Guest Book Review and Giveaway: The Fun Widow's Book Tour

By Allyson Bales

Mia, a self-proclaimed “mid-lister” author and mother of “the dudes,” lost her husband  a few years ago and is struggling to move on.  She recently wrote a memoir about the loss of her husband and widowhood and it's not doing very well.  Her three best friends encourage Mia to go on a book tour to promote the memoir and figure out what’s next.  She has spent the last few years writing, taking care of her sons, and not much else.  Her father, Ira, agrees to watch the boys and Mia agrees to promote her book while also visiting her three best friends and begrudgingly her stepmother, Judy.  

The story begins with Mia awaiting advance reader reviews and I really enjoyed the glimpse into the publishing world.  Being able to read and review books early is such a gift and I had no idea how much effort is made in publishing and promoting a book.  Not to mention the stress of the early reviews on the author!  I really enjoyed learning about that process and seeing it through Mia’s eyes.

I also really adored the beautiful showcase of friendship.  I loved the dynamic between Mia, Chelsea, Rachel, and George.  They all root for one another and back each other up with no apologies.  It was emotional seeing Mia’s attempts at helping her friends work on their relationships.  Fishman’s writing is incredibly tender, raw, and incredibly descriptive.  There were times when I felt like I was right next to Mia in San Francisco, Chicago or Atlanta.  Additionally, many of us can relate to complicated relationships with our parents and Mia and Ira working through some of their struggles was really heartwarming.  Ira is direct and tough on Mia but also incredibly proud and supportive in his own way.  I really loved Ira.

What I did not expect was the prominence of Coronavirus in this book as Mia’s book tour starts right at the beginning of the pandemic.  Corona as a secondary character brought me right back to March of 2020.  My how far we have come but what a reminder of what we all went through during that time. Reading about the unknown, schools closing, and whether or not hugging is safe was jolting! 

The Fun Widow’s Book Tour is perfect for someone struggling with grief and working to find the strength and courage to move on and save themselves.  There were so many beautiful moments and quotes that I will treasure.  Here is one of my favorites.  “She knew that they all had a clock ticking on their lives, an expiration date that was out of their control.  Once you know that, your entire perception of the world changes.  It was a conscious choice every day to find joy.”

Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have a copy to share with a lucky reader!

Allyson Bales lives in New Jersey.  She is an art therapist working with at-risk youth and loves making a difference.  Books have been her saving grace and really helped her manage being a front line worker during the Pandemic.  When she’s not helping others, she loves to travel and camp with her wife.  One of her favorite places to read is by a campfire with some good tunes in the background.  You can find her on Bookstagram at @readswithally.

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Giveaway ends April 16th at midnight EST.

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