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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5 “You are the universe” stars!
“You can’t choose me,” I say as soon as the kiss ends…
“I won’t. I’ll wait for you to choose me.”
Perfectly Adequate is freaking adorable and so much fun. It’s more than just laughs though, and the feels are deep and the love is real. I easily found myself invested in this story and the lives of these characters, and I could not put this book down.
Eli Hawkins thought his future was set. He married his high school sweetheart, became a pediatric oncologist, and had a wonderful little boy. Then his wife walked out the door, tore his world apart, and made everything all wrong. Now he is only a part-time father and he is single for the first time since falling in love twenty years ago. Everyone thinks he should start dating but he isn’t ready to let his wife go.
“There’s no switch to turn off my love for her, all those years of marriage, college, careers, a child … I wonder if I’ll ever find a switch, or if I’ll simply have to find a brighter light.”
When Dorothy, a nursing student who works at the same hospital as Eli, catches his eye, his world shifts in a way he didn’t know was possible. There is something about her that intrigues him and he can’t stop thinking about her.
Eli is so out of his so out of his element when it comes to dating. He literally hasn’t had to date someone new in two decades. I felt his insecurities and his doubts. I felt his heartache and loneliness. Being with Eli as he fumbles through asking Dorothy out is entertaining because she is unlike anyone he has ever met. I loved that it takes him back to his teenage years with the butterflies you get when you have a crush and the tingles that spark just with a glance.
Eli and Dorothy have an interesting relationship and it is far from conventional. The way he gets to know her is hilarious and I loved seeing her with his son, Roman. There is a learning curve when it comes to understanding Dorothy and even though he was at a loss for words so many times, he doesn’t let the challenges stop him from getting to know her. I loved that he tries to see the positives in the situations and he accepts everything that makes Dorothy who she is.
“As much as I want to believe I know Dorothy Mayhem, I’ve only caught tiny glimpses of her. Each one so luminous, I know she’s too bright for anyone to ever truly see all of her.”
Eli loves hard, he loves unconditionally, and it is impossible not to fall for him. He is so good and he puts his heart in everything he does. I wanted him to be happy and I knew Dorothy could be the one to put him back together by just being herself. She lightens his days and finds joy in the little things while teaching him so much, and I felt him start to heal.
Dorothy is a complicated character and I liked getting into her head. She is quirky and awkward and so endearing. She has Asperger’s and even though she knows she is different, she is exactly who she is supposed to be. She made me think outside the box and my heart went out to her with every challenge she encounters. She is brutally honest and isn’t afraid to be herself, and I loved her for that.
“I don’t mind being me. No one can do it better.”
Dating isn’t easy when Eli and Dorothy think so differently but they take a chance and accept each other unconditionally even when it’s difficult. Their journey is a fun one but it’s not without several bumps along the way, and it’s sad and frustrating at times. The feels are complicated and the love is not black and white. It’s far from easy and I felt the conflict. I wanted to scream and cry when things didn’t go my way, and though I understood the decisions, I didn’t want to accept them and my heart broke.
In the end, every difficult, painful moment is worth it because the love and laughs are real, and Eli and Dorothy prove that they are meant to be. The epilogue filled my heart with so much joy and it delivered a better happily-ever-after than I could have imagined!
I have to add that the secondary characters are wonderful. I appreciated both sets of parents and I could feel their love. They raised wonderful children and it warmed my heart that they were always there for them. I didn’t want to like Eli’s ex, Julie, but I actually hurt for her too. She made me think about things differently. She wasn’t the villain I expected her to be and I liked how her part unfolded. I love kids in books so Roman was a treat. He instantly put a smile on my face and I couldn’t help but adore him!
