When twenty-five-year-old Pru Anderson—braless, pajama-clad, and clutching her cat, Chuck—is rescued from her burning Los Angeles apartment, the thing that scares her most is meeting the neighbors. New people make her hide in the bathroom, counting by sevens, but when her home is destroyed, she must turn strangers into friends … or crawl back to the controlling parents she only recently escaped.
What would her idol, Pepper Hathaway, do? That’s a no brainer: the detective-slash-supermodel heroine from Pru’s favorite TV series would take no prisoners while looking fierce in a tankini and stilettos. So when the chance comes to live with her upstairs neighbor, Ellen, a playwright, Pru goes for it.
Thus begin the adventures of Pru, who’s never had a job, a friend, or a first kiss. Swept into Ellen’s whirlwind life, Pru begins to build her own, as director’s assistant for a new play, muse to brooding actor Blake, and possible love interest to adorably neurotic neighbor, Adam.
Only one thing can derail Pru’s exhilarating ride. Well, actually, it’s two things—and they’re in a car headed straight for LA to torpedo her life. When the past that nearly destroyed her comes calling, who will she be: a Prudence or a Pepper?
Just Pru
by Anne Pfeffer
Series:
n/a
Genre:
Women’s Fiction
Chick Lit
Publisher:
Independent
Publication Date:
March 2, 2015
I used to read quirky novels all the time in my younger days. It’s definitely been awhile, but when I saw this book on Net Galley(in exchange for a fair and honest review)I immediately snapped this one up. And I was completely glad I did!
Pru has been different all her life. As in really different, to the point that she only attended a half day of school, her best(and only) friend was her therapist, and she’s on multiple meds just to get through life. Her therapist encourages her to move to LA from Oregon, to get away from her super overprotective parents, and start an adult life at age 25. Really easier said than done in Pru’s case. She’s out of money, has no job, knows no one, and it’s only been two months. The story starts when she is at her lowest after her apartment burns up.
I completely fell in love with the character of Pru. Watching her overcome all her psychological quirks, and to start to live her own authentic life, was not only a heartwarming story, but a fun ride as well. The best thing Pru could have done with her life, was to get away from her parents. Of course, her parents do play a role in this, and became the villains of this story. But before that happens, she meets Ellen, a fellow resident in her apartment building-one that takes a homeless Pru in. Another resident, Adam becomes very important to Pru’s life as well. There ends up being several more colorful characters that enter Pru’s life too. To me, the characters were the most important part of this story, most prominently, Pru herself.
Pru has lived her life vicariously from television and movies. She has been so sheltered her whole life, it was fun watching her compare all her new life experiences to one television show or another. Made for a different sort of read for me. We also get more of her thoughts through her journal which added another fun element to the read as well.
If you like quirky or fun reads, especially ones that feature romance, and colorful characters, I highly recommend this book. It’s an adult read, and I enjoyed the whole thing.
The review copy of Just Pru was provided via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi! I grew up in the desert around Phoenix, Arizona, where I had a bay quarter horse named Dolly. If I wasn’t riding, I was holed up somewhere reading Laura Ingalls Wilder or the Oz books or, later on, Jane Eyre and The Grapes of Wrath. Horses eventually faded as an interest, but I ended up with a lifelong love of books and reading.
After college and eight years of living in cold places like Chicago and New York, I escaped back to the land of sunshine. I now live in California, one mile from the Pacific Ocean, with my dachshund Taco. I have worked in banking and as a pro bono attorney, doing adoptions and guardianships for abandoned children.
As a writer, I’d always been interested in children’s books, since they had meant so much to me as a kid. I’ve found I especially like writing books about teens and twenty-somethings, an age where you make so many decisions about who you are and how you want to spend your life.
I love hearing from readers, so please write to me any time at my website http://www.annepfeffer.com.
AUTHOR LINKS
