Stuck in the Onesies: Book 1, Stuck in the Onesies Series

Stuck in the Onesies #1

by Diana McDonough

If you’ve ever played jacks, you know if you get “stuck in the onesies,” you’re forever trying to catch up. “Stuck in the Onesies” is loosely based on a true story. You’ll fall in love with Barb and Ellie, two housewives raising kids and husbands in the Washington, D.C. suburbs during the tumultuous 1960s. They find themselves dealing with women’s rights, presidential campaigns, civil rights, and the Viet Nam war protests. Southern roots ran deep in the ‘60’s. “Stuck in the Onesies” digs up and exposes those roots. The story shows our nation’s evolution through its characters as well as the events of the decade. While Barb and Ellie can’t stop the changes of the 60s from affecting them, they both need to decide if the Donna Reed image of the ideal woman is worth hanging on to—or if it’s just holding them back, keeping them “stuck in the onesies.” The characters resonated with the readers and they asked for more. Follow the story of the daughters, Karen and Ginger, in the sequel, “My Mother’s Apprentice,” which picks up where their mothers left off in the early 1970s.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2017

About the author

Diana wrote “Stuck in the Onesies” over a ten-year period while working full time for Ecolab, Inc. Diana retired to pursue writing full time. My Mother's Apprentice, the sequel to Stuck in the Onesies, was published in February, 2019. My Mother's Apprentice was awarded the bronze medal for fiction by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association in August, 2019.

Diana's latest work, "Ginger Star" is a departure from her previous work in that it is historical fiction. "Ginger Star" is based in Jamaica during the Golden Age of Piracy. The new "revised edition" of "Pirates and Plantations in Jamaica, the story of Ginger Star," was released in June, 2024.

Books clubs are finding all three novels to be a great fit given the social issues dealt with in the stories. Diana is happy to attend book club meetings in person or via Zoom, schedule permitting.

Diana writes historical fiction, humor, and women’s fiction. You can visit her Facebook pages and website at www.dianamcdonough.com. Feel free to sign up for her blog.

Reviews

[William Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck in the Onesies, a term from the child's game of Jacks, quickly becomes a metaphor for the lives of two young women raising their families in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. If you get stuck in the very first round of the game, the onesies, you play catch-up for the rest of the game. Barb Kincaid and Ellie Reilly are doing just that. Trying to raise their young children on a shoestring budget, with husbands who would rather be on the shooting range or watching football on television, poses challenges neither of them had anticipated. Along the way, they learn about racism, marital infidelity, betrayal, heartbreak, independence--and joy, the joy of lives well-lived, the joys of love and friendship and family.

Diana McDonough has crafted a graceful, bittersweet tale, at once funny and sad and poignant. She speaks truth leavened with kindness and humor, shining a light on how adults grow up despite the many roadblocks along the way. Her novel made me laugh out loud and cry unashamedly. I anticipate it will haunt me for days to come.

[Frank Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brings back old memories to those of us who lived in the sixties in the DC area. Stuck in the Onesies for those born after 1970, is an ideal novel to learn about a realistic portrayal of two middle-class couples maturing during the changing social struggles of the sixties: Civil rights, woman's liberation, urban riots, political assassinations, as viewed though the lives of the two best-friend wives: Barb and Ellie. It is not a happy go lucky romance novel that ends with perfect bliss, but chronicles those who marry too young, have unplanned but loved children, and love the beach. I enjoyed following their lives as Ellie and Will, the cheating husband, get divorced, both couples grow old, and lose family members either by death or children leaving their parents. Well written and easy to read, perfect for the beach.

[Diane Reid]

Stuck in the Onesies was a great read! I loved the friendship that developed between the two women. Barb and Ellie became lifelong friends and while they were both married and had children of their own, they bonded in the way that felt so genuine and reminiscent of my own friendships. Raising children alongside your best friend is such an adventure and Diana McDonough captured those times so completely that, even though I did not grow up in the generation of Ellie and Barb, I could completely relate to these characters. You will laugh and cry along with these women. When you finish this book, it will stay with you for a long time. And you will feel the need to call your best friend to plan your next adventure.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geez oh flip, I sure am glad I wasnt't a 1960-70s housewife. This was a fun book to read reliving Camelot, the riots, school integration, Tom Jones and the Beatles. The tight friendship between Barb and Ellie from their early 20s till the end was very touching and makes you appreciate your girlfriends. Girls just want to have fun!

[Diana McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I wrote it, I think my opinion would be somewhat biased. However, this is a book with lots of social issues and focuses on relationships. Stuck in the Onesies will make you laugh, cry, and remember...

[Peachy Macauley]

Sweet, real, and believable. A realistic snapshot of life as a friend, mother, and wife (in that order, too). Not too emotional but convincing.

[Melissa Rhoads · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two ladies were a lot of fun to get to know. Being a Maryland girl now, the places were all familiar and relatable. Also I loved playing jacks as a kid! This was a touching story of true friendship.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I had trouble putting it down. Can’t wait to read book #2

[Barbara Moler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. So many places in the book I know.

[Fadra Nally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a few chapters to get into but having grown up in the DC area with parents that also grew up in the DC area, this book was such a nostalgic treat and a look into life as a woman in the 1960s. Having met the author and knowing some of the truth behind this fictional story made it all the more compelling.

[Jan]

This is an engaging and fun profile of life in the era of many "baby boomers." Diana has attended our book club and offered some back stories on the real family and neighborhood characters who are portrayed in her book(s). The stories bring back the best and most side-splitting moments of our childhoods. I would (and have) read anything Diana McDonough writes in her witty, and relatable style.

[Josephine Moskal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Loved the book.

Brought back memories of the years when I married and had my children. A

Good book for any generation to read. It's about life in its general difficulties that gives you happiness love and hope

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and touching.

A wonderful rollercoaster of a book. Any baby boomer gal will love it, and most women off every other generation too. Just read it!

[GiGi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. I laughed, I cried, I related. Great job by the author making it alive for the reader.

[Robbin Walker-Platzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great boom couldn't put it down!

[Kathy O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

This was a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved reading about Barb and Ellie's lives. Humorous and sad! Loved it!

[ROBERTA THORNTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I loved the characters, by the end of the book I felt like they were close friends of mine. I longed to be one of the tensies.

[Dawn Gorden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship to the extreme

Oh what most people would give to have half as close of friendship as Barb and Eli these two ladies will touch your heart

[Ellen Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This local author spoke with my volunteer group and I was interested in the local spots that are mentioned in the book. The story is good, touches on racism in the 50s and 60s.