This is Perfectly Adequate written by Jewel E. Ann. It’s a romantic comedy that also grabs you by the throat once or twice… classic Jewel E Ann style. Dr. Eli Hawkins is still reeling from the changes forced upon him and his family by his ex-wife. He can’t seem to grasp the fact that Julie no longer wants to be with him and Roman. How can he put aside all of the feelings he has for her? Then in walks Dorothy Mayhem who brings…. mayhem, of course! Dorothy has Asperger syndrome and we get an amazing glimpse into the mind of someone living with this diagnosis. I’m not sure which one, Dorothy or Eli, has a harder time with their budding relationship. I can tell you that Dorothy will have you bust a gut laughing quite often with her “out of the box” thinking. What a breath of fresh air and a new perspective she brings to Eli and Roman’s lives. Eli somehow gets into a bit of a sticky situation when Dorothy takes his romantic interest as him needing her to babysit his adorable child. Its so fun and easy to read, even with the angst-y parts! You will adore Roman and Dorothy and wish for just a few minutes in an on call room with the hot Dr. Eli Hawkins. wink…wink… Don’t miss the HEA!!
4 Okay Stars
This is a beautifully poignant story of acceptance, which is a definite must read for all. Jewel has brought such strength and light to these wonderful characters that you just can’t help but fall in love with. They shook me to my core and brought tears to my eyes. I adored this world that she has created. These characters and this story have fundamentally changed me in a positive way.
“My brain hurts more than my burnt ass. Warren and Dorothy, Dorothy and emus. Willa is Willow. Willow wants to hump my leg.”
I loved all the quirky humor sprinkled throughout the book. I had a perpetual smile on my face due to Dorothy and the amazingness that is her. I loved everything about her character, she doesn’t make excuses she is just who she is and she’s okay with that. I could immediately see myself being friends with her, better yet I need to be friends with her. She brings a much-needed honesty to life but not in a malicious way just that she doesn’t know how not to be. She’s so smart and capable of anything she puts her mind too. And she’s so completely unselfish, she’s always putting other’s first even if it’s a detriment to what she wants. Her character is utterly refreshing and captivating.
“At that moment, Dorothy shines, and it thrills me because I can’t pinpoint what it is about her that brightens my day. ”
Eli oh Eli sexy doctor Eli. This man is incredible he’s gone through a very rough time. And most definitely has some issues that he needs to deal with. But the moment he meet’s Dorothy it’s like she shines this bright light on him and makes him happy. He can’t figure out how she has this effect on him for a while it’s just her personality and the fact that she is perfectly adequate. (You’ll get it when you read this). Their relationship made me laugh but at the same time twisted my heart when there was miscommunication. It can’t be easy being in love with someone who doesn’t show their feelings the same way as others. But he openly accepts everything about her. That made me fall in head over heels for him, seriously I don’t think my heart will ever be the same.
“Dorothy Mayhem possesses her own brand of seduction, and I’m completely entangled in every part of it.”
This book brings to light a lot of issues and problems with the world today, I think too often people disregard those that they deem different. And because of this they are missing out on the magic that they bring to this world. I truly think it’s a book that everyone should take the time and read.
Having said that the book kind of lost it towards the end. I didn’t like how the story played out with his Ex-wife. I understood to an extent, but I just wasn’t feeling it. It kinda pissed me off to be honest and I was left feeling like if one thing was different it wouldn’t have ended the same way and I didn’t like that feeling (completely a personal opinion). I thoroughly enjoyed the story until about the 90% mark and still think that you should read this for all the other amazing qualities that this story brings.
Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann has everything that makes for a lovely romance. What you have is one sweet hero named Elijah, one quirky heroine named Dorothy and Eli’s adorable kid named Roman. Ms. Ann has written a beautiful story that tells about how Elijah is going thru a rough time after his wife left him. They are both doctors and his wife just up and left him after giving birth to his son 2 years before. Now he is going through picking up the pieces and that’s when Dorothy Mayhem came into his life. She’s young, beautiful and different. She’s on the
ASD spectrum yet that doesn’t bother her. She is wild and free. She is open and honest. She sees Eli and finds herself very attracted to him as he is her. The sparks are sizzling between them. They start off perfectly but then the ex rears her nasty head. The drama flares and what looked to be bright and promising suddenly looked sad and dim. There was emotional ups and downs that kept me on my toes with this read. I really enjoyed the characters and the feels. I loved the ending. I would have liked to get more of an epilogue but overall a fantastic emotional HEA read that will have you rooting for Dorothy and Elijah.
