This book was so so good! I loved all the Austin references and it’s basically a love letter to the city.

Also, this book is perfect for the fans of books like the shopaholic series and Bridget Jones diary. The protagonists of these books generally seem irritating to me but Roxy wasn’t. Roxy was an amazing protagonist and made you care about her and her feelings. I was totally invested in this book and could not put it down. Definitely read this book.

The Roxy Letters had a promising premise: a young 20-something fresh out of art school just trying to get by day-to-day in Texas. The letter format has always intrigued me and the first few letters kept my attention, but the ex-boyfriend addresses quickly became irrelevant and frivolous, making the story seem the same. I had to mark this as “did not finish” as it just couldn’t keep my attention.

This book was not for me. It was a clever idea with the letters from Roxy to her ex. But it was too much vulva, too much!

Oh my goodness, this book is an absolute delight! I lost track of the amount of times I laughed out loud. Normally I struggle with epistolary novels, Mary Pauline Lowry is so skilled at creating vivid characters, and Roxy's voice is totally capable of carrying the story through these (mostly) unsent letters to her ex-boyfriend/roommate.

At the beginning of the book, Roxy is almost a caricature of a millennial hipster, a mostly vegan almost full-time Whole Foods deli-maid struggling with artist's block, struggling to make ends meet to support herself and her dog (Roscoe) and cat (Charlize Theron). In her first letter, Roxy complains:
"I was already in a funk last night that it was summer solstice and I had not gathered with an interesting coven of female friends to celebrate the longest day of the year with a series of elaborate rites. Rather, I'd been moping around in my room, trying to find solace in the poetry of Alice Notley and a pint of vegan ice cream, and wondering why it is I spend so much time home alone."
She's not always successful maintaining her vegan diet or bringing love, friendship, and art into the world, but she sure does try, invoking the goddess Venus, using crystals and tarot to guide her. I feel like I should be annoyed by this, but I find it all too relatable.

It seems like a lot of the reviewers so far have been totally turned off by Roxy's immaturity and selfishness, which does drive a lot of the decisions she makes throughout the novel. But Lowry performs her own bit of magic here by the way Roxy grows by the end. Roxy isn't let off the hook either; she's surrounded by a rich cast of supporting characters, all of whom are complex in their own ways. Even if Roxy brushes it off at the time, her friends and coworkers don't hesitate to call her out for her behavior. If those squicked out readers had stuck around, they would have also witnessed one of the best character arcs I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

There is much to love (or hate) about Roxy, and she has so much to learn. One of my favorite parts of her journey is her horror at the gentrification of Austin, TX. Roxy writes:
"Traffic down to the Hike and Bike Trail was hideous, the skyline full of cranes. I counted seven, each one building another towering upscale downtown condo that will soon be packed full of douchebags arriving from San Francisco and LA. Those D-bags may be in search of authenticity or the real America, but they will each contribute to diluting the essence and soul of this town that means everything to me. Oh how I wish I could do one tiny something to preserve this place that I love!"
Honestly, I GET it. As someone currently living in the fastest growing city in the US, the way Roxy bemoans gentrification is all too relatable. And while I don't picture myself ever going the route she does to try to combat the soulless, corporate spread, there is so much to admire everything Roxy achieves in the end.

There are so many topics Lowry covers with humor, deftness, and compassion: gentrification, addiction, mental illness, feminism, friendship, becoming an actual adult while still holding on the childhood dreams... It's a wild, hilarious, ultimately heartwarming ride. I cannot overstate how dearly I love this book!

(Note: The quotes are all from an uncorrected ARC, so they may change upon publication.)

Roxy is a dreamer. Big hearted. Free spirit. Mostly vegan. Uninspired Whole Foods employee. Artist. Landlord to an ex boyfriend living in her guest room.

Told through a series of letters to her aforementioned ex, The Roxy Letters is a hilarious tale of letting go and living better with the help of your friends.
I really enjoyed it. It was funny, slightly raunchy, and fun to read. It reminded me a lot of The Boyfriend School, which also has an unlucky in love main character with a group of weird friends and takes place in Austin. It was also an interesting format. I've read and enjoyed a lot of diary style novels, but this is the first one I've read in the form of letters to an ex that will never be sent.

I had seen some mixed reviews for this book, so I went into it with a little trepidation. I shouldn't have worried. This book was a fun, quick read. I'll admit, writing the letters to Everett when he lived with Roxy seemed a little...strange. But, once I got past that, the story and characters were a lot of fun!! Roxy was a bit of a mess, but the kind of fun mess that I would want to be friends with. I'm hoping there will be a sequel so we can continue with the antics of Roxy and her friends.

