TAKE IT FROM ME!

by Jamie Beck

A humorous and heartwarming novel about friendship and all its little secrets by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.Wendy Moore hides her collection of pilfered bric-a-brac from everyone, including her husband. He thinks she licked her kleptomania in therapy more than a decade ago. Therapy did help, as did focusing her attention on motherhood. But now Wendy’s gardening and furniture-refinishing hobbies fill up only so much of the day, leaving the recent empty nester lonely and anxious—a combination likely to trigger her little problem. She needs a project, fast. Luckily, Harper Ross—a single, childless younger woman in desperate need of highlights—just moved in next door.The only thing Harper wants to change is the writer’s block toppling her confidence and career. Then a muse comes knocking. Sensing fodder for a new antagonist, Harper plays along with Wendy’s “helpful” advice while keeping her career a secret so Wendy keeps talking. Sure, she’s torn about profiting off her neighbor’s goodwill—especially when Wendy’s matchmaking actually pans out—but Harper’s novel is practically writing itself.Just as a real friendship begins to cement, their deceptions come to light, threatening Wendy’s and Harper’s futures and forcing them to reconcile who they are with who they want to be. Easier said than done.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Writing

Hardcover

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

Jamie Beck is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 18 novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. She is a two-time Booksellers' Best Award finalist, a Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR award finalist, a National Readers' Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work "smart," "uplifting," and "entertaining." In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

Fans can learn more about her on the web (www.jamiebeck.com). She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks) and Instagram (@writerjamiebeck).

My newsletter subscribers get monthly fun tips, a chance to win a reader gift box, and other exclusive content. Sign up now! https://bit.ly/JBeckNewsletter. For updates on discounts and new releases, follow me on BookBub at http://bit.ly/2GBcLM3. NO SPAM--EVER.

Reviews

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Take It from Me" by Jamie Beck is a Contemporary Fiction story!

Two women with very different lifestyles and perspectives about life, form an unlikely friendship when Harper moves into Wendy's neighborhood. Each woman is hiding a secret and both have a reason for forming a bond with the other. Can their friendship, one that's based on deception and secrets, continue to flourish and grow?

I had trouble relating to this story within the first 20% of the book. The chapters are lengthy and I have a tendency to zone out when the chapters are long-winded. I didn't connect with or relate to the main characters, finding both of them to be over-the-top characterizations. The humor and the socially relevant topics were good but neither was enough to hold the story together for me.

When I read a book, I look for creativity and that 'something different' in a story that I can wrap my arms around. I want to get excited and be entertained when I read and I didn't feel any of this when reading this story.

This author has a loyal following of readers who love her writing style and storytelling. I don't believe I'm that audience based on my experience with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, and Jamie Beck for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to whomever started the GoodReads Giveaway program, and may it never end. I won the Kindle book Take It From Me and thoroughly enjoyed it. Of note: I read along with the audiobook, and I do not believe my opinion would be different. What is different when I read along is I'm able to finish a book faster. (The audio plays while I get a cup of coffee, etc.).

Where to start, I border on loving this. Beck writes beautifully different heavy perspectives. One person has a mental illness, not typical; and I liked that Beck stayed true and simple to the disease, and I love how she handled a familial meeting. I could go on and on, but no spoilers and the book is meant to touch each reader. The other person (Note the cover.) has her own issues, diseased? I don't know, however, I could emotionally relate. There is a dinner that made me personally reflect. The character went, I did not. There is also a friends angle. Who goes with who? How do we react as individuals? Is your disease more embarrassing than mine? There are just so many things to think about.

Beck has a gift that affords her a career. I am giving this 4.5 stars, but not rounding up. Beck wrote a beautiful book and cheapened her own work with senseless obligatory profanity.

If I didn't have more books than humanly possible to read, I would reread this. I liked the reactions, and now think what a world if we would just accept being kind is not costly.

#37/500 Read What I Own challenge

[ladybreww · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows a woman like Wendy - uptight, more than a little obsessive compulsive, the image of perfection. And a lot of us have a little bit of Harper inside us - sarcastic, fed up with the patriarchy, and content in a messy bun and sweats.

Take it From Me has the perfect balance of feel-good moments and serious heartfelt discourse as it swaps between dual POVs:

Cue Wendy- the nosy empty nester with sticky fingers who isn’t necessarily happy in her stagnant life and marriage.

