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vividglass's review against another edition
5.0
Jamie is a newly thirty year old with the stress of the world on her shoulders. She works two jobs to meet the needs of her special needs daughter and strives to be the best mother she can. She has experienced loss, being widowed by a car accident a year ago that took her husband's life. She is a strong, hard working, and compassionate individual who seems lost in her own reality. With the help of family and friends she is able to take steps forward in a "soul detox" that she created with the help of a close friend. Over the series, we follow Jamie on this journey of life changing decisions, both small and big.
The style of writing for this story is interesting. I will confess that when I first read the title of this novel, I thought it was another inspirational writing on how to detox your life. After finishing the introduction into Jamie's life, I have become attached to her and her daughter. Although characters in a fictional book, they relate to so many people in a realistic every day life. Life is hard, and unfair, but worth every struggle for the ones you love. I would highly recommend this book for an older audience (some sex, and language). Do not misunderstand me though, this book does have its twist and turns, providing an interesting progression of Jamie's story. If you want to read a book that makes you feel that you are not alone in this world, that you love your family despite their craziness, and nothing ever turns out the way you want it to, this is the book for you to read.
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The style of writing for this story is interesting. I will confess that when I first read the title of this novel, I thought it was another inspirational writing on how to detox your life. After finishing the introduction into Jamie's life, I have become attached to her and her daughter. Although characters in a fictional book, they relate to so many people in a realistic every day life. Life is hard, and unfair, but worth every struggle for the ones you love. I would highly recommend this book for an older audience (some sex, and language). Do not misunderstand me though, this book does have its twist and turns, providing an interesting progression of Jamie's story. If you want to read a book that makes you feel that you are not alone in this world, that you love your family despite their craziness, and nothing ever turns out the way you want it to, this is the book for you to read.
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
poppingparry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I received an e-ARC by the author and via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very different book from what I normally read. I liked it okay, but there were some things that could've been better.
When I learned about writing stories, the first thing that they told me was about the characteristics of story: characters, plot, conflict.
My only problem with this book? No conflict.
And I learned pretty quickly that without a conflict, the story is extremely, unreadably bland.
But I liked where the story went. I liked the fact that she's trying so hard, no matter how late it is, and the fact that she is supported so much by her friends. I liked the format, which was unique and gave more insight into Jamie's life.
I loved Sarah. I loved how Jamie always put her first, no matter what. But I think Jamie herself was too bland as a character.
I received an e-ARC by the author and via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very different book from what I normally read. I liked it okay, but there were some things that could've been better.
When I learned about writing stories, the first thing that they told me was about the characteristics of story: characters, plot, conflict.
My only problem with this book? No conflict.
And I learned pretty quickly that without a conflict, the story is extremely, unreadably bland.
But I liked where the story went. I liked the fact that she's trying so hard, no matter how late it is, and the fact that she is supported so much by her friends. I liked the format, which was unique and gave more insight into Jamie's life.
I loved Sarah. I loved how Jamie always put her first, no matter what. But I think Jamie herself was too bland as a character.
thereadingbel's review against another edition
4.0
The fourteen day soul detox is a book about cleansing your soul from a previous relationship and past. Jamie is 30 her life at the moment is stuck. Her finances, emotional, career and romance life are all out of whack. Leaving her confused what her life is going to be like moving forward. Jamie realizes she needs to change not only for herself but for her special needs daughter. She is now a widow and no longer part of a band that was a one hit wonder band. We are introduced to her weird and creepy neighbor and find out she is dating her ex-band mates ex husband. Her and her best friend Susan came up with the fourteen day detox plan and this part of the series ends at the end of day one of the detox plan. I plan on continuing this series to find out what happened. I was really impressed with the character development even though this is a short story series. I recommend this series I think all of us have wanted to change from our current situation and sometimes that means waking up on a specific birthday realizing that you need to change.
longtimereader's review
3.0
Good thing this was more of the whole series. For book one, it's day one of a 14 day change your life plan from our main character. It feels long and drawn out because it takes quite a lot or many books in this case, to cover this story. Jamie plans to put her life together, and while I hope she can do that, a fast change like this rarely stays put. It just feel a bit flat for me. I wanted to like it more than I was able. It also has some language, which is often unnecessary, as well as some other issues that caused me to rate it with fewer stars.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
meggyroussel's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally published on my blog at https://chocolatenwafflesblog.wordpress.com/
In the next fourteen points, I plan to talk about The Fourteen Day Detox.
Plot
1) Turning 30 is a milestone. Life will make sure it becomes the best time of your life. Or the worst. The story starts with Jamie waking up on the day of her 30th birthday. Kicking off your day with a headache is not the happiest way to welcome a new decade. Having your daughter and a hot guy around helps, though.
2) Never let your sister plan your birthday luncheon. Well, I don't have a sister, but this book opened my eyes on the subject. What was supposed to be a nice meal with family and friends turns into something much more complicated that sheds light on strained family ties.
3) No one has their life figured out at thirty. Everyone is a mess. Some more than others but we all should try and make a list of things to change. The soul detox is a refreshing idea. I am the living proof this kind of list can work.
4) Stay away from your creepy neighbor and keep an eye on your clothes.
5) School premises are a good place to look for a love interest. Who said originality was a key element to happiness? If I am supposed to meet the love of my life at the top of the Kilimanjaro, the poor dude is going to wait for a long time. I'd rather meet him at the bakery while waiting for my croissants.
Characters
6) If you want your story to click with readers, fill it with warm characters such as a 8 year-old daughter with special needs and an obsession about gymnastics, a love interest disguised as a divorced single-dad with a sweet girl who just wants to have her hair braided, funny and witty lesbian best friends with a sharp tongue and the right advice, and a 30-year old widow with a loan on her shoulders, a job in a bar, a neighbor to avoid, bills to pay and a shortage of clothes.
7) If a guy calls you "baby", dump him. I don't care if he is the cutest, sweetest, more handsome guy on a 500mile area. Let's be clear: Cameron is very present in Jamie's life, he takes care of her daughter and he is a genuinely nice guy. But no guy should be allowed to call you baby. I just can't stand it. Except for Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. This is the only bothering detail about Cameron.
8) Best friends are everything. They can laugh at you, set you up with a very respectable and sexy lawyer who's been waiting his time to make a move on you, and help you set a detox list to help you move on. It is even better if they have a kid the same age as yours, if one of them is awfully pregnant and they take you get very yummy smoothies.
9) Living your dead husband's dream can cost you money and happiness. We don't know much about Jamie's deceased husband yet as the first book is focused on the creation and the first day of the detox but I felt his presence hover on Jamie several times throughout the day.
Writing
10) Breaking your story into chapters focusing on one time of the day works, especially if you make them look more like complete scenes rather than snippets of life. The author managed to balance small moments that seem unimportant with bigger events, making them all fall into place. Life is full of unnoticed moments.
11) A good narrative involves moments of laughter, a few eye rolls, a sprinkle of fear, and a bucket of tears. This story has it all.
12) Check if the book you are about to start is a series or you will be faced with a major case of frustration. I was surprised to see there were no more pages left to read even though I had not reached the second day of detox. I will definitely be waiting for the next book.
13) Enjoy the story.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is a refreshing story about what moving on means, and how you can achieve it by breaking it into steps, with a little help from your friends. I cannot wait to see what Jamie makes of her list.
In the next fourteen points, I plan to talk about The Fourteen Day Detox.
Plot
1) Turning 30 is a milestone. Life will make sure it becomes the best time of your life. Or the worst. The story starts with Jamie waking up on the day of her 30th birthday. Kicking off your day with a headache is not the happiest way to welcome a new decade. Having your daughter and a hot guy around helps, though.
2) Never let your sister plan your birthday luncheon. Well, I don't have a sister, but this book opened my eyes on the subject. What was supposed to be a nice meal with family and friends turns into something much more complicated that sheds light on strained family ties.
3) No one has their life figured out at thirty. Everyone is a mess. Some more than others but we all should try and make a list of things to change. The soul detox is a refreshing idea. I am the living proof this kind of list can work.
4) Stay away from your creepy neighbor and keep an eye on your clothes.
5) School premises are a good place to look for a love interest. Who said originality was a key element to happiness? If I am supposed to meet the love of my life at the top of the Kilimanjaro, the poor dude is going to wait for a long time. I'd rather meet him at the bakery while waiting for my croissants.
Characters
6) If you want your story to click with readers, fill it with warm characters such as a 8 year-old daughter with special needs and an obsession about gymnastics, a love interest disguised as a divorced single-dad with a sweet girl who just wants to have her hair braided, funny and witty lesbian best friends with a sharp tongue and the right advice, and a 30-year old widow with a loan on her shoulders, a job in a bar, a neighbor to avoid, bills to pay and a shortage of clothes.
