title, an appropriate read for me – and it felt like a trap when I asked if they thought it was funny.
Nick, the male romantic lead before he or his lady love are ready to think in those terms, agreed. Some questions that women ask have no safe answer and feel like a trap. Like does this makes me look fat?
If you enjoy the women who ask that kind of question anyways, and love to laugh at the dilemmas men are left with and their hilarious responses- this could be a fun and inspiring read for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Favorite Quotes:
…like me, she wouldn’t take crap from male colleagues who thought they could do or say whatever they wanted just because they were packing two olives and a cocktail weenie in their shorts.
Stewart was right next to him, a cocky grin on his face like he had just found out his penis was two inches long instead of one.
Run, you fool! There’s a chance you are going to be killed! Never call a woman wedgie girl!
There are certain things that women ask men that are problematic and have to be dealt with properly and delicately. Some are legitimate questions. Some are tricks. To this day, most men haven’t figured out which is which. It’s like playing a game of Russian Roulette when answering, only there is a bullet in every chamber.
“I own a bagel shop. I told you I made a lot of dough. Ha!” He laughed and slapped the table, causing the trout on his plate to go airborne for a brief second.
Wait, you sell toilets and your last name is Butts? That is classic. Do you mind if I keep the card? I want to show my friends. Good thing for you that your parents didn’t name you Harry or Seymour.
Could you see yourself with the last name of Butts? … Ruth Butts. It kind of has a nice ring to it. Can I get you anything else, Mrs. Butts? Butts, party of two! At your wedding, the guests will say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen so many Butts in one place!’
I could see my first date approaching me and my BS detector was already pegging in the red. It was the way he walked. Was he going for a swagger like Mick Jagger or a drunk pimp limp? It was kind of a mix of the two. Or maybe he had an injured leg or a bad case of hemorrhoids.
My Review:
Rich Amooi is my go-to guy for a pleasurable, witty, and delightfully amusing rom/com. His stories are refreshingly light on conflict and a tonic for my beleaguered brain between intense thrillers and heartrending dramas. Not to say his tales are mindless fluff as his likable characters have considerable substance and are typically working through real-world issues while gathering insights and experiencing hard-won epiphanies, just in a more comical manner than most. I adore his humorous observations, easy to follow writing style, engaging storylines, and a unique sense of levity that injects a much-needed sense of buoyancy to my spirits and reading rotation. This is why his name is listed in ink, having earned a permanent slot on my list of favorites.
It started with a wedgie. I literally cried with laughter. In a very un-lady-like manner, I hollered, rather than laughed. He is just incredibly funny. I cried with laughter so hard, I was totally unable to read this book on any form of public transport. One guy stood up, vacating his seat next to me, probably thinking that I had escaped from a nearby funny farm. To avoid encountering prejudice, I suggest you read this book in a private setting.
Ruth’s airport encounter with the elderly lady was something that made me sit up. I certainly hadn’t expected a serious message on perspectives. An event that brought our heroine closer to the realisation of her mortality leading Ruth to the determination to improve the quality of her life, letting more people in and allowing feeling emotions and finding a soulmate. But what happens when everything you believe you needed turns out to be wrong? When you see your priorities slowly fading away and what was important to you for the last 10 years gradually change? Can Ruth let go of her preconceived ideas of a perfect man and see that Nick is in fact, the one for her? The writing is witty, with a great vocabulary, wonderfully rounded characters and a storyline that is finally not about young, beautiful billionaires. This book deals with some pretty serious issues but delivered in a manner that makes it hard to put down. Good editing enhanced the experience.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fantastic Story!
