Annalisa's Reviews > The Actor and the Housewife

1.5 stars. I didn't quite hate it, but it made me uncomfortable.

Let me start with this disclaimer: I have an aversion to romantic comedies. You know that moment in a movie where it's so awkward and contrived you're embarrassed someone wrote it and you're embarrassed for the actors that have to say the lines and you're embarrassed to be sitting there watching it? That's what this book was like. I'm not sure if Hale was trying to make an authentic Mormon housewife endearing to the masses, but she misses the mark. Becky comes off as selfish and self-absorbed and makes Mormons look strange, not cute quirky, but "please don't touch me" weird. I guess these worlds were never meant to collide.

Which brings me back to that awkward, contrived storyline. I never bought, not for one second, that a self-absorbed actor with a fear of all things domestic would not run for his life when Becky excuses herself to pump because she's letting down or would find her ramblings about her two-year-old showing her a snot-covered finger cute. I was embarrassed for her and I wasn't wearing a tux.

I didn't believe Becky "the lady doeth protest too much" about her platonic relationship. Here's the actor that she swoons over because he's so hot, but now that they're best friends she's unattracted to him? No way. The more time you spend with someone, even someone who you aren't attracted to, the more attractive they become to you. There really is no plausible way to be that close to a man and your husband and not have the boundaries/your feelings cross. And the ending doesn't justify it (I skimmed) because: a) she had no way of knowing how things would end from the beginning, b) as evident by his behavior, she isn't faultless (and yes that includes Celeste; I believe the relationship played a part in that), and c) when all her safety devices are down and she's vulnerable, she may act differently than she would have otherwise (I hope that makes sense to someone who's read the book).

I really like you Shannon (a lot), but I didn't like this book. There were moments I chuckled out loud and the title headings were fun, but I didn't like the story (which I should have known going into it). And I have a bone to pick with you: you type sh--, but then you go ahead and say Lord? As a Mormon, you should regard taking the name of the Lord in vain worse. And here I'm revealing my real issue with the book. I'm Mormon. I live in Utah. Maybe this hit a little too close to home, except for that whole relationship with my favorite actor. I don't have that going on.