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alyssabuchin's review
1.0
I don't believe for a minute Nicole is a social worker, or that she has OCD. I am a real life social worker and all I have to say is *nope*.
I was *aware* that I was reading through the whole book, which is always a bad sign.
Also a bad sign that this very easy read took me over a week and I only finished because I forced myself to.
I think the crux of the issue for me was two part, first, Nicoles career and diagnosis were unbelievable. Second, Storm spends the book telling the reader whats happening, instead of showing the reader. If you know what I mean. This makes it impossible to get caught up in the story.
Merged review:
I don't believe for a minute Nicole is a social worker, or that she has OCD. I am a real life social worker and all I have to say is *nope*.
I was *aware* that I was reading through the whole book, which is always a bad sign.
Also a bad sign that this very easy read took me over a week and I only finished because I forced myself to.
I think the crux of the issue for me was two part, first, Nicoles career and diagnosis were unbelievable. Second, Storm spends the book telling the reader whats happening, instead of showing the reader. If you know what I mean. This makes it impossible to get caught up in the story.
I was *aware* that I was reading through the whole book, which is always a bad sign.
Also a bad sign that this very easy read took me over a week and I only finished because I forced myself to.
I think the crux of the issue for me was two part, first, Nicoles career and diagnosis were unbelievable. Second, Storm spends the book telling the reader whats happening, instead of showing the reader. If you know what I mean. This makes it impossible to get caught up in the story.
Merged review:
I don't believe for a minute Nicole is a social worker, or that she has OCD. I am a real life social worker and all I have to say is *nope*.
I was *aware* that I was reading through the whole book, which is always a bad sign.
Also a bad sign that this very easy read took me over a week and I only finished because I forced myself to.
I think the crux of the issue for me was two part, first, Nicoles career and diagnosis were unbelievable. Second, Storm spends the book telling the reader whats happening, instead of showing the reader. If you know what I mean. This makes it impossible to get caught up in the story.
oliviadavs's review
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ksteigert's review
4.0
Manic Monday Inc is the third book in the third book in the Sunday Potluck Club, but I read this book as a stand alone, having not read any of the previous books. I had no issues reading this as a stand alone book at all.
Nichole's father has recently gone into remission from a cancer diagnosis, but she can't stop worrying that if she does something incorrectly, that he will become sick again. Her friend, Hazel, is pregnant and Nichole feels worried rather than overjoyed by her news, thinking about all of the things that could go wrong with the pregnancy. When Nichole goes to see a doctor, she is given a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but Nichole is very conflicted by the diagnosis.
In the midst of everything else going on in her life, she is set up with Caleb, who enlists her help with organizing his disorganzied life. She feels something for him, but is he really deserving of her quirks and issues? Is she deserving of a relationship when she already has so many others that need her?
Manic Monday, Inc is a refreshing and realistic look at anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. This isn't only a love story, but also a journey that Nichole must make toward better wellness. One can't help but feel her anxiety as she puts the well being of everyone around her before her own. She has a wonderful support system in her friends, but she hesitates to let anyone know about her struggles. Watching this story unfold was at times difficult, and at times sad, but the friendships between herself and her girlfriends, and between herself and Caleb are a joy to watch.
I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to going back to read about the other members of the Sunday Potluck Club.
Thank you so much to Kensington Books for providing me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Nichole's father has recently gone into remission from a cancer diagnosis, but she can't stop worrying that if she does something incorrectly, that he will become sick again. Her friend, Hazel, is pregnant and Nichole feels worried rather than overjoyed by her news, thinking about all of the things that could go wrong with the pregnancy. When Nichole goes to see a doctor, she is given a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but Nichole is very conflicted by the diagnosis.
In the midst of everything else going on in her life, she is set up with Caleb, who enlists her help with organizing his disorganzied life. She feels something for him, but is he really deserving of her quirks and issues? Is she deserving of a relationship when she already has so many others that need her?