This book is very funny. Also well written, which I always want in books I read. I love the back and forth between Ruth and Nick. I highly recommend this book. It will make you smile.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book kept me laughing from beginning to end. First, there’s the title. I think every woman in the Western world has experienced this feeling when dealing with somebody else’s crap. Ruth comes across as the world’s most driven, uptight b!tch, but through the course of the story we get to see the funny, vulnerable woman behind the corporate mask. Nick’s already been there and done that. He’s even got the health problems to prove it. Now, he’s more about being happy than how much money he can earn. When this pair of opposites butt heads, it’s a clash of the titans. It’s a sight to behold and you just want to sit back and marvel at the show. The sparks fly between Nick and Ruth from the first moment we meet them, even when they’re not on the page together. It was so much fun watching them go from adversarial to cuddled up in love. I can’t wait to see what the author brings us next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
On page one I wondered what I was reading. By page two I was laughing, and I didn’t stop. The emotive tug you receive reading this book is unbelievably real. You become embedded in the story, as a witness to realisation and change. The whole process, the comedy and the realism, make this book a sensational was to take some you-time.
Excellently written, with superb characters and a witty storyline embedded with some serious emotions. This book is just too good not to recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have to say title was interesting enough for me to read this book. This book has it all romance, humor. I really enjoyed this book a lot, loved the story. Laugh so hard. Loved Ruth and Nick, their interaction.
Loved it, loved it.
Very Funny Romance
This is a cute and clean romantic comedy. It features a highly driven corporate raider and a laid back landscaper. It gets better from there! The plot is great and the ending is just exactly what I wanted to read. I need to check out more of this man’s comedy. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
OK, I’m gonna call it; I’ve finally found the unicorn. The male author who can write a romance novel and make the heroine believable and funny. Not only that but in Ruth Harper, Rich Amooi has created a genuinely relatable heroine; Ruth is brilliant, successful, driven and beautiful – and a hot mess in her personal life. A professional perfectionist workaholic, she’s 45 and just starting to realize she’s letting life pass her by in her race to the top. Meeting Nick, a landscape gardener who’s deliberately chosen a change of pace after a stress-induced health scare, makes Ruth start to think about slowing down herself and maybe looking for a little romance along the way.
This was such a fun read and Ruth was such a relatable heroine, from the wedgie disaster she suffers right at the start of the book through some viscerally satisfying smackdowns she delivers to men who thought they could best her at her own game. Anyone who’s ever tried online dating will find themselves cringing in all-too-familiar horror at the disastrous dates Ruth finds herself on. I giggled every time Barney showed up to plague Ruth yet again with his delusions of grandeur. Something else I really liked was that Ruth and Nick are both in their mid-forties, a nice change from the usually-much-younger protagonists who are the norm in the genre. These people are mature enough to know what they want, know their own needs and wants and not waste time on dead ends.
A funny, wry, self-deprecating love story for the career woman who wants it all, this was delightful and I’m really looking forward to discovering more by this author. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources.
One thing I love about Amooi’s books is how relatable the characters are. They have their flaws. They make mistakes. They get into ridiculous situations. The men aren’t a misunderstood jerk whose heart is thawed by The One. The women aren’t obsessed with finding a man and are comfortable in their own skin. When the pair fall in love, it isn’t cheesy or trite. Nor is it Instalove. Instead it’s affection that stems from friendship. This book is no different.
She is a hardcore business woman who cowers to no one. He’s the landscaper she’s hired to redo her backyard into a Zen paradise. She likes control and carries too much stress. He’s been there, done that, and has the scar to prove it. She keeps finding herself in embarrassing situations when he’s around. He doesn’t seem to think less of her for her weaknesses.
One of the best parts of this book are the idea of family – the ones you’re born with and the ones you adopt along the way. Family is an integral part of this story and it’s all the better for it. I closed this book feeling satisfied and with a decision to find a fountain for relieving stress. Read the book and you’ll understand what I mean.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another fun 5 star read by Rich Amooi. The characters are likable and intelligent, the dialog witty and humor is fun. I enjoy that Rich gives us humor without being dumb or slap stick. Very refreshing!
t’s Not PMS, It’s You (Kindle Edition) by Rich Amooi … Another great one by Rich… Ruth and Nick..looking for love in all the wrong places…when it’s right before your eye…lots a great fun and laughs. Loved the flashing and the wedgie …all to get to a great HEA.