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

The Roxy Letters follows an artist named Roxy from Austin, Texas. Roxy is usually broke, unlucky in love, has a job at the deli at Whole Foods, and Austin is changing into something that she quickly isn’t recognizing. When the Waterloo Video store across the street from her work closes and becomes a Lululemon, she starts a crusade to have it closed. The book is written as a series of letters from Roxy to her ex-boyfriend turned roommate Everett, first as a way to remind him that he owes rent, but then as a way to vent and reflect on her life.

I adored this novel for several reasons, but I’m only going to touch on a few of them. The power of female friendship is one of the dominant themes in the book, and it is SO well done. I love how Mary Pauline Lowry shows the evolution of Roxy and her close friends as they experience life together. She also shows how friends can drift apart and come back together, which is fabulous to see.

Secondly (and this is a more personal reason), the Austin that Mary describes is so similar to the one I knew in college. Her descriptions are dead on, and the places she mentions are real (with the exception of the fact that Waterloo Video is part of Waterloo Records). Austin Pets Alive is a real no kill shelter (and is always taking donations!), Spiderhouse is just as she describes, and Roxy has a legit Torchy’s order. This all made me so happy to read, and I had a lovely time reminiscing on the years I was in college.

In conclusion, this book has certain parts that are so, so freaking hilarious. Roxy’s adventures and choices make you scratch your head and wonder why someone would do such a thing, but who hasn’t made a few questionable decisions in their life? I know that I’m certainly not innocent in that regard.

Thank you to @librofm, @netgalley, @simonandschuster, and @marypaulinelowry for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It’s out on April 7th, and I’d love to hear what you thought, if you’ve read it!

I so so so wanted to like this book, but I truly could not get into after a few chapters. I'm sorry! I won't be reviewing it on my site because I don't write reviews unless I can be really positive.

Hilarious warm wonderful read.A book told through letters.A book I will be passing on to my girlfriends.Characters come alive a story that entertained really enjoyed. #netgalley#simon&schuster

This was a cute, light read, and is perfect if you need something in between heavier reads. Roxy begins by writing letters to her ex-boyfriend who is moving in with her as a friend to help with the rent, however, it doesn’t appear that this is the right thing for her to do. It starts off ok, and then he is slow with the rent, and then becomes even slower. We learn all of this through her letter writing, which is an interesting way to convey the message. Not all of the book is letters, and they are heavier in the beginning but fade further apart towards the end and I was ok with that format.

What I really enjoyed was watching Roxy come into her own and find out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. It is a bumpy ride to get there, case in point the beginning was a little much for me, but by the second half she has found her groove and this actually turns out to be quite the story that has a nice ending.

A warning that this can be a little graphic, her ex-boyfriend does some things for money that are unconventional, and while it had me rolling, it may not be for everyone. Other topics get a little graphic as well, and while we’re at it, I should go ahead and caveat that there are topics on mental health and alcohol abuse in here too. If you didn’t see that coming neither did I, but it is tactfully done and part of what made the story turn around for me.

One annoying thing for me was the constant ‘oh my goddess’ towards the end that was a tad excessive, but maybe because I did this one via audio did it bother me so much. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. Oh, I almost forgot, the dog and cat side story was adorable as well. Again, you’ve been warned on the graphic nature of some subjects, but if you want a fun, light read, I recommend picking this one up when it comes out on April 7th.

Thank you to libro.fm and NetGalley for the advanced ALC / ARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you Net Galley and Simon& Schuster for the e-galley of this book.

I wanted to like this book. I really did! It was compared to Bridget Jones' Diary but I don't agree. I struggled to keep reading. Maybe it was the format. The series of letters written to the ex-boyfriend/new roommate. Maybe it's because of my age - 52 - I had a hard time relating to the subject. But I couldn't get into and and DNF.

Thank you for the opportunity though!

Falling somewhere between a diary and an epistolary novel, the titular Roxy begins writing the titular letters to her ex-boyfriend Everett, who has just moved into the spare bedroom of her house to help with her mortgage payments. At first Roxy leaves said letters for Everett to read, but once he moves out (much to the chagrin of her bank account) “Dear Everett” becomes a welcome substitute for the perhaps clichéd “Dear Diary.” Taking place in the latter half of 2012—ah, yes, a simpler time for all—Roxy is on a mission, however lackadaisical it may seem, to ditch her dead-end job at the Whole Foods deli counter and take down the Lululemon store that has just opened across the street, in the name of keeping her beloved Austin weird. Despite having an ex for a roommate, Roxy’s also trying to reinvigorate her love life after the heartbreak and betrayal that was Brant Bitterbrush (yes, clearly he needs to be referred to by his full name). With her friend Annie and a new friend in the mysterious Artemis, Roxy channels the power of Venus in order to take charge of her life. Oh my Goddess, there may be too much going on in this book (a sub-subplot about Roxy’s retired dentist dad fixing her reformed meth-head neighbor’s teeth?), but it was a fun journey nonetheless. It would be too easy to compare this book to Bridget Jones’s Diary, especially as it is referenced numerous times in the book’s endorsements and in the actual text itself, because the tone landed more in the vein of the Princess Diaries, with Lowry’s writing prompting equal amounts of laughing and cringing at Roxy’s antics.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review.

