Review: 32 Candles (Book Tour)

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter
Genre: Chick Lit, Cultural (African American)
Pages: 338 (paperback)
Source: TLC BookTours |Amistad/HarperCollins Publishers
32 Candles |  Author's Blog
From Goodreads:

Davie—an ugly duckling growing up in small-town Mississippi—is positive her life couldn’t be any worse. She has the meanest mother in the South, possibly the world, and on top of that, she’s pretty sure she’s ugly. Just when she’s resigned herself to her fate, she sees a movie that will change her life—Sixteen Candles. But in her case, life doesn’t imitate art. Tormented endlessly in school with the nickname "Monkey Night," and hopelessly in unrequited love with a handsome football player, James Farrell, Davie finds that it is bittersweet to dream of Molly Ringwald endings. When a cruel school prank goes too far, Davie leaves the life she knows and reinvents herself in the glittery world of Hollywood—as a beautiful and successful lounge singer in a swanky nightclub.
Davie is finally a million miles from where she started—until she bumps into her former obsession, James Farrell. To Davie’s astonishment, James doesn’t recognize her, and she can’t bring herself to end the fantasy. She lets him fall as deeply in love with her as she once was with him. But is life ever that simple? Just as they’re about to ride off into the sunset, the past comes back with a vengeance, threatening to crush Davie’s dreams—and break her heart again.

My Rating:My Review:
This should be a mini-review because I can't talk about the book much without giving anything away.  However... I don't follow my own rules sometimes.  Davidia, or Davie, Jones has a rough upbringing and much of her child and young adulthood isn't fun.  She escapes her life by watching a few 80s movies like 16 Candles and hopes for a similar ending.   Unfortunately life happens and Davie realizes that these endings aren't easy to come by.  Claiming to move on, she attempts to pick up the pieces and establish a better life..
I really enjoyed this book.  It doesn't follow the typical formula of most novels so hang on to your seats.  It reminds me of a movie rather than a book for some reason.  I really identified with Davie and I understood her anger.  I wouldn't call her psycho (she does some things that aren't really that great) or crazy.  I think she is resourceful and I understand the need for revenge.  So again I identify with her.  Things do tie up in a neat unrealistic bow in the way of most movies (again it reminds me of a movie rather than a book).  I loved that Davie was down to earth and very tell-it-like-it-is and I was with her every step of the way.  I think if you like Davie, you will love the book like I do.  Read this if you like books that tie up nicely and a complicated character that changes throughout the book.

Ernessa T. Carter has worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, a music journalist in Pittsburgh, a payroll administrator in Burbank, and a radio writer for American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood. Carter’s also a retired L.A. Derby Doll (roller derby). A graduate of Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA program, she now lives in Los Angeles. 32 Candles is her first novel. She blogs at www.fierceandnerdy.com

For other opinions, check out other stops on the tour!