My Rating: 4.5 stars ******
“You can’t choose me.”
“I won’t. I’ll wait for you to choose me.”
There is nothing like a Jewel E. Ann book to get your heart racing and your emotions pumping. My heart feels like it just finished a marathon.
Dorothy is such a breath of fresh air. Oh, how she made me laugh and smile. I love her and Eli’s dynamic. I loved watching their relationship evolve.
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
Jewel’s writing is spectacular. She articulates the characters in a manner that makes you feel as though you’re right there with them through everything. I could see the twitching of lips, the raising of eyebrows, the hands balled in frustration. I could feel all the emotions pouring out of both Dorothy and Eli, the anxieties, the questions, the love.
Perfectly Adequate makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you feel. It’s a beautiful, unique, and heartwarming story that just makes you feel good.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting me be me. Letting me be enough.”
4.5 Stars
It takes a lot to make me actually laugh out loud and this book accomplished making me do so several times. It also had me recounting specifics of the story to my boyfriend every time I had to stop reading for whatever reason. As usual, I love this author’s characters – they feel like real people to me and I dare anyone not to absolutely fall in love with Dorothy, Eli and little Romeo (Roman). I definitely felt the emotions from several things the characters in this book are going through, even Julie, but I didn’t feel the love between Eli and Dorothy quite as much as I have with this author’s other characters. In the end, that actually didn’t really matter as much because I loved the characters and their life stories myself. The biggest conflict they go through wasn’t easy for me to read but it really felt realistic to me, as all of this author’s work has done for me so far, and the happy ending was very satisfying. Jewel E Ann has an unreal natural talent that spans subgenres and various story topics – I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next, and to finish working my way through her backlist too.
Perfectly Adequate was my first time reading anything written by Jewel E. Ann, and it didn’t disappoint. This title was incredibly close to a five star read for me, it’s unique, compelling, and completely engaging, and oozes angst and drama.
Dorothy Mayhem is an unexpected heroine. Completely charming, endearing, awkward and unique in every way.
Eli Hawkins, is a pediatric oncologist and a divorced single father. He’s sexy, successful and devoted, and trying to come to terms with the cards life has dealt him.
Eli and Dorothy’s story is a sweet and heartwarming story with the perfect amounts of heat, heart and humor.
From the very first chapter i was completely captivated and for anyone who is familiar with someone with ASD this is a very accurate portrayal.
Overall Grade:
Do you ever read a romance that makes your heart race, you feel it pounding heavily in your chest? It isn’t that it’s $exy, although that happens too. It’s that you see the potential of the characters and know that the journey ahead isn’t an easy one. That’s a typical feeling when reading a Jewel E. Ann book. She thrives on creating stories and characters that are complicated and whose journeys are anything but straight. She oftentimes puts labels on her books: romantic suspense, rom-com, etc. Yet, those labels never do the book justice because they are too reductive to what she does. Which leads me into her newest offering, Perfectly Adequate.
Labels. Honestly, Jewel E. Ann suggests that Perfectly Adequate is a rom-com. While there are definitely those elements, this book, like many of her others, doesn’t really that fit that label fully. And it’s interesting because that is one of the many messages of this book: labels. Dorothy Mayhem, the heroine of this romance, is an “Aspie:” someone living on the autism spectrum. First of all, I LOVE that Ann brings us a heroine who is unique, difficult to fit into the typical “heroine” type. This is the second character I’ve read on the spectrum, and it opens the typical hero/heroine trope. With her “label,” Ann points to the way in which having the label of Asperger’s doesn’t fully account for Dorothy’s personality. When she finds the hero, Elijah Hawkins’s stash of books on autism, she questions his interest in her label because she rejects it as being a complete representation of herself. Even more, she pushes him to see how any label pulls us further from humanizing people. This book, in much the same way, does the same. It takes this message to its core in its presentation. Yes, there are moments of laughter, yet there are just as many moments of tears, anger, and frustration (at least that was the case for me). Dorothy Mayhem’s character is a vivid reminder throughout this story that labels reduce the true nature of a person. It’s a poignant message, a reminder, that being human is all we need for humanity.