Now comes Harper, a young 30s-ish New York City author who sold her swanky Soho condo to move to the burbs for inspiration after her last novel epically failed. Little did she know she’d find inspiration in her tight-lipped and conventional neighbor.

This is a story of an unlikely friendship between two women who couldn’t be more different. Both women learn to be honest about their deeply seeded flaws (and I mean REALLY deeply seeded) as they navigate their new relationship and challenge each other to be better.

It was refreshing to read contemporary fiction about friendship between two women with less focus on romance (not to worry- the book does contain marriage, commitment, and sex).

At times I found Harper to be very bitter - she was insufferable during her first date with Nate. However this trait was critical for the development of her character - so it ended up working for me.

The book contained several heavy topics and strong character development. Check triggers (mental health, impulse control disorder).

Take it From Me is an 💓adorable💓 comfort read with an ending that isn’t 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 wrapped up in a pretty pink bow. I could easily see this adapted into a movie with Diane Keaton.

👏🏼👏🏼𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers looking for a mix of lighthearted and cute with deeper emotional and intellectual themes.

Big thanks @booksparks and @writerjamiebeck for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💓

#books #bookreview #bookish #booktok #readersofinstagram #bookworm #cutereads #readmorebooks #bookstagram #contemporaryfiction #bookclub #ladiesbooks #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #tbr #bookaholic #coloradobookclub

["Avonna]

DNF. I just did not empathize with either character and so it dragged. I do not rate books that I do not finish.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: TAKE IT FROM ME
AUTHOR: Jamie Beck
PUB DATE: 09.20.22 Now Available

A friendship based on lies
A woman with kleptomania
Another salvaging a writing career

Jamie Beck writes an engaging and at times laugh out loud funny situations about these women whose friendship begins inconspicuously. The alternating point of views and internal monologues of these women were a delight to read, as we discover more and more about themselves and what they are hiding.

For a heartwarming and entertaining read that is well written about friendships and foibles, the costs of secrets and lies, this is a fantastic read I am so glad to have read.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A women's fiction story about an older woman with writer's block and the neighbor she befriends and uses as inspiration for her next novel. I loved the kleptomania/mental health focus of this story but felt it dragged a bit. The cover gave me ALL the Fall vibes I wanted and it was good on audio too narrated by Ann Richardson and Angela Dawe.

[Lori Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, two secrets. Wendy is dealing with empty nest syndrome, which brings other issues to a forefront. Harper, a millennial writer, is dealing with issues of her own. Harper moves next door to Wendy and an unlikely friendship forms.

Ms. Beck did a wonderful job on character development. As annoying as I found Wendy at times, I could relate to her trying to find her way as she faces her son leaving for college. Not to mention, the changing dynamics of her and her husband. Behavior that she has hidden for so long, start reeling it’s ugly head. Harper thinks she has everything figured out and needs no one, until she learns to face her fear head on. Neighbors becoming unlikely friends, but definitely not without major growing pains. Different storyline that will keep you reading. Easy read, flows well. This book will tug at your heartstrings, and make you smile. Loved the friendship that developed between Wendy and Harper.

Thanks to Ms. Beck, Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of a book club. I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction, so this was a new to me author. The book is well written. However I was not sure what to think in the beginning. The two main protagonist are so different, I couldn’t see how a relationship could evolve. The unlikely duo do form a friendship despite their differences and the secrets they keep from one another. Their relationship allows both characters to have personal growth within themselves and their family lives.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

[*Holly*{The Nerdy Librarian} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of Take It from Me by Jamie Beck. Wendy, bless her heart, is trying to keep everything in her life in order, that's hard to do when you are secretly a kleptomaniac. Enter Harper, an author struggling with writer's block and recovering from a professional and personal blow. She has moved to town in hopes of finding inspiration for her next book. She befriends Wendy to gather intel for the main character of her book. As Wendy and Harper's friendship grows they find it more and more difficult to hide their secrets. Can their friendship survive the revelation of their dark sides? This was a good read. I didn't relate to Harper, the staunch feminist at all, but grew to like her. I felt for Wendy and her struggles. All in all a solid 4 stars from me.

