The Modern Girl's Guide to Sticky Situations

by Jane Buckingham

The author of the phenomenally popular Modern Girl’s Guide to Life, Jane Buckingham is back with The Modern Girl’s Guide to Sticky Situations, a helpful handbook for surviving headaches, pickles, jams, and everyday emergencies. The president of the innovative marketing and media consulting firm Trendera and a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan Magazine, Jane Buckingham dispenses savvy solutions to life’s myriad little annoyances with warmth, great wit, and impeccable wisdom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2010

About the author

Jane Buckingham is an American author and marketing expert. She is the founder and President of Trendera, a boutique marketing firm specializing in trend forecasting, brand strategy and generational research.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda cutesy, kinda cheesy. Some practical advice, some not so much. A little too "Sex and the City." I came away with the feeling that the author was trying too hard to be breezy and hip and youthful. It was written very much in the style of little blurbs in a fashion-type magazine, including the verbage, like,"Umm," and "mani-pedi." And then, the types of sticky situations, such as figuring out the name of the guy you just woke up with. As the author might say, "Umm, seriously?" How about some advice on how to avoid endangering yourself by going home drunk with a stranger?

[Ms · Rating 1 out of 5]

2019 College admissions fraud scandal alleged participant listed as Jane Buckingham: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/wha...

[Danni · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was ok not the kind of sticky stuff I'd find myself in

[Lori Twichell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted when I picked up this book (with the cool cover) and immediately started flipping my way through the pages. I love facts and information that can help make my life easier and this book has those in spades. Did you know, for instance, if you’re hosting a dinner party and you have a really tight space or you just don’t want your guests pulling drinks from a plastic cooler on the floor, you can use your WASHING MACHINE to chill your drinks, etc.? Seriously. Just grab a bag of ice and stick it all in there. (Buckingham does caution to make sure your dainties are out before you do this and also, to make sure the food/drinks are gone before you do your next load of laundry…) I never would have thought of this and honestly, I nearly giggled with delight. What a great tip!

No matter what your issue is, Buckingham covers it. To prove this, the book has a fifteen page index so you can get straight to the heart of the issue. And I mean it covers everything. Don’t know what to say in an awkward situation? She’s got it handled. Not sure how to remove that stain? Look it up in the index. Having trouble at work? At home? Plumbing? Food prep? Yes, she covers all of it. I was amazed at the number of topics covered in the books and immediately planned to keep it in my kitchen where I thought I’d need it most. Or maybe the bathroom under the sink? Or…yeah. It’s that kind of book. You almost want a copy for your purse, your car, and every other room in your house.

As I was reading cover to cover though, I had to be honest. A lot of the book didn’t apply to me. I guess I’m not a ‘Modern Girl’ as defined by Buckingham. I’m in a long term relationship (my husband is quite happy about that) so I never have to worry about whether to pack an overnight bag ‘just in case’ the date lasts past dinner. (I never did before I was married either. I guess I wasn’t modern then either. But I’m okay with being old-fashioned.) There’s a lot of material of a sexual nature covered in this book and reading it cover to cover made me realize that. I don’t need to worry about what types of underwear to wear on a date (or heaven help me) waking up next to someone and not knowing his name.

I loved the facts/information and tidbits about how to hold my underwire bra together when the wire is insistent on poking my eye out and also how to make sure my slingbacks stay slung across my heel rather than slipping off to give me that flip flop look. If I use the book just for the sections that I need like plumbing, odd chores, fashion faux pas and entertaining, then it’s brilliant. And the design, broken up into sections and with the index in the back, allows me to completely skip over parts that I won’t use or that may offend me. This book’s merit will be decided by each individual user based on the value of the information and tips included vs. the things that might offend or be unnecessary for a happily married Christian woman.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of this as sort of a "Hints from Heloise" for the 21st century. I found myself skimming through, noting information I can use (cleaning costume jewelery) and ignoring that I'll probably never need (holding a formal dinner party).

Some of the information was helpful, but I had a hard time relating to the overall glam-girl, jet-setting tone the author sets throughout the book. However, I was VERY pleased to see the omnivorous author advise--correctly--the ways to cater to a vegan or vegetarian dinner guest.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This covers everything that happens in life from not being comfortable meeting men to cute tips on how to use a favorite book cover as a photo frame or turning retro game board into a bulletin board.
And, there's lots of tips on how to pack and other goodies...I can't imagine needing the modern girl's guide to life -- after reading this I think it covers almost everything!! But, of course, I'll check out the author's other books in case I've missed something.

[Juicy_Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute fun book to flip through.I really didn't like the part where she gives you tips on "what to do if you wake up with a complete stranger after a night of parying and don't remember his name." If that happend to me my first thought would be "Did I come here willingly,was I drugged?" not "Honey,go make some breakfast while I grab your wallet and check your I.D."

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good tips--hopefully I won't forget them. Of course, I was less interested in "how not to look like you didn't have time to go home after you spent the night with someone" and "how to make your dishwasher stop leaving film on your dishes."

[TRH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as "The Modern Girl's Guide to Life", or "The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood". This book mentions situations as meeting you boyfriends' parents for the first time and burning books in the stove accidentally. If you read/have the other two books, you don't really need this one.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.....

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Buckingham provides a fresh look at current faux pas. I imagined her with a British accent and enjoyed the various situations she presented immensely.

[Sos]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was good. Although, there were a lot of topics that I wish that could've been covered. Obviously, she can't cover every topic. All in all, I recommend this book.

[Jama]

so adorable to read through...