New Attitude (MIRA) [Mass Market Paperback]

Charlotte Hughes (Author)

Book Description

Series: MIRA | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Marilee Abernathy's life is a mess. Everyone in Chickpea, South Carolina, knows about her husband's affair with the town floozy. But when her dignified farewell -- complete with pearls and impeccably applied Mary Kay cosmetics -- turns into a spectacularly unsuccessful attempt to hang herself from a fake ceiling beam, Marilee figures there has to be another way to cope.

Marilee needs a new attitude -- at least, that's what her neighbor Sam Brewer thinks. Between his demanding mother and his crazy ex-wife, though, the last thing he wants is another woman whose life is out of control. But Marilee's learning on her own that a little attitude can go a long way -- suddenly she's taking charge and taking chances she'd never imagined. And watching her blossom reminds Sam of some long-forgotten dreams of his own. Now he's just got to convince her to turn some of that attitude his way . . .

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Marilee Abernathy decides that life has played one too many tricks on her. Even though Chickpea, South Carolina, is a small town, she was the last to know that her husband moved in with the local trollop, taking along their 15-year-old son. Shocked and devastated, Marilee settles on suicide, but even that doesn't work. In the middle of hanging herself from a beam in the ceiling, Marilee realizes that she wants to live and fight for her son, then the ladder falls. Her next-door neighbor, Sam Brewer, who was a Romeo back when she was in high school, rescues her from the debris, but now Marilee must rescue herself from her old life and find a new one. While trying to do this, she takes in a pregnant teen, finds a job, and starts divorce proceedings as Sam tries to convince her that he should be part of her new life. An appealing romance filled with charm and snappy dialogue. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Chock-full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters." -- New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551668637
• ISBN-13: 978-1551668635
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,409,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual and engaging, small-town romantic comedy, October 31, 2001

By 

Kate McMurry "Young Adult Author" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: New Attitude (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

When her minister husband deserts her for a floozy, and her adolescent son goes with him, staid Marilee Abernathy is so depressed, she tries to take her own life. Don't let that rather shocking idea dissuade you from reading this wonderful book, though. Marilee clearly is not deadly serious about killing herself, because she uses thin drapery cord slung over a weak, fake-wood ceiling beam in an extremely unsuccessful attempt to hang herself.

When her sexy neighbor, Sam Brewer, rushes over in response to Marilee's screams, she is so humiliated at his witnessing the scene of her failed suicide, it sparks a determination in her to launch back into life. Many funny and touching situations ensue with the advent of Marilee's New Attitude: she finds a job in a funeral parlor in her small town of Chickpea, South Carolina, seeks custody of her son, takes in a pregnant teen, and, best of all, finds love with gorgeous Sam, the bad-boy-next-door she longed for in high school, who has matured into a warm, caring man.

If you love romances set in a small town with a raft of engaging, colorful characters, you will really enjoy this comedy by a truly talented author.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun, summer read!, May 17, 2002

By 

J Morgan "Writer/Reader" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Attitude (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

A NEW ATTITUDE is warm-hearted and funny with a bizarre beginning!

Marilee Abernathy's minister husband deserts her for a floozy, and her adolescent son goes with him. Depressed, she plans an unbelievably inept attempt at suicide. When the fake-wood ceiling beam that she's slung her thin drapery cord over crashes to the floor, her gorgeous next-door neighbor comes to her rescue. Marilee quickly recognizes that suicide is not the answer. Instead, she decides to be strong for her son and show the people of Chickpea, South Carolina that she's made of stronger stuff and launches forth with a new attitude.
An attitude that helps her file for divorce, find a job in a funeral parlor in her small town of Chickpea, South Carolina, seek custody of her son, take in a pregnant teen, and find love with the bad-boy-next-door she longed for in high school.

Sam Brewer, who rushed to Marilee's rescue, recognizes her as the girl he had a high school crush on. Sam, a reformed bad boy, has sold his business and moved home to take care of his elderly mother. Although Sam has enough problems of his own - his mischievous, matchmaking mother and a clinging ex-wife, he can't stop himself from being drawn into Marilee's problems.

The romance between Sam and Marilee is there, but A NEW ATTITUDE is more about strong women finding personal empowerment. Charlotte Hughes blends macabre humor with real life issues like divorce, teenage pregnancy, divorce, and child custody to create an entertaining, funny story.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars laugh until you cry!!!!, October 30, 2001

By 

Renee Cartwright - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Attitude (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

I laughed and laughed and laughed until I was in tears. This book is so funny. I couldn't put it down. I can't remember when I have read something so funny. (It's been a long time and it's not like I haven't been looking) It's just hard to find writers that are really funny.

She makes the people in the book come alive, and each has a personality of it's own.

From the first chapter until the last you will laugh. And when you get to the part about the dead body you will laugh like crazy. Man I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard. Please buy the book. I tell you, you will have so much fun reading this book.

Beware, if you're scared to laugh out loud don't read this book in public.