[Ayushi (Sorcery of Chapters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for proving this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The author is new to me so I entered this book without knowing anything about the writing style but luckily this was a great find! I loved the story and the beautiful writing. The narration and story-telling were spot on. The characters were so vividly described and especially Harper who, for me, came alive in the pages. I could relate to her in more ways than one. Wendy was very well thought out and I loved reading about her challenges too. Overall, this was a gripping tale, although it could be paced a bit faster in my opinion but nonetheless, I loved it and will be sure to read more from the author. Definitely recommend it.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Jamie's books, and this one is no exception. This story is about friendship, breaking molds, and moving forward in one's life.

Wendy is out of sorts because her good friend and neighbor has moved away, her son has gone off to college, and something is going on with her husband. All of these can be stressors in our lives, and it is a double-edged sword for Wendy because she also has an impulse control issue - kleptomania. I don't know much about this disorder personally, but the author does a good job explaining it and sharing how it is a mental health issue. Mental Health issues run rampant in our world today, so bringing one to light helped me understand a little bit more about it so I would be prepared if I encountered it in my world.

Harper is a writer that had a successful debut novel, but her second novel was a flop. She moves to this small town for inspiration for her new novel, and she finds it in spades. But at what cost? Harper is a very jaded woman, and while I understand where she is coming from, she tends to push her ideas and thoughts onto others without considering, listening to, or understanding their position. 

This story is told from both points of view, and it was interesting to see how each viewed certain situations. Both are right and wrong at different times, and as the story progresses, we see them slowly start to change and adapt to their new lives or at least be more open to different viewpoints. It is an unlikely friendship, but it works.

It did take me a little while to get into the story, perhaps about 15-20%, but then I felt the story really moved along, and I became more invested in the characters. I enjoyed watching them realize their flaws and foibles and move past them, or at least acknowledge them.

We give this book 4 paws up.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a feel good story about female friendships! I usually read thrillers and this is not a thriller. I was fascinated with one of the main characters struggling with kleptomania! I always love when an author is a main character as well!

[Phyllis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this because from the title and the premise, and even the cover, it sounded like my kind of novel. Sadly enough, after reading over 50% I gave myself permission to stop. Both main characters were unlikable, the story took a L.O.N.G. time to get going, and I just didn’t care what happened. I kept hoping it would get better but after 171 pages, I had to move on.

[Elize van Heerden · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of, thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book, I will most definitely get a physical copy of this one (assuming it will be available in South Africa) Now for the fun part...
I flew through this book, the writing was beautiful and had me hooked, the two main characters really worked well together, I loved how both Wendy and Harper had their flaws and had a qualities I could relate to. I also really appreciated that the author handled Wendy's mental illness really well and it didn't feel like something she just pushed into the plot to make Wendy interesting. Definitely will lookup other books by Jamie Beck in the future

[Sarita Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be a good read. I say that because for some reason I had trouble connecting with the two main characters. I just wanted to yell at them. That said despite that, overall I did enjoy the book.


It’s very hard to talk about mental illness and keep a reader engaged with the storyline, but it was done with this read.

What a heavy topic to talk about and I love how true friends are formed at the end. Even after everything is out in the open.

[Judy Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing story! There is nothing that I can write in a review about this book that will give justice it deserves. This is the first book in a long time that I read in one day. I could not put it down, and thankfully I could put off other activities.

This book is told in two voices, which is the perfect way for the story to unfold. The reader learns so much about each of these characters by knowing their true feelings as opposed to how they present themselves to others. The characters are developed so skillfully. My feelings toward them kept changing all the time, as I got to know them better.

This is a deeply moving story that had my emotions all over the place. It’s about ambition, and what it costs sometimes to achieve goals. That the kindness of others can be seen as a weakness and be abused. How true love and devotion can be an enormous blessing. How transformation can happen if the person truly wants it and will do the work to change, and that conversion will flow like a river to other people and make a difference in their lives also. Also, it is about friendship and growth as a person and sometimes that can be complicated and messy.

It seems that each book I read from this author, that she gets better and better. Each story is unique, with very different characters created. She is truly a master of storytelling. I look forward to her future books.

