author: Karin Goodwin
2002
An estranged brother and sister, living in different cities, meet new loves of dubious value, while still involved in other relationships, also of dubious value. I’m not sure why the book is called Bad Advice, but since editors and publishers tend to choose titles for books, often overriding the author’s choice, the mismatch could be due to that.
It’s a funny book and the writing is fresh and entertaining. If I hadn’t already returned it to the library I’d post a quote for your enjoyment. However, just the way in which the sister meets her new boyfriend is pretty comical. She’s jogging in Arizona and mistakes him for a mugger (who turns out to be less innocent than she thought) and performs her self-defense so well she has to take him to the hospital. Except first they have to find a way to get to the road and a phone, that way being a distant cowboy with a very skittery horse. By the time they get to help, it’s a miracle everyone isn’t injured.
Though the plot twists in almost screwball comedy style, (in fact, it would make a great ensemble movie), the characters are well-drawn and wonderfully flawed. A private detective, lovers and ex-lovers, parents and a dog, a snowstorm and unexpected arrivals all wind up into a grand sorting-out of troubles. It’s a book with a good heart.
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