Beyond her discussion on labels, Jewel E. Ann’s craftsmanship of Julie moved me more than the romance on the page. She received my most visceral reaction. Reading her was like looking into a mirror at times, and it was weighty. As I am a woman in her late 40s, Julie’s struggles with loving herself beyond marriage, career, and child resonated with me. The struggle to understand feelings of unworthiness and anger and displacement found purchase in my soul, and it was uncomfortable. To be honest, as a whole, Julie makes me uncomfortable because reading her on the page was like looking in a mirror. And it was painful at times. I wanted to stop reading the story because her thoughts and feelings in some ways are similar to my own. This connected me more deeply to this story. It’s difficult to imagine that people serve a certain capacity in our lives for a time, and I think Jewel uses the character of Julie to illustrate this.
But the best part of Perfectly Adequate is Dorothy and Elijah. It’s Elijah’s acceptance of Dorothy’s humanity, that she is “okay” and “perfectly adequate,” that shaped my impression of him. His ability to “see” her offers some of the most poignant moments in this book. Jewel E. Ann gives him some of the most beautiful words because, more often than not, she places few words in the voice of Dorothy. The contrast of these two in that respect is the beauty of their relationship, of their journey. Their chemistry, Dorothy’s sacrifice for Elijah, his soul connection to her, their awkward moments transpire to pull you through the best and worst times of their story, landing safely in a happily-ever-after.
Finally, what buoys the fandom that surrounds Jewel E. Ann and her books is her writing, the literal words on the page. As I was reading Perfectly Adequate, I highlighted like mad and took notes on page after page of this book. From almost the start of the book, she creates these moments that are viscerally profound. More specifically, she has this ability to make your body react to her characters and her story. I felt my heart pounding, my blood rushing, my stomach crawling, and my heart swelling at different moments in the story. Especially as Dorothy and Elijah struggle with their reality, my emotional reactions were palpable. This is Jewel’s brilliance as a writer. Whether it’s Perfectly Adequate, Jersey Six, or the Transcend Duet, Jewel E. Ann’s ability to evoke the emotion that connects us to her characters is her genius. Honestly, it was why I was reticent to start this book. I knew that, through Dorothy and Elijah’s story, I was going to have to feel deeply because Jewel’s writing does that to me. It’s a beautiful type of emotional torture.
If you love beautiful words, beautiful images, and a beautiful story, then you NEED Jewel E. Ann’s Perfectly Adequate. This romance reminds us that our humanity rests in being our best selves. Dorothy Mayhem is truly one of the best heroines you’ll read, and she’s a necessary reminder that we are more than our labels.
Dorothy…Dorothy…Dorothy!
What a spectacular character! Jewel E Ann has written some of my favorite heroines ever and yet she tops it with Dorothy Mayhem! This quirky, selfless, analytical, beautiful soul. She is the embodiment of good! And Elijah her perfect match! God, did I love Eli! Not to mention, just how much the supporting characters add to the heart of this story and make it all the more pleasurable.
I loved every single perfectly flawed and yet incredibly relatable human in this book. If only we could all see the humanity in life. If only we could all see through the thoughtful eyes of Dorothy Mayhem. What a universe that would be!
Jewel E Ann pours her whole heart into Perfectly Adequate; she does with all her books but I could feel her soul in this one and I adored it! I hope she visits these fantastic characters in the future…I’m just not done with them yet…okay!
What an amazing read!
Hilarious, funny and a breath of fresh air… Jewel was able to deliver a spectacular story.
Andrew, a doctor going through a divorce wishing that his wife, now ex would love him again so that he could erase everything that happened over a year.
Dorothy, well what I can say about her it’s that she always ALWAYS need to plan things. She cannot go through life without knowing what to do, she’s so smart yet so different and unique. They are both opposite and this couldn’t be more accurate. She gives him life, and the possibility of a second chance to be happy again and she, well I’d like to think that thanks to him she becomes a more spontaneous person without even realizing it.
This book it’s really special, talks about something that we are all not accustomed to reading, yet the author treats the issue with so much respect and you can tell that she indeed did research and really had the interest to tell this in the most sincere and real way.
Let me tell you that she succeeded and that this story has become one of my favorite reads of the year.
PS I kindly received an ARC from the author
Calling all rom-com fans!
Hot doctor
Quirky heroine
Single dad
Romantic-comedy
Texting shenanigans
Doggy style
(I saw Jewel post this and thought it was the perfect way to start my review)
Now that I have your attention…
This is probably one of those gems that readers will overlook strictly because of it’s different cover. But let me tell you,Different is okay! Different is adequate! You will be okay with different. This is a DIFFERENT type of romance. And if you choose to overlook it, strictly because you are falling into that “judging a book by it’s cover” category, then YOU WILL BE MISSING OUT. I’ll be honest, at first glimpse of this cover, I wasn’t the BIGGEST fan, but knowing how I feel about ALL of Jewel’s books (that I’ve read) and after reading THIS book, it is PERFECTLY ADEQUATE
This is a story that will catch you by complete surprise. At least that’s how I felt. Even after reading the synopsis, I had ZERO idea where this story was going to go and the depths to which this story would hit me (which is the case with basically every book I’ve read by Jewel). I have NEVER, in all my years (and all the books I’ve read), laughed so much and so often at the downright ridiculously laughable moments within this book. Moments that had me shaking my head thinking, “that did not just happen?” and/or “she did not just do (or say) that???”And those scenes and moments WORKED in this story and with these characters. They were utterly outrageous, but SO plausible within this story.
“…Clearly you don’t know how my brain works. But…you’ll find out.”I climb to my feet. Eli grabs my hand and kisses then inside of my wrist.
“Clearly, you don’t know how my love works. But…you’ll find out.”
I LOVE JEWEL’S STORIES!!! She has a way of painting such a vivid picture when she tells a story. The way in which she articulates the point that she is trying to get across is astounding. She makes every character so individual, but yet relatable to the reader. Even the “villain” of the story, I found myself sympathizing with. How is that possible? Jewel. That’s how!
There were MANY times within this book that I would stop reading and think, “Wow! Just wow. That was written beautifully!” (I even read some scenes outloud to my hubby, which I RARELY do.) I loved the deeper subject matter that Jewel’s centered this story around. It made for one unique set of characters. I’ve NEVER read a book quite like this. It was realistic and probably took quite a bit of research, time, and effort to achieve the point and meaning she was getting across throughout this book. This story was truly like no other romance I’ve read. Eli and Dorothy were like no couple I’ve ever read. Dorothy was like no other character I’ve ever read.
I know I’m not adequately expressing myself in this review, but to me, PERFECTLY ADEQUATE was the PERFECT romcom. It had hilariously awkward moments, smile inducing moments, swoon-worthy moments (Eli was PERFECT), sad moments, and heart-warming moments. This is one of those books that can’t be properly described, you just have to experience it for yourself. Whether this is your first or tenth book by Jewel, you will love it.
“For the record…” I grab workout clothes from the closet “…loving you has been unexpectedly good.”
“Good?”he chuckles.
“Perfectly adequate.”
5 “lifetime” stars
This was really fun and unexpected! I love when authors write refreshing stories and this one didn’t disappoint!
Dorothy…Dorothy…Dorothy is way more than Perfectly Adequate, she’s a good human! Eli & Dorothy are a delight. I laughed, cried, laughed, agonized, and fell irrevocably totally in love with this book and characters.
