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Going Coastal
Jody Rogers thought she was taking charge of her life, so why does it feel like everything is spinning out of control?
In the space of twenty-four hours, Jody has quit her dead-end job as a waitress at Dean's Ocean Galley, dumped her two-timing boyfriend, and set out to jump-start her stalled twenty-something existence. Unfortunately, both jobs and men are scarce in the small seaside town of Bent Harbor, so Jody quickly finds herself single, homeless, and unemployed---just in time for her ten-year high school reunion!
Nobody seems to know what Jody should do with her life. Not her hookup-happy best friend. Not her psycho not-so-secret admirer. Not her amiable pothead brother. Not even her loving but unsupportive parents, who have already turned her childhood bedroom into a cozy arts-and-crafts studio. And least of all Jody, who can't understand how all her dreams have gone so wrong.
With no prospects, romantic or otherwise, on the horizon, can Jody somehow manage to turn her life around---before she goes completely out of her mind?
In the space of twenty-four hours, Jody has quit her dead-end job as a waitress at Dean's Ocean Galley, dumped her two-timing boyfriend, and set out to jump-start her stalled twenty-something existence. Unfortunately, both jobs and men are scarce in the small seaside town of Bent Harbor, so Jody quickly finds herself single, homeless, and unemployed---just in time for her ten-year high school reunion!
Nobody seems to know what Jody should do with her life. Not her hookup-happy best friend. Not her psycho not-so-secret admirer. Not her amiable pothead brother. Not even her loving but unsupportive parents, who have already turned her childhood bedroom into a cozy arts-and-crafts studio. And least of all Jody, who can't understand how all her dreams have gone so wrong.
With no prospects, romantic or otherwise, on the horizon, can Jody somehow manage to turn her life around---before she goes completely out of her mind?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Wendy French
20 books13 followersWendy French was raised in Vancouver, Canada, where she was certain her parents unwittingly cursed her writing career with a happy and stable childhood. In an effort to overcome her unfortunate beginnings, she sought artistic torment at the University of Victoria, but despair eluded her. Hoping for worse luck south of the border, she moved to Oregon with her husband, David, but happiness continued to stalk her, day and night. Finally, she conceded defeat, abandoned her quest for misery, and began writing humorous women's fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 27, 2017
A beach read. I read it on the beach. And that's all I have to say about that.
January 16, 2020
Cute, easy read
March 11, 2025
This one was just barely a 3 star rating.
August 5, 2025
This was a quick and entertaining read, I enjoyed the story overall. Pretty humorous and it actually had me laughing out loud at some points. Love the characters as well.
would recommend and would read again
would recommend and would read again
July 19, 2011
I was at the library and the book cover automatically caught my attention. I picked up and thought I would give it a shot. Unfortunately it was a disappointment.
In most novels, the author would keep in mind that he/she should make at least one character likable, especially the main/lead character. And so I desperately tried to like Jody yet you end up despising her and everyone related to her. I wanted to grab hold of each character and slap the heck out of them. Her parents were the worst and I instantly despised them. Jody was incredibly pessimistic the majority of the time and in the beginning I was proud of her for walking out of the job but then everything just went downhill from there. I wanted to shake some sense into her but nothing worked. And honestly it took some random hot guy to fall for her to get back on her feet? Really? That's the message you want out of this book? I'm not sure a guy like that would fall for a girl like Jody. She does not seem strong enough on her own and is just a mess.
Granted the plot is something many can relate to in this economy and I can feel her pain but in the end, the book left you unsatisfied with the results. If you author called this a happy ending, I would hate to see a sad ending. Everything kind of fell into place but she just fell back into her old routine rather than prospering as a strong woman in the end.
I don't know but I personally did not like it very much. Some parts were comical but still left you unsatisfied and disappointed. I would not recommend it to anyone to be honest and I doubt I would read another novel from this author.
In most novels, the author would keep in mind that he/she should make at least one character likable, especially the main/lead character. And so I desperately tried to like Jody yet you end up despising her and everyone related to her. I wanted to grab hold of each character and slap the heck out of them. Her parents were the worst and I instantly despised them. Jody was incredibly pessimistic the majority of the time and in the beginning I was proud of her for walking out of the job but then everything just went downhill from there. I wanted to shake some sense into her but nothing worked. And honestly it took some random hot guy to fall for her to get back on her feet? Really? That's the message you want out of this book? I'm not sure a guy like that would fall for a girl like Jody. She does not seem strong enough on her own and is just a mess.
