I found this book, about a city person moving to the rural midwest prairie/farmland, to be both condescending and unrealistic. I would be surprised to learn the author had actually spent significant time in the region she writes about. (That said, I'll probably now learn that she grew up there....) ( )

The narrator did not catch my interest at all. Perhaps this book gets better after the first bit... but I've got other things to read. ( )

This was like Kavalier & Clay in that I had to keep forcing myself to pick it back up, but then I would always enjoy it more than expected when I did. The main character screwed up a lot and in ways you could see coming, but they were also very realistic ways that hit extremely close to home. The general setting was so appealing for me too, since I also recently moved from a big city to the prairie. And I loved Daum's early non-fiction, although lately it's been more generic. The supporting cast was too broadly-drawn -- everyone was just so quirky. Plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments, however. Usually involving her boss. I tend to skim past personal growth moments, which other readers love, but she kept them moderate so that was fine. ( )

Funny and unexpected, but too light for four stars. ( )

I can understand why Amazon and LibraryThing recommendations included this book in my lists. The main character is intelligent, witty and quirky. The trouble is, I don't like her. Meghan Daum is a good writer. No doubt the plot will appeal to women in their 20's and early 30's. Speaking as a person who lives in a college town in a rural environment, I felt that it was shallow and condescending.

It's pretty much impossible to love a book when you don't respect the lead character. I had to put this one down. ( )