Fans of The Kiss Quotient will love Perfectly Adequate, a heartfelt and hilarious journey along the “human” spectrum from USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Jewel E. Ann.
Dorothy Mayhem is a nursing student, patient transporter, reckless driver, and emu owner. She knows she isn’t like other girls. Neurotypical people are nothing if not predictable, though, and that’s why she … if not predictable, though, and that’s why she has made a hobby of studying their behavior through books and TV.
It helps her fit in with her peers when she can emulate them.
But nothing can prepare her for Dr. Elijah Hawkins.
He’s a single dad. A brilliant pediatric oncologist. Widely agreed to be the sexiest doctor at the hospital. And entirely unpredictable.
Though getting to know the man behind the chiseled features and top-notch reputation would be her pleasure, Dorothy misunderstands one attempt after another to ask her out. Instead of dates with Elijah, she finds herself on a series of playdates with his son.
Roman is cute, sweet, and brings her unexpectedly closer to his father every day.
Dorothy Mayhem is about to find out that the only thing more unpredictable than a child—is love.
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Favorite Quotes:
“I’ll take good genes as a compliment.” “Why? You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
I like his brand of sarcasm, which says a lot since, in general, I don’t like sarcasm. It’s like the smallest letters on the eye chart. I have to focus pretty hard to read them, and even then, there is a little guessing involved. They use those really tiny letters just to make sure no human feels perfect.
He ordered a large! Nothing chaps me more than people who want to split small and medium pizzas. Leftovers are life. Not that I can’t easily take down half a large pizza.
French kissing isn’t usually my thing. Too much saliva. But he’s not salivating like a dog, or suffering from a painful case of dry mouth, so the kiss is acceptable. Such a Goldilocks moment. Dr. Elijah Hawkins is my just right.
I’m not mad. Just surprised. You told me last month that sex was overrated, messy, and mentally exhausting. Now you’re thinking of asking a man’s ex-wife about his sexual preferences.
My Review:
This well-crafted book was perfectly balanced in tone and a delight to experience. While quickly and fully immersed in this tale, not only did I encounter wickedly clever wit and well-honed humor that kept me smirking, giggle-snorting, and frequently laughing aloud; I also found achingly perceptive insights that tickled my gray matter as well as my funny bone. Dorothy was a fascinating and artfully written character who took quirky and eccentric to a whole new level.
This is my fifth Jewel E. Ann book and I have loved them all beyond capacity. It is safe to say I am a totally smitten kitten as my burgeoning TBR includes every book on her Goodreads listing.
Dr. Elijah Hawkins had no idea there was anything wrong with his marriage when his wife divorced him and is still struggling trying to figure out where things went wrong. He’s now sharing parenting with his darling little boy, Roman. You don’t read very often about the woman having a midlife crisis. I felt really bad for Elijah. How can you figure out what you did wrong when in reality you did nothing wrong.
Elijah meets Dorothy Mayhem, a patient transporter, in the course of his work day. He’s enthralled by her but is having a hard time having Dorothy understanding he would like to date her. She is thinking he would like her to babysit his son. There is actually some funny misinterpretation that happens. It takes his mom’s insight to make him realize that Dorothy is on the spectrum (autism). He is not detoured by this. He actually loves Dorothy’s honesty and her friendliness to everyone around her. Who wouldn’t love a woman who has emu’s. She is also a nursing student and her life is pretty regimented. Roman and Dorothy get along great.
The only thing I didn’t like about Elijah is how he didn’t consider Dorothy’s feelings when his ex-wife came back into the picture. That was pretty devastating. I felt crushed for her. I’m really glad she made him work hard to win his way back.
I really liked that this story was told from both Elijah and Dorothy standpoints. It gave the reader a little insight into how Dorothy’s thought process was and how she worked through things by journaling.
