The Opposite of Me

When we first meet Lindsey Rose, she's a panicking ad creator at a Manhattan agency, desperate to land a new account and a promotion, and not especially likable. It's hard to relate to her panic or to take it seriously when she's up against Comic Relief Cheryl's Giant Bosoms, but as soon as she leaves that world behind she's an engaging, interesting, serious, funny character, trying to figure out who she is and where she wants to be. Once you finally get to see the flawed, confused, but charming Lindsay who has more reasons to live than a job she doesn't even really like but can't easily let go of, you don't want the book to end.

The plot here isn't groundbreaking, but the characters are well-drawn and compelling, and Pekkanen brings a show more funny touch to even the roughest moments of her characters' lives. This is a really enjoyable read, quick but not so quick that it's not satisfying, and well worth your time. If you find yourself a little put off by the Lindsey at the beginning of the book, give her time to grow on you, and you won't be disappointed. show less

When I first began "The Opposite of Me: A Novel" I thought, "Oh no, another book about a stressed out workaholic New York woman who loses her job and finds out what she really wants in life...boring!". Then I progressed in the book and realized it was so much more than that, and that I loved it! I actually did laugh out loud at some of the comments Lindsey makes in her head and got a little weepy towards the end (most of this happening in the confines of my office so I am sure my coworkers now think I am crazy!). This is such a great read that I plan to recommend it to many of my reader friends. I cannot relate to the complicated, mixed-bag-of-emotions relationship between Lindsey and Alex, but the book is written so well that you don't show more have to have experienced what the characters are going through to really feel what they are feeling. I just can't praise it enough. You will finish the book feeling calm, clear and highly satisfied! show less

At the age of 29, Lindsey is up for a MASSIVE promotion at work. But when a co-worker plays dirty, Lindsey makes a mistake that costs her career. Soon she is back to living with her parents, trying to fix her life. Along the way, she learns more about herself, her twin sister, and life in general. When she discovers that she was never exactly who she thought she was, she must completely reevaluate her life and exactly what she wants to make her happy.

The Reaction
I will totally admit that this book pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting some flakey fluff that I would read but wouldn’t really get in to. Boy was I wrong.

The characters were very realistic and enjoyable, not flakey at all. The main character, Lindsey, was both someone I show more could relate to, and didn’t want to strangle for making bad decision after bad decision after bad decision. Even those bad decisions she DID make, you could at least understand WHY she made them. I think a portion of the reason I could relate to Lindsey so well, was due to the fact that she was a graphic designer (as that’s what I am), so when she was talking work, I got what she was talking about. By the time things started to get a little rocky, I was already vested in her and what she was going through. And the way that she actually grew throughout the book, the way she really came in to herself, was so much fun to read.

This was a very funny book too – Pekkanen is a very humorous and witty writer. It’s surprising that this was her debut author, in all honesty. The characters were very well developed, none of them were flat and one-dimensional. The story itself wasn’t predictable – there were quite a few moments where I didn’t see the turn of events happening at all, which was refreshing. So many chicklit books are SO predictable. Plus, she conveyed so easily what the characters were feeling – when they were heartbroken, I was heartbroken as well.

I really wish I could go further and more in depth in this review, but I’m sick and really need to end this before it stops making sense due to being on cold medication and my brain being all muddled.

The Bottom Line
This was a very surprising read, and I would definitely recommend it. It’s a very good summer read, and I am definitely completely looking forward what Pekkanen will write in the future. show less

** spoiler alert ** Not your run of the mill chick-lit-beach-read novel. I've read more of those in the past year than I care to admit. It was incredibly refreshing in the approach this book took. Lindsey may have been in advertising (rather than PR or publishing) but the author actually took the time to research the world of NY Advertising to actually teach the reader a little bit about it all. And while Lindsey did chuck her life for a new one, it wasn't to live in some exotic location (unless you consider su ...more Not your run of the mill chick-lit-beach-read novel. I've read more of those in the past year than I care to admit. It was incredibly refreshing in the approach this book took. Lindsey may have been in advertising (rather show more than PR or publishing) but the author actually took the time to research the world of NY Advertising to actually teach the reader a little bit about it all. And while Lindsey did chuck her life for a new one, it wasn't to live in some exotic location (unless you consider suburban Washington DC exotic.) She may have moved back home with mom, but mom still lived with dad, in a kind of quirky retiree world of sales and early bird dinners.

Lindsey leaves her shining career and path to VP of the ad agency all behind because of an enormous out-of-character mistake she made that sidelines her completely. So instead of being the brilliant success she's been on the glide path for, which would finally help her come out from the shadow of her gorgeous, successful, TV reporter twin sister, finds her back at home, with mom buttering her toast, and Lindsey struggling to find her feet again.

What was nice for me was that Lindsey's growth and finding a new place to "be" involved not a man, or glamor, but a true journey inside herself to dust out the cobwebs and take a look around. She opens her eyes to herself, her past, her assumptions, and ultimately her future. The Lindsey of Blind Dates (the shoestring business she gets involved with after intervening for May, the owner, when her ex was threatening her) is not the same Lindsey who left NYC. That NYC Lindsey could never have had the courage to be there for beautiful Alex when her world went out of focus.

Interesting to note, (and here's a real spoiler so even if the last paragraph didn't alert you, then don't read on) the diagnosis Alex had is the same one my dear friend Lindesay had (or one of them). Their pathways were different, but I found myself remembering a wonderful soul who I miss. show less

This book is classified as chick-lit, but I feel the classification demeans the book. This is not another one of those quickly read and forgotten whimsical chick-lit books. Pekkanen "jumps" into heady subjects such as our perspective of self based on parental opinion and our view of the meaning of success. The story centers on twins: Alex, the beauty, and Lindsey, the brain. But what if these labels are incorrect, does each girl continue living the sham? How many individuals can break that preconceived mold of life? Many of the characters were well developed: Lindsey, Bradley, May; but some needed more refinement: Alex and Matt. The setting was not as rich as I have experienced through other Maryland writers. Pekkanen presents a very show more interesting outlook on the life of those "beautiful" people who seem to sail through life without a care. I could feel my own desperation paralleling that of Lindsey when her life seems to be falling apart. show less

Bittersweet novel of twin sisters who look and act nothing alike. The labels they were given when young: the pretty one, the smart one define their lives until Lindsey's gets turned upside down, and she.... returns home to re-group.

The parents are a sitcom of a pair, Alex is beautiful as always but now even thinner, and engaged. Lindsey is surprised that she allows her good sense to guide her in a different, more positive direction than she planned. She's happier than she's been in a long time but soon life throws some punches her way. Upset, yes, angry, yes, but strong enough to weather through and find the silver lining.

I enjoyed the 2nd half more, and loved the way Lindsey re-invents herself, and how Lindsey's family become closer. show more

I found one weakness in the predictability of part of the plot.

All in all a good book. show less

Okay, so I've got a crapload of sisters. I have two older sisters and two younger sisters (although the youngest sister is 16 years younger than me and only six so she really doesn't fit into the competitive mold), so I understood the relationship between Lindsey and Alex perfectly. While my sisters and I have all gotten over the whole competitiveness a few years ago, I still remember when it was rampant during our teenage years and it was FIERCE! So, again, I identified with Lindsey on that and that was why originally I intended to give this book five stars. But then, it turned for me.

I liked The Opposite of Me for the most part, but in the beginning I thought that it was wonderful. I loved it and couldn't wait to get back to it when show more I put it down. I just loved Lindsey and was so curious about her relationship with Alex. But then the sob story happened. I'm sorry, but does EVERYTHING have to have a sob story?! Don't get me wrong, I don't want the very few chick-lits I read to be all fluffy and airless, it's just that that particular sob story has been done to death. I would've preferred a different sob story, one that doesn't happen in every other women's fiction/chick-lit book. And another thing: that HUGE family secret? A bit on the disappointing side and just made Alex seem more like a Mary Sue. And I don't like Mary Sue characters. At all. Also, I didn't buy that crap that Alex said (very mild spoiler here) about not knowing that Lindsey was jealous of her. No one is that oblivious.

Now that I got that off my chest, I have to say that I did like some of the other aspects of The Opposite of Me. I loved the whole dating service storyline. I thought that it was actually a good way to have a dating service. I also adored Lindsey's parents. They were just so cute and hilarious. Speaking of hilarious, Matt was also great. Such a sweet and great friend. Basically, all of the supporting characters in this book were good. Plus, this book was a major (and I do mean MAJOR cause even when I was bitchin about it, I couldn't put it down) page-turner. I basically read it in one day in breaks between my classes.

So, regardless of my little rant above, I did like The Opposite of Me. I thought it was pretty funny and pretty sweet if a bit predictable. However, I would've liked it more if it had been sans big sob story and a little more about the sisters dealing with their issues without that major thing prompting it. show less