What do you think?
Rate this book
A Perfect Romance
Love at first sight. How perfectly romantic!
When Dana meets Ellen she’s not entirely honest because she doesn’t want to look foolish. If she explained that she’s wingman to her BFF Trudy, who is trying to pick up men at an AA meeting, then Ellen would quite reasonably want to back away, slowly.
The only way to see Ellen again is to keep going to the meetings and try really hard not to dig herself a deeper hole. But on the day Dana was born the good Lord was handing out shovels and whichever idiot said the course of true love was easy, well, they flat-out lied.
If love wasn’t funny there’d be no way we’d survive it. Join Goldie winner Layce Gardner for A Perfect Romance.
When Dana meets Ellen she’s not entirely honest because she doesn’t want to look foolish. If she explained that she’s wingman to her BFF Trudy, who is trying to pick up men at an AA meeting, then Ellen would quite reasonably want to back away, slowly.
The only way to see Ellen again is to keep going to the meetings and try really hard not to dig herself a deeper hole. But on the day Dana was born the good Lord was handing out shovels and whichever idiot said the course of true love was easy, well, they flat-out lied.
If love wasn’t funny there’d be no way we’d survive it. Join Goldie winner Layce Gardner for A Perfect Romance.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2013
16 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Layce Gardner
43 books127 followersLayce Gardner is a screenwriter, a novelist, and a playwright. Her plays have been performed around the world and she is the recipient of The Los Angeles Drama Logue Award for Best Play. She has written screenplays for every major television network and her movie “Prison of Secrets” was Lifetime’s highest rated movie. She is the Goldie award-winning author of the novel, Tats. She has written over forty books and is one half of the best-selling comedic duo, Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennett.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 12, 2020
Not my favourite, overly hyperbolic. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this one. Other books by Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennet are more worth the time.
I found myself wishing for more depth from the characters instead of jokes all the time. There were some insightful moments and lines, but then quickly glossed over in lieu of more whacky antics. Which disappointed me. So we never got any real heart.
I liked that the mc, Dana was insecure and not some skinny babe. She had weight issues and food issues all tied into emotional and Mommy issues, so boy could I relate!
She also went for the wrong type of women and got taken advantage of and allowed herself to be, which again I related to.
But ultimately it seemed like she never really grew or addressed her issues. I didn't care for her treatment of several exes who had serious issues that were treated flippantly.
Even her relationship with Ellen starts on lies and is muddied with cheating, so I didn't feel good about the pairing.
Didn't deserve a 2 but 3 almost seems generous. 2.5?.
I found myself wishing for more depth from the characters instead of jokes all the time. There were some insightful moments and lines, but then quickly glossed over in lieu of more whacky antics. Which disappointed me. So we never got any real heart.
I liked that the mc, Dana was insecure and not some skinny babe. She had weight issues and food issues all tied into emotional and Mommy issues, so boy could I relate!
She also went for the wrong type of women and got taken advantage of and allowed herself to be, which again I related to.
But ultimately it seemed like she never really grew or addressed her issues. I didn't care for her treatment of several exes who had serious issues that were treated flippantly.
Even her relationship with Ellen starts on lies and is muddied with cheating, so I didn't feel good about the pairing.
Didn't deserve a 2 but 3 almost seems generous. 2.5?.
October 23, 2017
I couldn’t stop laughing!
I have not enough words to describe this book, to do justice to the story. It has so many hilarious moments that I would like to share with everyone but that is impossible for me to do. I can easily say, it was an absolute joy to read and I couldn't stop laughing. Just buy it and judge for yourself.
I have not enough words to describe this book, to do justice to the story. It has so many hilarious moments that I would like to share with everyone but that is impossible for me to do. I can easily say, it was an absolute joy to read and I couldn't stop laughing. Just buy it and judge for yourself.
December 15, 2013
Dana Dooley falls in love while attending an AA meeting with her BFF Trudy (makeup artist in a funeral parlour) - who is hunting for sober men. Unable to bare losing contact with her new love object, Ellen, Dana claims to be an alcoholic whose father died when stuck up the chimney doing his Father Christmas act.