7) If a guy calls you "baby", dump him. I don't care if he is the cutest, sweetest, more handsome guy on a 500mile area. Let's be clear: Cameron is very present in Jamie's life, he takes care of her daughter and he is a genuinely nice guy. But no guy should be allowed to call you baby. I just can't stand it. Except for Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. This is the only bothering detail about Cameron.
8) Best friends are everything. They can laugh at you, set you up with a very respectable and sexy lawyer who's been waiting his time to make a move on you, and help you set a detox list to help you move on. It is even better if they have a kid the same age as yours, if one of them is awfully pregnant and they take you get very yummy smoothies.
9) Living your dead husband's dream can cost you money and happiness. We don't know much about Jamie's deceased husband yet as the first book is focused on the creation and the first day of the detox but I felt his presence hover on Jamie several times throughout the day.
Writing
10) Breaking your story into chapters focusing on one time of the day works, especially if you make them look more like complete scenes rather than snippets of life. The author managed to balance small moments that seem unimportant with bigger events, making them all fall into place. Life is full of unnoticed moments.
11) A good narrative involves moments of laughter, a few eye rolls, a sprinkle of fear, and a bucket of tears. This story has it all.
12) Check if the book you are about to start is a series or you will be faced with a major case of frustration. I was surprised to see there were no more pages left to read even though I had not reached the second day of detox. I will definitely be waiting for the next book.
13) Enjoy the story.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is a refreshing story about what moving on means, and how you can achieve it by breaking it into steps, with a little help from your friends. I cannot wait to see what Jamie makes of her list.
brewsandbooksuk's review
3.0
It’s been a year since my husband, Logan, died. My life is a mess, and I know things need to change. I give myself fourteen days to fix it. To do this, I must quit coffee, start exercising, spread my husband’s ashes, forgive the woman who killed him, and stop sleeping with her ex-husband.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was a bit of a change for me, as I don’t read a lot of women’s fiction, but the blurb piqued my interest, and having previously enjoyed Rita Stradling’s Ensnared, I was really looking forward to it. Sure, there’s no lost Faye queens, or fantastical castles, but variety is the spice of life.
The story picks up a year after the death of Jamie’s husband, Logan, and she’s still very much picking up the pieces. She’s working two jobs in order to dig herself out of the debt Logan landed her in, while taking care of her special needs daughter. She’s also in a messy, sexual relationship with Logan’s best friend, Cameron-who’s been in love with her since High School, and her neighbour is harassing her. To say Jamie is having a hard time would be an understatement.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is ultimately a story about overcoming grief and forgiveness, and Stradling does a good job of representing the journey to closure as the messy, difficult process that it is. It’s clear that Jamie is stuck, barely going through the day-to-day motions, being held down by not only her grief, but also the anger at the betrayals she’s suffered. Her refusal to address either issue means she can’t move on and is on a path of self-destruction.
When grief strikes, it’s hard to know how to do. No one really knows how to deal with it in the ‘wright way’, and sometimes it’s easier to just refuse to deal with it at all. It takes Jamie almost a year to finally accept that it’s time to move on and forgive. She begins by plotting her journey one action at a time, and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox does a brilliant job of showing how a seemingly impossible task-how do you move on from your husband’s death?-can be made manageable by breaking it down into smaller tasks as simple as giving up coffee. Now that doesn’t sound so hard, does it?
This is most certainly a character led novel. Once Jamie finally starts takes action, her life, well, comes to life. She often claims that embarking on the fourteen day soul detox has messed up her life even more, but that’s only because she’s so used to inaction. She’s used to things always being the same. She’s forgotten what it’s like to take action and have to deal with the good and bad consequences of those actions, and it’s interesting to see Jamie re-adjust.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally released as a six part serial, and the structure seems the reflect that. This is a long book, and it’s a slow burn, designed to stretch the action across six individual parts, but it still reads well as a whole. I never read the serials individually, so I can’t say which format fits this story better, but I found no major issues with the pacing, really.
The characters, however, are fairly bland. Those that with Jamie are downright saintly, always pleasant, always ready to help regardless of inconvenience, and it’s sickly sweet at times. Those against Jamie, are, well, ‘cheerleader evil’. Pretty, primp, and bitchy. Very few of the characters had strong, individual voices, and I didn’t warm up to Cameron for a long time. The way he kept calling Jamie ‘baby’ just grated on me. I don’t know, it just seemed so… Sleazy. If I guy calls me baby, he’s getting sucker punched. Just saying. I did like Patrick though, he had a great sense of humour and never once uttered the word ‘baby’.
