Neurotica by Eliza Gordon Pages: 318
Published by West 26th Street Press on August 7, 2014
Genres: adult, contemporary, Humor, Love & Romance, Romantic Comedy
Source: ecopy from Author
If you find yourself talking to Jayne Dandy, keep the conversation on Star Wars and rubber ducks—best not to mention men, dating, or S-E-X. Because Jayne is fine with the way things are: writer of obituaries and garage sale ads by day, secret scribe of adventures in distant galaxies by night. But her crippling fear of intimacy has made her the butt of jokes since forever, and hiding behind her laptop isn’t going to get her lightsaber lit.
After her therapist recommends that she write erotica as a form of exposure therapy, Jayne joins forces with pen and paper to combat the demons that won’t let her kiss and tell. Unexpectedly downsized at work, she adopts a pseudonym and secretly self-publishes one of her naughty books to make ends meet. When her adorable, long-time friend Luke, co-owner of the popular Portland food truck Luke Piewalker’s, hears she’s been demoted, he insists on hiring her to sling éclairs and turnovers at his side. Her secret must be kept, but sparks ignite between them, sending Jayne and her X-Wing into a tailspin that will either make her face down her neuroses or trigger a meltdown of Death Star proportions.
I love Eliza Gordon. Her romances are quirky and full of humor. They are great reads to put a smile on my face. Must Love Otters was one of my surprise favorites of 2013, so I was super excited to read Neurotica. And while the story was completely different, there was still that same brand of charm and humor that I have come to love about Eliza’s writing. Neurotica is the story of a Jayne. The story starts out with Jayne in her therapists’ office, where we got a pretty good idea of some of her Neuroses. Jayne is afraid of intimacy. I really respected her for seeing a therapist, and I loved that her therapist suggested that Jayne write some erotica help her with her visualization and to get her more comfortable with the idea of S-E-X. Now, I feel like I should say that even though a main part of this book centers around the idea that Jayne is afraid of sex and the fact that she writes and later publishes her erotica novels, that Neurotica is actually a clean book. It is adult, but there are no graphic scenes, and it would actually work as new adult because the main characters are 26 or so.
Neurotica has a great cast of characters. I really enjoyed them all. There was Luke, the owner of the Piewalkers food truck. I have a love of foodtrucks and of witty names, so this one was right up my alley. I would track this truck down across the nation if it was real. Just sayin’. Then you have the best friend Gretchen, who was always there for Jayne, sometimes in a tough love kind of not so gentle pushing way, but that was just Gretchen. She really cared for Jayne and wanted the best for her. I actually really liked their dynamic. And then there is Holden. While I really did like Luke, I also really liked Holden. I thought he was beyond adorable. No more information on that. Read the book people!
Jayne really wants to be a writer. She wrote the obits and sale notices at her job (while she was working there) and she was forever trying to pitch them on all kinds of articles. I admired her tenacity at work. They totally didn’t deserve her there. In her spare time she wrote science fiction and fantasy books, and throughout Neurotica we got to see chapters of her books written under her pen name. I really would have preferred to see some erotica chapters as the story went on and Jayne made some character growth progress on that front, but we only saw her fantasy book. I was so wrapped up in the story of Jayne that stopping that to read the excerpts from the book were sometimes a bit of a drag for me. I caught myself starting to skim some of them.
Neurotica is so much fun to read. I loved all the dorkdom and star wars references. Eliza Gordon is great with her word choice and one liners to advance the humor of the book. She not only has the overly funny in your face humor aspect down, but also the subtle wit form of humor in spades. Reading her books is like reading a finely tuned work of art. I really love her writing. The ending did leave me wanting more though. Add another chapter or two Mr. Gordon. Please! Neurotica was a great read.
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kindlemom1
This really was a fun read, not quite as great as her first book but still worth the read for sure.
Great review and Happy Friday!
Candace
Love your review! I really enjoy her humor a lot as well and I’m eager for many more of her books, they are just so much fun!
Stefanie @ Calledhis.com
I love the cover, it definitely sounds like a really unique story concept – that’s awesome!! Thanks so much for the giveaway 🙂 My first time hearing of this book!
Kathy C.
Enjoyed the review. Hope I win but if not then I’ll be sure to get it anyway. Thanks!
Lola
This is a great cover and the story sounds amazing!
Linda romer
Neurotica sounds like a fun read. I would like to read more of this book. Thank you
Christy
I’m so glad to see that you liked this. I can’t wait to read it!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I can’t wait to see your thoughts on it. Have you read it yet?
maidenveil
This sounds like a fun read!!!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
So much fun! I love Eliza Gordon
Mai Tran
What an odd combination on the cover: bath duck and typewriter.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yea, I know I really liked this cover. It was very different 🙂
bex smith
This definitely seems like my type of book!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I hope you get a chance to read it Bex 🙂
Judy Thomas
Love the review, Thank you.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Thanks Judy!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Edmond
Wow, the review is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. edm388@gmail.com
Edmond
Wow, the review is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. edm388@gmail.com