The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs

A Novel

By: Matthew Dicks

Narrated by: Cynthia Hopkins

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Caroline Jacobs has lost herself. She's a wife, mother (to a tattooed teenage daughter she avoids), Sears Portrait Studio photographer, and wimp. Asserting herself, taking the reins, or facing life head-on are not in her repertoire. So when Caroline suddenly cracks and screams "F--k you!" at the PTA president, she is shocked. So is her husband. So is the PTA president. So is everyone. But Caroline soon realizes the true cause of her outburst can be traced back to something that happened to her as a teenager, a scarring betrayal by her best friend, Emily. This act changed Caroline's life forever.

So, with a little bit of bravery flowing through her veins, Caroline decides to go back to her home town and confront Emily. She busts her daughter, Polly, out of school, and the two set off to deliver the perfect comeback, which is 25 years in the making.

But nothing goes as planned. Long-buried secrets begin to rise to the surface, and Caroline will have to face much more than one old, bad best friend.

A heartwarming story told with Matthew Dicks' signature wit, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs is a deceptively simple novel about the ways in which our childhood experiences reverberate through our lives and the bravery of one woman trying to change her life who finds true understanding of her daughter, and herself, along the way.

©2015 Matthew Dicks (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Not as good as anticipated

iI have high expectations for this book, so it is certainly a letdown. i have read most of the author's other books amd this is my least favorite. The synopsis of the story makes it more interesting than it turns out to be. The story is too short and makes a big deal out of nothing. However, the narration is superb, and thus,, is totally wasted here. Nonetheless, i have high hopes for the author. And wish he had learned his lesson with this and grow.

My fabulous son-in-law wrote this book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs to be better than the print version?

I am able to listen to more stories that I am able to read. I really enjoy audible books so much. I still read, but am usually too tired to continue - listening - in the car, when walking the dogs, on the train, walking in the street, at the market - I can listen anywhere and I love that.

What did you like best about this story?

Well, yes - it's one of my son-in-law's wonderful stories. BUT aside from that - I was really able to think about things that happened in my own youth - not the bullying part, perhaps, but the idea of leaving one friend behind for another. It made me think about that - the pain I probably caused, and the things that young people can do to one another. If I had that to do over, I would. Being the mom of two daughter's, I enjoyed the relationships that moved and changed throughout the course of the book. Knowing Matt as I do, I find it interesting that he can be aware of the feelings of girls/women the way that he did. BUT I would recommend listening to the interview after the story - he talks about how his wife and friends read as he writes and that he is open to their thoughts. Since some of them are women - he must be getting their feedback as to how a woman or girl might feel about certain things.
SO, I would say that what I liked best was being able to feel a connection to Caroline and Emily.

What does Cynthia Hopkins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think that I would enjoy reading the book also. I just get through more books being able to listen to them. A bad narrator though, can really ruin a good story - Cynthia Hopkins, I thought, did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes - the dinner that Polly put together totally surprised me - I loved it.

Any additional comments?

The things that happen to us as we are growing up certainly determine who we will be in our later years - this was a great example of the pain one can cause for another. Everyone but Caroline's daughter treated Caroline as if she was making a big deal about something that happened so long ago and that she should have gotten over it - but I understood - and I think a lot of other people will too.