Hope in a Jar [Hardcover]

Beth Harbison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009

Twenty years ago, Allie Denty was the pretty one and her best friend Olivia Pelham was the smart one. Throughout high school, they were inseparable…until a vicious rumor about Olivia— a rumor too close to the truth—ended their friendship.

Now, on the eve of their twentieth high school reunion, Allie, a temp worker, finds herself suddenly single, a little chubby, and feeling old. Olivia, a cool and successful magazine beauty editor in New York, realizes she’s lonely, and is finally ready to face her demons.

Sometimes hope lives in the future; sometimes it comes from the past; and sometimes, when every stupid thing goes wrong, it comes from a prettily packaged jar filled with scented cream and promises.

Beth Harbison has done it again. A hilarious and touching novel about friendship, Love’s Baby Soft perfume, Watermelon Lip Smackers, bad run-ins with Sun-In, and the healing power of “Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific.” Hope in a Jar: we all need it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harbison (Secrets of a Shoe Addict) pushes a thin plot to its word-count limits in her latest confection, the tale of two former friends who reconnect at their 20th high school reunion. When Allie Denty—tall, blonde and, these days, just a bit heavy—discovers her boyfriend in the sack with another woman, her primary coping mechanism involves a credit card and the Sephora counter. Allie figures that some Dior lashes will help her feel more confident at her reunion—an event that the lovely, formerly mousy Olivia Pelham has no intention of attending until her mother shows up on her doorstep, licking her wounds from a breakup with husband number five. At the reunion, Allie and Olivia have an awkward meeting and go their separate ways until Allie learns that a mutual friend plans to marry a cosmetically enhanced Mean Girl from their class. It's life makeover time for both women, as they get in touch with their true feelings about beauty, careers and, most importantly, love. Like the face cream from which it takes its title, this is slick, light and indulgent. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

As enjoyable as a brand-new tube of lip gloss.”

—

PEOPLE ON

HOPE IN A JAR

“Readers will root for these four plucky women. Like the designer shoes that pepper its pages, this book is pleasing and stylish. This frothy confection is sure to fly off the shelves this summer.”

—

BOOKLIST ON

SHOE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312381964
• ISBN-13: 978-0312381967
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beth Harbison is the New York Times bestselling author of "Shoe Addicts Anonymous", "Hope in a Jar", and more. Her latest book is "Always Something There to Remind Me", a poignant look at first love and the eternal question "what if...?" She currently splits her time between Washington, DC and New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read with a hint of nostalgia from the 80s and 90s, November 8, 2010

By 

Barbara Bell (San Carlos, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hope in a Jar (Paperback)

Who was the gal you had makeovers with? Who was the one you told all your secrets? If you still talk to her today, consider yourself lucky. "Hope in a Jar" starts with the story of Allie and Olivia, two best friends who were inseparable during high school, but something happened senior year that tore them apart. The mystery of the "what happened" will keep you riveted, and the references to beauty routines, lines from commercials, and copy from ads will keep you entertained.

With alternating chapters between what's going on today and flashbacks from eighth grade to senior year, the reader gets a thoroughly entertaining read. With their upcoming 20-year high school reunion, the girls each have a chance to reflect on all that is happened since they last saw each other.

Allie is just getting over a long, drawn-out, and dull relationship, to which she's given her all: "The only things worse than finding your boyfriend is cheating on you with a beautiful woman is finding out he's cheating with an average woman." Olivia has enjoyed a career as a high-powered magazine editor in NYC, but even that has lost a lot of its glam. What's a girl to do?

Allie's best guy friend, Noah, announces that he is going to marry a girl, and when Allie finds out it is the mean girl from her school who made her life miserable, she'll have nothing to do with THAT situation. Both Allie and Olivia re-connect over this disaster. I mean, how can he marry HER?!

Harbison has created a funny, engaging story about the power of friendship, no matter how many years have passed.

Want to hear some of the advertising nostalgia from the book?

Chapter Three
"You're soaking in it - ad for Palmolive soap"

Chapter Six
"Calgon, take me away! - ad for Calgon Bath Salts

Chapter Twenty-five
"Because you're worth it. - ad for L'Oreal"

If you were a teen in the 80s and 90s, you'll love this book.
If you were a girl with a best friend and you got ready for the dance together, you'll love this book.
If you are a girl who is looking for a little make-up advice, you'll love "Hope in a Jar."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars an internal makeover, August 26, 2009

By 

Beth E. Settje (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hope in a Jar (Hardcover)

Insightful peek into the mind of adult women now and when they were teens. Enjoyable read for the youthful references, especially for those of us who are a similar age to the characters and can instantly recollect the nostalgia and memorabilia referenced in the story.

The two main characters, Allie and Olivia, are each faced with personal decisions that force them to review their past and present circumstances. What impressed me about this book is that even though there is romance, not every character is trying to find a 'perfect match.' Rather, the women take good hard looks into their past to learn more about themselves in the present. Each has her own 'aha moment' and is definitely the better for it. The author does do a good job of integrating her title into the story line, really exposing just why many women choose to wear make-up and how taking care of ourselves on the outside can help us feel better on the inside.

Only gave the story three stars because there is not a lot of serious writing or depth to the story. Many of the plot lines are predictable and there were few surprises or twists. However, it is a fun read - our book club selected it and I imagine we will have a few laughs discussing the high school scenes and angst we all went through at that time in our lives. A quick and light read.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring, August 11, 2010

By 

Ania - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope in a Jar (Paperback)

I hate to give low reviews as I am sure this author meant well and no one wants to see their hard work critiqued harshly.. however this book was really not worth my time. There was absolutely no depth to the characters, not a very interesting plot line, and way too predictable. I expected a lot more laughs and a lot more feelings (like in chick lit) but got neither. It reads like a boring afterschool special from the 80's. The book did not draw me to want to read into the night, it did not provoke much thought or happiness, it did not have compelling characters (like the recent book I read "Love the One you're With"). I am a DC native and really wanted it to read well, but it was just way too bland. Sorry, if you like the authors, get this book from the library.