Unfortunately both Dana and Ellen have a girlfriend and do their best to resist the pull. But both feel their girlfriend is cheating on them, frequently absent and acting suspiciously. Dana tries to find evidence of her girlfriend Kimmy’s infidelity but without success
In a completely dysfunctional family setting we learn of Dana’s multiple U-Haul girlfriends called Lisa, her taxidermist Gran and her bigfoot brother the Mayor. Meanwhile the relationship with Ellen grows, without going anywhere as neither can bare to finish with their respective GFs without proof they are being wronged.
The twist in the tale humorously appears as Dana catches Ellen having sex with Kimmy – who is, of course, both of their girlfriends. And the plot thickens…
-------------------------------------
Layce Gardner clearly has a wicked sense of humour and a dry sarcastic wit. Many of us will recognize parts of ourselves in Dana’s emotional neediness and fat girl insecurities:
“Dana didn’t have a full length mirror in her house because she wasn’t masochistic enough to want to see all of herself at the same time”
They characters are funny, zany and frequently daft. Despite making the Adam’s family look normal many are easy to relate to and empathise with – such as gran MawMaw’s despair when Dana uses her best spatula to clean bikini wax globs off the bathroom floor (enough said).
The plot is both simplistic – girl meets girl, falls in love, wants to dump current girl and consummate with the new one – and frighteningly complex at the same time. Every single character has found a way to make their lives as difficult as possible with failed relationships, alcoholism, mad career choices and lifelong character defects.
But while the first three-quarters of the book made me chuckle at the witty comedy of errors, the self-depreciating stream of consciousness, the silly but oh so typical lesbian romances, and the mad family dynamics, the last quarter lost me completely. The plot becomes increasingly bizarre and goes from being a daft but enjoyable romance to a hyper-active fantasy. The characters actions and behaviors are “in-character" but only if those characters are taken to an extreme beyond reality.
I was really enjoying the story and the characters before the plot became so outlandish, but the ‘National Enquirer’ type ending didn’t work for me and left me regretting a more normal denouement.
Unfortunately both Dana and Ellen have a girlfriend and do their best to resist the pull. But both feel their girlfriend is cheating on them, frequently absent and acting suspiciously. Dana tries to find evidence of her girlfriend Kimmy’s infidelity but without success
In a completely dysfunctional family setting we learn of Dana’s multiple U-Haul girlfriends called Lisa, her taxidermist Gran and her bigfoot brother the Mayor. Meanwhile the relationship with Ellen grows, without going anywhere as neither can bare to finish with their respective GFs without proof they are being wronged.
The twist in the tale humorously appears as Dana catches Ellen having sex with Kimmy – who is, of course, both of their girlfriends. And the plot thickens…
-------------------------------------
Layce Gardner clearly has a wicked sense of humour and a dry sarcastic wit. Many of us will recognize parts of ourselves in Dana’s emotional neediness and fat girl insecurities:
“Dana didn’t have a full length mirror in her house because she wasn’t masochistic enough to want to see all of herself at the same time”
They characters are funny, zany and frequently daft. Despite making the Adam’s family look normal many are easy to relate to and empathise with – such as gran MawMaw’s despair when Dana uses her best spatula to clean bikini wax globs off the bathroom floor (enough said).
The plot is both simplistic – girl meets girl, falls in love, wants to dump current girl and consummate with the new one – and frighteningly complex at the same time. Every single character has found a way to make their lives as difficult as possible with failed relationships, alcoholism, mad career choices and lifelong character defects.
But while the first three-quarters of the book made me chuckle at the witty comedy of errors, the self-depreciating stream of consciousness, the silly but oh so typical lesbian romances, and the mad family dynamics, the last quarter lost me completely. The plot becomes increasingly bizarre and goes from being a daft but enjoyable romance to a hyper-active fantasy. The characters actions and behaviors are “in-character" but only if those characters are taken to an extreme beyond reality.
I was really enjoying the story and the characters before the plot became so outlandish, but the ‘National Enquirer’ type ending didn’t work for me and left me regretting a more normal denouement.