Granted the plot is something many can relate to in this economy and I can feel her pain but in the end, the book left you unsatisfied with the results. If you author called this a happy ending, I would hate to see a sad ending. Everything kind of fell into place but she just fell back into her old routine rather than prospering as a strong woman in the end.
I don't know but I personally did not like it very much. Some parts were comical but still left you unsatisfied and disappointed. I would not recommend it to anyone to be honest and I doubt I would read another novel from this author.
June 20, 2009
I liked the initial approach of this book; Jody finds herself going nowhere at age twenty-something and decides to quit her dead-end job and break-up with her cheating boyfriend and set off to do something worthy with her life. The way she goes from negative to positive thinking is pretty inspiring, and makes the reader sit back and contemplate whether their own lives are going according to plan.
On the other hand, most of the book was pretty depressing as a result of Jody's character. She has a terrible family, only one good friend, and just generally terrible acquaintances about town. Her growth in character wasn't done gradually, but in one sweep where she suddenly realizes her parents are right, her friend's correct, an old flame pops back and they're deeply in love and going steady... the transition could really have been better written. The inspirational aspect is quickly forgotten as the reader finishes the book and finds they don't have a single ounce of satisfaction after trudging through all 301 pages of it. We don't really like Jody at the end, nor do we like the supposedly hot Justin, or any of the other characters, really.
On the other hand, most of the book was pretty depressing as a result of Jody's character. She has a terrible family, only one good friend, and just generally terrible acquaintances about town. Her growth in character wasn't done gradually, but in one sweep where she suddenly realizes her parents are right, her friend's correct, an old flame pops back and they're deeply in love and going steady... the transition could really have been better written. The inspirational aspect is quickly forgotten as the reader finishes the book and finds they don't have a single ounce of satisfaction after trudging through all 301 pages of it. We don't really like Jody at the end, nor do we like the supposedly hot Justin, or any of the other characters, really.
April 5, 2020
Jody Rogers thought she was taking charge of her life, so why does it feel like everything is spinning out of control?
In the space of twenty-four hours, Jody has quit her dead-end job as a waitress at Dean's Ocean Galley, dumped her two-timing boyfriend, and set out to jump-start her stalled twenty-something existence. Unfortunately, both jobs and men are scarce in the small seaside town of Bent Harbor, so Jody quickly finds herself single, homeless, and unemployed---just in time for her ten-year high school reunion!
Nobody seems to know what Jody should do with her life. Not her hookup-happy best friend. Not her psycho not-so-secret admirer. Not her amiable pothead brother. Not even her loving but unsupportive parents, who have already turned her childhood bedroom into a cozy arts-and-crafts studio. And least of all Jody, who can't understand how all her dreams have gone so wrong.
With no prospects, romantic or otherwise, on the horizon, can Jody somehow manage to turn her life around---before she goes completely out of her mind?
In the space of twenty-four hours, Jody has quit her dead-end job as a waitress at Dean's Ocean Galley, dumped her two-timing boyfriend, and set out to jump-start her stalled twenty-something existence. Unfortunately, both jobs and men are scarce in the small seaside town of Bent Harbor, so Jody quickly finds herself single, homeless, and unemployed---just in time for her ten-year high school reunion!
Nobody seems to know what Jody should do with her life. Not her hookup-happy best friend. Not her psycho not-so-secret admirer. Not her amiable pothead brother. Not even her loving but unsupportive parents, who have already turned her childhood bedroom into a cozy arts-and-crafts studio. And least of all Jody, who can't understand how all her dreams have gone so wrong.
With no prospects, romantic or otherwise, on the horizon, can Jody somehow manage to turn her life around---before she goes completely out of her mind?
Read
September 3, 2008Leaving her cheating live in boyfriend, walking out on her dead-end waitress job,and forced to move in with a girlfriend who enjoys noisy sex with her boyfriend, Jody has hit bottom, but her hard work, positive attitude and reseliance get her out of the pits.
November 26, 2008
Book was semi-okay. I would have had a harder time dealing with some of the things in the book than the main charater did, or i thought she should have to make it a better book. All turned out okay in the end, I guess. Won't read it again.
July 24, 2007
This book was inspiring and insanely HILARIOUS!! I loved her wit and humor and gave a good feeling knowing that you're not alone when it comes to those situations. I LOVED IT!
October 19, 2007
I have no idea why i finished this book...blah blah blah.
June 27, 2011
Good not great...
July 21, 2013
I enjoy that chapter where Jody is walking down the coast alone and how the writer describes Jody's feelings sorrounding by the sea... I would love to read it again...
September 8, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. Fun to read
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews