I think I wasn't the target audience for this book. It was a nice read, but nothing stood out too much for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF I tried to finish this book but I got 15% through it but I just found it a little into detail if you get what I mean.
I get that the main character is supposed to have a breakthrough but the loathing just got to me.
Thank you netgalley, publisher and the author for giving me the chance to do this!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character is both relatable and sympathetic and I loved witnessing her journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book - it's literally a laugh out loud audio and I cracked up throughout the whole thing!! The awesome thing was - I could soooooo see myself in Jessica!! ESPECIALLY the incident in the pantry in the kitchen - I seriously do this to my entire family (shhhhhh). I think every mom can see shades of herself in this tale. I'm very excited to find a new to me author and can't wait to read more!! Thank you to Netgalley and Melanie Summers and Tantor Audio for an advanced listen in exchange for an honest review. LOVED the narrator - Tavia Gilbert

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Well this was a delight. So very relevant, and I eagerly followed Jess' journey. I would read more by this author. The narrator did a great job as well.

When Jess got married, she put her dreams on hold in order to support her husband in launching his career first. And when it was finally her turn, it was too late. Kids started arriving. So instead, she became a stay-at-home mom. But not just any stay-at-home mom. The best one she could possibly be!

The problem is, the longer she subjugated her dreams, the more they forced themselves to the forefront, especially as her teenage kids perpetually share how much they don't need her anymore.

Her husband is oblivious to the fact that something serious is brewing for people-pleasing Jess until it's much too late, and they all suffer the consequences.

While this story had good potential and I know many women can resonate with putting the needs of others ahead of themselves one too many times, I found that I really didn't like any of the primary characters in the story. I was all for Jess sticking up for herself, but she didn't ease into it. Instead, she completely upended her entire family's lives without considering the consequences for any of them.

There are healthier ways to set boundaries, and I didn't find her antics entertaining or enjoyable. Unfortunately, I had hoped for a lot more from this story.

Thank you to Melanie Summers, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Good one! Here are some tropes/facts:
👩🏼‍🦱selfsevelopment
🫥midlife crisis
👭friendship
👫working on marriage
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦family

I enjoyed reading! I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator had a great voice, i really liked how i managed to keep all the characters apart from just one voice.

I also like the story a lot, its about figuring out what is most important to you in life, and how to get there. Lots of people live unfulfilling lives because thats just how it is, but it shouldnt just be that, it can be so much more. This story shows that! And it also shows that its perfectly fine if your dreams change, as long as you do the thing that will make you happy in the end.

Recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book I have read by Melanie Summers and she still keep me wanting more of her books. I thought the narrator Tavia Gilbert did a good job reading this book. I'm not a mom but I understand how life can get overwhelming and feel like you haven't done what you thought you would have done in your life. A lot of us get caught up in taking care of others and not ourselves. That was nice to read. We're not alone out there. I enjoyed Jessica's journey to figuring herself out. There are funny moments and even sad times, too. I would definitely recommend this book!!


Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this book. Jessica is a harried mother of teens who regrets never fullfilling her dream of becoming a lawyer. She decides to remedy this; much to the consternation of her unappreciative family. She quits her job, immerses herself in LSAT prep, upends her household, but is that what she really wants?

Jessica Holloway is unfulfilled in her life. She had planned to be a lawyer, but when she married and got pregnant, she put those dreams on hold to be a full-time stay at home mom. Now, her kids are in high school, and she dreams of the lives she could be living instead. She needs to do something to shake up her life; how can she find happiness?

For me, this was a case of an unlikeable main character ruining the story. I wanted the ability to jump into the book and talk some sense into Jess; her selfishness was astounding. Maybe if I were a mother, I would be able to relate more. This book just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

Jessica is in her mid 40s, married with 2 teen kids. She's at the point in her life when she asks "is this it? What happened to my life?" I know so many women at this stage. I don't know why it happens, or how to prevent it, but many of us end up here. Even my friends without kids end up here.

