Cure for the Common Breakup, by Beth Kendrick (part of the BookSparks 2014 Summer Reading Challenge), is a charming Chick Lit novel, and it so perfectly fits the description for a summer beach read that I wanted to head for Santa Monica immediately. In fact, the main character is named Summer.
In a whopper of an opening chapter, we find out that Summer, a gorgeously blonde flight attendant who says that 25 is a state of mind (she is 32), is most likely going to get a proposal from her smokin' hot pilot boyfriend after they land in Paris. However, it seems that Summer is allergic to commitment, but before she can decide how she truly feels about this tragedy strikes and a decision is made for her.
While on her last flight, Summer had seen a magazine cover that touted Black Dog Bay, Delaware, as the best place to recover from a breakup. Do they only sell Kleenex and Ben Jerry's at the stores? Is Steel Magnolias on 24/7? Is the official uniform in the town sweatpants? She heads there immediately, and things immediately get really interesting when she meets a handsome stranger after swerving to avoid a turtle. She also encounters a wealthy older woman who lives in a purple house (painted that color out of spite) and owns half the town; she has a mysterious hatred for Black Dog Bay and a plan to destroy it.
Cure for the Common Breakup is so much fun; this is the kind of book you want to tear through in a weekend. It is sweet and delicious, like the M&Ms, Rolos, Twix, and other candies that Summer shovels into her mouth throughout the entire story. What I really loved about it were the details; for example, many of the businesses in town reflect the breakup theme, with a bar called The Whinery, Retail Therapy Boutique, and Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, where the innkeeper confiscates cell phones from all broken-hearted guests upon check in to prevent regrettable texts or calls (where has that woman been all my life?). The supporting cast of characters is also fantastic, from Jake, the town rebound guy ("I've cleansed a few palates in my day."), to Mimi, an unpleasant summer resident who is described as exuding the "smell of Chanel No. 5 and filthy lucre."
There is a rumor that in Black Dog Bay, when you are ready for big changes in your life, you will see the ghost of a big black dog. Although you might not spot any ghostly canines coming toward you on a deserted beach, you might be inspired to make a few changes or take a few chances in your own life after reading this little gem of a novel. And I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a fun reading experience, whether they have been married for twenty years or got dumped last night!
