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Amy Maxwell #1
The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell: An Amy Maxwell Cozy Mystery
Amy Maxwell’s got four kids, a useless husband and crusted applesauce on her yoga pants that haven’t seen the inside of a gym in over a decade. She’s convinced her teenage daughter is up to no good, her ten year old can’t stop chattering in her ear and her oldest son has befriended a teenaged boy twice his age who is a little weird. And don’t even get her started on having a toddler when you’re in your late thirties. She just can’t keep up. Forget tired; she’s exhausted and feeling unfulfilled, dissatisfied and like a disappointment to everyone; her kids, her parents and most of all, herself.
To relieve her stress, Amy finds herself fantasizing about everything from the pool boy next door to finding out that her daughter was switched at birth. She can’t help her thoughts, but she figures, if they’re in her head, they can’t hurt anyone else, right? When Jason, a very sexy forty something year old single father moves in across the street, Amy finds her fantasy world has gone into overdrive. When Amy and her 13 year old daughter stumble upon the body of their neighbor, shot to death in her living room, Amy finds herself thrown together with Jason in the most unpredictable way. Amy finds herself bumbling around Jason, trying desperately to stop her fantasies and her underlying attraction towards him as this who done it mystery slowly unfolds. And Amy soon realizes, nobody is who she thinks they are…even Amy herself.
To relieve her stress, Amy finds herself fantasizing about everything from the pool boy next door to finding out that her daughter was switched at birth. She can’t help her thoughts, but she figures, if they’re in her head, they can’t hurt anyone else, right? When Jason, a very sexy forty something year old single father moves in across the street, Amy finds her fantasy world has gone into overdrive. When Amy and her 13 year old daughter stumble upon the body of their neighbor, shot to death in her living room, Amy finds herself thrown together with Jason in the most unpredictable way. Amy finds herself bumbling around Jason, trying desperately to stop her fantasies and her underlying attraction towards him as this who done it mystery slowly unfolds. And Amy soon realizes, nobody is who she thinks they are…even Amy herself.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2014
570 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
Heather Balog
23 books136 followersHeather Balog is a self proclaimed "Bad Mommy" and the author of fourteen novels, including the Amy Maxwell Cozy Mystery Series. She also collaborates with her "Tween-age" daughter on the Lexie Maxwell Series for young readers. She blogs at "The Bad Mommy Diaries" which, according to her family, is mostly obnoxious exaggeration, but it's much cheaper than therapy. When Heather is not writing or complaining on her blog, she's a school nurse, taxi driver, her household Sudoku champion, and a runner with way too many aches and pains to be any good. She lives with her husband and her two children who all make fun of her inability to exist without the help of a Post-It note list on a daily basis. She also has two very needy dogs who do not make fun of her, but take turns emptying the garbage in the kitchen just to get her blood pressure boiling. Visit her website at http://www.heatherbalog.com or her blogs at : http://www.thebadmommydiaries.com or http://badmommyreads.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 4, 2014
This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in awhile! It had a little mystery, and a lot of laughs! Heather Balog has made a new fan!! I will probably read this book again, I am so glad I won it on goodreads!
June 16, 2015
I really loved the fact that this story was so simple yet engaging. I'm not a mom, wife, or even at the character age, yet I could relate to her. Although, there were circumstances where her habit of creating too many assumptions, and overanalyzing was annoying. Yet, I believe we all do that at some level when we are stressed, which was a main factor in this story.
I loved how the author managed to create an every day life routine into comedy, relatable and descriptive to the readers. Also I found that the way the author managed to create each character was magnificent. The way each child, and even the husband were portrayed was really precise based on their age. I even wanted to smack the 13 year old for being a drama queen, I mainly hated her disrespect. If I was the mom I would have disregarded the child' s feelings and would have had no trouble snooping. The ten and six year we're also accurately portrayed.
My problem was that the mom did not focus well. Due to her assumptions she ended up panicking and then daydreaming based on those assumptions.That made me want to smack her and tell her "Stay present". Such as when she was with Jason hoping to save the children. Either way though, I really enjoyed it. Great job.
