Book Review - Natasha Sizlo's All Signs Point to Paris

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of Natasha Sizlo’s memoir, All Signs Point to Paris.

Natasha Sizlo wants to find love. The forty-something divorced mother has recently disengaged from a steamy, yet tortured, off-again/on-again romance with a man who was not ready to commit, leaving Sizlo heart-broken. Two events align to send her to Paris. The first is the death of her beloved father, whom on his death bed, told his two daughters that his spirit would meet them in Paris. The second, is a psychic, who tells Sizlo that her soul mate is a man who was born in Paris on November 2, 1968.

Sizlo decides to take a chance both on love and on a psychic’s correct prediction, by not only planning a trip to Paris, but also putting herself on social media and dating sites, seeking men with those specific attributes. In Paris, with the help of her sister and a few friends, she dates several men and makes connections throughout the city. Sizlo discovers that although she may have trouble finding a romantic partner, her life does not lack for love and that it takes a community of people to fulfill ones needs.

I loved All Signs Point to Paris. At first, I was skeptical. I don’t believe in psychics, but the Sizlo does not force that belief on her readers. In fact, I think she is taking it with a grain of salt too. She is serious about the endeavor, but more with a “what do I have to lose, let’s take a chance,” type of attitude. The memoir is about the discoveries she makes regarding her relationship with her sister and friends and learning to love her life that already exists. At the end of the book, she has a lovely and very adult conversation with her former boyfriend, that I think everyone wishes they could have when finding closure with a relationship. A conversation to tie-up loose ends, but also honor that there was once love and something good, even if it is time to more forward.

The book is filled with all things Paris: the foods, the sights, the smells…a sensory delight. I’ve never been to Paris, but I felt like I was on the trip with Sizlo. I loved how so many locals took up her cause and engaged with her, especially an evening when women who were following her on social media met for drinks. Sizlo shares her experience in such a warm and open way, that she connects with strangers at every turn.

The flip side to this is in her efforts to connect with the French, she disengages with her sister and friends. Towards the end of the trip, Sizlo’s sister, who has been supportive, expresses her sadness at missing out on bonding time. As you might expect from a good story arc, even in non-fiction, Sizlo has a wake-up call and turns her attention to her sibling.

Sizlo is fabulous and I loved following her search for love in Paris. She has a fantastic Instagram page with pictures from the trip. I still don’t believe in psychics, but I do believe in following your heart and taking chances for love.

One final note, there is some fun bits for fans of Emily in Paris!

Book Review- Constance Wu's Making a Scene

Thank you to Netgalley, Scribner, and Libro FM for providing me with both a physical and audio galley of Constance Wu’s memoir, Making a Scene. Although I received both versions, I ended up listening to the audio book, narrated by the author.

Actress Constance Wu shares memories of her childhood growing up in Virginia, her early twenties waiting tables and studying acting in New York, and her successful acting career.

Wu gained heaps of negative press when she spoke out about her unhappiness with the renewal of her hit sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. She was seen as ungrateful and a bit of a diva. Wu addresses this incident and gives her side of the story, which is quite compelling and heartbreaking. She also explains the frustration when so many people assume that the character she plays, Jessica Huang, is similar to Wu’s own mother. Wu makes it very clear that her mother bears very little similarities to Jessica, and that the very question is perpetuating stereotypes of Asian mothers.

Although Wu shares bit of her Hollywood career, a bulk of the book involves her childhood, including fond memories of her teenage job working at a bakery and her early love of performing in community theater. She had a fairly ordinary and quiet childhood. I’m only four years older than Wu and many of her stories of growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, especially with regard to technology, rang true to my experience. Wu speaks of her pre-fame years with mostly fondness. She also shares her challenging relationship with her younger sister, which I’m sure many people would find relatable.

I’m a fan of Wu as an actor, but I think I enjoyed this more for being a memoir about a woman from my generation. I found Wu to be very relatable and down to earth, definitely different from how the media has been portraying her.

Book Review- Tom Perrotta's Tracy Flick Can't win

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for a copy of Tom Perrotta’s Tracy Flick Can’t Win.

Perrotta returns to one of his most memorable characters, Tracy Flick, in this sequel to his best-selling novel, Election. In Tracy Flick Can’t Win, we find Flick in her forties, a divorced single-mother working as a high school vice-principal. When the long-time principal announces his upcoming retirement, Flick starts the interview process for the promotion. Her strong work-ethic, high morals, and innovative ideas still can’t manage to eclipse her inability to connect on a social level. Just like in high school, Flick sees her dreams slipping away as more popular/less qualified candidates take center stage.

Perrotta is one of my favorite authors and Election is one of my favorite books. I was thrilled that Perrotta was bringing back Tracy Flick. You do not have to read Election to enjoy Tracy Flick Can’t Win, however, I highly recommend it. This sequel was really written for fans and having the context of Flick’s struggles in her teen years, makes the sequel more poignant. Flick becomes an everyone woman in her struggles, as she faces many micro aggressions and flat-out dismissals from the men in the story. As a woman, reading this felt like a jab from a sharp needle and it make me recall times in my life where I suffered similar treatment. Flick isn’t a likable character. If I met her in real life, I’d find her to be very grating. However, she is also a person who suffers a lot of misfortune and who tries to do the right thing, only to see that she really can’t win. This makes me root for her to succeed.

Tracy Flick Can’t Win is not Perrotta’s finest work, but it is certainly a book that I wanted to read. It was the 2022 new book release that I was most excited to read. Fans are going to be thrilled and if you’re a fan, you must read it. It did not disappoint. I’d love a third Flick sequel or maybe a follow-up to another character from Election.