Book Review and Giveaway: Invisible Ellen

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Have you ever felt invisible? Like you don't matter? That you can go days, weeks, or even months without interacting with another human being? Well, that is how Ellen Homes feels, until one woman comes along to change all that in ways she never thought possible.

Ellen is just going about her normal routine of observing her neighbors, eating junk food, and working the overnight shift at Costco. Having been shamed over her physical appearance and with no one caring about her, Ellen has found ways to make herself invisible and she's quite comfortable living this way, with only a cat for company. One day Temerity, a young woman who is blind, sits next to Ellen on her bus ride to work. Intrigued by her friendliness and outrageous sense of fashion, she follows her off the bus and ends up saving her from being mugged. Soon, Temerity and Ellen form a close friendship and go about involving themselves in the lives of others. Now that Ellen isn't so invisible anymore, will she become comfortable with her new lifestyle, knowing she actually matters to someone else...even if that someone can't even see her?

Invisible Ellen isn't your average chick lit novel. However, it has had an impact on me that only happens every once in a while from a book. It is such a heartwarming and uplifting story about friendship and the effects it can have on one's life. When Ellen and Temerity first became friends, it reminded me of how I felt when I first became friends with certain women I am still close with now and the natural high I got after hanging out with them. Aside from Ellen and Temerity, there were a lot of interesting characters who came in and out of the story at different times. I loved seeing what the two women would come up with next to change their lives in some way. Going along with this were some really funny moments, as well as poignant ones.

While most of the characters and settings were easy to visualize, I wish that we had been told which city Ellen lived in. I kept picturing New York, but am under the impression that Shari would want it to take place in L.A., since she lives out that way. The apartment building Ellen lived in would have been easier to understand in terms of layout, had there been a picture to accompany it. Either Ellen had supersonic hearing, or the windows of her neighbors were incredibly close. I also would have liked to know Ellen's age. I know Temerity was in her 20s, but Ellen could have been anywhere on the age spectrum. There were some coincidences that seemed a bit forced, making other parts predictable, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I just kept wanting to see what would happen next.

A few weeks ago, I participated in #HugABookWeek on Twitter and Facebook. I happened to be reading Invisible Ellen at the time and it was just the perfect book to hug. I didn't even want to let it go when I had turned the last page. It has definitely made it to my 2014 favorites list, as well as my all-time favorites list. I can't seem to stop recommending it! I know there's a sequel coming and already can't wait to get my hands on it! I don't really have any casting ideas, but when I picture Temerity, she looks like Tatiana Maslany when she plays Cosima on Orphan Black. I could even see their personalities being the same.

Thanks to Putnam for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have FIVE copies for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada. And Shari Shattuck has offered ONE of the winners a one-on-one Skype chat! 

How to win:
Please tell us: What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

One entry per person.

Entries without contact information (e-mail address, Twitter account, Facebook page, etc.) will NOT be counted (and we do NOT count "Google +" as contact information).

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends October 7th at midnight EST.