I want to thank Montlake and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

[Emily Sandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok - I was fully intending to only give this book 2 stars .. until the end. I don’t relate well to the main staunch feminist character … her constant arguing and complaining about what seems like everything, gets a bit whiny to me. However, about 3/4 of the way into the book, I started to see her finally open up and see her life, relationships & situations from other perspectives. I don’t like the “world is out to get me and my life isn’t fair” attitudes. So it’s hard to read a novel where that’s the main POV. But- in the end she grew and was able to see & not shut out other viewpoints & and even opened herself up to love and future possibilities. I would recommend reading this book as it does display great hope for friendships, love, forgiveness and even dealing with mental illness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake publisher for the ARC of this book!

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found both main characters extremely unlikeable. Wendy is grasping, desperate, and lonely, and it’s of her own making because she refuses to properly deal with her problem. Harper is calculating, fake, and crude, the way she sets out with the full intent to use people and throw them away. Yes, there is a degree of character development for both by the end of the book, but it was like slogging through mud to get there. The big reveal of all the lies is when things finally get interesting, but that’s somewhere around 80% in, and getting there is a long, slow, road. In the end, I never cared about either character. I really only finished the book as one watches reality tv- to see the train wreck unfold.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of Jamie Beck's books before, primarily being pleasant romance novels, and thus expected this book to be the same. I was very wrong.

Take It From Me is a delightful story about the growth of two women, befriending each other whilst both hiding secrets. The narrator changes each chapter, giving the reader a view on each characters' secrets and their opinion about the other character.

Both characters underwent pain and growth, moments of friendship and learning experiences.

I really enjoyed this book.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take it From Me is a compelling novel about two women who become friends—but can it really be friendship if it’s based on lies? Both women are hiding secrets: Wendy is a new empty-nester with a flailing marriage and a compulsive disorder; Harper is a novelist who is trying to salvage her career, possibly at Wendy’s expense. There are many layers to these women and their stories, and both have to come clean about their lies, as well as making peace with their pasts—but there is so much at stake.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

They Say To 'Write What You Know'... In this tale, Beck does an excellent job showing a middle aged mother struggling with empty nest syndrome (though this term is never really used in the book) and a new neighbor who is secretly a very feminist-forward progressive who also happens to be a struggling author in hiding. Beck is, herself, a middle aged mother whose children have left the nest and an established author who changed genres just a few years ago from romance to women's fiction. As someone who has previously reviewed her books before and after that shift, she has proven herself to be an equally strong storyteller in either space. Here she manages to wrap different aspects of her own (publicly discussed) life into a compelling tale that also shows some other clear real-world correlations, with other recent books from Amazon Publishing - including at least The Magic Of Found Objects by Maddie Dawson and Other People's Things by Kerry Anne King - also spinning their own tales around the common theme of 'humanizing' kleptomania. Beck weaves her own tale here and shows both common aspects (shame, fear of being misunderstood, etc) across the other books as well as her own distinct aspects (how it can impact a long term marriage, young adult children, etc) and again, shows her own skill as a storyteller in the process. As a long time reader of both Beck and Amazon Publishing in general, this was thus quite intriguing in many ways - though even someone who doesn't have that experience will find a well written, compelling tale here. Truly an excellent work, and an solid representation of Beck's style for any readers who may be new to her work. Very much recommended.

