We’re re-posting our May review of the title since JJ is an October Top Pick. Looking for funny? Jenny, at the hands of Heather McElhatton, will show you the way.

Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single by Heather Mcelhatton

First line: “This is a mistake. I’m not really here.”

I don’t care what you call it: the American version of Bridget Jones’ Diary, funniest damn book of the year, prescription for what ails America, JJiSoBS is one helluva great read. When is the last time you chuckled on nearly every page of a full-length novel? Yeah. I did. And I read it over a week’s time period, too, so it wasn’t a one-sit phenomenon where I just happened to be in a ticklish mood. 

Jennifer Johnson is the quintessential smart, size 12 girl who works as a copywriter in the marketing department of Keller’s Department store. Yes, she has the gay best friend and the not-so-cute but great guy friend and the mean sis who is getting married and the bitchy boss Ashley, BUT… and this is a big but, author Heather Mcelhatton gives us such great characterization and punchy dialogue that we don’t care that the set-up is familiar territory for us. Nothing is really weighty in the novel, but we don’t mind. We don’t need a friend with cancer or existential pondering to make JJ sing. We like that she is kitchy and flawed and eats hot dogs on her first date with handsome Brad Keller, the hero. We wince right alongside her as she falls for the handsome son of the president of the company. 

No, not everything is entirely plausible, especially in the last third of the novel, but we’re having such a hoot we don’t care about that, either. She does a nice job of tying the loose ends at the end and leave us wanting to jump forward six months to see what Miss Jen is up to now. I will never look at a Cinnabon, or, ick, a used tampon, the same way again. 

Do yourself a favor and buy this book. If you’re single, fine, but I’ve been married 15 years and I still loved it. 

For: Laughing your hiney off. - Malena Lott

Get it at Amazon.