I loved how the author managed to create an every day life routine into comedy, relatable and descriptive to the readers. Also I found that the way the author managed to create each character was magnificent. The way each child, and even the husband were portrayed was really precise based on their age. I even wanted to smack the 13 year old for being a drama queen, I mainly hated her disrespect. If I was the mom I would have disregarded the child' s feelings and would have had no trouble snooping. The ten and six year we're also accurately portrayed.
My problem was that the mom did not focus well. Due to her assumptions she ended up panicking and then daydreaming based on those assumptions.That made me want to smack her and tell her "Stay present". Such as when she was with Jason hoping to save the children. Either way though, I really enjoyed it. Great job.
January 6, 2016
The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell was my first Heather Balog read and it won't be my last. Heather is a very funny woman, whose wit and sass resonates with me.
Amy Maxwell is an overworked stay at home mom being slowly suffocated by the chaos of raising four children with a barely-there (as in completely mentally checked-out) husband. When she's not cleaning up poo or spew, she's daydreaming about the hot neighbor across the street, and getting herself caught up in things she should stay the hell out of.
Amy is a fantastic character and her struggle with motherhood is incredibly real. She would die for her kids but they drive her crazy on an hourly basis. Motherhood is hard work, and Heather Balog captures how and why perfectly. Reading Amy's thoughts is like enjoying a wine and a whine with your BFF. You'll cackle, and you'll want to give her a hug.
The laughs in The 8 Mistakes are my kind of thing. The situations Amy gets herself into are not forced or cliche and the story is original. You really don't know where it's going until you get to the end. And once you get there, you want to know what Amy gets up to next.
Amy Maxwell is an overworked stay at home mom being slowly suffocated by the chaos of raising four children with a barely-there (as in completely mentally checked-out) husband. When she's not cleaning up poo or spew, she's daydreaming about the hot neighbor across the street, and getting herself caught up in things she should stay the hell out of.
Amy is a fantastic character and her struggle with motherhood is incredibly real. She would die for her kids but they drive her crazy on an hourly basis. Motherhood is hard work, and Heather Balog captures how and why perfectly. Reading Amy's thoughts is like enjoying a wine and a whine with your BFF. You'll cackle, and you'll want to give her a hug.
The laughs in The 8 Mistakes are my kind of thing. The situations Amy gets herself into are not forced or cliche and the story is original. You really don't know where it's going until you get to the end. And once you get there, you want to know what Amy gets up to next.
February 17, 2015
A funny and poignant page turner. One of the best written books of the year.
August 2, 2022
Odd combination of stay at home Mom stress and stories that turns into a serious danger story. I just felt sorry for Amy with her lack of help, physically or emotionally, from anyone in her family. The fact that her husband is a School Principal yet can't take care of his own children is mind boggling in this day and age.
July 19, 2015
Amy is a stay at home mom of four children. She’s got her hands full with a surly teen, a screechy ten year old, an eager six year old and a two year old toddler who wants to give up naps. And her husband retreats to his man-cave as soon as he gets home from work and she feels like a failure compared to her siblings and her own family.
So when her six year old Colton plays with the fourteen year old autistic kid from across the road, she goes over to ask about him. She’s a bit of a busybody with a fertile imagination and she didn’t even know the elderly couple had a grandson. And then she meets his father Jason and he’s gorgeous and Amy, in a mistake as per the title, starts to take way too much notice of him.
Doing so gets her drawn into a murder and changes her life forever.
***
The cover for this title is just ALL wrong. It looks like it would be an urban fantasy with witches or something with this young skinny Gothic girl with gypsy skirt and a black silk parasol on the cover, not a thirty-five year old exhausted (slightly overweight) exasperated mother who gets drawn into a DEA operation with a streak of pasta sauce on her boob from where the baby stuck his hand.
I mean it gets ZERO right about the genre. Not a damn thing. And the old ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ line is just wrong. We all pick genre from the cover.
And is that meant to be a gun strapped to her thigh??? It’s a plot point that Amy has ZERO experience with guns.
So it stopped me cold the first time I went to read it and it wasn’t what I expected it to be.
I came back to it, but maybe some readers don’t.
***
Editing… seems absent again…*sighs heavily* and the formatting is odd. It’s compliment (to say nice things), not complement (to go together well) and so on… I didn’t write them down. And with numbers pick digits or words but don’t mix the two.
I actually ended up skipping Amy’s Walter Mitty bits as they threw me out of the story too much.
Personally I had my three kids in less than four years… in an effort to get it done asap. I had friends who said they’d have number two after number one was out of nappies - and I’m like WHY? Why go BACK to nappies? What is wrong with you?
Amy’s baby seemed much much younger than two. At two my kids talked ten to a dozen, fed themselves, walked and refused to sleep in a cot - but mine walked at seven months. This kid doesn’t even say ‘mama’ but the rest seems accurate.
Amy’s story was pretty amusing and a quick read but I’m not sure where it can go in a sequel.
3 stars and change the damn cover.
So when her six year old Colton plays with the fourteen year old autistic kid from across the road, she goes over to ask about him. She’s a bit of a busybody with a fertile imagination and she didn’t even know the elderly couple had a grandson. And then she meets his father Jason and he’s gorgeous and Amy, in a mistake as per the title, starts to take way too much notice of him.
Doing so gets her drawn into a murder and changes her life forever.
***
The cover for this title is just ALL wrong. It looks like it would be an urban fantasy with witches or something with this young skinny Gothic girl with gypsy skirt and a black silk parasol on the cover, not a thirty-five year old exhausted (slightly overweight) exasperated mother who gets drawn into a DEA operation with a streak of pasta sauce on her boob from where the baby stuck his hand.
I mean it gets ZERO right about the genre. Not a damn thing. And the old ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ line is just wrong. We all pick genre from the cover.
And is that meant to be a gun strapped to her thigh??? It’s a plot point that Amy has ZERO experience with guns.
So it stopped me cold the first time I went to read it and it wasn’t what I expected it to be.
I came back to it, but maybe some readers don’t.
***
Editing… seems absent again…*sighs heavily* and the formatting is odd. It’s compliment (to say nice things), not complement (to go together well) and so on… I didn’t write them down. And with numbers pick digits or words but don’t mix the two.
I actually ended up skipping Amy’s Walter Mitty bits as they threw me out of the story too much.
Personally I had my three kids in less than four years… in an effort to get it done asap. I had friends who said they’d have number two after number one was out of nappies - and I’m like WHY? Why go BACK to nappies? What is wrong with you?
Amy’s baby seemed much much younger than two. At two my kids talked ten to a dozen, fed themselves, walked and refused to sleep in a cot - but mine walked at seven months. This kid doesn’t even say ‘mama’ but the rest seems accurate.
Amy’s story was pretty amusing and a quick read but I’m not sure where it can go in a sequel.
3 stars and change the damn cover.
August 6, 2018
This was actually quite a fun read with a good dose of humour; although if you don't have children a lot of that may pass you by. There is something about being a parent that makes your humour turn to the dark side and this book definitely taps in to that.
The first half of the tale is really just scene setting and letting us get to know Amy and her mildly disfunctional family. From a husband who disappears in to his mancave at every opportunity, a teenage daughter just about to move from Middle School to High School who has a major attitude problem, a second daughter who has no off switch, a 6 year old son who has a water aversion and a toddler who is obsessed with phones of all types. Amy may be a SAHM but she is always on the move. The situations she finds herself in are all perfectly normal, run of the mill daily things but Amy suffers from an overactive imagination and certainly overthinks things.
It is this that leads her to make all of her 8 mistakes that lead to her being tied to a chair in a remote cabin. No spoiler there, that is where we actually start the story. I did like that the it is the small things she latches on to as potential problems and the real big red warning light situations that just slip past her. Probably because I am a bit that way myself - ignore the big stuff and get all bent out of shape about the minutiae.
This was a pretty good read with an ensemble cast that is lively and even the bad guys have their warm moments. It doesn't grab you plot wise and keep you turning the pages but you do find an hour or so slipping by effortlessly as you read. I already have the second book in the series and I am quite looking forward to reading it - if for nothing else than to read about Amy's family.