*Note: To be clear, I am not claiming that *every* aspect of these characters is inspired by the author's real life. Only that the broadest outlines - middle aged mother whose kids have left home and an author who has direct insight into the "real world" of publishing - echo what Beck has herself publicly discussed being.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, can I admit that this was my first Jamie Beck book? I have been aware of her as a good author for a while, but you know what it's like with tbrs being the size of houses and never getting round to reading.
What I can say is that it definitely won't be my last!
Harper is an author at a low point in her career who moves to a small suburb outside of the city to gain fresh inspiration and perspective, in the hope that the next book she writes will be more favourably received than her last. She's up against it since the last one tanked and fears losing everything she has worked for, including her home. This move could be her saving grace.
Wendy is a middle-aged empty-nester who finds herself drawn to the new young neighbour in a way she can't quite explain. Harper tests her own beliefs and thoughts, and she imparts her own words of wisdom to this young woman who doesn't seem to have an anchor to keep her grounded for long.
But both women are hiding their own secrets that threaten to put an end to this fledgeling relationship. One, is rooted in a mental health issue that she has been trying hard to fight, and hide for years. The other finds she is developing more and more feelings for a place and its people when she should be using them and it as a base for her career, not for her life.
Beck has created two fantastic characters in Wendy and Harper, and also, with it, she has touched upon mental health and work-related dilemmas in an extremely sensitive way.
Light-hearted, but not something to laugh at.
It certainly puts a new spin on that thought that you should be careful what you say in front of a writer, or you could end up in their next book!
Really enjoyed it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie’s newest bestseller can be described as a very current book about the dynamics and relationships between friends, husbands and family. The story mainly centers around two women Wendy a conventional empty nester who struggles with a mental illness and Harper a feminist and struggling author. Each come from different generations and hold beliefs unique to them. Harper and Wendy seek each other out and learn valuable lessons from one another.Secrets, betrayal, preconceived notions and differing personalities allow the reader to gain perspective on how even if we don’t see eye to eye we can still develop a friendship and open one another’s eyes to viewpoints and lifestyles that don’t mimic ours. In addition the way the storyline is woven in navigating their different perspectives of life they begin to see the faults each brought to their friendship. Can it be repairable? Marital relationships are tested as well. The patriarchy, gender inequity as well as unfair assumptions placed on women is also a theme throughout. The growth of these women by books end and how they will navigate stigma’s lends for a present day read. Add in betrayals and secrets and you’ve got a great story. The ending left me feeling satisfied. A great story with strong female characters. Thank you Jamie.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about two women who are both struggling. Gwen is a helicopter mother now struggling with an empty nest and a mental illness issue That's been triggered again by the stress. Harper, Gwen's new neighbor, is an author looking for inspiration among suburbia after a second book that bombed. The well put together Gwen and the sometimes slovenly Harper may seem like an unlikely match for friendship, but they sense something in each other that bridges the differences and fills an emptiness in each.

Friendships built on lies never last and when the women's secrets are outed, all they can do is evaluate the broken pieces and try to appreciate what they learned as they try to move on.

This book had a bit of a slow start, but the lessons in friendship, family, love and forgiveness are valuable gifts given to the reader. Don't give up on it. It's so rewarding in the end.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was my first Jamie Beck book, it certainly won’t be my last. This story follows Wendy and Harper, two next door neighbors, both harboring a secret, that become friends. I was hooked from the start! Both women are very layered, with vulnerabilities and strengths that are truly relatable, which ultimately added to their dual point of view. I was deeply invested in the thoughtful portrayal of mental illness and the daily struggles that come along with it. There is so much to love about this book, from the growth in the characters to the complicated family dynamics. Tied in with the themes of friendship, courage ,and perseverance, I was invested in Wendy and Harper until the end!

4.23 stars

Grab your copy out 9/20!

Thank you @netgalley and Montlake for the arc

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggling with my feelings about this one. I found myself unable to connect with either of the main characters, and couldn't decide why that was, until I read something today that explained it: "second-hand embarrassment is the single most powerful and weakening emotion one can feel from media."

This book was all about hiding things from others for fear of being embarrassed or humiliated, and it was hard to watch these women go through what they were putting themselves through. I did appreciate the growth and honest resolution they experienced, and found the last third of the book to be very satisfying.

Mental illness is no laughing matter, and Beck treated it well (which is probably part of why I was so uncomfortable). A change to read about something that wasn't depression.

[Barbara Waloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about two neighbors who both have secrets. One neighbor is writing a book about two neighbors with secrets (I thought that was pretty funny). The book is about friends and family and growing within or because of both. It’s about seeing things from another persons point of view and how that’s not always easy. It is about secrets too, and the problems caused by keeping those secrets. Love the characters and the story was great.

[Sarah Zschunke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t give many 4s these days, but I was happy to throw one for this. Probably more of a 3.75. Better and cuter than most books I’ve read lately. I’m a sap for a friendship book. Also love when people learn to see different perspectives.

Last line with the dedication made me smile. I hope they become good friends again, and I hate but also like that the author didn’t tie it up with a bow with them being besties.

[Martina Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprisingly good!

I was surprised how much enjoyed this book - I hadn’t expected much from a free kindle unlimited read ,but found some believable conflicts, likable characters and a few pearls of wisdom .

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy easy read on Audible while I cleaned my place.