Josie Pie was a big deal in high school. The star of all the plays with an awesome best friend and a cute and sweet boyfriend, she had it all and was beloved by many. Because of her various attributes, Josie's drama teacher encourages her to bail on high school and chase the bright lights of Broadway as he lines up an audition for her. The audition was, predictably, a flop and after a period of floundering she accepts a job as a nanny to make ends meet. Now Josie is stuck with a five-year-old in a small Montana town with little to do, no goals for the future, and a boyfriend who is not picking up her calls. After a trip to the town's bookstore where she purchases a recommended romance from the cute store clerk, Josie cracks into the book on a bench at the playground. Suddenly she finds herself in a carriage bouncing down the road in long-ago England as part of the story. The plot gets rocking and she finds herself as the ingenue with Justin, her boyfriend, as the leading man. After some time, Josie returns home to find that little time as passed. As the weeks roll by, she enters more books of different genres, all with Justin as the male lead. Finally, she finds herself in the story of her dreams. Will she choose to leave? And should she stay too long, is it even possible? As Josie explores different books she comes to terms with her problems and starts to consider her future. The cause of the book travel is determined as Josie struggles to fight off evil forces in order to regain control of her life.
Sharron Hale sure is an eclectic author. She is the co-author of the chapter book series, Princess in Black, as well as one of my favorite adult books, Austenland, and has all stripes of different books in between. This story is a cross between teen and adult. The character is college age and living independently, making it more relatable to older teens. Kids fresh out of high school will appreciate the concept of a "do-over". I appreciate the concept of hopping into the plots of some of my fav books. Josie learns what and who is important to her and how to be a small fish in a big pond. She also matures into her adult self and starts to see the world through the eyes of others instead of her loved ones simply rotating around her. This story is mostly about the clever concept, plot and the emotional growth of the main character. Secondary characters are not particularly developed, although we are seeing the world through Josie's eyes, which for much of the book, are focused on herself. The ending is a bit unrealistic and rings hollow but will satisfy the target audience. The book runs a bit long, yet since Josie is falling into different books, it doesn't get boring. This author and the subject matter are sure to attract a readership and the book will be an easy sell to teens and new adults.
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