Roxy is a 28-year old inspiring artist. Through a series of letters written to her ex-boyfriend, Roxy describes her fight against gentrification of Austin while working as a deli maid at the original Whole Foods, her adventures of dating uninspiring men, and her complicated but realistic and loving relationships with her girlfriends, especially her BFF Anna and new BFF Artemis. The letters read like a diary at one point because Roxy writes these letters for herself while she is in her feelings, without the expectation of the letters being read by anybody else.

While reading this book, I laughed out loud during Roxy's antics and the situations she put herself in. However, as an actual 28-year old, I had a hard time reading this while keeping in mind Roxy was portrayed as a 28-year old. The way Roxy spoke and handled situations was more keen to 20-year old. Roxy had the obsession of using the word "Goddess" in every other sentence, and a lack of motivation to get herself out of financial stress despite the ability to make opportunities for herself. I would of had more compassion for Roxy and her struggles to find herself if she was in her early twenties. . .

The Roxy Letters, by Mary Pauline Lowry was a nice break from the serious. It was light and humorous with a side of social justice.

The entire book is told through a series of letters written by Roxy, most of which were never read and became a sort of journal of Roxy’s life. You will find yourself feeling as though you’re sitting in Roxy’s home with her rooting her on! The whole time I was reading, I could picture this book in movie form.

The Roxy Letters will keep you sucked in and turning pages to see what she’s up to next. Do not miss this read!

I couldn't make it through the end of this one. I found the the main character extremely annoying and self-absorbed. I went to college in Austin and lived there for awhile, so maybe I am too close to the subject. I can't quite pinpoint what's turning me off about this one, besides the main character. Perhaps she grows as the story moves along, but she hasn't a third of the way in and I can't even with this book any more.

While this book wasn't exactly my cup of kombucha (ha), I found it got better plot-wise as Roxy gained some perspective.

I think my biggest hangup was that while the 'Austin Neo-Hippie from 2012' isn't something I'm an expert on, I found it surprising that someone who is that much into backing feminist causes doesn't mention the 2012 election AT ALL. Not even a passing reference.

2.75/5 stars

The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry tells the story of Roxy through her letters to her roommate/ex-boyfriend Everett. She is almost 30, an "artist" living in Austin, TX who works at a Whole Foods while plotting the take down of a Lululemon that recently opened.

I love a good epistolary novel. This is not one of them. It isn't because we only read her letters to Everett. One-sided letters can tells a good story (ex: A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey or Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith). It reads as if Lowry just chopped up her first person point of view novel into smaller sections and added greetings and sign-offs.

There was nothing redeeming about Roxy. She was vapid and annoying. She doesn't grow as a character. The supporting cast of characters are more interesting.

Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review

The storyline of this book was very unique - I haven't seen another one like it. Though sometimes i was confused between the transition from letter to narration. The commentary of Roxy was a little vulgar but in a way that made you laugh. This book was just okay to me.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐱𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐫𝐲. Book 39 of 2020. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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Roxy is in a rut. She works as a deli-maid at the local (and original) Whole Foods in Austin, Texas, currently has an ex-boyfriend as a roommate, is in debt, and has lost contact with her college besties, whom have all seemed to settled down more in live. ⁣
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This book is so much fun! I loved the first person letter writing, which felt similar to When We Were Vikings. The characters are so delightful, and Roxy meets many along the way. ⁣
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So many parts of this book were hilarious and I absolutely love Roxy and her friends. I was laughing out loud at her escapades, as she decides to take on the newly opened Lululemon. She takes a stand to “keep Austin weird” and keep local shops thriving. ⁣
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The Roxy Letters comes out 4/7 and you’re going to want to get yourself a copy. It’s a delightful, fresh, and fun read. Bonus points if you are an Austin, Texas fan! I’ve never been, but I sure want to visit now! ⁣
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This book was written through a series of letters to Roxy’s ex boyfriend / current roommate, so the format took a little more time to get used to. I heard it was similar to “where’d you go, Bernadette?” which thrilled me. While Roxy is snarky and headstrong, she’s also a bit pretentious yet still manages to bring some humor to the novel. This book took me quite a long time to get into and by the time I did, it was over. The writing was fantastic but I just couldn’t get excited over the story or the characters.