Manic Monday, Inc is a refreshing and realistic look at anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. This isn't only a love story, but also a journey that Nichole must make toward better wellness. One can't help but feel her anxiety as she puts the well being of everyone around her before her own. She has a wonderful support system in her friends, but she hesitates to let anyone know about her struggles. Watching this story unfold was at times difficult, and at times sad, but the friendships between herself and her girlfriends, and between herself and Caleb are a joy to watch.
I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to going back to read about the other members of the Sunday Potluck Club.
Thank you so much to Kensington Books for providing me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
readerette's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Great to have neurodiversity and mental illness normalization/representation in fiction.
This book is predictable, as romances often are, and the writing did not draw me in, personally. It felt to me like a recitation of events and dialogue, not a compelling story. This could have been a deliberate choice since the main character frequently talks about focusing on the facts, but if that is what was happening, it wasn't appealing to me as a reader.
The main character's quick transformation from constant struggle with OCD to essentially just choosing to be less worried about things didn't seem entirely realistic. It was just a couple of sentences and suddenly she could do all the things she had previously worried about.
I didn't sense much chemistry between the main characters but I imagine that was intentional (a temperate relationship rather than fire and sex), though probably also because the writing style was less about character building and more about stating what was happening.
This book is predictable, as romances often are, and the writing did not draw me in, personally. It felt to me like a recitation of events and dialogue, not a compelling story. This could have been a deliberate choice since the main character frequently talks about focusing on the facts, but if that is what was happening, it wasn't appealing to me as a reader.
The main character's quick transformation from constant struggle with OCD to essentially just choosing to be less worried about things didn't seem entirely realistic. It was just a couple of sentences and suddenly she could do all the things she had previously worried about.
I didn't sense much chemistry between the main characters but I imagine that was intentional (a temperate relationship rather than fire and sex), though probably also because the writing style was less about character building and more about stating what was happening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
marikirst's review
4.0
Manic Monday, Inc. is the third in Melissa Storm’s Sunday Potluck Club series. It involves 4 friends who met at the hospital when each of their parents were very ill. Nichole’s father was the only one who didn’t die and she feels like she, herself is responsible for keeping him and her friends safe. Nichole is diagnosed with OCD which has positive and negative sides.
I enjoyed the bonds that the friends had as well as Nichole’s love interest. Nichole’s reasonings for her actions throughout the story were at times frustrating, but realistic, just like in real life. This book helped me see what some people with OCD tendencies struggle with. I look forward to catching up with the group by reading the previous two books in the series. Thank you to Kensington Books for the review copy.
I enjoyed the bonds that the friends had as well as Nichole’s love interest. Nichole’s reasonings for her actions throughout the story were at times frustrating, but realistic, just like in real life. This book helped me see what some people with OCD tendencies struggle with. I look forward to catching up with the group by reading the previous two books in the series. Thank you to Kensington Books for the review copy.
arellevee's review
4.0
Truth be told, it took me a while to get to this book because at the time I requested it, I didn't realize it was the third in a series. Cue to me trying to locate the others to catch up before realizing I would just suck it up and read it. And I'm glad I dove in--there was absolutely enough background information provided to where I didn't feel like there were huge plot holes or information gaps for me.
Content warning: this book deals with mental health issues: anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression.
The MC Nichole is diagnosed with OCD in the midst of trying to run her life just so while caring for her ailing father. She is the caretaker for everyone in her life, and though she has friends, she really doesn't utilize their support.
This story was sweet and heartwarming, and I really enjoyed it. I want to go back and read the other books in the SPC series now!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the e-Arc!
Content warning: this book deals with mental health issues: anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression.
The MC Nichole is diagnosed with OCD in the midst of trying to run her life just so while caring for her ailing father. She is the caretaker for everyone in her life, and though she has friends, she really doesn't utilize their support.
This story was sweet and heartwarming, and I really enjoyed it. I want to go back and read the other books in the SPC series now!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the e-Arc!
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