The details…
- Title: 80% Done with Straight Girls
- Author: Mari SanGiovanni
- Publisher: Bywater Books
- Publication date: July 6, 2022
- Formats available: ebook, paperback
- Length: 315 pages
- Genre: humorous fiction/romantic comedy
- Themes: family, illness, finding love, letting go, moving on from heartbreak, women loving women, grief, friendship, siblings
The blurb from the publisher…
The third book in Marie Santora’s search for true love finds her big Italian family still serving the up the fun, Italian style: Loud, lusty, and volatile―overflowing with lots of love and laughter.
What’s funny about losing everything you love? Plenty, if you’re a member of the Santora family.
Marie Santora has always suffered from an enormous case of good luck/bad luck when it comes to women, and the past six years have been no exception. When Marie’s love life hits the skids―again―her irrepressible sister Lisa begins to wonder if this is the time that her sister’s loss is too great for even their eccentric Italian family to heal.
To help Marie escape the painful memories, Lisa ditches her gay campground for a family lake house, and Marie vows to be done with straight girls once and for all. But just as the Santora clan descends upon Marie to “help”, a surprise house call changes her good luck to bad luck once again, putting Mari’s willpower to the ultimate test.
The family motto has always been “Either you’re IN, or you’re OUT!” and this newest family crisis means the Santora’s are ALL IN―even though Marie wants them out!
My thoughts…
This book is an absolute delight! It will tickle your funny bone, squeeze your heart and make you smile. Mari SanGiovanni writes from the heart, and she doesn’t hold back. Readers will be talking about this one.
This is the third book in the series, and as always, the characters are brilliant. They are all so well-written. They compliment the storytelling beautifully, bringing it to life in ways that only a good writer can. Though the story is primarily told from Marie’s point of view, this is really an ensemble effort. Each character adds color and texture, making the story more dynamic and strong. The supporting characters help to bring an emotional depth to the narrative; their unique personalities and perspectives make this continuing family fable more relatable and entertaining. Their overstepping antics are fresh and witty, but more importantly they are essential for directing focus to the internal and external conflicts in the story.
What really makes this rom-com other level is that it feels authentic, not contrived. The humor, as well as the pain, isn’t shoehorned into the story. SanGiovanni writes from a place she understands and readers not only feel it, they appreciate it. From page one readers are on a journey with Marie and they gladly climb aboard.
Though it’s probably shelved as a traditional rom-com, I’d categorize it as more of a humorous piece of fiction with a heavy side of love. This third installment of the Santora saga breaks away from the standard romantic comedy script. Yes, the love story is central to the plot; it just contains a sharp bend in the traditional arc. What do I mean by that? Well, the happily ever after is not what you expect. SanGiovanni challenges the conventions of romantic comedy and it’s genius. She adds a HEA twist. It’s unexpected and it works.
Final remarks…
This is every red-blooded Italian’s answer to to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Its culturally rich and dynamic cast sets this one apart from its fellow rom-coms. It’s more than girl meets girl and rides off into the sunset. It’s girl’s family helps girl find love and everybody is content…for awhile, or until the meddling and family drama begins again. This is a well-written book and I highly recommend it.
Strengths…
- Well-written
- Likable, dynamic characters
- Humorous and great fun to read
- original storytelling
- Heartfelt and insightful
- Nice addition to the Santora saga
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A bit about the author…
Mari SanGiovanni published her first book with Bywater Books after entering a writing contest back in 2007. Her first novel Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer is a romantic comedy that was short-listed for a Lambda Literary Award and was re-released for a book club offering. Her second novel, Camptown Ladies, is a sequel to her first novel and was the winner of the Golden Crown Literary SocietyAward for Best Traditional/Contemporary Romance. 80% Done with Straight Girls is the follow-up to Camptown Ladies.
When Mari is not writing, she is the Divisional Manager of Product Development for a major home retail corporation with global markets across the US, Europe, Australia, and Germany. She also has Facebook and Instagram pages for Artwork By Mari where she works to inspire others to paint, draw, and stay creative.
Connect with the author…
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