Wow. I just loved this book so much. Perfectly Adequate had me glued to the pages. It’s emotional, funny, and real. I felt this book down to my soul. It truly is all about the human spectrum. I think readers will all relate to this differently, but intensely. It’s just one of those books that is so real that it hurts.
I love these characters. Dorothy Mayhem is the bomb.com. I seriously could read a dozen books of her and her antics. My only fault with this book is that it was over to soon. I didn’t want it to end.
If you’re looking for something unique with lots of feels, you will definitely want to give this one a read. Jewel E. Ann never disappoints!
Dorothy Mayhem is such an awesome heroine, so quirky and honest and good. She is awkward and unsure but not afraid to put herself out there.
“Mayhem synonyms: chaos, havoc, madness, trouble, disorder, pandemonium.
Yep. All of those fit Dorothy.”
Elijah Hawkins is a divorced dad still pining a bit for his previous life. Not quite sure if he is ready to move on. I felt like he came across as a bit of a ‘doormat’ at times, allowing family and friends to railroad him about. I can’t find fault with how true his love for Dorothy is and he sees past labels to the real Dorothy.
The story is quirky and funny and oh so angsty. I loved the story and read it all in one day.
-5 Stars!-
Perfectly Adequate is exactly the story I needed after a string of darker and more intense reads. I’m all about single dad romances and then add to it a quirky, lovable heroine who connects with the hero’s child and it’s the perfect mix of everything I love about romance stories and the message it sends to readers is one that all human beings need to be reminded.
Dorothy Mayhem is an absolute gem of a heroine. Her honesty, her quirks, her literal and logical view of the world and all that it holds is so refreshing and endearing. She’s most definitely the sum of all her parts and those parts make her shine…make her real…make her relatable. She’s everything a person should be but might be afraid to be because of society’s perception on those who are different.
Dorothy’s no filter made me laugh out loud and while some people didn’t understand the reasons for the way she acted or how she saw things, anyone who was willing to truly see her…to not allow her diagnosis to make assumptions and judgments about her had the privilege of her company, of her spirit, and her clear view of the world and those who inhabit it. The smallest things in life give her so much joy and every human being could learn from that attribute alone.
The bond that Dorothy has with Eli’s son is one of the reasons I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The scenes with Roman and Dorothy warmed my heart and left me with all the feels because each time they were together there were genuine feelings shared between them.
Eli…there were times I adored him, times where I wanted to give him a hug, but there were also times I wanted to shake him…times his words and actions just didn’t make sense to me, but that is probably more me than him given the fact that I have never been in the situation he was in and he had to do his best with what he was left with, and while I can logically understand that, perhaps never experiencing it for myself made me less empathetic to certain events, particularly those toward the end of the book.
It’s clear that Jewel E. Ann did her research about ASD and the behaviors and personalities that correspond with the diagnosis, but what I loved the most about this aspect of the story line is that it was referred to as the ‘human’ spectrum, and I don’t know about you, but we could all use a bit more humility and humanness in our lives.
It’s difficult in any genre to craft fresh and unique stories, but it’s especially hard in the romance world that is saturated with a plethora of books and authors all looking to write the next best seller. But Jewel E. Ann found a way to do just that with Perfectly Adequate, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
4.5 Poison Apples
Jewel E. Ann, you have deceived us. The title Perfectly Adequate is so-not-enough yet under the context it is so right. This story is one of learning, of understanding, of accepting and of love.
Love thru the hard parts of life where dreams are lost, and love where the light or the next day finally begins to shine, and shine so much brighter.
Elijah is a man who has known his future since a young age. He has followed the path laid out for him for all his life, and he has been very successful in all he has done. But even he cannot stop a hurricane, even if he could see it coming. And in his situation, he did not.
Dorothy is a strong self-confident woman with her own issues. But the one thing she has that I could not cheer on enough about was her willingness to put others before herself. Her devotion to what she believes to be right kept me as much riveted to this story as her passion for what she felt she could not have.
