Jane Porter is advertized as the author of Flirting with Forty. I’ve not read it. But if she writes Flirting with Fifty I surely will.

Odd Mom Out is such a fun read. Poor Marta simply doesn’t fit in and doesn’t want to either. But she desperately needs to fit in with the local moms soon for the sake of her child. What Marta doesn’t realize is that she needs to be needed too, and not just by a daughter that’s growing up too fast.

Gradually Marta learns that those who fit in might not be quite as normal or happy as they look, and those who don’t won’t necessarily be as different as they seem either. Meanwhile her daughter reads How to be Popular and drives her mother spare. Oh, and there’s the handsome sexy motor-bike enthusiast who might be another not-fitting-in parent, if Marta could just get the chance to find out.

And there’s the job. Yes, Marta’s a working mom, and a happily single Mom, and a super-Mom. She runs her own company and she runs her own life, except that there’s just too much juggling going on. I loved getting to know her, and her daughter, and Luke, though I wanted to scream sometimes—why couldn’t she see? It felt like screaming at a friend.

My favorite scene? Well, there’s the one where the parents’ association are discussing raising funds for their kids’ school, and Marta wants them to share with the other side of town. But the mommy mafia is diverting the conversation to laser treatments… I think I wouldn’t fit in either.

Sometimes there seemed to be just a few too many twists. But why should it be simple. Marta’s story is alternately hilarious and touching and sweet, and I really enjoyed reading it. ( )

The Review

This is the third of five books that I have written by Jane Porter. To date, I have reviewed Flirting With Forty and Mrs. Perfect. Mrs. Perfect was the story of Taylor Young, the seemingly perfect blonde PTA Mom. In her story, she ends up taking a job at Z Designs, a company owned by Marta Zissner. This is the story of Marta Zissner and she is everything that the “Stepford Wives” of Bellevue, Washing are not! The combat boot sporting, Harley Davidson rider is unlike all the other mothers who spend their days volunteering at their childrens’ school. Marta is a single mom of a wonderful, curious and brilliant daughter Eva. Eva is everything that Marta isn’t. Eva’s mission is to have friends and be popular; Marta’s mission is to be true to thyself and not worry about social status. Eva is convinced that she can transform the lives of both her mother and herself so that they will become a part of the “popular crowd” at school. But, more than that, Eva wants to have a daddy to call her own. Being the product of a single mom’s quest to have a baby via a sperm donor, she doesn’t know what life is like having a dad in her life.

I think that I am most definitely the “Odd Mom Out” in my world. I’m nothing close to the lovely, sweet, and picture perfect wives of my school community. I’m quirky, eccentric, moody, and direct. They are pretty, sociable, and so involved. I’m always intimidated by those moms that have it all… the husband, the house, the gorgeous kids. I’ve been a single mom since my twins were 18 months old. I’ve spent the majority of my time being a working mom and trying to do a decent job of raising my girls. It hasn’t been easy. We’ve hit several bumps on the road. Being a single mom isn’t the easiest option and having a wonderful husband and father as a part of a family is something that I long for… just haven’t been blessed with. Maybe someday?

So, as far as Odd Mom Out, I could most relate to the heroine in this story of all the books I’ve read by Jane Porter. I understood how Marta felt and really pulled for her success in finding love and solving her career dilemmas. I adored the character of little Eva. In fact, I think she is my favorite character in the book. She is such an independent, smart little cookie! LOVED HER!

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

As the self-proclaimed “Queen of ChickLit,” I have to say that this book does not disappoint! Odd Mom Out has all of the traditional “Jane Porter” flavor amidst an entirely new storyline. I can really relate to the single-mom aspects of this story and it was a fun reading adventure for me!

For the genre Fiction:Women’s Fiction/ChickLit, I am going to rate this book a 9 OUT OF 10. ( )

3.5 stars. cute and quirky ( )

Odd Mom Out reminded me of a great read for a summer day at the beach or laying out at the pool. You could easily throw it into a bag and take it where every your fancied. I picked up the novel solely because of the bright colors on the cover.

The writing is simple and easy to read, but not in a way that makes you think Odd Mom Out is meant for younger audiences. The story line was pretty good, though it was a bit self-indulgent.And there were sections in the book that I couldn’t help laughing at.

In the beginning, the book did seem to drag a bit. The first 50 pages or so aren’t gripping and I could have easily put the novel down. Towards the end, I became more engrossed in Marta’s life and just couldn’t put it down. Yet, the turnaround in Marta’s relationship with her daughter at the end left me a little put off. ( )

This was the first book I read by this author and it will not be the last. I LOVED this book!! I was hooked from page one. I loved Marta's spunk and how she handled herself with the stay-at-home moms. I felt her internal struggle with trying to validate her daughter's feelings about being friends with the popular girls, however trying to raise her daughter to just be herself. Marta prides herself on being independent and created a world that she doesn't allow anyone in, in fear that it will disrupt her life. Then she meets Luke and realizes that she hasn't been living at all. I can't wait to read the follow-up "Mrs. Perfect". 4.5/5 ( )