Our guest today: Wendy Wax
Why we love her: We've been in love since we randomly found The Accidental Bestseller in Barnes & Noble a few years ago.
Her latest: Ocean Beach
The scoop on it: Unlikely friends Madeline, Avery and Nicole have hit some speed bumps in their lives, but when they arrive in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, they are all hoping for a do-over. Literally. They’ve been hired to bring a once-grand historic house back to its former glory on a new television show called Do-Over. If they can just get this show off the ground, Nikki would get back on her feet financially, Avery could restart her ruined career, and Maddie would have a shot at keeping her family together.
At least, that’s the plan – until the women realize that having their work broadcast is one thing, having their personal lives play out on TV is another thing entirely. Soon they are struggling to hold themselves, and the project, together. With a decades-old mystery—and the hurricane season—looming, the women are forced to figure out just how they’ll weather life’s storms…
Our thoughts: Wendy has captured our hearts again with this delightful novel!
Giveaway: FIVE copies! Leave a comment and we'll choose the winners randomly on Sunday, July 1st after 6pm PST.
Fun Fact: Wendy's research for Ocean Beach turned her into a HGTV addict!
CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...WENDY WAX'S 5 THINGS I'D TELL THE TEEN ME
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. The drama you’ve imbued every relationship, conflict and disappointment with, is exhausting and accomplishes pretty much nothing. (There’s a reason your mother used to call you ‘Sarah Bernhardt.’) Someday your hormones will give it a rest and you will discover that with the exception of fatal illness, death, terrorist acts and natural disasters, it’s all small stuff.
2. Everybody isn’t actually looking at you, thinking about you or judging you. And frankly, you look way better than you realize. (Seriously, your thighs are NOT the size of Texas) Try to enjoy it. Young skin and firm bodies are not forever. You will spend a good part of your adult life trying to get within spitting distance of the look you hate right now.
3. One day someone is going to write a book called He’s Just Not That Into You, which will save you years of therapy, unhappiness, and sleepless nights. So put away your tissues and go check the mailbox, I’m sending a copy back in time for you now.
4. Speaking of books, the one your mother gave you on your fifteenth birthday called How to Get a Teenage Boy and What To Do with Him Once You’ve Got Him, is filled with bad advice. A good relationship does NOT spring from talking only about him and his interests.
Later when you have two sons you’ll realize that boys, especially teenage boys, are not even remotely mysterious or deep. Their idea of a good time is watching or playing sports and video games. They are not sitting around talking or thinking about you. Frankly, they’re barely talking or thinking at all.
5. ‘Peeps’ are important. Period. Cherish your girlfriends. Be there for them. Rejoice that they’re there for you. Believe it or not, later in your life you’re going to write novels celebrating female friendships. That’s how important they are.
Thanks Wendy! xoxo, L&L
To read more about Wendy , head on over to her website or find her on Facebook and Twitter.