This story is not easy. It is not simple. But this story is amazing. It is educational, heartwarming and uplifting. And in the end Jewel E. Ann brought a masterpiece to print. I cannot express how much I am impressed by this story and the message we all should get from it. I HAPPILY five this book a 5-star rating even though it deserves more. Job well done!
Breath Of Life
A truly moving story about falling in love. Loving someone for who they are…every single part. The author will take you on this emotional journey using humor and a genuine understanding of Dorothy’s struggles to live each day.
Dorothy wasn’t someone you could categorize. She wasn’t a list of traits or behaviors or even a diagnosis. She was a young single woman, who embraced routine, knew exactly what she liked (and didn’t), had a heart of gold and happened to be on the autism spectrum. Her unfiltered honesty was refreshing. I absolutely adored her.
Eli is a successful doctor whose wife left him. After his divorce, now he’s a single dad, co-parenting his son with the woman who broke his heart. He’s been holding on to hope for too long, thinking she would change her mind and come back. Eli has no desire to date or put himself out there. And then comes Dorothy…
Dorothy always needs to have a plan. Plans are great, but sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned. They just happen.
He’s a doctor at the hospital where she’s working. Dorothy is a breath of fresh air. She never holds back. She always speaks her mind and tells it like it is. Humor is often something she doesn’t quite “get” so it can make some situations rather confusing and comical. Make yourself completely clear about your intentions or there is a very big possibility there will be a misunderstanding.
This is the story of woman falling in love with a man. He never tries to label or change her. Eli falls in love with all of Dorothy. He found himself a woman that loves his son and would sacrifice anything to make him happy.
This story has it all. It’s sweet and funny at times. It has it’s sexy moments. It’s also a look at the struggle of moving on and forgiveness. Throw in some angst and a little bit of heart break. I went through a roller coaster of emotions and ultimately I fell in love with Dorothy and Eli. She was his breath of life. His reason to love again and find his happiness. He was the man who loved her completely. You’ll love them too!
The one thing I have come to love about Jewel E Ann’s books is the unique quirkiness about them. Perfectly Adequate does just that as it takes you on a ride with a woman who is on the spectrum and a man who is fascinated with her. Her, not her spectrum quirks. As a mom to a daughter on the spectrum, I related to this book so much because of Dorothy and how she acts and reacts. My daughter, now 15, has some of the same reactions to situations and comments the same way. As we go through the motions of this story, your heart melts as a man, who was totally destroyed from a previous relationship, learns to live and laugh again with the most unexpected woman. Elijah is sin on a stick but even he isn’t as smooth as people think he is as these two go through the motions of an honest mistake to a budding romance.
As a whole, this story was silly and fun but also shines a light on those who are on the spectrum. I loved that aspect of it. Their chemistry was stunning as well. While there are some insane moments throughout this book, it felt real still. I felt it to my bones. It is a stunning story of finding love when you least expect it and with someone who blindsides you! I cannot say enough about this book!
When my unicorn author Jewel said she was delivering a romcom I was over the moon. To me Jewel is a chameleon in the writing world. She can write from romantic suspense to comedy without batting an eye. All the stories are unique and you sure will love them all. There’s something about her characters that no matter what the story is about you can’t help to love them and identify with them.
Perfectly Adequate was as hilarious as it was emotional. I haven’t laughed so hard to the point of tears in a very long time. I was crying from laughter and for the heartfelt moments. Basically I cried my eyes out aaall the way until the end.
The story of Dorothy Mayhem and Dr. Elijah Hawkins was incredibly funny, inspirational, super sweet and just heartwarming. They say there’s a perfect someone for everyone in the world and I can say that there’s no other man more perfect than Eli for Dorothy and no other woman more perfect for Eli than Dorothy. They bring the best in each other. Complement and understand one another.
“The girl with an old lady name, an uncensored tongue, and the most contagious grin has managed to flip my world on its side.”
Dorothy Mayhem is a unique woman with ASD. She has a love for expressing her feelings in color coordinated journals, vibrant sneakers, pineapple pizza, emojis and 2 cute emus. She has a kind heart and no filters whatsoever. This last part was the reason I had stomachache from laughing so hard.
She is the type of girl you would want to be best friends with. Her positivity, beautiful way of seen life and her quirky persona just made me want to squeeze her and be near her at all times.
“Life is more vibrant through her eyes.”
Dr. Elijah (Hottie) Hawkins is a very successful pediatric oncologist. Him and his cute little son Roman stole my heart. He’s divorce and life for Eli felt like it was crumbling down when his wife left but it was just a matter of finding that unique red sneaker wearer, obsessed with closing exercise rings and pineapple pizza eater to come stumbling into an elevator to make everything alright in his world.
“Dorothy Mayhem possesses her own brand of seduction, and I’m completely entangled in every part of it.”
It was incredibly fun watching everything unfold. I say watching because Jewel’s make you transport into this book and feel like you experiencing everything through Dorothy and Eli’s eyes. I also learned about Aspergers and hyper sensitive autistic people. I knew of their struggles but never comprehend how hard it is for them until I connected with Dorothy. That’s also another reason I love Jewel’s books. There’s always something new to learn and her characters feel like real humans. That incredible connection is a readers dream.
If you want a super fun read with a real emotional plot, incredible lovable characters and a sure book hangover you definitely need to read Perfectly Adequate.
I had a blast reading this book. It absolutely wasn’t what I expected, which was half the fun. That said…there were also a few cringe-worthy scenes, which is why I can’t go with the full 5 stars. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sweet and fun read, with some emotional moments woven in…
Dr. Elijah Hawkins is in a bit of a rut so to say. He is still smarting from the fact that his high school sweetheart, wife and mother of his young son has left him a year ago, to start a whole new life without him. He always thought they had the same hopes and dreams, and so her leaving him came as quite a surprise and a smack in the fact.
Maybe he just needs to grab life by the balls and start a new life as well….and why not start with the wonderful “patient transporter” of the hospital where he works… Dorothy Mayhem, I mean her name alone should do the trick.
Dorothy is definitely intrigued by Dr. Hawkins and all the rumors that fly around about him. Having ADS (Aspergers) makes it hard for her to be very socially engaging. She has a difficult time reading people, and so their interactions are not at all what Elijah expects them to be…which he (and I) finds kind of refreshing.
I loved seeing the world through Dorothy’s eyes, though there were also moments when I had a hard time with the decisions she made. Then again, I also had a hard time with some of the decisions Elijah made.
It was so much fun seeing Elijah do his best to win Dorothy over… Dorothy definitely was in awe of Dr. Elijah…just not as much as she was of his ex-wife 😛
Highly recommended if you are looking for a good time 😉
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This book is glorious! I have devoured it with a happy glee which has kept a little glow kindled in side my heart since I finished it. With the wonderfully named Dorothy Mayhem, drawn in all her delightful quirkiness, we have a heroine who stands out as warm and honest as she navigates her way around a life which frequently throws up so many questions for her. Her take on life is uniquely hers, as she herself says, “I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better” and it is one filled with potential pitfalls, the need for essential research and explanations, confidence and anxiety, and I have lived every moment of her company. The whole cast is, in fact, and as is usual for any Jewel E Ann book, written with deft depth and sympathy allowing you to feel as if they are old friends.
Eli is such a lovely human being! His innate warmth makes him the perfect romantic hero, while his sense of humour and dedication give him depth.
Overall, I just couldn’t get enough of this book. It is beautifully written, very funny, sympathetic and downright wonderful.
I am so glad this is my very first Jewel E. Ann book. WOW WOW WOW! This is easily one of my top reads of 2019. Dorothy Mayhem is quite possibly one of my favorite female characters ever!
I was completely captured by this story and I could not put it down. These characters grabbed onto my heart and still have not let go.
There were moments when I just had to stop and hug my kindle. I love when an author’s words make me do that.
Jewel E. Ann you now have a reader for life. From here on out you write I will read it all. Absolutely a must read! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!
Smiley face emoji, high five emoji, smiley face emoji.
Perfectly Adequate was one of the most impactful, emotional and insightful books I’ve read in a long time.
Elijah Hawkins is surviving, but not thriving. A successful doctor with an adorable little boy, he’s sti;; left wondering why his wife walked out on them more than a year ago, making him a co-parent and left asking himself why he wasn’t enough.
Them in walks Dorothy Mayhem and his world would never be the same. Dorothy is everything is wife wasn’t. Independent and honest to a fault, usually lacking tact, refreshing, and an all around amazing human being that makes him smile more than he has in a long time. She’s also on the Autism Spectrum.
Ohhhh this book. For real. I was completely enthralled and in love with these characters and the uniqueness of this romance. It’s not like anything I’ve read before, and it was fabulous.
I enjoyed watching Elijah find his light and happiness again. And, watching im learn to navigate Dorothy and her Asperger’s diagnosis and balance that against his own needs was breathtaking.
Watching Dorothy try understand the neuro typical was enlightening and heartbreaking at times. She is such a good and genuine person, even if she lacks tact and has trouble communicating as others expect adults to. She always puts others first above her own happiness. And I loved that she understands emojis much better than spoken conversation and includes them at all times . . . even verbally. She was truly a special character and so well written.
Eli’s son Roman is simply adorable and his ex, is a woman to be reckoned with in changing ways throughout the story adding so much to the plot. Both Eli’s and Dorothy’s parents are amazing characters as well adding additional depth.
Perfectly Adequate felt so honest and so right. I found myself laughing on one page and crying the next. It felt so real and I rooted for this couple to find a way to a happy ever after, because they were phenomenal together. And, the ending . . . ahhhhhh . . . . grab your tissues and be prepared to smile because it is nothing short of spectacular!
To use Dorothy’s own words, this book was more than Perfectly Adequate, it was okay. Smiley emoji, high five emoji, heart emoji. 5 stars!
Dorthy: “I smile, my go-to when things get really awkward— which happens way too often.”
Oh my heart! It’s completely and forever head over heels in love with this heroine! She owns me heart and soul. The adorably precious, one-of-a-kind Dorothy had me laughing like a loon throughout, with a big, goofy grin on my face and unicorn sparkles filling my heart. She’s delightfully unexpected and everlastingly enchanting. Dorthy will keep you off kilter, because no one’s brain works like hers, so expect the unexpected – a bit of mental whiplash with a deadpan delivery.
In addition to my undying adoration of Dorothy, I have a new girl crush on an author who earns herself a spot at the top of my Must Read list (and this book may have just captured the spot for my number one read of 2019). I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of mind that can create these amazingly unique characters and fill the pages with so much laughter, love and heart, but it’s brilliant! Pure genius with a side of dazzling wit! Brava, Jewel. Brava.
Dorothy Mayhem is a nursing student and works the weekends as a patient transporter at the same hospital where the gorgeous pediatric oncologist, Dr. Eli Hawkins, works. Dorthy is on the spectrum (the human spectrum, she likes to say) but as I see her, she’s highly focused, blatantly honest, and lacks even a hint of a verbal filter. See? Completely charming and endearing, and more than a little entertaining.
As for Eli, I really liked him, having a ton of sympathy for his past hurts and baggage, until he turned into a fickle, lily-livered coward. Apparently he needed to learn that doing the right thing for the wrong reasons isn’t the right thing to do. And when he finally sorted himself, Dorthy, being Dorthy, didn’t make it easy on him. (That’s my girl!)
Do yourself a favor and read this one ASAP. You’ll laugh till it hurts, fall irrevocably, head over heels in love, and come away with a new appreciation for a very special segment of humans who fill the world with a million unexpected blessings every day. Those who are a light in the darkness, a breath of fresh air, and if you’re very lucky, your life might be touched by the perfectly unique and priceless love they have to give.
4.5 Perfectly Amazing Stars!
Perfectly Adequate was quite the unexpected read! I went in blind and absolutely adored it!! I laughed and I had heart break, but overall I was intrigued. How does one write about a character like Dorothy and not ruffle some feathers? Personally, I found it amazing and gutsy and just perfect!
I had a hang-up with the last sex scene in the On Call room. Throughout the book we see Dorothy and her “by the book” sex requirements. But in this scene she didn’t have a single issue. I’m guessing it’s because she wasn’t even thinking about anything except just being with Ian and saying goodbye. Heartbreak tends to do crazy things. Yeah, I’m gonna go with that.
And poor Ian. He spent years trying to be something with Julie and I feel like he never measured up to her standards, (which isn’t exactly how it played out, but it’s how I felt) giving up parts of himself for her. For them. And then again with Dorothy, he’s willing to let his desires go to the wayside because it’s not her thing. Again, he’s trying to be something he’s not for someone else. I just feel like that wasn’t dealt with and then bam, end of the book. Sooo…do we have foreplay now? Is there blowjobs? Has she overcome her disklike of kissing after he goes down on her? Or is he letting all his wants and needs go? I just needed closure on those parts.
Overall, I loved it! It was such a fresh new read! I WILL be owning a hardcopy for my shelf of treasures!! I loved seeing the world from Dorothy’s eyes and fell in love with the way Ian loved her for her. All of her quirks included. And Roman was to-die-for-adorable! I did have a strong dislike for Julie. But she’s an ex, so I’m ok with that.
I’m so in in love with this book and characters. I couldn’t put the book down. I had a lot of mix feelings happening all at the same time. I even felt scared waiting for the other shoe to drop. I felt like I was at the edge of my seat because I didn’t want to experience some type of whiplash that I couldn’t handle other than the regular coming from Dorothy’s behavior. But there is not a hint of disappointment in me. I can always learn a valuable lesson from Jewel’s characters. You will love these two.
I felt proud of Dorothy, and amazed by her. I love that Dorothy is her own unique brand of normal. Weird and odd have a new meaning for me now. And I love that Elijah needs that brand of normal like oxygen. Even when he doesn’t understand it. He doesn’t want to handle her. He wants to be allowed to be in her vicinity. Allowed to love her. For it to be Okay to choose her. I loved the moments when he just took. He took control, desire, responsibility. He just took and he deserved it and I admired his character more for it. It was time! And I was feeling sad for him when he didn’t. I felt despair and indignant on his behave.
This story felt like if I was learning what was happening to maybe my neighbors. The type of story that you can really imagine being real. It felt sexy in an odd way. Made me laugh out loud. It made me think it was crazy. Made me roll my eyes. BUT I feel like it tough me a valuable life lesson. If I could have more starts to give it I would. 5 is not enough.
Perfectly Adequate is okay ( trust me – you’ll get that after you have read this book ). It’s SO OKAY that I read it in one sitting. Sat down to read a few chapters, and then came up for air once I hit The End. I loved the humour, and the angst. The angst was so good.
I love Dorothy Mayhem. LOVE HER. She’s hilarious, socially awkward, and says whatever is on her mind – brutally honest. I spent a lot of this book laughing at poor Elijah as he deals with Dorothy’s level of honesty.
Dr Elijah Hawkins – still wondering where it all went wrong with his marriage 12 months on. Then Dorothy Mayhem enters his life and takes over all of his thoughts. Wonderful, quirky Dorothy, who both fascinates him and frustrates him in equal measure as he tries to figure out how to date her.
Perfectly Adequate gave me all the feels, especially in the second half of the book. I swayed between smiling, laughing and crying as Dorothy and Elijah navigate their relationship and their families. A great read, I really enjoyed it.