The stalker plot is straight forward, and I was expecting a bigger twist that what Stradling devised, to be honest. In fact, all the ‘twists’ were relatively small in my opinion, but maybe that’s because I’m used to reading stuff with far more ambitious plots. I don’t mean that in a negative way though-Stradling’s story is down to earth and realistic, and real lives aren’t made up of mind blowing twists and turns.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is not a quick read, but it is an enjoyable one. While there aren’t any mind blowing moments, the journey Jamie embarks on is touching and beautiful. If you like your fiction 100% character led and grounded, I would recommend it. And if you’re not ready to commit to a 600+ page novel, you can always slowly tackle it one bite sized serial at a time.
This review was also posted at: The Bookworm Mummy
*I received this ARC free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was a bit of a change for me, as I don’t read a lot of women’s fiction, but the blurb piqued my interest, and having previously enjoyed Rita Stradling’s Ensnared, I was really looking forward to it. Sure, there’s no lost Faye queens, or fantastical castles, but variety is the spice of life.
The story picks up a year after the death of Jamie’s husband, Logan, and she’s still very much picking up the pieces. She’s working two jobs in order to dig herself out of the debt Logan landed her in, while taking care of her special needs daughter. She’s also in a messy, sexual relationship with Logan’s best friend, Cameron-who’s been in love with her since High School, and her neighbour is harassing her. To say Jamie is having a hard time would be an understatement.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is ultimately a story about overcoming grief and forgiveness, and Stradling does a good job of representing the journey to closure as the messy, difficult process that it is. It’s clear that Jamie is stuck, barely going through the day-to-day motions, being held down by not only her grief, but also the anger at the betrayals she’s suffered. Her refusal to address either issue means she can’t move on and is on a path of self-destruction.
When grief strikes, it’s hard to know how to do. No one really knows how to deal with it in the ‘wright way’, and sometimes it’s easier to just refuse to deal with it at all. It takes Jamie almost a year to finally accept that it’s time to move on and forgive. She begins by plotting her journey one action at a time, and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox does a brilliant job of showing how a seemingly impossible task-how do you move on from your husband’s death?-can be made manageable by breaking it down into smaller tasks as simple as giving up coffee. Now that doesn’t sound so hard, does it?
This is most certainly a character led novel. Once Jamie finally starts takes action, her life, well, comes to life. She often claims that embarking on the fourteen day soul detox has messed up her life even more, but that’s only because she’s so used to inaction. She’s used to things always being the same. She’s forgotten what it’s like to take action and have to deal with the good and bad consequences of those actions, and it’s interesting to see Jamie re-adjust.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally released as a six part serial, and the structure seems the reflect that. This is a long book, and it’s a slow burn, designed to stretch the action across six individual parts, but it still reads well as a whole. I never read the serials individually, so I can’t say which format fits this story better, but I found no major issues with the pacing, really.
The characters, however, are fairly bland. Those that with Jamie are downright saintly, always pleasant, always ready to help regardless of inconvenience, and it’s sickly sweet at times. Those against Jamie, are, well, ‘cheerleader evil’. Pretty, primp, and bitchy. Very few of the characters had strong, individual voices, and I didn’t warm up to Cameron for a long time. The way he kept calling Jamie ‘baby’ just grated on me. I don’t know, it just seemed so… Sleazy. If I guy calls me baby, he’s getting sucker punched. Just saying. I did like Patrick though, he had a great sense of humour and never once uttered the word ‘baby’.
The stalker plot is straight forward, and I was expecting a bigger twist that what Stradling devised, to be honest. In fact, all the ‘twists’ were relatively small in my opinion, but maybe that’s because I’m used to reading stuff with far more ambitious plots. I don’t mean that in a negative way though-Stradling’s story is down to earth and realistic, and real lives aren’t made up of mind blowing twists and turns.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is not a quick read, but it is an enjoyable one. While there aren’t any mind blowing moments, the journey Jamie embarks on is touching and beautiful. If you like your fiction 100% character led and grounded, I would recommend it. And if you’re not ready to commit to a 600+ page novel, you can always slowly tackle it one bite sized serial at a time.
This review was also posted at: The Bookworm Mummy
*I received this ARC free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
megbomb's review against another edition
4.0
Love this story and the characters so far. Jaime turned 30 and is ready to make some big changes in her life. Two hot men to choose between, decisions about her special needs daughter, a creeper living next door that she needs to get away from... I can't wait to read the next installment and see what happens.
I received a free egalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free egalley in exchange for my honest review.
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