The first half of the tale is really just scene setting and letting us get to know Amy and her mildly disfunctional family. From a husband who disappears in to his mancave at every opportunity, a teenage daughter just about to move from Middle School to High School who has a major attitude problem, a second daughter who has no off switch, a 6 year old son who has a water aversion and a toddler who is obsessed with phones of all types. Amy may be a SAHM but she is always on the move. The situations she finds herself in are all perfectly normal, run of the mill daily things but Amy suffers from an overactive imagination and certainly overthinks things.
It is this that leads her to make all of her 8 mistakes that lead to her being tied to a chair in a remote cabin. No spoiler there, that is where we actually start the story. I did like that the it is the small things she latches on to as potential problems and the real big red warning light situations that just slip past her. Probably because I am a bit that way myself - ignore the big stuff and get all bent out of shape about the minutiae.
This was a pretty good read with an ensemble cast that is lively and even the bad guys have their warm moments. It doesn't grab you plot wise and keep you turning the pages but you do find an hour or so slipping by effortlessly as you read. I already have the second book in the series and I am quite looking forward to reading it - if for nothing else than to read about Amy's family.
August 18, 2015
Review for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Amy doesn’t mince words. While reading about her chaotic life in "The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell," the one that revolves around four unruly children and one husband who she could easily count as another child in the house, you discover real honesty and depth where parenthood is concerned. You also discover that it's not easy trying to be everything to everyone, and it’s even harder when you feel there’s no one around to support you or to help out in times of need. It’s no surprise that Amy begins an almost sadistic fairy tale fantasy with her neighbor who lives across the street. Jason is handsome, flirtatious, and yet there’s a dark side just waiting to emerge, only adding fuel to Amy’s fantasies. When she discovers the skeletons hiding in his closet and finds herself in danger, it’s then that Amy can see that her fantasies are blurring into reality and not at all in a way she’d expected.
While most of "8 Mistakes" is full of comedy and zany moments, one of my favorite scenes is the one where Amy and Jason have a moment together. She has realizations where he’s concerned, and the feeling is mutual. I’ll admit, I got teary-eyed. It was beautifully written and had me eagerly anticipating "Amy Maxwell & the 7 Deadly Sins."
Amy doesn’t mince words. While reading about her chaotic life in "The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell," the one that revolves around four unruly children and one husband who she could easily count as another child in the house, you discover real honesty and depth where parenthood is concerned. You also discover that it's not easy trying to be everything to everyone, and it’s even harder when you feel there’s no one around to support you or to help out in times of need. It’s no surprise that Amy begins an almost sadistic fairy tale fantasy with her neighbor who lives across the street. Jason is handsome, flirtatious, and yet there’s a dark side just waiting to emerge, only adding fuel to Amy’s fantasies. When she discovers the skeletons hiding in his closet and finds herself in danger, it’s then that Amy can see that her fantasies are blurring into reality and not at all in a way she’d expected.
While most of "8 Mistakes" is full of comedy and zany moments, one of my favorite scenes is the one where Amy and Jason have a moment together. She has realizations where he’s concerned, and the feeling is mutual. I’ll admit, I got teary-eyed. It was beautifully written and had me eagerly anticipating "Amy Maxwell & the 7 Deadly Sins."
February 12, 2022
Less exciting than expected.
I read this book because the synopsis made it seem as if it was going to be interesting and maybe actions packed a little bit. It's not in my opinion. The murder doesn't happen until 2/3 of the way through the book. It's almost as if it was an afterthought. The majority of the book is about a woman raising 4 kids, with an uninvolved husband that sends no help. More than half the book was her complaining about daily tasks, motherhood, family dysfunction, and battles with her kids. I was expecting the storyline to be an even mix of suspense, thriller, and family dynamics. It's not. The poor editing doesn't help either.
I read this book because the synopsis made it seem as if it was going to be interesting and maybe actions packed a little bit. It's not in my opinion. The murder doesn't happen until 2/3 of the way through the book. It's almost as if it was an afterthought. The majority of the book is about a woman raising 4 kids, with an uninvolved husband that sends no help. More than half the book was her complaining about daily tasks, motherhood, family dysfunction, and battles with her kids. I was expecting the storyline to be an even mix of suspense, thriller, and family dynamics. It's not. The poor editing doesn't help either.