Perfectly Adequate? Yeah…not at all. Perfectly wonderful? Why yes, yes it was! Going to preface my review by saying I really enjoy Jewel E Ann’s writing. Having read other books by her in the past, she really knows how to tell a story with engaging, solid writing. I was drawn in to this one immediately and gobbled it right up like our heroine Dorothy gobbles up pineapple pizza. Dorothy Mayhem (how great of a name is that?) Is simply awesome. She made me laugh and warmed my heart. But Eli? Dr. Hottie? He was my shining star! Such a great hero in every sense of the word! I loved how he loved Dorothy not despite her differences but because of them. Dorothy was just perfectly imperfect and such a complex character. I was rooting for her 100%. Some angst and a few surprises and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to see how all of this would shake out. Containing both humor and plenty of feels, I enjoyed this one a lot. And I gotta say, Eli is sitting pretty on my book boyfriend list. Great read!
Reviewed by: Jamie B.
Jewel has been an automatic one-click author for me since 2014.
I love her style of writing, unique storylines, character development, and her talent for creating unputdownable books.
Perfectly Adequate may have scootched into my top read for 2019.
It’s a romance about two people who feel slightly unworthy.
Dorothy, because of her quirks and Eli’s hotness level and Eli due to the hurt and insecurities he developed after his wife (his high school sweetheart and mother of his young son) left him a year ago, without an explanation.
He explains his confusion as, “I feel like someone kicked me out of a moving vehicle – tattered and bruised, and lucky to be alive.”
Gaaaah!!! I can’t tell you how much I love the heroine, Dorothy.
My middle son shares her need for routines, germaphobia, some of her quirks, her need for information, and missing or misinterpreting social cues. I think that helped endear her to me.
Dorothy’s hard-working, smart, loving, sweet, analytical, strong, a breath of fresh air, and utterly selfless.
I thought her no-filter honesty was refreshing and hilarious – especially her sexual awkwardness.
Eli is a dedicated pediatric oncologist and a devoted and attentive father.
I loved how patient and enamored he was with Dorothy.
He was more frustrated with himself and his failure to ask her out on a romantic date vs. a playdate than he was with her unpredictable tendencies that kept him questioning himself after every interaction. He embraced their differences and wanted to understand her better to the point he was reading books on Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I believe the cliche that you can tell how a man will treat a woman based on how he treats his mother holds true.
Eli had a great relationship with his Mom, and it was a nice change of pace to have both characters come from happy, well-adjusted families vs. broken homes.
Roman, Eli’s son, was incredibly adorable. His pronunciation of the words, “Dorothy”, “Emus”, and “superpowers” alone warmed my heart.
I hope it opens some readers mind and views on some people’s differences and helps to remove some generalized labels.
It’s an eye-opening, beautiful story.
It made me happy, sad, laugh out loud, swoon, and want to be a better human.
-“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.” – Dorothy Mayhem
One of my favorite things about Jewel E. Ann is her ability to create such vastly different storylines. I knew by the fun and quirky cover that I was going to read this. I knew by the last chapter that I was going to love every written word! Dorothy is such a character! I found myself completely tickled with her! I love seeing a character on the spectrum. I feel like I get to learn about people and their situations that I didn’t know about firsthand. Eli is just sweet as pie! He’s a struggling single father. I liked him a lot. A very lot. He was super sweet. He was a bit insecure, probably because his wife left him in a snap after over a decade of marriage.
Perfectly Adequate is one of Jewel E. Ann’s most fun and creative stories. I liked that a lot. I enjoyed the characters. However, I wish Eli was a bit more manly man. Does that make sense? He was so sweet and kind and even though I like the way he treated Dorothy, I wanted a bit more strength in him… some animalistic qualities. But, just like all of Jewel E. Ann’s writing, the story is strong and very well developed. I liked it a lot but… it didn’t give me the “oomph” like I was expecting or like I have come to expect from Miss Ann’s books.
I received a complimentary copy of this audio book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.