Jewel never ceases to be amazing. Just when I think this is it, she’s written the perfect book, but then her next book releases!
Different doesn’t mean handicapped. Weirdness isn’t weirdness at all…it’s our own personal brand of uniqueness. When each persons uniqueness should never be discounted or under estimated at any time!
This book is refreshingly aware and fantastically enriching!
5 stars are not enough stars, I would give it 50 stars!!
This is my third ARC from the author and my favorite so far.
It’s not your ordinary love story… you could definitely say it’s a breath of fresh air… a break from all the normal model and greek god and goddesses types.
I’ve never really read about a heroine who has Asperger’s/ASD. I have Helen Hoang’a audiobook in which the heroine has some similarities to Dorothy, but I was only a few chapters in. I don’t deny that I don’t know a whole lot about it.
I love it! I enjoyed it page after page… For people like me, who don’t know much about ASD, it made me understand them more… how the author wrote Dorothy.
Elijah and Dorothy are definitely a memorable book-couple…
It’s funny, heartwarming and heart-wrenching all rolled into one neat package. Love definitely knows no boundaries and it conquers all.
This book was amazing! “The spectrum is human. It’s not autism.” I truly loved Dorothy, and the glimpse we got of being on the spectrum. Every character was written beautifully. One of my favorite lines is “Everything is okay.” Because of what it meant to her. I loved when Eli said “EVERYBODY LOVES DORFEE MAYHEM BECAUSE SHE’S THE VERY BEST HUMAN THAT EVER EXISTED!” I felt everyone should be more like her. I loved how she fell in love with cute little Roman. I truly found her traits, and the way she chose to give back inspiring.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann. It was a fun, sweet, and so freaking charming. I loved it! We have two great characters in Dr. Elijah Hawkins and Dorothy Mayhem and throw in his son, and your heart is a goner! Elijah is a single father and sexy doctor. He is charmed by Dorothy when they meet. I have no words for Dorothy. She was amusing and delightful and full of awkwardness that you could not help but love her. There is miscommunication in the funniest ways. I loved seeing them fall as they spend time together. This story was fun and just such a heartwarming read and one I highly recommend!
4.5-loved it stars! Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
4.5 stars–PERFECTLY ADEQUATE is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on thirty year old, nursing student Dorothy Mayhem and thirty-eight year old oncologist Dr. Elijah Hawkins.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Elijah and Dorothy) PERFECTLY ADEQUATE follows the building friendship, relationship and romance between thirty year old, nursing student Dorothy Mayhem and thirty-eight year old, divorced, single father and oncologist Dr. Elijah Hawkins. Dorothy Mayhem has Asperger’s, and struggles with everyday, ordinary social cues and actions. Aware of her issues, and battles with the ‘norm’ Dorothy finds herself on the receiving end of one man’s seduction, a seduction Dorothy is unable to comprehend or return. Enter oncologist Dr. Elijah Hawkins, and the man who will fall in love with our story line heroine. What ensues is the building relationship between Dorothy and Elijah, and the potential fall-out as Dorothy’s focus on family and love finds Elijah on the outside, looking at a future without the woman he loves.
PERFECTLY ADEQUATE is an emotional and heart breaking story; a romantic comedy with a woman whose reality is focused on the here and now; whose day to day interactions and life follow a methodical line. Dr. Elijah Hawkins has fallen for the quirky, nursing student but not everyone in Eli’s life is willing to concede his choice for a mate.
Jewel E Ann pulls the reader into a thought provoking story with a feisty and spirited heroine who is willing to step out of her comfort zone but a comfort zone with barriers preventing from stepping too far. The premise is engaging, sensitive and startling; the situations often awkward and humorous; the characters are inspiring and heart warming; the romance is passionate but struggles with Dorothy’s preconceived notions of romance, seduction, family and love.
Dorothy Mayhem! What a character and what a woman. She’s been diagnosed with ASD and it affects her socially, how she views her surroundings and interact with people. She has no filter whatsoever and that definitely made me giggle numerous times because of her honest outbursts whether it was during sex or because she couldn’t tell a lie. There’s no doubt that Dorothy is a good and sweet human being. She sees the best in people and values the small things in life.
Elijah is swept off his feet when he sees and talks to Dorothy in her color coordinated clothes and her red Nikes. Intrigued and captivated by her and he’s totally inexperienced when it comes to asking a woman on a date.
Dorothy and Elijah is amazing and so much fun. He doesn’t look at Dorothy as a person with ASD no he looks at her as Dorothy. The most kindhearted and best woman on the planet. She has her routines and structure which can be difficult for some to accept and grow accustomed to but for Elijah it’s a fresh breath of air. For him it’s all about Dorothy.
Elijah has a son Roman who Dorothy hits it off with immediately and it doesn’t hurt that she has two emus and a dog.
Perfectly Adequate is a cute and hilarious romantic comedy. Once again Jewel E. Ann accomplishes writing a special story with well developed characters who have so much heart. She handles ASD with care and her portrayal of Dorothy is honest and heartfelt. Perfectly Adequate is a gorgeous treasure.
4 Mayhem Stars
Perfectly Adequate is a fun, light-hearted change of pace from one of my favorite queens of angst! Jewel E Ann usually tears my heart apart before mending it back together, but with Eli and Dorothy’s story there really was none of the typical heartache- I was pretty much smiling from start to finish. Not to say we don’t get our fair share of feels, this is JEA we’re talking about afterall!
Dorothy Mayhem is a refreshing character. She’s not your typical heroine, and I loved that JEA took a chance with her. She’s direct, to the point, and so very unique. Just like Eli, I was completely intrigued, and fell in love with her right along with him. And Eli, he is such a dear. Trying to move on after being dumped by his ex-wife, he’s finally starting to live again, all thanks to Dorothy. I loved that he wanted to learn about Dorothy and her ASD- and that he didn’t let her quirks and her somewhat peculiar habits and behaviors keep her from letting him in. He didn’t push, but slowly worked his way in. I really did enjoy the journey these characters went through over the course of the book.
Although this was a much lighter book for JEA, there were definitely some moments that made me stop and think. I don’t have anyone close to me that is on the autism spectrum or deals with ASD, (I’m not even sure if that’s the correct way to describe it, so excuse me if it isn’t) so this book opened my eyes to a lot of things. I appreciate the care JEA took with Dorothy’s character, thanks to her own experiences with someone with ASD. Like Eli, we could laugh with Dorothy, it was never at her.
I mean, it was okay.
Dorothy Mayhem is perfectly unforgettable.
On the autism disorder, she is perfectly honest and unable to tell even the smallest lie, even a teensy fib that would make life infinitely easier for her and Eli, a pediatric oncologist at the hospital where Dorothy works as a patient transporter and the man she is dating. Eli is utterly captivated by Dorothy. He loves her occasionally uncomfortable honesty, and he loves how perfectly she adores his young son Roman. He may not adore her adoration for his ex-wife, but he can live with it.
Jewel E Ann crafts a character who remains indelible in your mind. Dorothy has her quirks–she likes pineapple pizza and her X-Box, but she does not like scratchy sheets and body heat, nor does she much care for hugs. She finds sharing food absolutely verboten. When someone takes her to a fondue restaurant, it proves to be the death knell of their relationship.
The part of Dorothy that may surprise you is how big her heart is. At one point in this book, she sacrifices something because in doing so, she believes she is giving a character the chance at a happy, contented life. This is the point where you might just cry. I sure did.
I cannot stop thinking about Dorothy Mayhem. I’ve had a difficult time getting into other books because their heroines aren’t as dynamic, as interesting, as beguiling as Dorothy. Eli went up a NOTCH because he loves Dorothy.
Dorothy’s imperfections make her perfect. For her, “perfectly adequate” is the highest compliment. You need to meet her. You need to get to know her.
Okay.