Book Review: Recession Proof

By Cindy Roesel

Everyone is wondering whether or not Chick Lit will survive.

“I just really want to know what it feels like to be in love.”

HELLO! As long as authors like Kimberly S. Lin keep writing pure wonderful sentences like that in novels such as her debut, RECESSION PROOF, there is no way Chick Lit is going anywhere and blogs like Chick Lit Central will continue to be here to review all the latest books!

In RECESSION PROOF, Helen has fallen into a six year rut with her boring boyfriend, Mark, and has a safe job that pays the bills in this stinky economy but offers no passion to her life. She’s nearing the big three-oh, so there’s pressure from her family and friends to settle down. When Helen’s pregnant BFF Sophie’s husband dies from cancer and leaves her a single mother, Helen has a wake-up call. She’s smart enough to know there is more to life than what is right in front of her and she’s willing to work hard to get what she wants to be happy. As a reader, it’s easy to become Helen’s cheerleader. She’s likeable and driven. She has a great group of friends which she treats well and they reciprocate.

Helen has always wanted to be a writer, but has always taken the cushy career path, up until now when she gets fired and decides to go for it. She gets hired for free at a local paper and also meets a really hot guy, Nate who she ends up having an amazing one night stand with. Then she runs away, because of what she refers to as “Girl logic” – which, of course, only girls can understand.

“I ran away that night because I was happy. I was terrifyingly happy.”

Well, you know it’s going to get more complicated before it shakes out and because it is Chick-Lit, there is the obligatory happy-ending.

What I found most refreshing about RECESSION PROOF is how Kimberly S. Lin tackled our current financial mess turning it into a relevant contemporary novel. There were a lot of serious storylines going on in her book regarding the economy and people’s lives, but she was able to balance the humor and seriousness at the same time. I haven’t found many Chick Lit writers who take on that challenge. I applaud her for stepping up, because it’s a fine line and it wasn’t easy to write about.

She’s working on her second novel. I’m sure we’re all anxious to see what’s next. I know I am. You can find Kimberly on her website, on Facebook and at her blog.