Plain Jane

by Barrie Levitt Knee

"Plain Jane is the story of a forty something wife and mother who has kept a secret from her family for almost seven years. Jane has forever considered herself to be plain. Her BFF Gaby is the exact opposite. Following a night of countless margaritas, Jane and Gaby make a secret pact because that’s what friends are for. Now Jane has less than a week to tell her family what she has done.

The secret is revealed over a four and a half hour time period while Jane is running a marathon. The story is told in Jane’s head. Each chapter begins with a song that Jane is listening to while running. The lyrics tie into the secret and many other stories that Jane tells about Gaby, her family, and mostly herself.

Keep moving Jane! You can do this! This is Jane’s running mantra throughout the book. The physical and emotional journey of running a marathon is continuously felt. Jane’s sixty-four songs are listed at the end of the book. It is a great playlist for those that run a ten minute mile like Jane."

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2015

Reviews

[Eadle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this was different!

I’ve never read a book that came with its own playlist, and it was fun! The Kindle and Amazon Music apps worked well together!

Jane is a forty-something mom running her first marathon. The story takes place in her head as she runs, fortified by 64 pre-selected songs. Jane has a BIG secret she’s been keeping from her family for several years, and circumstances have arisen that force her to tell them.

The main conflict within the story is original. The suspense builds as Jane runs, but is not hard to figure out and that’s okay. That’s not the backbone of the story. It’s about friendship. Real friendship.

Jane is likable and it’s a pleasure to run/read alongside her and simultaneously listen to her playlist. Only three stars (but a three stars plus!!) because I found it to be a little too idyllic. There’s a lot of wealth, a lot of success and I was often bored and bogged down in the excessive use of name brands!

But it’s a quick read, light, endearing, and as I said, a fun one.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that takes place over a marathon as a runner is trying to complete her first marathon and this book is formatted with her playlist featuring the song she is listening to and then the thoughts that are conjured from that song and what it means to her.

One thing that I didn't love about this book that I don't love across all genres is hinting at a secret from page one. From the start of this book as Jane starts running she is hinting that her life will fall apart when a secret is revealed. Jane reminds the reader in each chapter that there is impending doom and it got a little old. I was glad that we didn't have to wait until the last chapter or the last song to learn about the secret, but we still had to wait for her to reveal it to her family and await their reaction. I just don't love being told that there is a secret and that the world will fall apart when it comes out. And does it . . . don't want to spoil.

Overall I liked the concept and how it was structured, I would read another by this author because I think she has some creativity in how the book is written and presented, I guess I just couldn't enjoy this one due to maybe a little petty thing that I don't love when reading. If the above wouldn't bother you, I would say you would probably love this book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down!