Lawyer Ruby O'Deare might not be living the American dream, but it feels like it every time she visits her small town megamall. The shoes! The lighting! Prince Charming spotted in the food court! It's a dream, right?
But all dreams must come to an end.
Ruby's does when she wakes up after a one-night stand with the town's sexy zoning commissioner, Noel West. Actually, that part is good. It's the expired Dollar Store condoms she finds that feel too real.
And then her favorite client Estelle turns up dead.
Ruby is determined to find out the truth behind the curtains of Ozcorp, the company that owns the heavenly megamall and has the most to gain from her client's death. She just hopes the zoning commissioner she might be falling for isn't caught up in the danger.
Shortly after graduating from law school, Samantha had three children and started writing novels. She never looked back, though she suspects her husband has. Ruby’s Misadventures with Reality is her first book, but hopefully not her last.
Such a fun book! I loved the characters and all the Wizard of Oz references. Ruby reminded me of a cooler Stephanie Plum. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a witty mystery.
confused face… I think this is a farce. Like that genre I “found” a couple years ago, Romanticon….is this Romanticon? Romance and comedy with a slice of oblivious. Ruby lives with her friend, a brilliant scientist by day, who happens to want to revolutionize the bra and undie industry. She is resourceful, hardworking and quick witted…everything Ruby is NOT. The whole back story of the book is about a night on blackout aka “Special Pepsi” that Ruby’s squatter, the supposed to be funny pot-head druggie who sleeps on their couch and eats their food, slips into Ruby and her landlord Noel’s drinks. Just saying, it is never ok to drug someone’s drink…NEVER. After said awkward one-night stand…that NEITHER remember, they go about their lives. They do not really know each other and there are large gaps in the story that were never cleared up really. The rest of the story is the bumbling gumshoe, nursing a shopping addiction and an ever growing belly, trying to solve a murder no one thinks is murder. I was confused about the dialogue, almost attached to Estelle (the dead woman), and irritated by all the other characters who were almost two dimensional in a world that seemed more Urban Fantasy than real. I don’t know…I just don’t understand this book. I loved the shoes on the cover and at times thought it was a good mystery that had so much other weirdness that it took away from the plot and added the Romanticon element. This rambling only serves to give you an idea of the book and Ruby’s inner montage that ran the length of the book. For those who love Romanticon…go for it. But if you are looking for a romantic suspense…there is little to no steam and the suspense is not there…gumshoe…definitely gumshoe is there. Enjoy!
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Ruby's Misadventures With Reality is laugh out loud hilarious with so many humorous mishaps and antics. Samantha Bohrman kept me entertained from the very first sentence. I'm not sure where she comes up with half the things she does, but I think we should erect a bronzed midget statue of her to worship. Yes, this book was THAT good.
Ruby is so lovable but at the same time completely ditzy (in a way that reminds me of myself, actually). I never knew what was going to come from this character next which was what I loved about the book. In Ruby's Misadventures With Reality, you learn to expect the unexpected because the situations Ruby finds herself in and the things she does are all completely unexpected - in a good way of course. I was torn between wanting to hug her, shake my head at her antics, and wanting to be her.
Ruby's Misadventures With Reality is a crazy whirlwind ride that will suck you in just like a tornado except instead of landing in Oz and defeating the wicked witch, you can just stay comfy and curl up for a good laugh.
A laugh out loud funny book filled with wacky but endearing characters, a story with a bit of mystery, tons of zany mishaps, and overall left me feeling happy! Ruby with all her good intentions finds herself in some pretty bizarre situations that she deals with as only Ruby can! You can't help but love Ruby all the while shaking your head at her antics. This is a book I highly recommend!
This book made me laugh. A lot. It's so witty and Ruby, the MC, so endearing in all her flaws. If you love to be surprised, entertained, and giggle your head off, this is the perfect book for you.
Samantha Bohrman is a fresh new voice full of wit and heart.
Fun little romantic romp, with lots of whimsy. I'd give this 3 1/2 stars, but I've met the author and she's a delight and taught a really fun class in writing romance, so I'm rounding up. Yeay Sam!
So, what is this book? Is it a romance, or is it a cozy mystery? Um, yes? It's kind of both. It's more cozy mystery than romance, but we do have plenty of tropes, so don't despair, fans of romance. I actually liked the mystery better than the romance, but I wasn't totally on the Noel ship.
Of all the characters, Ming was my favorite. She should have been the lead, but then, we wouldn't have had all of Ruby's crazy-ass adventures because Ming don't play like that. She's a driver. Ming gets things done. Why Ming is wasting her time and space and energy with the likes of Ruby and couch surfer Todd is the real mystery of this book. Yeah Ming. Everyone else, take a memo.
I also liked Estelle, and Auntie Em. Pretty much all the old ladies. Ok, I guess I'm old. Not a huge fan of Ruby's mom or Noel mom for that matter, so maybe I'm not completely aligned with the fogey brigade.
Ruby was, um, alright I guess. I don't like irresponsible characters who are over the age of 20. She's late 20s. WTH Ruby, get a grip on your finances and your life plan and start being responsible for your own pets for crying out loud. And I'm not talking about Todd, as he's clearly Ming's pet. The urge to page slap Ruby was strong at many points in this book, but pretty much all of them involved shopping, acquiring, adopting more pets she'll ignore, etc. Stop with the mindless consumption mania, girl. Read some Marie Kondo already and step away from the mall.
I liked the whimsical setting and the mapcap adventures. I just wished Ruby could have got on board with adulthood without the assistance of a man. That bugs.
Waiting patiently for Ming's shot at love. If Ming can squeeze it in between spawning new empires to conquer various fields. Yeay Ming.
I got this book as an advanced reader copy from Entangled Publishing. I will skip the plot summary because Entangled does a nice job of describing it.
I had such a great time reading this book. Ruby is cross between Elle Woods, Nancy Drew (I have a deep love for Nancy Drew and that's why I chose her over a more adult mystery character), and Bridget Jones. So she is goofy and endearing and earnest, even if her coffee consumption while pregnant is a bit questionable.
The love story is sweet. The characters are well-crafted. The two roommates are hilarious in their own distinct ways. The writing is funny. I laughed out loud several times, much to the annoyance of my husband who was trying to sleep. There is some incisive social commentary, which through the over-the-top, in-your-face element of it, is actually light and easily carried by the story. It was honest, but also presented in a humorous way. As for the mystery, I thought I had it figured out early on, and I partially did. But there was a twist at the end that I absolutely wasn't expecting.
If you want a quick, fun read that will have you laughing and smiling the whole way (well, most of it), this is a great one.
*Note: When giving ratings, I rate all genre books according to their genre. I do not believe it is a fair system to rate different kinds of books against each other. It leads to low ratings in which a reader begins their review with, "I don't usually read [insert genre] and I hated this book." So, as my little protest, I have decided to take a stand against that and rate genre books as they read for their genre.
***A gifted copy was provided by the publisher for my honest review****
WOW! What a terrific spin on the Wizard of OZ story. It is a murder mystery and a love story all rolled into one. The story starts with a one night stand and ends with a killer tornado Ruby is a lawyer because a quiz said she would be good at it. She acts like she has ADD and is all over the place. She ends up having a one night stand with the town's sexy zoning commissioner, Noel West. She then finds out her favorite client, Estelle is dead and she is trying to find out who killed her and why? There is mystery there and lots of weird situations Ruby finds herself in –all I can tell you is, when it comes to Ruby, just expect the unexpected. She has some awesome friends who are great-wonderful secondary characters. Noel ends up having some ties to someone that ends up having ties to the town’s mall- there are twists within twists. There is a fantastic ending to this story and I hope there is more planned for Ruby, Noel and their cast of friends. It is hard to explain this story to you except to say- there is a wicked witch , a grand ole wizard and so many weird things going on , you just have to sit back and expect to be dazzled and have tons of laughs. This is the author’s debut story and it is terrific.
Having been a huge fan of Wizard of Oz since I was six years old I was automatically drawn into reading this novel. I was also very skeptical since it in-cooperated a story that was very near and dear to my heart. May I just say, laugh out loud funny! I don’t think there was a page in this novel that I did not enjoy. The main character Ruby is sensationally funny and not just in personality but in the situations she gets herself into while investigating a client’s murder. She is witty and engaging with anyone she comes across. The rest of the characters, the handsome zoning commissioner, the zany room-mate and coach surfing assistant each odd their own little spice to the story which you greatly appreciate. The investigation into her client’s death is hit with twists and turns I did not see coming and everything added more zing to an already gripping romantic comedy. I loved how Samantha managed to bring in remainders of the original Oz story; the yellow brick road, Oz-corp, munchkins, and all with added bonuses like the mentions of a popular pizza place and pop-tarts! I do hope there is a sequel or even a spin-off in the works because this story has fantastic potential. It’s right along there with Stephanie Plum and Sophie Kinsella!
Ruby's life is full of surprises and Samantha Bohram took me on a fast paced, entertaining adventure in Ruby's Misadventures With Reality.
From the start I liked that Ruby had real things happen to her...they were just more over the top and often a lot wilder than 'normal'! I liked Ruby as a heroine...she was a fun character to read about and get to know. Ruby did have her misadventures, but Samantha also weaves in serious issues and emotion that fit well with the plot. I couldn't wait to turn the pages to see what would happen for Ruby next, whether it was her personal or professional life. Ruby felt real, a little mixed up, and struggling to move on while at the same time coping as best as she can with what life is throwing at her.
Noel was an interesting hero and was a bit of a mystery for a while! I was very intrigued to see what would happen between him and Ruby.
The unexpected and the unknown were part of the adventure of Ruby's Misadventures With Reality, and this was a fun book to read that made me laugh while wondering what I would do if I were Ruby.
I'd recommend Ruby's Misadventures With Reality to any romance reader looking for a very well paced, entertaining romance with some underlying mystery!
Such a fun book, and perfect for an escape on a hot summer day! Ruby's Oz is very different from what I have ever seen before, and in the most wonderful way. From munchkin statues lining the streets to a yellow brick road winding through the huge biomall, the subtle references to the Wizard of Oz are so much fun to stumble across. Warning: You will begin to see Wizard of Oz references everywhere! Ruby's Misadventures with Reality also has a full cast of hilarious characters that make Ruby's world one of my favorite places to be. It is a story that stays with you long after you finish reading. I enjoyed this book so much and can't wait to see more from this author!
I so enjoyed Ruby's self-deprecating humor and the Wizard of Oz connections. The story was really fun and full of good silliness but, just like Ruby, slowly picked up in maturity and concern for the community and environment around us. Samantha gives her narrator a witty insightful voice and an opportunity for social commentary without losing sight of the comedic lightness of the genre.There were also quite a few unexpected twists; it felt like watching a comfort movie in your pj's on a rainy night, and I am really excited to see what new adventures Ruby goes on next! I will get the snacks ready (something involving chocolate/caramel, of course), but I'd prefer a Todd-free couch!
This is the debut novel by Samantha Bohrman. I asked to review because of the title. Ruby's Misadventures with Reality is a quirky fun mystery with a slightly manic shopaholic, totally confused lawyer. Ruby was not at the top of her class nor was she a total screw up. She ended up as a lawyer because she didn’t have anything better and a quiz told her she would be good at it. This book is as manic as its heroine. It will leave you tired and smiling. I look forward to more from this author. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
This is a fun tale that follows Ruby, an attorney, that loves all things shopping and nothing about being a lawyer. This book is funny with Ruby's over the top exploits ranging from spending more money on coffee than food to dollar store condoms. Through it all, Ruby is somehow lovable and you are rooting for her to find her way and become a responsible adult.
I am looking forward to reading more by Samanth Bohrman and hope that this can become a series: more Ruby please!
I am on such a great book roll right now! The last few books I've read have been just amazing, but this one, this one is right in there with my all time favorites.
Want a book that you are going to fall in love with, laugh out loud, and not want to put down just because the characters are quirky and fun? This is that book! This book is as rare a gem as it's main character, Ruby. Gotta read it, gotta love it!
What an inventive way to utilize the key ingredients in the wizard of Oz into a new and imaginative story. It all starts with a defective, glow in the dark, dollar store condom and only gets better. Ruby and Noel have anything but a normal relationship. Their jobs and family only add to the humor that is sure to have you laughing. This is like an adult version of The Wizard of Oz on drugs and overdosed on caffeine. Great characters! Something new you'll not want to miss.
This was such a fun book. I loved all the "Wizard of Oz" references as well as the modern day references. (There's a character named Destinee Childs... let that sink in). There was murder, suspense, humor, romance... you name it! Great debut!
This was a okay read, I thought I was going to like it more I think it was because of Ruby she was one of those heroines that I knew I wasn't going to like her much. I felt that she wasn't a likable character.
I really liked Noel as a character and I just wish he was in the book more but I felt he disappeared a lot in the book and it just made me feel like he wasn't the hero of the book. Eric was in more of the book at one point I thought she was going to end up with him.
The only surprise I got out of this book was when we found out who Noel's father was other than that I called at all.
The ending was just anti-climactic there was a tornado and it just seemed like only one person died and no surprise it was the biggest person in the town. I felt like something more should've happened.
{MY LIKE SCALE} Romance: 3/5 (They were very wishy-washy and they weren't even together for most of the book) Drama: 3.5/5 (Just enough it was needed) Cover: 3/5 (Good Cover) Ruby: 3.5/5 (I really didn't like her much in the beginning and couldn't stand her by the middle but I started to be okay with her towards the ending) Noel: 4/5 (I really wish he was in the book more because I wanted to know his POV) Writings: 4/5 (Good Story) Humour: 3/5 (Had some funny moments) Hotness: 2.5/5 (Wish there where more Heat between them) HEA:
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A great first book from this author. Wonderful wit and humor from beginning to end. Funny and maybe even a little dark in looking at consumerism and how the almighty dollar can win out over almost everything except maybe Mother Nature. Also looks at how ideas of romance can get in the way of relationships...The characters are interesting - quirky. Especially liked Ming, the brainy Chinese best friend who tells it like it is, and Todd, Ming's assistant, who seems to spend most of his moments in a cloud (of smoke). Hope to see more from this author. I like to laugh. Plus I want to find out what happens after the tornado? And who killed Estelle??
Ruby, the main character of this book , is flawed, ditzy at times and very funny, her humour is very like my own and I literally laughed out loud several times. The Wizard of Oz references are very tongue in cheek and were much appreciated. The style of writing reminded me of old Sam Spade novels and I loved the characters, especially Ruby herself and Em. A fun read, perfect for summer reading!
4 RUBY RED STARS This was a fun and quirky read! I loved the Wizard of Oz references. Also other references like Legally Blonde because god bless that movie. I could totally relate to Ruby. I really enjoyed this but of course as Non-American, grasping some of the references were difficult but nothing I didn't understand.
Fun read. A few holes in the story and not much of a mystery, but the main character Ruby is entertaining. If this is part of a series, I’d read another.