July 30, 2015
I loved this book. Laughed out loud at all the scenes. As a mom of 2 children, i related to all the crazy mommy scenes in this book. Page turner, fast paced read, and the author kept the action flowing. Great mystery and surprises also.
September 27, 2019
20 % in and I'm done. It was funny at first but the day dream dialog got old. Her life came across so unhappy so I looked ahead at other books and was in book three still married to husband. Nope, no more.
September 6, 2018
This book is absolutely nothing like its cover and not what I expected. It’s about a 35 year old mum of 4 with a lazy husband and an overactive imagination who ends up getting involved in a dodgy situation.
The descriptions of day to day life as a stay at home mum to 4 kids from ages 2 to 13 are great, and add a lot of humour as Amy balances keeping the kids alive, fed and clean with her sanity. There’s action, intrigue and a bit of romance as well so overall it gets a good thumbs up from me.
Where it fell down was the editing. Lots of grammatical and spelling errors or occasional words that clearly should have been taken out or that were missing. These all interrupted the flow of the story.
There’s also liberal use of strong language, which never bothers me, but for anyone a bit more faint of heart it would be a no-no.
I’ll be happy to check out other books by the author and hope that the editing has improved on this one.
The descriptions of day to day life as a stay at home mum to 4 kids from ages 2 to 13 are great, and add a lot of humour as Amy balances keeping the kids alive, fed and clean with her sanity. There’s action, intrigue and a bit of romance as well so overall it gets a good thumbs up from me.
Where it fell down was the editing. Lots of grammatical and spelling errors or occasional words that clearly should have been taken out or that were missing. These all interrupted the flow of the story.
There’s also liberal use of strong language, which never bothers me, but for anyone a bit more faint of heart it would be a no-no.
I’ll be happy to check out other books by the author and hope that the editing has improved on this one.
June 22, 2020
Amy Maxwell has four kids, each one a handful, and a husband who never lifts a finger around the house because his job as a high school principal leaves him exhausted. Amy's mother and older sister are judgmental and irritating. She does not get along well with her neighbors, or their children. As a coping mechanism, she indulges in daydreams about her situation. When forced to act, this habit is more of a liability than a benefit. I was aggravated with Amy's whining, but things got better fast.
This book was literally laugh-out-loud funny in spots, with a great twist near the end that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, it would have been improved greatly by a proofreader. Her oldest boy was described as having a "beat-red" face, and Amy said she had been put through the "ringer." There are several more instances where a proofreader or editor would have increased my enjoyment of this comedic mystery.
This book was literally laugh-out-loud funny in spots, with a great twist near the end that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, it would have been improved greatly by a proofreader. Her oldest boy was described as having a "beat-red" face, and Amy said she had been put through the "ringer." There are several more instances where a proofreader or editor would have increased my enjoyment of this comedic mystery.
October 18, 2021
*Entertaining^
Not my usual type of book but there were some laughs. There was a certain naivety to Amy who is a mother and is in a rut. She spends her days daydreaming about life itself.
Amy has a party for one of her boys and an older boy in his teens suddenly appears. She finds out he is the grandchild of the couple and Amy is baffled as to why he has never been seen. Amy wants to find out the connection as she feels something is off. In her haste she stumbles on a body and all is not what it seems and she has her eldest daughter Allie with her.
Amy and her daughter Allie then end up in a safe house and again all is not as it seems. Comedy and murder all wrapped up in a bow
Not my usual type of book but there were some laughs. There was a certain naivety to Amy who is a mother and is in a rut. She spends her days daydreaming about life itself.
Amy has a party for one of her boys and an older boy in his teens suddenly appears. She finds out he is the grandchild of the couple and Amy is baffled as to why he has never been seen. Amy wants to find out the connection as she feels something is off. In her haste she stumbles on a body and all is not what it seems and she has her eldest daughter Allie with her.
Amy and her daughter Allie then end up in a safe house and again all is not as it seems. Comedy and murder all wrapped up in a bow
October 8, 2022
Started laughing on Page 5…..
and kept up laughing. Amy Maxwell’s “take” on life is hilarious! Nothing I like better than laughing out loud while reading. Amy is a mother of four and each of her progeny has peculiar habits. When Amy discovers some strange things going on at her neighbors’ across the street, she decides to play a little Nancy Drew. This was a wonderful book; if you’re looking to giggle while reading - this will be just what you need. Looking forward to reading the next in the series!
and kept up laughing. Amy Maxwell’s “take” on life is hilarious! Nothing I like better than laughing out loud while reading. Amy is a mother of four and each of her progeny has peculiar habits. When Amy discovers some strange things going on at her neighbors’ across the street, she decides to play a little Nancy Drew. This was a wonderful book; if you’re looking to giggle while reading - this will be just what you need. Looking forward to reading the next in the series!
December 29, 2019
3.5.5. I did enjoy the story but there were some grammatical errors along the way which I'm surprised didn't get noticed but its something that happens to the majority of authors these days. The main character Amy is easy to imagine and her scenario is a common one but something that most of the readers can understand and believe in at least up to a point. I'm interested in seeing what happens in the next book so will be reading the next book soon.
September 30, 2019
This was a thoroughly entertaining read. Relatable chaos situations for parents of real children, not for those perfect parents with stepford children. It had just enough action and intrigue with a tinge of romance (I was hoping for the hot guy...darn those moral values!). It was definitely worth my time!
September 22, 2019
Fun and easy read
Wacky, funny and witty. Amy juggles four kids, a husband and her self-esteem with guilt and humor. And to keep it interesting a little neighborhood mystery is added to the plot.
Wacky, funny and witty. Amy juggles four kids, a husband and her self-esteem with guilt and humor. And to keep it interesting a little neighborhood mystery is added to the plot.
March 2, 2020
I really, really loved this story. I liked the little surprise parts they caught me off guard the 1st one or two times (I don't want to say what they are and post spoilers) It had Great characters especially Amy and Jason and I cannot wait to read more about them. I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the mistakes because they really distracted me while reading this story.
August 14, 2020
More than 8 mistakes
It is a funny story inside an exciting story. I gave it five stars because it was such an interesting book, but was disappointed 😞with all the wrong word forms. Spellcheck is only so reliable. The language could be cleaned up and not hurt the story at all.
It is a funny story inside an exciting story. I gave it five stars because it was such an interesting book, but was disappointed 😞with all the wrong word forms. Spellcheck is only so reliable. The language could be cleaned up and not hurt the story at all.
August 9, 2022
I needed something easy that hooked me and this was it. Amy Maxwell cannot put the pieces together even when they were right in front of her but that didn't bother me until the very end. All in all it was a good easy read and I'm interested in continuing the series.
January 20, 2023
I received this book in return for an honest review. I enjoyed thi book on the whole.i found the stressful tales of family life amusing. However I did find the thriller part of the story frustrating as it took too long to really get going. Thanks.
September 20, 2025
cringe worthy
This book had a predictable and annoying main character that was totally unrelatable to (I also have 4 children) and was coupled with a boring unbelievable story line.
This book had a predictable and annoying main character that was totally unrelatable to (I also have 4 children) and was coupled with a boring unbelievable story line.
August 31, 2018
Unusual, but pretty interesting. Needed additional editing.
March 22, 2019
funny entertaining
April 13, 2019
I don't typically pick up mystery-type books - I'm not sure why I downloaded this one. But I enjoyed it. It kept my interest and ended well.
September 21, 2019
A good laughable read
I loved this book! I could relate to Amy and all her issues. Amy’s imagination was so humorous. Definitely recommend
I loved this book! I could relate to Amy and all her issues. Amy’s imagination was so humorous. Definitely recommend
October 16, 2019
Fun read
Fun read, kept me entertained and is funny too , would recommend as easy, light reading for overwhelm moms specially if you have a teen
Fun read, kept me entertained and is funny too , would recommend as easy, light reading for overwhelm moms specially if you have a teen
November 2, 2019
Started off slow
This story started off slow, almost put it down! I am glad I kept reading it, I enjoyed this story when it finally took off?
This story started off slow, almost put it down! I am glad I kept reading it, I enjoyed this story when it finally took off?
Read
November 5, 2019Fun book! The plot is a little crazy, but a perfect "Mom" read because it reads like the little daydreams we have when folding laundry. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews