Guest Book Review & Giveaway: A Total Waste of Makeup

***Giveaway is now closed***

By Marlene Engel

Charlize Edwards, or Charlie as her friends and family like to call her, appears to have it all. She lives in a hip L.A neighborhood and is the personal assistant to one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars, Drew Stanton. Sounds like the perfect life, right? Not for Charlie who’s closing in on thirty years old, is still single and having to deal with her quirky family and their ever demanding needs. Convinced that she will never find Mr. Right, get married or have kids, Charlie decides to write a self-help book for her fictitious great grand-niece. She figures her younger sister, who is engaged and planning her wedding, is more likely to have a child than she is. Why not write a book about what she’s learned about dating over the years and pass it down to her? Ironically, she doesn’t follow the very advice that she’s putting in the book. Charlie is struggling with having to deal with her own relationship issues while having to put up with her parents’ unique arrangement (divorced, yet living together while dating other people). Throw in her younger sister’s wedding planning demands and having to be the maid of honor and poor Charlie is about to lose it. Thankfully she has the support of her closest friends to help her through it all. But still, some days are just A Total Waste of Makeup!

This novel was a laugh out loud, fun read from beginning to end. I found that I could relate to many things that Charlie was going through and feeling. The comedic spin that the author put on the issues that Charlie was facing was brilliant. Charlie’s advice that she wrote in the book for her great grand-niece was so fun and witty. It made me wish that there really was a book published. I also really enjoyed the different personalities of her family, friends and boss. They were all so unique and fun loving. Her family was a bit “off”, but that’s what made them so entertaining. Her girlfriends reminded me of my friends. They were fun and always there when you need them. The bond that the three friends had is the glue that keeps Charlie’s sanity together. And good ole Drew Stanton was such a character. The things that would come out of his mouth and his spontaneous actions made him so lovable. You just never knew what to expect next from him.

I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a light hearted, laugh-out-loud read then this is the book for you. I found the book to be very well written and extremely hard to put down. I couldn’t believe that this was the authors debut novel. I highly recommend this book and ensure that you won’t be disappointed!

Marlene Engel is a stay at home mom who runs a home daycare. She lives in Clifton Park, New York with her husband and (almost) three year old daughter. She also has three older boys who live away from home while attending college. She is an adoptive/foster parent and an advocate for the special needs population. In her spare time she enjoys reading and getting together with her book club.

Thanks to Kim Gruenenfelder, Marlene has signed copies of A Total Waste of Makeup for THREE lucky readers located in the US.

How to win A Total Waste of Makeup:
Since this is food month and the focus of this book is dating, please tell us: What is your favorite eating establishment to go to on a date?

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will not be counted.

US only. Giveaway ends March 11th at midnight EST

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