SYNOPSIS:
Meet Greta.
She’s funny.
She’s flawed.
She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.
But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being you.
Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?
Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.
But with her world feeling like it’s falling down around her, Greta is about to discover she’s stronger than she feels. And that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pearshaped…
My Thoughts:
I immediately fell in love with Greta. Here was a young women trying to make a career for herself in the acting industry, living at home with her parents and struggling with her weight. I could feel her heart breaking with each rejection and her strength in trying to remain strong, even though she was crying on the inside.
This book was full of surprises, just when you thought the story was going to go one way it went in a completely different direction. Each time I put the book down I started to think of Greta and the journey she was on. She became a fictional friend that I worried about and wanted to hear from. I adored her personality and the way she made others feel, I'm sure we all know a 'Greta'; someone with a larger than life personality who always makes you laugh. This book definitely made me think about my own life and my insecurities. There are some important words of wisdom amongst the pages which I feel allows you to reflect, take stock and bat away those negative thoughts that pop up in your head every so often.
My Pear-shape life was about many things but I got a real sense of family from the book. A family that stuck together but cannot always see how sometimes what they say and do can have a detrimental effect on their love ones. Instead of protecting their actions result in pushing that person away. It was clear that there was so much love within the family but along the way that love had got blurred.
Although there are some serious issues being explored in this novel it was written in a way that allowed you to understand, sympathise but also enjoy the story that was being told. It was an easy, uplifting read, poignant at times yet humorous, and about finding happiness.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours and Anne Cater for inviting me join the blog tour. This is definitely a book I think everyone should read and will relate to. Thank you Camel Harrington for this thought-provoking novel which promotes loving yourself for who you are, lumps, bumps and all.
AUTHOR:
Carmel Harrington is an internationally published novelist from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her family.
She has published seven novels and been shortlisted twice (2016 & 2017) for an Irish Book Award. Her books have captured the hearts of readers worldwide and are published in eight languages to date.
She is co-founder of The Inspiration Project and was Chair of Wexford Literary Festival from 2015 – 2018.
You can find Carmel Harrington on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram under the name @HappyMrsH or check out her webite: http://www.carmelharrington.com
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