Chainsaw Honeymoon

By: Steven Ramirez

Narrated by: Valerie Mirarchi

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Can Ruby save her parents’ marriage? Maybe, with a little help.

A year ago, Alan and Stacey Navarro separated, leaving their daughter, Ruby, to live with her mom and an over-caffeinated Shih Tzu. People split up all the time, and most kids might learn to deal. Not Ruby.

A bright, funny 14-year-old who loves shoes and horror movies, Ruby is on an insane mission to get her parents back together. But she can’t do it alone.

She needs her two best friends, a dog named Ed Wood, an arrogant filmmaker, a bizarre collection of actors - and a chainsaw-wielding movie killer. Yeah, it’ll be fine.

What reviewers are saying:

“In the form of Ruby, Ramirez imparts to readers all the confusion brought about by puberty; the emotional neediness camouflaged by sarcasm; the obsession and continuing frustration with boys; and the bonds female teenagers forge with one another.” (IndieReader)

“Whether your favorite form is surreal, tongue-in-cheek, word play or hysterical, you’ll find ample portions of each to keep you laughing. The pace is fast, told from several points of view, and full of surprises that make for an unforgettable read.” (Readers’ Favorite)

“The writing throughout the novel is sharp and smart, depicting the City of Angels like a key character, setting the stage for the plot to unravel, while also capturing some of the strangest sides of the film industry. Ruby is a precocious and fascinating narrator, and the supporting cast of friends, actors, and unexpected allies drive this novel forward.” (Self-Publishing Review)

©2018 Steven Ramirez (P)2018 Steven Ramirez

Cute

I liked this cute second chance type romance. I loved how the author orchestrates the 'second chance' for the couple. Interestingly enough, it is primarily from the perspective of the couple's daughter Ruby. Ruby is a very well developed character and she is easy to relate to.

My biggest and only complaint was that this novel was labelled as a 'romantic comedy', but I didn't really think it was funny enough to be placed in this category. I, as the listener, could very much be the problem. Perhaps I don't have the right sense of humor. Perhaps I didn't have a good understanding of the context or of references that would make it funny (kind of like not being in on an 'inside' joke). This does not mean that I didn't find some scenes grin worthy, I just thought that I would have genuinely laughed out loud. So, to me, this book kind of fails in the comedy department.

However, in the romance department, this book succeeds. I thought the structure of the book made it a really good second chance romance; and I was still very much entertained by this novel and I enjoyed listening. This was a very cute easy listen that kept my attention throughout.

I thought the narrator did a pretty good job, however, I don't think the narrator distinguished their voice enough when changing points of views or changing characters. I found myself thinking multiple times throughout "wait, which character is this supposed to be?", I didn't automatically know based on voice association.

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.