Getting Clean With Stevie Green

by Swan Huntley

The author of the “sparkling dark romance” (Redbook) We Could Be Beautiful brings her “wit and verve” (The New York Times Book Review) to this quirky, feel-good novel about one woman’s messy journey from self-delusion to self-acceptance.

At thirty-seven, Stevie Green has had it with binge drinking and sleeping with strange men. She’s confused about her sexuality and her purpose in life. When her mother asks her to return to her hometown of La Jolla to help her move into a new house, she’s desperate enough to say yes. The move goes so well that Stevie decides to start her own decluttering business. She stops drinking. She hires her formerly estranged sister, Bonnie, to be her business partner. She rekindles a romance with her high school sweetheart, Brad. Things are better than ever—except for the complicated past that Stevie can’t seem to outrun.

Who was responsible for the high school scandal that caused her life to take a nosedive twenty years earlier? Why is she so secretive about the circumstances of her father’s death? Why are her feelings for her ex-friend, Chris, so mystifying? If she’s done drinking, then why can’t she seem to declutter the mini wine bottles from her car?

A winsome, fast-paced read, Getting Clean With Stevie Green is about coming to terms with who you are, resolving the pain of your past, and accepting the truth of your life in all its messy glory.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Queer, Audiobook, Romance, LGBT, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

First published February 1, 2022

About the author

Swan Huntley is a writer and illustrator living in Los Angeles. Her books include Getting Clean with Stevie Green, The Goddesses, We Could Be Beautiful, The Bad Mood Book, You’re Grounded and I Want You More. She earned an MFA at Columbia University and has received fellowships from MacDowell and Yaddo.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swan Huntley’s latest novel, Getting Clean with Stevie Green , is thought-provoking, sad at times, and occasionally humorous. Stevie Green’s mom has called and asked her to help her downsize and move into her new home. Stevie is so successful, she decides to start her own decluttering business. Additionally, at thirty-seven, she has decided to give up binge drinking and sleeping with strange men. While her life was derailed by a high school scandal, she was already secretly on a path of alcohol and drugs. She never realized her dreams. The seemed to become addicted to fresh starts. In fact, she doesn’t really know what or who she wants to be now except number one on the Organizely application. What could go possible wrong when she is living in her home town of La Jolla, California, the place of her painful memories.

While most of the book is from Stevie’s POV, there are some insights from Chris, Brad, Bonnie, and Kit. One thing that took me a while to get used to was Stevie seemingly talking to the reader. Her character is one that cries out for empathy at times, but is hard to like at other times.

Stevie’s background story is unveiled gradually. While she has found a purpose, will it last or will she need another fresh start? The novel has several themes running through it including hope, addiction, alcohol, betrayal, lies, mistakes, internet dating, friendship, family, social media, love, and forgiveness.

Overall, I enjoyed this change-of-pace story, but felt saddened that Stevie allowed one event to derail 20 years of her life. Will she finally get her life together?

Gallery Books and Swan Huntley provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 25, 2022.

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Getting Clean with Stevie Green" was just a so-so book for me. I mean there were times that I wanted to finish just a few more pages while at other times I closed the book and looked to see how close my book-marker was to the end of the story. In a way it reminded me of being at a social gathering where I am standing there listening to someone talking. For a while I find what they are saying is interesting and then I suddenly decide I am bored and want to go stand somewhere else.

What I found interesting was the business the main character was involved in. She went to the houses of notorious hoarders and helped them clean out all the clutter. Some folks are really like that. I knew one family that must have saved every newspaper they ever bought. The papers were stacked floor to ceiling! I too am a little like that. When it gets too bad my wife gets out the garbage bag and I run to save my treasures.

The characters I couldn't connect to when it came to their personal life. When they started talking about the drama in their love life I changed the channel.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stevie Green is thirty-seven years old and can't get past a high school scandal. It has affected her for most of her life. But she has decided that her binge drinking and sex with strange men. After her mother calls her home to help clean up and organize as she moves into a new home, Stevie decides it is time to clean up and get things together in her own life as well. She decides to put her skills to use and begins a decluttering business. She is good at it, she is irked by being #2 as she can't beat Ursula, a decluttering champion, but she is getting clients and living a clean life herself. If only, she can get past that scandal!

Ever hang on to something in your life? Whether it be clothes you hope to one day fit into again, letters, things you don't want to part with due to sentimental value? What if what you hang onto is a past hurt, past shame, a past feeling of betrayal?

