Lauren Says:My Life on Craigslist-Alexandra Ares Review/Giveaway

Lauren Says! My Life on Craigslist by Alexandra Ares Review & Giveaway

Title: My Life on Craigslist

Author: Alexandra Ares

Publication: December 2012

When I read it: January 2013

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Series / Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Buy from Amazon: Click HERE!

FINALIST OF USA BEST BOOK AWARDS. Craigslist can be a real sharkfest! But it’s a mirror of who we are. Alexandra Ares takes these two statements to their darkest and funniest place in this page turner satire of today’s wildest mores brazenly unleashed on America’s largest free online dating website. A zany New York girl trolls it for fun, love, sex, relationships and everything else, doomed to run from trouble to trouble. But she has a special talent…

Meet Emily Thompson, 25, quirky, wholesome, with a keen eye for contemporary art. One year after she moves from Buffalo to the trendy East Village, where she lands a job in an art gallery and an artist boyfriend, her life is turned upside down when she loses everything. Alone, broke and depressed, she turns to Craigslist to find – for free – everything she needs for both fun and survival. She soon discovers a wild, flawed world where everyone is either the con or the conned, and decency has flown both the laptop and the desktop. A roommate who is rarely home, turns out to be an escort, which makes Emily get on her high moral horse, but later, when Emily herself becomes an escort for a day things spiral out of control…

With her deadpan wit and trademark unconventional insight, Alexandra Ares delivers a fast-paced, rakishly entertaining and ingeniously plotted soulful novel that confirms her status as one of the hottest new writers around.

As soon as I read the following passage I knew this was the book for me:

Yesterday I worked out and I even ate steamed veggies but couldn’t say no to wine and four cookies around 7p.m. What lethal difference four sweet cookies can make in the grand scheme of things.

Have you ever watched Seinfeld? My grandpa used to say it was a show about everything and nothing. My Life on Craigslist reminds me of that show. We all know Seinfeld was a huge hit and it’s easy to see why this book has gotten so much praise. Emily Thompson is a twenty-five year old, newly single, unemployed New Yorker. She spends most of her days and nights perusing the classifieds on Craigslist. If you’ve ever spent time on Craigslist, you can begin to formulate an idea of the disastrous situations Emily finds herself in. It’s funny, smart and filled with tons and tons of crazy drama.

My home page used to be Google, but the Craigslist tab was always open, so I recently changed it to Craigslist because it has to be. My entire life revolves around this site, and now that I’m all alone, I need it more than ever.

What is Emily searching for exactly? Well, beyond the happiness we’re all searching for, she’s looking for a new love interest, a roommate and of course a J-O-B. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the best luck in any of those departments. After scouring ads, she winds up working for some very shady people and dating men that would make most of us turn and run.

What scares me is we never know the truth about the people we meet, date, dream about, worship, or even live with. People are like icebergs. Whenever we look at each other there are huge, hidden parts lurking below the surface. And we never know what they might be.

Just when you think things couldn’t get worse they do. The thing is … the bad times never last. Eventually, just like with everything in life, things have to start looking up.

I laughed, smiled and rolled my eyes more during this book than I have in a long time. Alexandra Ares brings to life a strong, sassy, fearless young woman. Emily is a girl after my own heart! I have a feeling that if she were real and not some creep-magnet fictional character, we would be the best of friends.

I’ve been living several months like a hermit, just me and my laptop, and now I am startled by this sudden immense display of life and people that exist regardless of me, separate of me, independent of me, oblivious of me.

If you’re looking for a quick witty read, you’ve found it! My Life on Craigslist is an adventure you won’t want to miss.

GIVEAWAY:

We will be giving away one (1) e-book copy of My Life on Craigslist. All you have to do? Like Madison Says on Facebook and comment here that you did so! :) This is a quick giveaway! Winners will be chosen Thursday, February 1 at 9:00 a.m. CST. Good luck!

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About the Author

My name is Lauren Sweeney and I am obsessed with reading. Really! I could read all day everyday. There is something so therapeutic about getting lost in the pages of a book or in my case, the screen of a Kindle. The funny part is when I was growing up you couldn't have paid me to read a sentence let alone an entire novel. I am a proud military wife and a stay-a-home mommy to a very active four year old with a killer imagination. She keeps me on my toes and has helped me both lose and find my marbles from time to time. I don’t know what I would do without her smile. I also have the pleasure of playing momma to four very furry children. They never fail to make my life just a little more interesting. I love tattoos and music in any form. I’m very easy going and am fluent in sarcasm. I tend to gravitate to Young Adult, Contemporary and Chick Lit novels.

8 Comments

Bookworm Brandee January 31, 2013 at 11:06 am Reply

I liked your facebook page – as Bookworm Brandee
Brandi Smith January 31, 2013 at 11:21 am Reply

This one sounds good. Liked your page – Brandi Wells Smith :)
Michelna January 31, 2013 at 11:34 am Reply

Thank you for the giveaway :)

Liked your page on FB (Michelina Di Campo)
Lauren Sweeney January 31, 2013 at 11:35 am Reply

I really enjoyed it! I couldn’t believe all the messed up situations Emily found herself in. There are some real creepers out there! Especially on Craigslist!! Ha!
Artemis January 31, 2013 at 2:40 pm Reply

Great story! Thank you for the giveaway.
My FB name: Demitra Giote
Sara January 31, 2013 at 4:01 pm Reply

I liked your page :) I honestly had never even heard of this book before I read your review, but now it’s on my TBR list and I can’t wait to read it. Sounds really good :)
Tess January 31, 2013 at 6:35 pm Reply

Already liked your Facebook page in the past! :) Thanks for your review and giveaway!
Erin Hill February 1, 2013 at 12:43 pm Reply

Liked your page! Thanks!