The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir [Paperback]

Annette Fix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2008

In her hilarious and heartbreaking memoir, The Break-Up-Diet, Annette Fix shares her story about how she always believed in happily-ever-after and was busy working her Five-Year Plan: marry her golf-pro boyfriend, homeschool her preteen son, become a famous writer, and retire to Fiji. When her live-in boyfriend calls it quits, Annette finds herself on The Break-Up Diet, consuming vast amounts of chocolate and exercising poor judgment by diving blindly into the shallow end of the dating pool. Working as an exotic dancer to bankroll her aspiring writing career and support her son alone, Annette uses her blue-collar instinct to survive in the plastic jungle of The OC. Annette's adventures take her on a wild ride as she attempts to find the perfect balance between her dreams and her day-to-day life as Supermom. The Break-Up Diet a book for hopeless romantics, seekers of princes, believers in happily-ever-after, queens of their own castle, and readers who love books that make them laugh and cry and nod their heads, saying--'I've been there.'

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Break-Up Diet is written in diary format in appetizer-sized entries with titles like:

Does Mapquest Give Life Directions?
Hope is a Chocolate-Covered Turd
Landscaping and Other Acts of Foreplay

Throughout The Break-Up Diet, humorous "recipes" add flavor to this romantic comedy feast, such as:

Doubt Cake
Devastation Omelette
Guilt Stew

"In this delectable memoir, Annette Fix serves up a fresh, funny, honest, and insightful dish of sex and the single mom." ~ Colleen Sell, Editor, A Cup of Comfort series

"The Break-Up Diet is delicious. Heartbreaking and humorous...any woman can relate." ~ Jill Soloway, author of Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants, and writer for ABC's Grey's Anatomy

About the Author

Annette Fix published numerous articles and editorials in her high school newspaper, located in a town full of trailer parks and meth labs. She moved on to an equally impressive community college newspaper until her 4.0 grade-point average propelled her into a private university.

Once there, she worked forty hours a week, attended school full-time, and cared for her beautiful toddler son (who was the direct result of a nightclub drinking and dancing accident). Annette dropped out of college eight units short of graduation because she refused to rewrite her thesis. She still believes absurdist theatre is a vital contribution to world dramaturgy.

Annette went on to have grand aspirations of writing the next great American novelty. On her journey toward that lofty goal, she often found inspiration while busting her tail working as an exotic dancer to support her son and feed her writing habit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 285 pages
• Publisher: Orange Curtain Publishing (February 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934518395
• ISBN-13: 978-1934518397
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Piece of Chick Lit!, February 21, 2008

By 

Brenda Frank "Eclectic Reader" (McLean, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir (Paperback)

What a superb piece of Chick Lit! In this genre, The Break-Up Diet merits 5 stars.

The reason I know that this book is dynamite Chick Lit is that when I reached the middle, I sat in a chair and read the rest, non-stop. Annette Fix's realistic dialogue and intense hunt for The Perfect Man just grabbed me and wouldn't let go. And, I love happy endings, which the Break-Up Diet served up perfectly.

The Break-Up Diet formula is simple: love lost, finding love, love found; the process is Painful. This memoir reminded me of the movie, "Something's Gotta Give," with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. When Jack dumps Diane, who has fallen in love with him, she wails and cries and sobs loudly, constantly, copiously and dramatically, while writing a terrific book and screen play all about the heartbreak. Talk about making lemonade out of a lemon, here it is in spades.

The Diet in the book's title refers to recipes like "Devastation Omelette," "Bitter Shake," "Adrift Soup," involving suspicion, distrust, contentment, one female gold digger, a drained bank account, sarcasm, contempt, yielding things like "a ratty mood," or "intense yearning" with weight loss outcomes such as "guaranteed 3 lbs.," "no guaranteed weight loss." Although these "recipes" seemed to be intended to tie together the chapters and provide some humor, I just skimmed them and moved on. The "recipes" seemed unnecessary and fell flat. The story didn't need this embellishment of cuteness but stood on its own.

If the Hunt for Mr. Right is your genre, do not hesitate, the Break-Up Diet will satisfy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at relationships, February 15, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir (Paperback)

The Break-Up Diet, which is being released on Valentine's Day, is the true story of how new author Annette Fix survived and overcame the end of her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Kevin. Annette thought Kevin was the man for her, her one and only true love, her soul mate. But Kevin thought differently and after two years called it quits. The shock and pain of being abandoned by the person she loved left Annette completely devastated and unable to move on with her life.

In her diary, Annette wrote about Kevin and how she felt like there was no one else for her but him. Annette used her diary entries as inspiration for her book, which is in diary format and told in first-person point of view.

Annette worked as an exotic dancer for six years to support herself and her son, but she still had big dreams of moving to Fiji, becoming a writer, and getting married. All of her aspirations went out the window when Kevin left her. Until one day, Annette meets a man who actually cares about her like no other has before. He encourages her to pursue writing full time and whole heartily believes in her.

Will Annette end up with her prince charming or will her ex-boyfriend Kevin and her feelings for him come between her and a second chance at love?

The Break-Up Diet is a romantic, humorous, inspiring and beautiful story about starting over after a relationship abruptly ends. Any person who has ever gone through heartbreak will find joy and solace in Annette's story. The writing was engaging and very humorous at times.

Every chapter begins with a recipe with emotions as ingredients instead of food. This adds a humorous undertone to the serious subject of depression and heartbreak. This memoir was very interesting and had a chick lit flavor to it. Annette Fix is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading another book by her.

Armchair Interviews Says: A fabulous debut and an author to look out for! GREAT book!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book, February 11, 2008

By 

Tanya (Chandler, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir (Paperback)

I loved this book! Started reading it Sunday night and thankfully didn't have to work on Monday because I couldn't put it down until I was through the last page. The humor through the pain is something we can all use and the fairytale ending topped it.