This was a fun, fast read that does deal with big issues such as addiction, sexuality, and betrayal. I enjoyed the pace and the story. This was a nice change to what I normally read. I didn't love it, but I still found it to be enjoyable. I doubt I remember it in months to come, but it was a nice way to spend a snowed in day.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

DNF at 39%. Not rating it as I didn't even reach the halfway mark, but based on what I read, it would be close to 1.5 stars.

The story is about 37 year old Stevie Green, who is a successful "decluttering guru". Unfortunately, her own life is over-cluttered and the story deals with her clearing both her personal issues and her clients' mess. The book is written in first person in a very casual kind of style.

I liked the bits of humour and satirical digs peppered in the content. The initial 12% or so dealt with Stevie's professional challenges and this was fun to read. But when the narrative switched to her background, it was too rambling and disconnected for me to enjoy. Moreover, no character seems to make a mark. The book alternates between light and dark, heavy and fun. Basically, it seems as confused as Stevie herself.

If I complete it, I'll only rant. Might as well leave it as is and move on to something that works better for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for the opportunity to read "Getting Clean With Stevie Green". Sorry this didn't work out.

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Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love imperfect characters – the messier the better. Getting Clean with Stevie Green is a darkly funny, witty read that looks at life on how one woman’s past (a high school scandal) lead down into a rabbit hole of a mess. It is a heavy read, but very hopeful. I love the process of seeing Stevie Green gets cleaned up physically, mentally, and metaphorically.

Stevie Green is a fast paced read with short chapters that moved the story forward. Though the story dealt with issues of alcoholism, sexual identity, and family relationships, I found the story enjoyable and delightful. This was certainly a different read, and I am glad have had the opportunity to read this.

[Katie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kinda scratching my head with this book. I liked many of the elements of the story and I think it had the potential to be a rather profound read. Unfortunately, it fell short in my opinion. It was like it was missing the glue to hold everything together.

Stevie Green is thirty-seven years old and wants to put her blackout drinking days behind her. Having bounced around from job to job all over the world she ends up back in her hometown of La Jolla. After helping her mother move, she becomes inspired to open a decluttering business. Essentially she is helping people take control of their lives by getting rid of meaningless possessions. In order for Stevie to clean up her own life though, she might need to finally confront her past.

There's a quirkiness and charm to Stevie that endeared me to the character but eventually the act wears a bit thin by the end. In some ways she is relatable but there are also parts to her that left me feeling like I never truly understood the character. Part of the problem is the story occasionally bounces around to other characters like her mom and sister. While their voices provided insight I think the focus needed to be on Stevie in order for both the character and story to work well.

On a positive note, I liked the originality as the book had an off the beaten path type feel to it. Might not have been a perfect read for me but the author shows off her creativity and therefore I still had a decent reading experience.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Really enjoyed & connected with this one. Not sure if it was the adolescent trauma angle, the San Diego setting, or what? More women's fiction than chick lit, I really recommend it.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS - How one terrible action completely changes the trajectory of your life. After 20+ years finally coming to grips with who you are…
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoy reading books with more mature characters lately. I have been through all of the drama and “stuff” in my life. I really like reading about main characters who are figuring it out and moving forward – or trying to.

In this book, Stevie has her work cut out for her. She is looking for a turnaround, and with Mom’s help, she finally is on the right track. But throw in her sister with whom she has so-so relationship with, burning anxiety over her past, huge questions about her ex-best friend, and Stevie has a lot to get through.

This story has its humor but for me it was a bit sad. It took her 20 years to find the truth and begin to move forward. Rekindling her feelings with her high school crush seems to be a happy time, but when the truth comes out, all bets are off.

This story is the epitome of someone who desperately needs a fresh start and while she is on the right path, we feel her aches and pains. Her struggles are not unlike things we all go through and Huntley capitalizes on them perfectly.

While I really wanted to love this story, I felt more sorry for them all by not being able to function in their early years. So much wasted time.

* ARC received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/getting-clea...

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 No one knows what they want and that's okay Stars

Stevie Green can help you declutter and clean up your life, which is amazing since she is an utter mess. At 37 Stevie still hasn't moved on from a drama/trauma that happened in high school. She is holding onto it so much that it has dominated her life since and she has pretty much been blackout drunk sense high school. Stevie has been sober for about 6 months and started a business helping people organize their lives in a hope she might be able to organize herself.

I liked the decluttering parts of the story. Stevie and Bonnie working together, building back the bonds of sisterhood they shared once long ago. I liked meeting their clients and going through how to declutter different rooms in their house or how to decide if you are really going to use something, if it makes the cut or you should throw it out. I found that part of the story the most interesting. Everyone has a reason for holding onto extra stuff they really don't need. It was easy to see that Stevie like most addicts had just traded alcohol for an addiction to becoming number one on an app for cleaning services. But at least that seems a bit healthier.

Stevie herself...well sometimes she was great and I really enjoyed her, but most of the time she is stuck in this cycle of sophomoric behavior. It has been 20 years since the incident in high school and yet, it is still the predominant thought in Stevie's life so much so that when she sees the person she believes is responsible she tells them she forgives them first thing. I also found it so hard to believe that Stevie, at 37, still hadn't figured out her sexuality. But I guess that is what happens when you don't really do anything to grow as a person for 20 years and spend it drinking, blackout drunk or hungover.

I didn't really connect with Stevie, there were times when I really just hated her. But I loved the cleaning, decluttering and clients she had. That part of the book was the best for me and inspired me to have my own Freedom Day when I let some of the stuff in my life weighing me down go.

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Dun's · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun read! It's a story about redemption with a quirky main character who just starts off her decluttering and organizing business. I really like the writing style, with short chapters that flow well with alternating POV.

The only thing that nags me is the fact that the 37 year old character is hung up on an incident that has happened in high school. It's a long time in adult years to bear a grudge and blame how things turn out for her on that single incident.

I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick cute read. Stevie is a great main character flawed but loveable. Although it's pretty predictable it was interesting and kept my attention.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swan Huntley’s characters, all of them, remind me so much of myself. Oh how I love Stevie and her mantras and her routine and her inner thoughts versus what she actually says or does. “I am not going to tell Bonnie this” 5 seconds later “I have a date” that is so relatable…Enough about me, this is a cute rom-com, it’s fun, it’s about family, addiction, social media, sex, all the things. It’s a very fast read. It was the perfect choice for our short vacation this week. I will continue to worship Swan Huntley and will wait patiently, (if the past is any indication for 3 years)for her next novel.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I loved the quirky cover and the description I read about it. And I am happy to say that I loved it just as much as I was hoping I would. I'm not gonna lie...Stevie is a mess of a human but I love the growth that happened with her character...she turned her life around. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes quirky contemporary books with imperfect characters and a little bit of romance :)

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodness. This was terrible. Nothing about Stevie was remotely likable. She was miserable, idiotic, fake, and messy. As a 37 year old baby basically. This was the miserable story of a rich mom babying her adult kids so much that they couldn’t function in life but somehow decided to run a fake organizing business when they couldn’t organize their own lives. Ridiculous.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for review

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I have not felt this conflicted about a book since Girl in Pieces because I was sad and still thought about a lot, but I could not tell if it was healthy.

Spoiler-free Review: https://amberinoface.wordpress.com/20...

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is said that the brain attains its total growth at the age of 25 ---(https://neurotray.com/when-does-the-b....) and since Stevie Green is 37 and still acting on what happened in High School, well, you can't prove that fact by me! However, I do realize just because your brain stopped growing doesn't mean you've stopped developing; it is just that Stevie's sure did not develop in a good way.

However, she shows that she is human with all the flaws being human means.

She is a drinker on a "cleanse," which still makes her a drunk.

She unconsciously questions her sexuality and eventually comes to the correct conclusion even though the clues are as plain as the nose on your face.

Stevies is still living in the '90s, and what is worse, she is still blaming most of her ills on an incident in high school.

I could not connect with any of these somewhat odd characters, as a matter of fact, I couldn't find myself liking them, but I did understand a few of them. Winsome this book is not-it is a quite deep book (in places) and a hot-mess in other areas.

I will agree that this is a very fast read. It was enough to capture my interest but not enough oomph for me to remember very much of this book for very long. Great beach or long trip read.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look at me reading a romance! But it's certainly much more than that, and it's literary. Honestly messy people, lovingly portrayed. Sweetly hopeful.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering how many serious topics this book deals with it was surprisingly cute and light. The main character Stevie a recovering alcoholic who moves back in with her mother and aspires to have the number one decluttering business while also dealing with old high school drama and confusion about her sexuality. I actually used to work as a personal organizer and I I found the Getting Clean clients to be realistic If you're reading this and think no one could every be that "fill in the blank". Oh yes they can and are. This whole book has just a sweet quirky vibe. All of the characters felt authentic and were fun to read about.  I'm pretty sure this is meant as a standalone but I wouldn't mind another book set in this universe. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[BrooklynBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book!

Main character is Stevie Green is a woman who’s just done with drinking and men!

This book is that one you read when you’re in a slump in life. Done dealing with bs and ready to power on!!

This book is a feel-good romcom. Hilariously funny! Laughed pretty much whole way through! I loved it!! I would definitely recommend!! 5 stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swan Huntley for allowing me to fall in love with Stevie Green!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Gallery Books for my honest review.*

Stevie Green is struggling through life when her mom asks her to move home and help her sell Stevie's childhood home. Stevie ends up creating a small business helping people to organize and declutter their homes. Stevie has been trying to avoid the things that made her leave after high school in the first place, but she has been home so long that there is no more avoidance. And it's time she came clean with herself about her feelings and how things have continued to affect her.

This was a cute rom-com/coming of age (sort of) story. Stevie ends up learning who was behind things that were done to her in high school and facing her true feelings so that she can live her life honestly and fully. I loved how Stevie and her sister were in competition with an elderly organizer and they were gonna "take her down." And I loved reading who their clients were and how they were helping them. The guy who just bought new clothes instead of washing was quite amusing to me.

This was an enjoyable read for me.

[Allyson Preble · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book really could have had the potential to be incredibly interesting. The plot was unique and I liked where it ended up going by the end. However, I never got the chance to become interested in the characters or get invested in what was happening to them. It wasn’t just because the characters were unlikeable, which they were. We just didn’t get enough background on them. A lot the history is hidden from the main character and therefor hidden from the reader. This is a hard plot point to pull off, in my opinion.

I also feel like the author introduced a lot of little plot points that didn’t end up going anywhere or even getting mentioned ever again. This left the book feeling disjointed and not fully fleshed out.

Overall I just hard a hard time diving back into the book once i put it down. It just didn’t suck me in.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for sending me an eArc of this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Meg]

In Getting Clean With Stevie Green, by Swan Huntley, Stevie Green heads back home to help her mom pack and move. This goes so well that Stevie starts a decluttering business helping other rich people solve their non-problems of too many Vespas filling up their massive garages. It's the same income bracket of We Could Be Beautiful, by the same author, only with a California style instead of a Manhattan style.

This is an unusual returning-home story where money isn't a motivating factor. Stevie's not broke. There's no stress about getting enough clients for the decluttering business. Stevie's mom gives her the main house and buys her a car. Instead, Stevie's focus is all on self-improvement. Steve's quit drinking, which used to be the central focus of her life. Her relationship with her mom is improving, too. It turns out neither of them like cooking, so they have takeout next to the pool every night, because that's rich people growth. Stevie's not just decluttering her clients' bonus rooms and garages, but clearing her own life, too.

It's slightly ridiculous in the non-problem way lifestyle fiction often is, but some of that is what makes it a fun read. Stevie is aware of the absurdity of her clients' shopping addictions or inability to do laundry, too. She knows it's ridiculous to pretend she's on a cleanse instead of being sober. 

The central question of who was behind a high-school drama keeps coming back. At first, I thought Stevie was going to learn to let it go, and discover that it doesn't actually matter that an unknown someone 20 years ago really didn't like the popular girl! But then Stevie gets drawn back to her high school boyfriend and her high school bestie/hookup, and it's clear that this is still forefront in her mind. Almost like that's what she needs to declutter...

Overall, this was a fun story about family bonds and second-chance romance that doesn't always go the way you expect.

[Keathe (RomanceBooksFan) Steigert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevie Green is 37, has just moved back to her hometown after many years, and is determined to be the next big thing in decluttering gurus. Stevie's outside has always looked perfect, organized and together; so why shouldn't she help others get to be that way too? But there was an 'incident' that happened in high school that derailed Stevie from all her plans, and that still haunts her. While her outside may look perfect, her binge drinking has landed her in a lot of poor situations. She struggles with relationships, her sexual preferences, and has never been to bed with a person sober. In her quest to help others get their lives in order, she ends up realizing that she might need to get hers in order too.

I loved Stevie Green. That isn't to say that she was a perfect character, she is very flawed, which was one of the things I loved most about her. She lives with her mother, and soon into the book, her sister also comes home to stay. The relationships between the three women are really interesting to watch. The two sisters grow closer after barely speaking for years, their mother enables all of their behaviors by spoiling her girls, and many secrets come out that change the dynamics in the family somewhat. This was such a fascinating look at a woman who is falling apart inside while looking completely put together on the ouside. The story is lighthearted though, with funny interactions intermixed between Stevie and her organization clients.

I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing, it was light-hearted, while also producing some profound moments, as well as some sad ones. This was a fast paced read, that made me think, and also made me smile.

Thanks to Jennifer Richards at OTRPR and Gallery Books for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stevie Green is 37 and is still a hot mess. She starts her drinking and drug use in high school and it continues for 20 more years. She jumps from job to job in different locations. After an accident almost kills her she decides to return home to La Jolla to be near her mom and sister. As the reader meets her she is living in LJ, and running a decluttering business. There is humor and sadness as she peps herself and her clients up with daily affirmations to purge things weighing them down. She re-meets up with her high school boyfriend who beat her for class president and he wants to start something new. She also sees her best (girl) friend who she has blamed for two decades for an incident that she saw as life altering.

There is some humor in this women's fiction with family relations and the clients. But more often it feels confusing. You want to shake people and tell them to grow up or get therapy. Who was behind the HS incident is predictable. The wealthy mother loves her girls but continues to enable and indulge. (She buys matching new cars.) By the end I'm not sure Stevie has come to terms with use of alcohol, sex or her treatment of people who love her. I like Chris but am not sure why she couldn't move on from Stevie. It ends in a positive happy for now way but I'm not convinced it was a HEA.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total campy, fluffy, chic-lit book perfect as a palate cleanser between heavier books or when you've worked two 12 hour days in a row but still want to settle down before bedtime with a little light reading. Sure there are some serious topics included here: alcoholism, sexual identity, and mental health, but they are all only lightly brushed during the course of watching Stevie reconnect with her estranged sister as they start a business together. Yes, there could have been more drama, and with the main character being 37 years old, some of the drama included seemed a bit silly. The end result was a read that won't tax the reader too much and will instead provide a few light chuckles, a couple of head nods, a smile, and lowered blood pressure. Sometimes that is exactly what you need!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[thebrunettebookjunkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

I really don't know what genre this should be classified as. There was a bit of mystery in the way that you already know what happened but aren't exactly sure how it came to be. There was a little romance or really a whole lot of bad decisions that involved other people but no chemistry or anything to qualify it as a romance novel. I guess the best I could describe it was as if a bad self-help book was turned into a fictional novel where the main character needed the most help of all but none of the characters exhibited any role model behavior. I read it fairly quickly but it was too fluffy for a book about topics that aren't fluffy at all.

[Michelle Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of GETTING CLEAN WITH STEVIE GREEN by Swan Huntley. I will admit that in the first third of this book I didn't like any of the characters and I thought the book was just going to be about depressing people who made bad decisions and I almost stopped reading. But, I pressed forward and actually ended up getting into it and enjoying myself in the end. I think my favorite part was Stevie's cute Marie Kondo-like cleaning business (even if she hates Marie Kondo) and getting little mini-episodes of her helping her clients clean up their lives. I enjoyed watching her relationship grow between her sister and her mom and her best friend. I enjoyed seeing her grow and realize who she was. I even got a little into the "mystery," even though it wasn't much of a mystery. It still got me wanting to see how things would unfold. So, I guess my advice would be to push past the depressing beginning, because the story and the characters grow on you. At least that's what happened for me.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you in a waiting room before your appointment, or in the exam room waiting for your provider to come in? Are you watching the Matrix movies or halfheartedly trying to catch up on a podcast you don't really listen to anymore? This book is the companion for that. You need like thirty percent of your brain, tops. I don't think it was bad exactly, there was just absolutely nothing there. Like when you're in the boat on the pond and you trail your fingers across the top two inches of water, and wonder if there's more, but there just really isn't.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Starts out seeming fluffy but it's actually a deep story about transformation. And such a pleasure to read!

[Lola]

“Isn’t it funny how long people wait to do things that take five seconds?”