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Pitifully Ugly
Hot, sweet, sexy and funny.
Shannon Brycen believes she is the epitome of pitifully ugly. Kalen, Shannon’s overly social sister, is determined to play match-maker and find a special someone for her sister. After a disastrous date with one of Kalen’s recent selections, Shannon decides to take her love life back into her own hands by joining the local lesbian cyber match-maker.
Mid thirties, still single, house broken but rabid. If you’re looking for something different then I’m your girl. Write me if you dare... P.U. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to build her profile after consuming half a bottle of her favorite wine... or to use a picture of herself at the age of six - after she had cut her own hair-as her online profile photograph.
Hiding behind the online persona of Pitifully Ugly, Shannon finds the courage to meet new women and face the disaster called dating. As her charming personality surfaces, Shannon’s search for the perfect match may be closer than she realizes.
Shannon Brycen believes she is the epitome of pitifully ugly. Kalen, Shannon’s overly social sister, is determined to play match-maker and find a special someone for her sister. After a disastrous date with one of Kalen’s recent selections, Shannon decides to take her love life back into her own hands by joining the local lesbian cyber match-maker.
Mid thirties, still single, house broken but rabid. If you’re looking for something different then I’m your girl. Write me if you dare... P.U. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to build her profile after consuming half a bottle of her favorite wine... or to use a picture of herself at the age of six - after she had cut her own hair-as her online profile photograph.
Hiding behind the online persona of Pitifully Ugly, Shannon finds the courage to meet new women and face the disaster called dating. As her charming personality surfaces, Shannon’s search for the perfect match may be closer than she realizes.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2010
51 people are currently reading
1570 people want to read
About the author
Robin Alexander
51 books811 followersBorn in 1965, Robin Alexander grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she still resides. An avid reader of Lesbian fiction, Robin decided to take the leap and try her hand at writing. It didn't take long for her favorite hobby to become a full-time author.
Since her heritage is Scottish and Irish and she’s allergic to seafood, she’s considered an honorary Cajun. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring her state with the top off her Jeep in search of the small towns on the water that inspire her.
Robin is awkward, sometimes shy, loaded with anxieties, accident prone, dangerous with power tools, and has been known to make idiotic decisions. She has been fortunate enough to turn her shortcomings into the hilarious characters you’ll find in her novels and short stories. Her passion is writing funny tales about falling in love, being imperfect and reveling in friendship.
Robin is convinced she has the best job in the world, and she’s extremely grateful for her fans who support her and enable her to do what she loves.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Since her heritage is Scottish and Irish and she’s allergic to seafood, she’s considered an honorary Cajun. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring her state with the top off her Jeep in search of the small towns on the water that inspire her.
Robin is awkward, sometimes shy, loaded with anxieties, accident prone, dangerous with power tools, and has been known to make idiotic decisions. She has been fortunate enough to turn her shortcomings into the hilarious characters you’ll find in her novels and short stories. Her passion is writing funny tales about falling in love, being imperfect and reveling in friendship.
Robin is convinced she has the best job in the world, and she’s extremely grateful for her fans who support her and enable her to do what she loves.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
March 31, 2020
I didn't like Magnetic by Robin Alexander so I wasn't very hopeful about Pitifully Ugly but I am so glad to be proven wrong. The MC, Shannon had a weird and sometimes very self deprecating sense of humour, she had me rolling on the floor laughing. Shannon was so introverted and socially awkward I half wondered if we are related.
I had so much fun reading this. I loved the love interest, the side characters and the romance, especially the romance. Shannon and Hailey crushed on each other online and fell in love IRL. How cute is that!. Also is it sad if a fictional character battling a goose was the highlight of my day.
I had so much fun reading this. I loved the love interest, the side characters and the romance, especially the romance. Shannon and Hailey crushed on each other online and fell in love IRL. How cute is that!. Also is it sad if a fictional character battling a goose was the highlight of my day.
July 25, 2017
Great read! funny,entertaining and somewhat enjoyable (paperback!)
September 14, 2021
Dating!
I got a couple of Robin Alexander audiobooks during an audible sale earlier this year because I've heard that they are funny. Plus they have the perfect narrator for humour - Lori Prince - so that can't go too wrong. I love Prince when she does humour and I have had a great time with Miranda MacLeod's audiobooks when she narrates them. So I'm happy that I can now add Alexander to the list too.
This book is hilarious! And it also gave me all the feels in between. After a series of disastrous blind dates set up by her over-enthusiastic sister, Shannon decides to try out online dating. Her dating profile is a drunken joke but it is a deprecatingly accurate description of how she looks at herself - pitifully ugly. But she still manages to score a couple of dates and some go better than others. Offline, she makes friends with her new neighbour with whom she shares undeniable chemistry with. As Shannon and her love interest grow closer, the story moves in a different direction as new obstacles to their relationship surfaces and this story turns out to have a bit more layers than I had expected, although I won't discuss them here due to spoilers. Some of it is a bit controversal but I like how Alexander deals with them and how she pulls the brakes on what is happening between them until their feelings are sorted out properly.
I'm really glad I found Alexander's audiobooks. This one is right up my alley. It's fun, so funny and the sparks are there.
I got a couple of Robin Alexander audiobooks during an audible sale earlier this year because I've heard that they are funny. Plus they have the perfect narrator for humour - Lori Prince - so that can't go too wrong. I love Prince when she does humour and I have had a great time with Miranda MacLeod's audiobooks when she narrates them. So I'm happy that I can now add Alexander to the list too.
This book is hilarious! And it also gave me all the feels in between. After a series of disastrous blind dates set up by her over-enthusiastic sister, Shannon decides to try out online dating. Her dating profile is a drunken joke but it is a deprecatingly accurate description of how she looks at herself - pitifully ugly. But she still manages to score a couple of dates and some go better than others. Offline, she makes friends with her new neighbour with whom she shares undeniable chemistry with. As Shannon and her love interest grow closer, the story moves in a different direction as new obstacles to their relationship surfaces and this story turns out to have a bit more layers than I had expected, although I won't discuss them here due to spoilers. Some of it is a bit controversal but I like how Alexander deals with them and how she pulls the brakes on what is happening between them until their feelings are sorted out properly.
I'm really glad I found Alexander's audiobooks. This one is right up my alley. It's fun, so funny and the sparks are there.
May 14, 2023
I had to read something light and funny after a heavy and sort of depressing book. This fit the bill perfectly. I think this is the first Alexander book I’ve read where there’s no outrageous grandma. I was shocked.
December 19, 2017
This specific book here is both the second book I read by Robin Alexander, back in February 27 2014, and the second book I’ve successfully reread by Alexander.
When I started the book, I was somewhat uncertain what kind of reaction I might have, what I might find – for, you see, while Robin Alexander has become one of the top lesbian fiction authors I read (somewhere, without thinking too hard about it, within the top three), Alexander was also the author I read three books by in 2014, then didn’t read another until 2016. It’s also one of the four Alexander books I’ve read and not yet written a review for, but that’s neither here nor there. Let’s move on.
At the beginning, not sure how far along I’d put the change point, but at the beginning I was confused by my original 2014 rating of 3.5 stars. Because this was one damn funny book. And then . . . I recalled why I had rated the book ‘so low’, well low for an Alexander book. This is a one person point of view book – and it somewhat suffers because of that issue. For, unfortunately, the main character really started to annoy me.
Before I mention the main character, I feel the need to reference my most recent prior Alexander review – all about humor and stuff like humor. A lot of the humor in this book really seemed like it was/would be better with these specific characters (like, say, that vibrating strap-on on-going scene); while others were . . . kind of meh – possibly because of the characters involved. Which, in its way, added a layer of knowledge and appreciation to the humor and characters in the other books – for, I realized, some of the humor was meh because I didn’t really care that much about the characters by the time the event took place (thinking here, as an example, the time a goose attacked Shannon – it’s vaguely humorous moment, but more of a weak smile; oddly enough the prior book I read by Alexander, the prior reread, had a swan attack the main character – and there I found the entire scene much more satisfying – to a large extent because I much more preferred spending time with the characters in ‘Next Time’. Right, let’s move on again.
Shannon Brycen, like Ryann from ‘Next Time’, has an important to the story straight sister (here Kalen, there Shelly). Their family dynamic is otherwise quite different, and I only mentioned because both books had that situation of a straight sister being something of a best friend to one of the main lesbian leads. Right, so, Kalen is described as being quite charming and extroverted – quite capable of being a people person. She’s older than Shannon and married to a man called Todd. I mention all of that to then say that Shannon is basically the opposite (though her looks are supposedly similar) – she’s a lesbian, introverted (a shy introvert), and very much a back-office non-people pleasing, non-charming woman with no real skills at picking up women (all of this is learned by the reader very quickly at a meal shared between Shannon and Kalen at the start of the book; for someone quite bad at picking up women, Shannon sure did end up in a lot more situations with woman than that would imply – see above where I made mention of a humor gag that involved a vibrating strap-on, I won’t elaborate more on that specific scene). And by back-office, I mean that Shannon is the hair salon business accountant (they have four . . . um . . whatever you call an outlet in the hair business).
In an attempt to change her position in life, Shannon does two things: 1) create a profile on a dating website (which meets stiff opposition and outright derision from Kalen); 2) attempt to become fitter, or at least have a make-over. The dating profile lead to several run ins with various lesbians, some online, some in person; while the make-over lead to getting a hair-cut at a rival hair salon and finding someone there to hire for her own hair place. Which is important to note because the gay man who cut her hair, it’s important to note he is gay, becomes a strong side character in this story.
Right, so, that’s the story – a thirty-something woman living in New Orleans who’d prefer to spend all her time in her apartment, is forced to get out and attempt to upgrade her life (part of the ‘forced to get out’ is the part where the sister and brother-in-law go on vacation, and Shannon will be forced to step in, if called upon, as the boss – in person). Some humor is had along the way.
There are, as would be expected, several other characters of importance – there’d have to be, no?, since I haven’t even mentioned a potential love interest yet. Right, so – sister Kalen, several potential dates, gay hairdresser (I’d use his name, but I forget it, Marion or something like that, Marvin?) and the combo of new next door neighbor Hailey and her dog Fuzzy. There are some great scenes involving Fuzzy. And Hailey’s the love interest who is seen almost exclusively through the eyes of Shannon.
There is a lot of miscommunication, disinformation, and outright lying in this story that adds obstacles to love (and detract from my ability to enjoy this book). There is also graphic sex, humor, and . . . um . . . other stuff.
I’m not really sure how or why, but the characters in this book just seem to be of a lesser quality than others created by Alexander. And by ‘lesser quality’, I’m specifically referring to their creation, there ‘there-ness’. The connection between the reader and them. I might be talking gibberish so I’ll, once again, move on.
Rating: 4.12
December 19 2017
When I started the book, I was somewhat uncertain what kind of reaction I might have, what I might find – for, you see, while Robin Alexander has become one of the top lesbian fiction authors I read (somewhere, without thinking too hard about it, within the top three), Alexander was also the author I read three books by in 2014, then didn’t read another until 2016. It’s also one of the four Alexander books I’ve read and not yet written a review for, but that’s neither here nor there. Let’s move on.
At the beginning, not sure how far along I’d put the change point, but at the beginning I was confused by my original 2014 rating of 3.5 stars. Because this was one damn funny book. And then . . . I recalled why I had rated the book ‘so low’, well low for an Alexander book. This is a one person point of view book – and it somewhat suffers because of that issue. For, unfortunately, the main character really started to annoy me.
Before I mention the main character, I feel the need to reference my most recent prior Alexander review – all about humor and stuff like humor. A lot of the humor in this book really seemed like it was/would be better with these specific characters (like, say, that vibrating strap-on on-going scene); while others were . . . kind of meh – possibly because of the characters involved. Which, in its way, added a layer of knowledge and appreciation to the humor and characters in the other books – for, I realized, some of the humor was meh because I didn’t really care that much about the characters by the time the event took place (thinking here, as an example, the time a goose attacked Shannon – it’s vaguely humorous moment, but more of a weak smile; oddly enough the prior book I read by Alexander, the prior reread, had a swan attack the main character – and there I found the entire scene much more satisfying – to a large extent because I much more preferred spending time with the characters in ‘Next Time’. Right, let’s move on again.
Shannon Brycen, like Ryann from ‘Next Time’, has an important to the story straight sister (here Kalen, there Shelly). Their family dynamic is otherwise quite different, and I only mentioned because both books had that situation of a straight sister being something of a best friend to one of the main lesbian leads. Right, so, Kalen is described as being quite charming and extroverted – quite capable of being a people person. She’s older than Shannon and married to a man called Todd. I mention all of that to then say that Shannon is basically the opposite (though her looks are supposedly similar) – she’s a lesbian, introverted (a shy introvert), and very much a back-office non-people pleasing, non-charming woman with no real skills at picking up women (all of this is learned by the reader very quickly at a meal shared between Shannon and Kalen at the start of the book; for someone quite bad at picking up women, Shannon sure did end up in a lot more situations with woman than that would imply – see above where I made mention of a humor gag that involved a vibrating strap-on, I won’t elaborate more on that specific scene). And by back-office, I mean that Shannon is the hair salon business accountant (they have four . . . um . . whatever you call an outlet in the hair business).
In an attempt to change her position in life, Shannon does two things: 1) create a profile on a dating website (which meets stiff opposition and outright derision from Kalen); 2) attempt to become fitter, or at least have a make-over. The dating profile lead to several run ins with various lesbians, some online, some in person; while the make-over lead to getting a hair-cut at a rival hair salon and finding someone there to hire for her own hair place. Which is important to note because the gay man who cut her hair, it’s important to note he is gay, becomes a strong side character in this story.
Right, so, that’s the story – a thirty-something woman living in New Orleans who’d prefer to spend all her time in her apartment, is forced to get out and attempt to upgrade her life (part of the ‘forced to get out’ is the part where the sister and brother-in-law go on vacation, and Shannon will be forced to step in, if called upon, as the boss – in person). Some humor is had along the way.
There are, as would be expected, several other characters of importance – there’d have to be, no?, since I haven’t even mentioned a potential love interest yet. Right, so – sister Kalen, several potential dates, gay hairdresser (I’d use his name, but I forget it, Marion or something like that, Marvin?) and the combo of new next door neighbor Hailey and her dog Fuzzy. There are some great scenes involving Fuzzy. And Hailey’s the love interest who is seen almost exclusively through the eyes of Shannon.
There is a lot of miscommunication, disinformation, and outright lying in this story that adds obstacles to love (and detract from my ability to enjoy this book). There is also graphic sex, humor, and . . . um . . . other stuff.
I’m not really sure how or why, but the characters in this book just seem to be of a lesser quality than others created by Alexander. And by ‘lesser quality’, I’m specifically referring to their creation, there ‘there-ness’. The connection between the reader and them. I might be talking gibberish so I’ll, once again, move on.
Rating: 4.12
December 19 2017
January 30, 2021
Review of Pitifully Ugly by Robin Alexander, Audiobook narrated by Lori Prince
I’m happy that Lori Prince has started to narrate Robin Alexander’s back catalog. Ms. Alexander’s quirky sense of humour and Ms. Prince’s comedy timing makes it a must-go combination if you are looking for an amusing and, at the same time, romantic story.
Shannon Brycen is an introvert looking for love. Tired of being set up by her sister with poor blind dates, she decides to explore the world of online dating. But maybe love was closer than she thought…
Robin Alexander is one of those authors who has found her own style that is recognisable and distinctive in the lesfic genre. Her characters are quirky but lovable, her stories are full of humour and ridiculously funny situations, her cast of secondary characters is rich and varied, and the chemistry between the leads is sizzling. ‘Pitifully Ugly’ is no exception.
Robin Alexander likes to put her characters through the wringer and get them caught in hilarious situations. These aren’t larger than life heroines destined to change the world but anti-heroines who live ordinary lives. However, her characters have equally redeeming qualities and manage to find their way to happiness.
Written in first person from the point of view of Shannon, the reader spends a lot of time in her headspace. Shannon is self-deprecating, shy and has a penchant for getting herself into trouble. There are a few funny situations in this book that will make you laugh as if you were watching a sitcom and some other situations where you would like to give her a hug and tell her that everything is going to be OK.
Lori Prince is the perfect narrator for this book thanks to her light tone, dramatic pauses, and deadpan deliveries. Make no mistake, Ms. Prince can perform serious and emotional stories too but she thrives in comedy so she’s an excellent choice for this book. The narration lifted the written story to another level, making it more enjoyable and funny. If you are looking for something light to distract you from the state of world affairs, this one is for you. 4.5 stars.
Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins.
I’m happy that Lori Prince has started to narrate Robin Alexander’s back catalog. Ms. Alexander’s quirky sense of humour and Ms. Prince’s comedy timing makes it a must-go combination if you are looking for an amusing and, at the same time, romantic story.
Shannon Brycen is an introvert looking for love. Tired of being set up by her sister with poor blind dates, she decides to explore the world of online dating. But maybe love was closer than she thought…
Robin Alexander is one of those authors who has found her own style that is recognisable and distinctive in the lesfic genre. Her characters are quirky but lovable, her stories are full of humour and ridiculously funny situations, her cast of secondary characters is rich and varied, and the chemistry between the leads is sizzling. ‘Pitifully Ugly’ is no exception.
Robin Alexander likes to put her characters through the wringer and get them caught in hilarious situations. These aren’t larger than life heroines destined to change the world but anti-heroines who live ordinary lives. However, her characters have equally redeeming qualities and manage to find their way to happiness.
Written in first person from the point of view of Shannon, the reader spends a lot of time in her headspace. Shannon is self-deprecating, shy and has a penchant for getting herself into trouble. There are a few funny situations in this book that will make you laugh as if you were watching a sitcom and some other situations where you would like to give her a hug and tell her that everything is going to be OK.
Lori Prince is the perfect narrator for this book thanks to her light tone, dramatic pauses, and deadpan deliveries. Make no mistake, Ms. Prince can perform serious and emotional stories too but she thrives in comedy so she’s an excellent choice for this book. The narration lifted the written story to another level, making it more enjoyable and funny. If you are looking for something light to distract you from the state of world affairs, this one is for you. 4.5 stars.
Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins.
January 2, 2023
4.5 stars. Another book that I read a long time ago and hadn’t gotten around to review. I like Alexander’s books and this is one of my favorites so far. As you can expect from Alexander it’s very funny, but it has some serious notes to it as well.
June 29, 2013
Robin's fun new book 'The Summer of Discontent' led me to this one. If 'Summer' was fun in a farcical way, this is ROFL-funny.
I love Shannon, her vibrating legs, and her hilarious internal running monologue (with disparate voices for her brain and her body(!)) She's shy, introverted and anti-social but load her up with a few chugs of alcohol and she's totally badass. :)
Shannon was really well done. And the development of her character was what made the story so appealing. Hailey, on the other hand, was a bit uneven. For someone who is in sales, I found her insecurity and indecision hard to buy. Granted she had some heavy issues. But people who take up sales careers are never shy or ambivalent about what they want. Maybe the author should have assigned her a different profession.
Why the 5 stars...hmmm...i liked it too much to subtract even a half star. So maybe a quarter star. So its 4.75
BTW, this book reminded me of another online dating romance book called 'The Blind Side of Love v2' by Ingrid Diaz. Its also lol-funny and angsty as hell--one of my all time favorites. I always mention it because its still free for downloading. Get it while its still up.
I love Shannon, her vibrating legs, and her hilarious internal running monologue (with disparate voices for her brain and her body(!)) She's shy, introverted and anti-social but load her up with a few chugs of alcohol and she's totally badass. :)
Shannon was really well done. And the development of her character was what made the story so appealing. Hailey, on the other hand, was a bit uneven. For someone who is in sales, I found her insecurity and indecision hard to buy. Granted she had some heavy issues. But people who take up sales careers are never shy or ambivalent about what they want. Maybe the author should have assigned her a different profession.
Why the 5 stars...hmmm...i liked it too much to subtract even a half star. So maybe a quarter star. So its 4.75
BTW, this book reminded me of another online dating romance book called 'The Blind Side of Love v2' by Ingrid Diaz. Its also lol-funny and angsty as hell--one of my all time favorites. I always mention it because its still free for downloading. Get it while its still up.
September 5, 2021
Audio narrated by Lori Prince, a perfect fit for a hilarious book. This one made me laugh!
November 17, 2016
Loved this! It was hilarious as well as sweet!
Robin Alexander is fast becoming a favourite author of mine...
Robin Alexander is fast becoming a favourite author of mine...
January 16, 2023
I'm a sucker for a good romcom and this one checked all the boxes for me.
*I absolutely recommend the audiobook, Lori Prince + sapphic romcom = gold every time!*
Loved the characters and the realistic emotional obstacles that they faced along the way. Shannon was hilarious and prone to such ridiculous situations - it had me laughing and having to explain to my partner every few minutes why I was laughing. I liked the complexity of Hailey's predicament which, though entirely emotional, really leant a lot of plausibility to the story (ridiculous antics aside) that is always nice to see.
This was my first Robin Alexander read but certainly won't be my last.
*I absolutely recommend the audiobook, Lori Prince + sapphic romcom = gold every time!*
Loved the characters and the realistic emotional obstacles that they faced along the way. Shannon was hilarious and prone to such ridiculous situations - it had me laughing and having to explain to my partner every few minutes why I was laughing. I liked the complexity of Hailey's predicament which, though entirely emotional, really leant a lot of plausibility to the story (ridiculous antics aside) that is always nice to see.
This was my first Robin Alexander read but certainly won't be my last.
February 15, 2023
Alexander and Prince for the win!
September 15, 2021
3,5 stars
It was good. I'd say it was a slightly above average rom-com. Can't say that it's my favourite genre but I don't regret the time I spent reading this. It just wasn't exactly my cup of tea.
It was good. I'd say it was a slightly above average rom-com. Can't say that it's my favourite genre but I don't regret the time I spent reading this. It just wasn't exactly my cup of tea.
July 26, 2016
I just reread this yesterday and loved it even more the second time.
Adorable, sweet, funny and very well-written, Pitifully Ugly captures amazingly well all the insecurities, fears and frazzled nerves that come with trying to connect with someone you really like.
I can't say enough good things about Robin Alexander's books. They're consistently pleasing and get what so much of lesfic does not: that true love, the kind that both pulls you in and lasts, is based on friendship first, romance second and physical intimacy last.
Some of my favorite passages that I highlighted in my Kindle*:
"I fought the urge to cry when I realized I didn’t even want to date me."
"You always hear of people having epiphanies. One morning they wake up and have a moment of clarity. I thought I was having one of my own. I’d been so focused on having someone to share my life, that it made me kind of pathetic. “Love me, love me, please pick me and complete my life.” I suddenly had a mental image of myself as a pooch in the pound barking and pawing at my cage door as prospective owners came looking."
"There’s no pretense, no smooth-sounding lines, just a woman honestly offering her heart and hoping that it will be taken by someone who’ll cherish it.”
*If you have a Kindle, you can go to kindle.amazon.com to keep track of all books and passages you have highlighted. Another neat feature I like (that remains anonymous, obviously) is that you can see what other people have highlighted on both the website and in your Kindle (if you have that feature turned on.)
Adorable, sweet, funny and very well-written, Pitifully Ugly captures amazingly well all the insecurities, fears and frazzled nerves that come with trying to connect with someone you really like.
I can't say enough good things about Robin Alexander's books. They're consistently pleasing and get what so much of lesfic does not: that true love, the kind that both pulls you in and lasts, is based on friendship first, romance second and physical intimacy last.
Some of my favorite passages that I highlighted in my Kindle*:
"I fought the urge to cry when I realized I didn’t even want to date me."
"You always hear of people having epiphanies. One morning they wake up and have a moment of clarity. I thought I was having one of my own. I’d been so focused on having someone to share my life, that it made me kind of pathetic. “Love me, love me, please pick me and complete my life.” I suddenly had a mental image of myself as a pooch in the pound barking and pawing at my cage door as prospective owners came looking."
"There’s no pretense, no smooth-sounding lines, just a woman honestly offering her heart and hoping that it will be taken by someone who’ll cherish it.”
*If you have a Kindle, you can go to kindle.amazon.com to keep track of all books and passages you have highlighted. Another neat feature I like (that remains anonymous, obviously) is that you can see what other people have highlighted on both the website and in your Kindle (if you have that feature turned on.)
October 19, 2015
2.5 stars. It would have been a solid 3 because it is a typical cute, fluffy getting together novel, but I had a few issues with it. One, the "hurdles" that kept getting in the way of the two main characters were a little too contrived. They were clearly intended to keep them apart for as long as possible, rather than tell a good story.
But my real issue with this book comes from a bit of false advertising. We've all come to accept, I think, that characters in stories will be described as good looking. This is particularly true for romantic stories. And while it sucks, it does seem to be the status quo. This book actually proposes that the main character is not a typical beauty. She describes herself as pitifully ugly, actually. While that's kind of an extreme description, it still led me to believe that the main character would, at the very least, be average looking. One of us, so to speak. Nope. She's sexy as hell, of course. This is a problem on a few levels. One, its that patriarchal oppression where even beautiful women constantly question what they look like because we are taught that we are only worth what we look like. And two, what the hell would be wrong with telling a romance story about average or "below average" (whatever that means) looking people? Can't we fall in love, too?
But my real issue with this book comes from a bit of false advertising. We've all come to accept, I think, that characters in stories will be described as good looking. This is particularly true for romantic stories. And while it sucks, it does seem to be the status quo. This book actually proposes that the main character is not a typical beauty. She describes herself as pitifully ugly, actually. While that's kind of an extreme description, it still led me to believe that the main character would, at the very least, be average looking. One of us, so to speak. Nope. She's sexy as hell, of course. This is a problem on a few levels. One, its that patriarchal oppression where even beautiful women constantly question what they look like because we are taught that we are only worth what we look like. And two, what the hell would be wrong with telling a romance story about average or "below average" (whatever that means) looking people? Can't we fall in love, too?
January 5, 2021
Laugh Out Loud funny!! Especially the beginning. I have no idea where RA gets he material but she keeps me Laughing! And the story just worked!
December 19, 2024
3.5⭐️. Super funny. I enjoyed the audio on this.
December 14, 2015
My first Robin Alexander book and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Totally loved Shannon - her sometimes hilarious, awkwardness and quirkiness. Her internal dialogues are seriously funny. Though the story is a little bit predictable, this is the kind of book that will keep putting a smile on your face. I'm definitely going to check out other works from the author.
May 21, 2020
Thank you Aamina for suggesting Robin Alexander. I picked this book after having gloomy feelings because of the deep impact of The Road Home. I loved this book, the story was so entertaining! It's so laughable dialogue. I totally love Shannon and Hailey. Both of them have a lot of fun when they were together. I looking forward to Robin Alexander's work!
December 29, 2017
Very bland and flat (didn’t find it funny like so many reviewers here), but there’s not enough lesbian fiction out there so I’m giving it 2 stars.
I felt like Hailey, the love interest, wasn’t her own distinct person. All I really know about her is that she has amazing curly hair and a dog. Had trouble even remembering her name to write this review & I only just finished the book tonight. How am I supposed to root for/like a love interest when they are just a shadow of a character?
The book is also guilty of telling instead of showing. We keep being told by Shannon (whose name I completely forgot and had to look up just now) that Hailey and her have this undeniable spark. Electric chemistry. But I need to see it, and never did with this couple. It didn’t feel real to me.
Too much miscommunication bullshit. I have less and less patience for this with each year that goes by, but this book really put me over the edge. There’s just way too much of it.
Lastly, it annoyed me that this book is called ‘Pitifully Ugly’, but the main character is actually gorgeous. Like, literally at one point another character says she looks like a model with all her makeup done up. Here I was thinking we’d at least get an average looking MC, but noooo. Even a book called ‘Pitifully Ugly’ had a gorgeous main character.
I felt like Hailey, the love interest, wasn’t her own distinct person. All I really know about her is that she has amazing curly hair and a dog. Had trouble even remembering her name to write this review & I only just finished the book tonight. How am I supposed to root for/like a love interest when they are just a shadow of a character?
The book is also guilty of telling instead of showing. We keep being told by Shannon (whose name I completely forgot and had to look up just now) that Hailey and her have this undeniable spark. Electric chemistry. But I need to see it, and never did with this couple. It didn’t feel real to me.
Too much miscommunication bullshit. I have less and less patience for this with each year that goes by, but this book really put me over the edge. There’s just way too much of it.
Lastly, it annoyed me that this book is called ‘Pitifully Ugly’, but the main character is actually gorgeous. Like, literally at one point another character says she looks like a model with all her makeup done up. Here I was thinking we’d at least get an average looking MC, but noooo. Even a book called ‘Pitifully Ugly’ had a gorgeous main character.
April 3, 2017
3.5 stars. There's some good humor in this book and it's an easy read. I would recommend reading it.
The reason for the 3.5 stars versus a higher rating is my personal taste. I really liked the protagonist, Shannon, but I didn't care too much for the love interest, Hailey, because she was hot and cold so much. I think the author was going for insecure/scared but, to me, she was also coming off as petulant bordering on immature when she'd get in her moods. It made me want to have Shannon run the other way.
The reason for the 3.5 stars versus a higher rating is my personal taste. I really liked the protagonist, Shannon, but I didn't care too much for the love interest, Hailey, because she was hot and cold so much. I think the author was going for insecure/scared but, to me, she was also coming off as petulant bordering on immature when she'd get in her moods. It made me want to have Shannon run the other way.
November 10, 2022
I can't help it. I'll yell it from the rooftops. I love Robin Alexander! Her writing has more humor than the law allows and characters you know, fall in love with and maybe see a little bit of yourself in. I like to review how a book makes me feel and this one leave me all warm and Fuzzy. (see what I did there? If you read the book you'll know) I recommend this and everything Robin writes.
June 25, 2017
Had me in stitcher's !
Fab read.
Fab read.
May 10, 2024
Shannon Brycen is all about the self-deprecating humor. So much so that she drunkenly creates an account on The Rainbow Room (a lesbian dating site) with the username Pitifully Ugly. Shannon was done with all the horrible blind dates her sister had been adamantly setting her up on and decided to take matters into her own hands. In her attempts to weed out the people just interested in hook-ups she managed to find a couple decent people. She also befriends the very cute new neighbor and her four-legged friend. But there are some secrets Shannon will have to unearth along her journey.
Some of her dates though… OMG! I have never laughed so hard at a sex scene before! Awkward and uncomfortable on so many levels. IYKYK! 🍆🤣💀 Robin Alexander writes laugh out loud stories, but they are also full of heart. The connection between Shannon and Hailey was palpable and I was rooting for them every step of the way - even through all their aggravating shenanigans and refusals to just be together already. The “will they/won’t they” is VERY strong in this story.
This book had THE BEST side character though. He has blonde hair, four legs, loves to play fetch, and his favorite movie is Grease. Fuzzy was the real matchmaker in this story and the most adorable sidekick you could ask for!
The big part of this story that I really disliked is the constant talk about Shannon needing to lose weight and be careful about what she eats. It was a HUGE focus in the beginning, and it got better as the story went on, but that whole rhetoric just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. And it was unnecessary for the plotline. I probably would have rated this higher if not for that.
Lori Prince, as always, did an excellent job bringing this story and these characters to life.
This was my second book by Robin Alexander. I absolutely LOVED The Trip, and although I enjoyed Pitifully Ugly and laughed quite a bit, it didn’t quite reach the same caliber. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Robin’s books though! She knows how to write humor really well!
Some of her dates though… OMG! I have never laughed so hard at a sex scene before! Awkward and uncomfortable on so many levels. IYKYK! 🍆🤣💀 Robin Alexander writes laugh out loud stories, but they are also full of heart. The connection between Shannon and Hailey was palpable and I was rooting for them every step of the way - even through all their aggravating shenanigans and refusals to just be together already. The “will they/won’t they” is VERY strong in this story.
This book had THE BEST side character though. He has blonde hair, four legs, loves to play fetch, and his favorite movie is Grease. Fuzzy was the real matchmaker in this story and the most adorable sidekick you could ask for!
The big part of this story that I really disliked is the constant talk about Shannon needing to lose weight and be careful about what she eats. It was a HUGE focus in the beginning, and it got better as the story went on, but that whole rhetoric just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. And it was unnecessary for the plotline. I probably would have rated this higher if not for that.
Lori Prince, as always, did an excellent job bringing this story and these characters to life.
This was my second book by Robin Alexander. I absolutely LOVED The Trip, and although I enjoyed Pitifully Ugly and laughed quite a bit, it didn’t quite reach the same caliber. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Robin’s books though! She knows how to write humor really well!
July 20, 2016
3.5stars. It is a good book, nothing wrong with 3 stars! When I first rated this book, I know I posted it months after I had read it. I still don't understand why I gave it 5 stars, because I remember not liking it as much as other 5 star Alexander books. I think as I seriously rank more books, I've become stricter on my ratings. This is one of the reasons I decided to re-read it. It has likable characters throughout but I think Hailey is the main weakness of this book. I understand her situation was the cause of her wavering but I had a hard time sympathizing with all of her actions.
June 26, 2020
Sweet. Hilarious. Enjoyable. Light. Quirky. Bizzare (that encounter with Alicia). Weren’t expecting all of that but that’s what I got when I reached the last page....
High 3+
High 3+
September 4, 2022
It felt real, with Shannon's disasters dates and Hailey's sense of guilt.
Some really hilarious scenes and some of the cutest and sweetest ones.
Fuzzy, the dog, is simply adorable!
Some really hilarious scenes and some of the cutest and sweetest ones.
Fuzzy, the dog, is simply adorable!
March 27, 2022
As always, a funny and delightful story by Robin Alexander. In addition, I have to mention the audiobook narrator Lori Prince because she gives the characters’ voices in such an endearing way. And quite honestly, the Alexander and Prince combination is just brilliant. I can’t get enough of it.
Behind “Pitifully Ugly” is Shannon Brycen, who uses that name as an online persona to meet queer women in her area. Her sister Kalen has been trying to set her up for years and keeps sending her on blind dates. But most of them didn’t end well. Since she spends most of her time at home in front of the computer as an accountant for the stores she and Kalen own, she rarely leaves her apartment to meet people. And this is where “Pitifully Ugly” comes in. One day, she summons all her courage and creates an online dating profile for herself.
Meanwhile, a new resident, Hailey, moves in below her flat, with a dog called Fuzzy in tow. As it happens, the woman captivates Shannon. But her shyness prevents her from getting to know Hailey better, so Shannon often flees when she meets her to avoid an awkward conversation.
But that’s precisely what she’s known for, constantly jumping from one embarrassing situation to the next. One particular example is a hilarious encounter between her and Alicia that eventually degenerates. I had tears in my eyes because it was so hysterically funny.
As usual with Robin Alexander’s books, the characters are totally quirky but equally endearing. The dialogue drips with sarcasm and charm, and you can’t get enough of it.
However, the story dragged on a bit at the end until you get to the all-too-familiar happy ending. Nevertheless, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys unbridled humour as much as I do.
~~~
Read more reviews on my blog WordsAndFiction.
Behind “Pitifully Ugly” is Shannon Brycen, who uses that name as an online persona to meet queer women in her area. Her sister Kalen has been trying to set her up for years and keeps sending her on blind dates. But most of them didn’t end well. Since she spends most of her time at home in front of the computer as an accountant for the stores she and Kalen own, she rarely leaves her apartment to meet people. And this is where “Pitifully Ugly” comes in. One day, she summons all her courage and creates an online dating profile for herself.
Meanwhile, a new resident, Hailey, moves in below her flat, with a dog called Fuzzy in tow. As it happens, the woman captivates Shannon. But her shyness prevents her from getting to know Hailey better, so Shannon often flees when she meets her to avoid an awkward conversation.
But that’s precisely what she’s known for, constantly jumping from one embarrassing situation to the next. One particular example is a hilarious encounter between her and Alicia that eventually degenerates. I had tears in my eyes because it was so hysterically funny.
As usual with Robin Alexander’s books, the characters are totally quirky but equally endearing. The dialogue drips with sarcasm and charm, and you can’t get enough of it.
However, the story dragged on a bit at the end until you get to the all-too-familiar happy ending. Nevertheless, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys unbridled humour as much as I do.
~~~
Read more reviews on my blog WordsAndFiction.
January 3, 2019
This was great! 4 stars! As mentioned, I laughed throughout the book at the MC's (Shannon) self-deprecating humour, and had such a soft spot for her. The vibrator incident, the tossed cell phone, the goose attack, the conference speech.....so hilarious. Shannon is fed up with being set up with less-than-ideal dates, and goes online to find someone to share her simple life with. I really warmed to her....her awkwardness, her quietness, yet she had a spark waiting to ignite. I loved the banter between all the characters, Shannon and her sister, with her mom, and of course, with Hailey.
Now, I still liked Hailey, even after we find more about her past. She does appear truly pained by her actions, and I did feel for her situation and how much she lost. This was somewhat gut wrenching, and I do believe people deserve second chances. But her constant lack of communication with Shannon when say, a serious text message was received and she'd disappear in a wave of assumptions, got annoying. Shannon appeared to try more than Hailey to be clear. I find that whole formula irritating: of situations that could be hugely avoided if they would just talk to one another. We are women! WE COMMUNICATE!
But that bit of annoyance aside, this was great fun. And the sex was great. GREAT. New Robin Alexander fan fo' reals.
Now, I still liked Hailey, even after we find more about her past. She does appear truly pained by her actions, and I did feel for her situation and how much she lost. This was somewhat gut wrenching, and I do believe people deserve second chances. But her constant lack of communication with Shannon when say, a serious text message was received and she'd disappear in a wave of assumptions, got annoying. Shannon appeared to try more than Hailey to be clear. I find that whole formula irritating: of situations that could be hugely avoided if they would just talk to one another. We are women! WE COMMUNICATE!
But that bit of annoyance aside, this was great fun. And the sex was great. GREAT. New Robin Alexander fan fo' reals.
January 14, 2023
Shannon Brycen is looking for love and a connection. When each date turns out to be equal parts hilarious and horrendous, she decides to create an online dating profile soon after she meets an intriguing prospect both online and nearby.
Pitifully Ugly is a romantic comedy told from Shannon's POV. It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance with only one POV, which was refreshing, especially since Shannon goes on a handful of dates while getting to know one of her building's new tenants. I especially liked the first plot point twist. And I don’t want to give too much away, by mentioning more than that. My only criticism was the number of false starts to the relationship between the two love interests. After the first few, I was just ready for them to kiss or something.
All in all, this book gave me laughs and feels. If you’re looking for a funny, cute quick read with a few steamy scenes, then Pitifully Ugly is perfect for you.
Genre(s): Romantic comedy
Tropes: online dating, horrible dates, friends to lovers, femme/femme, will they won’t they
Overall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Characters: 5/5
Prose: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Pitifully Ugly is a romantic comedy told from Shannon's POV. It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance with only one POV, which was refreshing, especially since Shannon goes on a handful of dates while getting to know one of her building's new tenants. I especially liked the first plot point twist. And I don’t want to give too much away, by mentioning more than that. My only criticism was the number of false starts to the relationship between the two love interests. After the first few, I was just ready for them to kiss or something.
All in all, this book gave me laughs and feels. If you’re looking for a funny, cute quick read with a few steamy scenes, then Pitifully Ugly is perfect for you.
Genre(s): Romantic comedy
Tropes: online dating, horrible dates, friends to lovers, femme/femme, will they won’t they
Overall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Characters: 5/5
Prose: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
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