The first novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club is a rollicking tale of small-town peculiarity, dark secrets, and one extraordinary beauty pageant. When her husband is offered a post at a small university, Maye is only too happy to pack up and leave the relentless Phoenix heat for the lush green quietude of Spaulding, Washington. While she loves the odd little town, there is one thing she didn't anticipate: just how heartbreaking it would be leaving her friends behind. And when you're a childless thirtysomething freelance writer who works at home, making new friends can be quite a challenge. After a series of false starts nearly gets her exiled from town, Maye decides that her last chance to connect with her new neighbors is to enter the annual Sewer Pipe Queen Pageant, a kooky but dead-serious local tradition open to contestants of all ages and genders. Aided by a deranged former pageant queen with one eyebrow, Maye doesn't just make a splash, she uncovers a sinister mystery that has haunted the town for decades. "[Laurie Notaro] may be the funniest writer in this solar system." -The Miami Herald
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
a fabulous and funny read:
If you have ever been the 'new girl' trying to fit in, struggled with being overweight or generally afflicted with Murphy's Law, I think you will enjoy this book. It was hilarious - I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work!
disappointed:
This book was very predictable and not near as funny as her stories about her personal experiences. I usually really enjoy her work but this did not do it for me.
Very disappointed:
I finished this book over six months ago and finally decided to write a review when I received the notice for her latest book coming out. This was easily one of the worst books I have forced myself to finish. I am a huge Laurie Notaro fan, and most of her books have made me laugh so hard tears rolled down my face. All I have to do is look at her wedding picture from "Autobiography of a Fat Bride" and I am in hysterics. I think I might have laughed once in this book. I couldn't bring myself to even like any... more info
Great Fun!:
Moving from Arizona to Washington State, due to husband Charlie's new university post, Maye Roberts is removed from familiar surroundings and her circle of friends. The quaint university town of Spaulding, Washington has a vast and unique population but Maye strikes out time after time as she looks for friends. The hilarity begins with her naïve encounter with a book group that turns out to be a coven of witches. After several equally funny friendship miscues, Maye decides to sign up for the town's... more info