When Jessica decides to make some changes, she is met with resistance, anger and incredulity every step of the way.

Melanie Summers takes this taboo topic and makes it completely hilarious and oh so relatable. Sometimes too relatable. As I get older I can relate to this book more and more.

The blend of humor and seriousness was perfection. Multiple laugh out loud moments, kicking my legs with laughter.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook

I'M NOT CRYING YOU ARE.

This book hit me hard, as a mother, and I am so happy I got to listen to the audio book.

Jessica is a mother to two kids, has a perfect husband, and finally decides it's time to find her own life.

This book was perfect for any mothers struggling to see how much we truly do for the family even when it feels like we could do a lot more by working. The way I cried when her family didn't believe in her going back to school was so sad. I enjoyed the audio so much and the little humor that was included.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC audio.

Thank you to netgalley for an arc of this audiobook. I really enjoyed this book. It’s an honest take on being a mom. I thought it was really relatable. Jessica is a mom to 2 teenagers. She lives in an upper middle class neighborhood with her husband. She has good friends and family. Most would think she has it all. She mostly feels deflated. Like a doormat that is always trying to win mom of the year. It’s just not fulfilling to her and the kids are almost grown. She decides to go back to college, take the lsat and become a lawyer. To me this seems like an impossible situation with 2 teenagers and a husband that expects you to be a housewife. I thought this book was endearing. It’s about not giving up on yourself. Life is full of new chapters. I definitely recommend this book for any mom!

Jessica is not living what she believes should be her best life. She has a wonderful family, good friends and is doing as she was told would make her happy. After a scary car accident she decides that if she doesn’t make some changes now she never will. Those unilateral and unexpected changes create serious ripples, okay maybe more like tsunami sized waves than ripples, but she goes for it and they all have to deal with the fallout. Jessicas journey to finding her own personal happiness, figuring out what she wants, how she wants to live and be seen and finally getting the respect from her family and friends is a wonderful listen (or read of course). I was team Jessica from the very start and cheering her on all the way.

This book could've been about me! I say 'I Used to be Fun' all the time and there were so many pieces of this story that hit home for me. Becoming a mom is hard and this book validated so many of those feelings.

This is a must read for all women out there , I really enjoyed Jess's story , she finds herself unhappy in her comfortable life and decides to change it . It is a good story for women to read to see that everyone deserves to live the life they want , fulfill dreams and still have it all . This was funny , raw and honest . great read!

Absolutely loved this audiobook, I’m a bit older than Jess the main character so I related to everything she was going through. It was funny, I giggled a lot. I enjoyed the ending too. Narrator was good.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy for an honest review.

I loved this. Very relatable book. A housewife looks back at her life and wants something for just her. Not just taking care of 4 people. I was like, "good for you!"

📚 Book Review 📚

I used to be fun by Melanie Summers
Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

What a story! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and think I would have loved reading it in paper too.

The story: A mum gets sick of always being second and takes her future and legacy into her own hands. As a (young) mum this base story line is so easy to buy into, but this isn’t a time for how we need to treat mums better. While the path Jessica takes is somewhat unconventional she’s confronted with some uncomfortable truths along the way as she discovers her big change isn’t the way she wants to go after all. I often found myself wanting to give her a big hug. There are some really funny moments and some equally moving ones that give this book a great balance. I thought the ending was fitting and made sense.

Narration: I listened to this book on 1.5x as I do with all audiobooks. I find this gives the best pacing for me without voices being distorted. Tavia did an amazing job narrating this book! I’d definitely listen to more books with her as the narrator.

Spice level: low and very okay with that especially as it isn’t billed as a romance book. Won’t make you uncomfortable at work. If anything I’d the spice was high it would take away from the book.

Disclaimer: this audiobook was given to me via @netgalley in exchange for this review. All thoughts are my own.

Super funny (maybe especially for women of a certain age), and interesting to think about.


Review copy provided by publisher.