May 19, 2013
Dana Dooley has just met the perfect woman. It really is love at first sight. There is just one tiny problem, well two or three really, Dana already has a girlfriend, so does Ellen the woman she’s just met. Plus there is the fact that she met Ellen at an AA meeting, when she accompanied her best friend Trudy there in her quest to find some new men to date. Somehow, Dana doesn’t think Ellen will understand her questionable motives for being in an AA meeting if she comes clean. However, Dana knows the only way she can keep on seeing Ellen is by attending the meetings and pretending to be an alcoholic.
Unfortunately, Dana is getting in much deeper than she thinks. Surely there must be an easier way to see Ellen than this? Then of course, there is another problem to face up to. If Dana does manage to admit her deceit and win Ellen over, what about their girlfriends?
If anyone thinks this book is a straight forward, run of the mill romance, they would be wrong. Yes, there is a romance, but it’s a rollercoaster ride of side splitting, gut wrenching laughter right the way through. Plus there is a deliciously hilarious twist that I really didn’t see coming.
The main characters are both multidimensional and interact well with the lesser characters. Dana and Ellen are very different, which often makes for a good relationship. The only way I can describe Dana, is a loveable, slightly nutty, screwball. Which is hardly surprising when you get to meet her family. Ellen is the more staid of the two, although she has her moments.
I like the way Layce Gardner seamlessly put this book together. Dana herself is writing a book and there are snippets of her true story throughout. It’s very cleverly crafted and it all blends in very well and is easy to follow.
This is a book I would pick up to read again if I was in need of cheering up. It would certainly uplift my spirits with a laugh on almost every page.
Unfortunately, Dana is getting in much deeper than she thinks. Surely there must be an easier way to see Ellen than this? Then of course, there is another problem to face up to. If Dana does manage to admit her deceit and win Ellen over, what about their girlfriends?
If anyone thinks this book is a straight forward, run of the mill romance, they would be wrong. Yes, there is a romance, but it’s a rollercoaster ride of side splitting, gut wrenching laughter right the way through. Plus there is a deliciously hilarious twist that I really didn’t see coming.
The main characters are both multidimensional and interact well with the lesser characters. Dana and Ellen are very different, which often makes for a good relationship. The only way I can describe Dana, is a loveable, slightly nutty, screwball. Which is hardly surprising when you get to meet her family. Ellen is the more staid of the two, although she has her moments.
I like the way Layce Gardner seamlessly put this book together. Dana herself is writing a book and there are snippets of her true story throughout. It’s very cleverly crafted and it all blends in very well and is easy to follow.
This is a book I would pick up to read again if I was in need of cheering up. It would certainly uplift my spirits with a laugh on almost every page.
June 28, 2013
I did laugh out loud a few times, but in general this wasn't my type of book. It became almost a farce of itself. I almost stopped reading with only about a quarter of the book left. I will say it wasn't your typical girl meets girl falls in love- issue arises (lots of twists and issues arises) and love prevails.
May 23, 2013
Caution don't read this book while eating or drinking anything or you will wind up with liquid coming out of your nose and spitting food across the room. I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this book.
Dana is a clumsy, woman who has a knack for getting herself into trouble. Dana is obsessed with the thought that her girlfriend is cheating on her. She would like to break up with her if she could only find her. While she is trying to figure out if her girlfriend is cheating on her Dana finds herself assaulting a police officer, wanted for armed robbery and a suspect in a murder, which are all a big misunderstanding.
Reminiscent of Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum novels, this book is pure mind candy. I loved it.
Dana is a clumsy, woman who has a knack for getting herself into trouble. Dana is obsessed with the thought that her girlfriend is cheating on her. She would like to break up with her if she could only find her. While she is trying to figure out if her girlfriend is cheating on her Dana finds herself assaulting a police officer, wanted for armed robbery and a suspect in a murder, which are all a big misunderstanding.
Reminiscent of Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum novels, this book is pure mind candy. I loved it.
Read
June 24, 2013This story is hilarious. I just couldn't get into it ~ most likely because I couldn't relate to the ways the main character initiates relationships, almost falling into them and passively participating (contradiction, much?) in them. The frequency with which I was exposed to flashbacks may also have been a factor but the clever repartee tickled my imagination ~ I always wish I was as quick witted. A great story, maybe I'm not in the right place to enjoy it right now, but will definitely return to give it another go and will buy from this author again.
June 12, 2019
Just a really short "review". This book just wasn´t for me, just a giant "WHAT?!?".
This might have something to do with expecting a more traditional romance or just not clicking with the humor.
One thing i really did not like about this book however: The couple.
They barely get any time together and i do not really feel any chemistry. Might just be me, but just warning you beforehand.
Hopefully other people who read this book will get enjoyment out of it, because it does not seem to be badly written.
This might have something to do with expecting a more traditional romance or just not clicking with the humor.
One thing i really did not like about this book however: The couple.
They barely get any time together and i do not really feel any chemistry. Might just be me, but just warning you beforehand.
Hopefully other people who read this book will get enjoyment out of it, because it does not seem to be badly written.
September 5, 2013
Only 2 stars b/c I can't really relate to the characters. Each of the character is almost too outrageous to be true. Did not really like the main character, Dana, and the love interest, Ellen, was not fully fleshed out. The ending, I find, to be too pat.
June 20, 2013
Extremely funny! Definite re-read
July 3, 2013
Hilarious. I loved this book as much as her other books. Keep them coming. One of my favorite authors and this book does not disapoint.
September 23, 2013
Very funny in some parts. But I sometimes got lost in the timeline when the main character, Dana Dooley, goes back to remembering past events.
March 15, 2021
Another mystery solved by the duo of authors.
Dana thinks she's fat but she doesn't believe anyone when they her she is not. Which sets off a set of opportunities to get the story started. Dana meets Ellen and both have a girlfriend unbeknownst to either of them the same woman is girlfriend to both and each of the girls thinks their girlfriend is cheating on them! What starts off as a way way for Dana to catch her girlfriend in the arms of another girl. Being chased by the Police , the townspeople , being handcuffed for a murder she didn't commit! Enjoy!
Dana thinks she's fat but she doesn't believe anyone when they her she is not. Which sets off a set of opportunities to get the story started. Dana meets Ellen and both have a girlfriend unbeknownst to either of them the same woman is girlfriend to both and each of the girls thinks their girlfriend is cheating on them! What starts off as a way way for Dana to catch her girlfriend in the arms of another girl. Being chased by the Police , the townspeople , being handcuffed for a murder she didn't commit! Enjoy!
September 19, 2018
This is laugh out loud funny, romantic and all a round amazing book to curl up on the couch and read to your special love.
January 2, 2017
Awful - a strain to actually read the book - a waste of paper and ink.
August 29, 2014
The one problem with this book is the title. Its deceptive, its a dark comedy and the title doesn't reveal that... so be aware. Though the title could have been better this story is another great from Layce Gardner. She pours on to page her wittiness and talent in the creation of characters and circumstances that will have you laughing and shaking your head. Her main character Dana Dooley.. you just gotta love her. This book and most any Layce Gardner book will have shaking your head, laughing and wondering.. how the hell does she come up with this stuff? Buy it and love it.. I did!
August 26, 2016
Always a laugh
I swear that anytime I read one of these authors books I end up laughing out loud and my co-workers think I'm nuts. I can't imagine how they come up with these stories.
I swear that anytime I read one of these authors books I end up laughing out loud and my co-workers think I'm nuts. I can't imagine how they come up with these stories.
October 26, 2016
Pure hysteria.
Poor Dana. I don't know if I should laugh at her or feel sorry for her. She is the Queen of clutz and bad ideas. This is the funniest story I have read in a long time.
Poor Dana. I don't know if I should laugh at her or feel sorry for her. She is the Queen of clutz and bad ideas. This is the funniest story I have read in a long time.
June 1, 2015
QUirky story - with fun characters, and the situations make for a fun read. thanks
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews