The Kitchen Shrink [Kindle Edition]

Dee DeTarsio (Author)

Book Description

If your life is a mess, your house could probably use a makeover,
too. Welcome to the behind-the-scenes world of reality TV in The Kitchen
Shrink . . . an unexpected love story.

With tenderness, humor, drama, and the simplicity of real life, this original, endearing story reaches into the heart of friendship and relationships.

Unable to squirm out of this "it will be fun" opportunity, Lisby Shaw tries to juggle her upstairs-behind-the-scenes-life with her downstairs-in-front-of-the-camera persona, where everything she says and does can and will be used against her. She cannot believe what a freak show her life has become. At least no one knows about her crush on Sam, Sam, the Cameraman...

Lisby tries to find her way as the TV cameras capture her every move, zooming in on drama with her kids, her ex, her mom and her best friend. Stay tuned for Lisby's extreme close-up as she becomes a jilted laughingstock on national TV. All is lost...or is it?

The Kitchen Shrink, finalist in the San Diego Book Awards Association.

Other books by Dee DeTarsio include The Scent of Jade, Ros, 'Til Somebody Loves You (Romantic Comedy Quick-Pick), and Haole Wood.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"She's not as funny as Marian Keyes, or as smart as Jennifer Weiner, or as gorgeous as that Emily Giffin. She does have weird sisters." --The Author's Mother, Phyllis Frampton

"THE KITCHEN SHRINK is well-written, fast-paced and entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud, but there were tender moments, too! This is not a heavy book, it’s chick-lit wrapped up in humor." Reading Is Fashionable.

Dee DeTarsio is easily the next Sophie Kinsella. Her writing is fast-paced, hilarious, and engaging. I loved “The Scent of Jade” and am hopelessly heels-over-head for “The Kitchen Shrink.” --Chick Lit & Wine

The Kitchen Shrink, another creative and well-crafted novel by Dee DeTarsio, is a finalist in this year's San Diego Book & Writing Awards.

The Kitchen Shrink was a delight. I suspect (my friend) Dee works in the TV industry because there are insights here that only those on set could know. This is the perfect summer read. Thanks to (my friend) Dee for making me laugh on the trains, planes and automobiles that I took last week. -Jennifer Gooch Hummer, Author of Girl Unmoored

About the Author

DEE DeTARSIO's literary talents shine with tenderness and humor as she takes readers into the heart of women's lives. Filled with friendship, love, loss, betrayal, and challenges that force her characters to find their place in the universe, Dee's novels give us that hopefully-ever-after we're searching for.

Dee DeTarsio is a graduate of The Ohio State University and lives in southern California with her family. (She only goes back to visit Ohio for two days in early October because she is equally scared of tornadoes and getting trapped in a snowstorm.)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 634 KB
• Print Length: 194 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Just Publishing (February 6, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004MMEA0I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,072 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! February 24, 2011

By Julie B

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun, smart chick-lit read. I love HGTV shows and to set the drama of home improvement with a woman's quest to improve her life was a winning combination. Elgin, the designer, was my favorite character--what a diva! And though it is a fiction novel, I totally bought into the theory of improve your surroundings, change your life! This was a real feel-good story--very funny in parts--and it even motivated me to redo my bedroom!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything Including The Kitchen Sink July 18, 2011

By Susan Weis

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As someone who is totally into D-I-Y, (I just repainted my kitchen, and put drywall up in my daughter's bathroom!) I loved The Kitchen Shrink. It's a smart (and funny) read about a woman trying to do her best, and discovering therapy through renovation--while on a reality TV show. I could really relate--and do think there is something to the premise about improving your own well-being by improving your surroundings.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A great book to curl up on the couch with on a weekend afternoon September 9, 2011

By Grace

Format:Kindle Edition

Sometimes, a woman just wants to curl up on the couch in some comfy clothes and read a fun book that will distract her from what's on her mind. Dee DeTarsio's The Kitchen Shrink is just the book for days like that.

DeTarsio's sophomore novel is a smart and hilarious exploration of what it means to be a middle aged divorcée trying to come to terms with and move on after her divorce while raising two teenagers all under the glaring lights and cameras of a reality television show. At the urging of her best friend, the novel's protagonist, Lisby, signs up as a contestant on a reality show called The Kitchen Shrink. The premise is, "If your life is a mess, your house could probably use a makeover, too." And Lisby's life sure is a mess.

She's trying to figure out how to move on after her divorce. The thought of dating again is frightening because she's been out of the dating arena for so long. She's trying to figure out how to be a parent to her two teenagers without pushing them away, which she has a habit of doing - not on purpose, but because she hasn't figured out how to relate to her children as young adults. And, of course, Lisby is still trying to figure out her own tenuous relationship with her mother.

Then, the crew of The Kitchen Shrink takes over Lisby's life. Every aspect of it is under scrutiny - her body, kitchen, bedroom, wardrobe, social life, love life, parenting skills, and even how she interacts with her ex-husband. All of the embarrassing details and milestones of Lisby's transformation are captured by Sam, the cameraman. He's a hunky, rugged man with a compassionate side and he clicks with Lisby. Too bad Lisby thinks he's dating her best friend, Daria. (I envisioned Daria to look exactly like the Daria of MTV cartoon fame. It made her character even more entertaining to me.)

The most compelling parts of this book for me were the parts that made me laugh out loud. These were little tidbits of Lisby that jumped off the page because they are so realistic. Just how realistic, you ask? They were so realistic that I had done them myself. And I know a lot of women who have too. I won't give away any of these laugh out loud moments of truth because I don't want to ruin them for you if you decide to read this book.

And I hope you do decide to read this book. I'll warn you that it's not an earth shattering book that will change your life forever, but it will entertain you for a few hours and help you escape the monotony and stress of your own life. Close the shades one weekend afternoon. Curl up on the couch in comfy clothes and a cup of tea and read this book. It's the perfect chick flick cheese read for a fall afternoon.

This review originally appeared on Feeding My Book Addiction: (...)

More About the Author

DEE DeTARSIO is a TV writer living in southern California. After growing up in Ennui, Ohio, and graduating from The Ohio State University she vowed never to be cold again (in a tantrum more worthy of Suellen than Scarlett) and ended up in Tucson, Arizona, producing the news for the CBS affiliate, oddly enough called KOLD-TV. She moved to San Diego where she worked in the SeaWorld entertainment department as a producer/writer. (Penguins are mean!) She then became a producer/writer for the NBC affiliate.

Dee is the author of hopefully-ever-after novels: THE SCENT OF JADE, THE KITCHEN SHRINK (both finalists in the prestigious San Diego Book and Writing Awards), 'TIL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, ROS, and HAOLE WOOD, 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist! Her new book, ALL MY RESTLESS LIFE TO LIVE will be published this summer.

Though her mother never beat her (that hard) and her father is not a celebrity, she suspects one of her four sisters is a vampire.