The Next Thing on My List

Jill Smolinski

2007 • 288 pages

Ratings4

Average rating3.8

Meet June Parker. She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds.

But June’s life is about to change.

After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list, “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.” Even though they barely knew each other, June is compelled by both guilt and a desire to set things right to finish the list for Marissa.

The tasks before her range from inspiring (Run a 5K), to daring (Go braless), to near-impossible (Change someone’s life), and as June races to achieve each goal before the deadline, she learns more about her own life than she ever bargained for.
([source][1])

[1]: https://www.jillsmolinski.com/my-books

Genre

Young Adult

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Kathrine

Promises, promises. sigh. This books started out so promising. Main characters that didn't start out neurotic. The idea of finishing someone's bucket list because they can't as a plot. Minor family characters that were a little bit crazy but not too crazy.

And then it all went downhill. Sane characters became over the top. The plot that spiraled into a chaotic mess (that's who Buddy Fitch was? Seriously? That's the big mystery? ugh). And me figuring out how all the major and minor storylines were going to be tied up over 150 pages before the end (and it's only a 300 pg book. Well except the Buddy Fitch thing, but honestly that felt completely tacked on, like the author suddenly realized she never provided an answer to the big mystery. I still think the general idea of the story was good, it just needed better execution.

I did like the authors style, so I may give one her other books a try.

May 30, 2013