Book Review: A State of Jane

By Melissa Amster

I have heard "horror" stories about dating from girlfriends who have been there and done that. They talk about guys who never call after a couple of good dates or guys who made up a lame excuse to not go out with them anymore. These stories reminded me of my own awful dating experiences leading up to meet my husband. (There was one that packed an especially huge punch during that time.) It was enough to make me quote Carrie Fisher in When Harry Met Sally when she says "Tell me I'll never have to be out there again." I had this line going through my head over and over again while vicariously experiencing the frustrations of the main character in "A State of Jane" by Meredith Schorr.

A year after the end of her last (long-term) relationship, Jane Frank decides she is ready to get back in the game and find a serious relationship before she becomes a partner at her father's law firm. First, she needs to go to law school, which means she has to get a good score on the LSAT...while also trying to conquer New York City dating in the 21st century. At first, she thinks meeting a guy is a piece of cake, until that guy suddenly stops calling after unlimited attention during their first two dates. Then other guys prove to be a waste of time and energy. Soon, Jane's stress over meeting Mr. Right takes over her life, forcing her to re-evaluate what is truly important to her.

I really enjoyed "A State of Jane" from start to finish. I was looking for a light story after reading a rather heavy tearjerker. This definitely fit the bill, but it's not all fluffy either. The situations Jane was put through made me want to hug my husband and thank him for not being a commitment-phobe or a complete jerk. I found myself telling some girlfriends how Meredith Schorr must have been reading their thoughts when she wrote this story. It had such a true-to-life feel and took on a realistic edge that most authors are afraid to try out in lieu of giving their characters a happy ending. I wouldn't say the ending isn't happy, but it doesn't wrap up into a pretty package either. Jane was easy to visualize and I could picture Anna Kendrick playing her in a movie version of this novel.

I have no criticisms about this novel. It's cute, fun and hard to put down. Whether you've been in the dating game for a while or you've already met your soul mate, you'll be able to relate to Jane in some way or another.

Thanks to Meredith for the book in exchange for an honest review. It's currently available for $2.99 on Kindle OR you could try to win an e-book from Meredith's interview post (the giveaway is worldwide).