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The Opposite of Me: A Novel [Paperback]

Sarah Pekkanen
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 9, 2010
Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully constructed life implodes. Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

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The Opposite of Me: A Novel + Skipping a Beat: A Novel + These Girls: A Novel
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran journalist Pekkanen debuts with a promising yet pedestrian post–chick lit novel about a successful New York ad exec who's passed over for a promotion then unceremoniously canned. Workaholic Lindsey Rose leaves Manhattan for her family's Maryland home, resuming her role as the smart, capable daughter. Years of jealousy surge into overdrive at her beautiful twin sister Alex's engagement party when she watches her lifelong friend Bradley, possibly the guy that got away, begin to fall under her sister's golden spell. After the obligatory ugly duckling makeover, Lindsey, no longer the plain daughter, continues to hide her new look from her family. Away from them, however, a newly confident and gregarious Lindsey emerges, one able to parlay her advertising skills into a new position at a matchmaking service. It takes a terrifying medical diagnosis and a visit to her parents' musty attic to complete Lindsey's transformation. Though the story is Lindsey's, Alex also plays a large part, though her selfishness is so relentlessly portrayed, it's difficult to determine just who she is. The pace is slow, and the story just adequate.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Pekkanen's wry voice and engaging characters—the bumbling parents are especially lovable—keep things fresh" —People (3.5 out of 4 stars)

"With her smart, soulful novel, author Pekkanen explores the place where self and sisterhood intersect." - Redbook

"It's warm, it's whimsical, and it's a winner." --The Courier Mail (Australia)

“Fresh, appealing…the story is at turns funny and poignant.” — Booklist

“Pekkanen's involving debut is an honest examination of the limits we place on ourselves, with well-drawn female characters.” —Kirkus

“If a book makes you think and be introspective, well that’s magic, and The Opposite of Me has done just that. Pekkanen has hit the nail on the head with her unique premise and original observation on what makes us who we are…an absolute must read” —New York Journal of Books

“Fresh and funny and satisfying. A terrific book about sisters that actually made me laugh out loud. I was completely drawn into Lindsey’s world and rooted for her from beginning to end.” — Jennifer Weiner, New York Times bestselling author of Best Friends Forever and In Her Shoes



“Pekkanen's debut is heartfelt and richly drawn. With a delicate touch, she had me believing and sharing every laugh and every tear - it was a completely satisfying read. I look forward to more from this talented writer.” — Beth Harbison, author of Hope in a Jar

“Sharp-tongued. . .a spot-on portrayal of the existential dilemmas of young adulthood.” — Washington Post

"Sweet, smart, and funny" — Cosmopolitan.com


Product Details

  • Paperback: 377 pages
  • Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition (March 9, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439121982
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439121986
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sarah Pekkanen is the internationally-bestselling author of the novels THE BEST OF US, THESE GIRLS, SKIPPING A BEAT and THE OPPOSITE OF ME. Please find her on Facebook and twitter @sarahpekkanen!

BIO: Sarah is the mother of three young boys, which explains why she wrote part of her novel at Chuck E. Cheese. Seriously. Sarah penned her first book, Miscellaneous Tales and Poems, at the age of 10. When publishers failed to jump upon this literary masterpiece (hey, all the poems rhymed!) Sarah followed up by sending them a sternly-worded letter on Raggedy Ann stationery. Sarah still has that letter, and carries it to New York every time she has meetings with her publisher, as a reminder that dreams do come true. At least some dreams - Brad Pitt has yet to show up on her doorstep wearing nothing but a toolbelt and asking if she needs anything fixed. So maybe it's only G-rated dreams that come true. Please visit www.sarahpekkanen.com

Customer Reviews

Easy to read, wonderful story, great story line, all is good with this book. Michael L. Schmit  |  15 reviewers made a similar statement
From word one, sentence one, page one, I could not put the book down. Lisa Steinke  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT book! March 11, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love the whole premise of this book - how the roles we are given when we are growing up stick with us. In this case it's about two sisters (fraternal twin sisters here) - one who is the smart one, and one who is the pretty one. Having grown up with two sisters, I can totally relate to the labels that our own parents, teachers, family and friends gave us. My whole life (even now into my thirties), I've been defined by those labels put on me (and the same for my sisters) when we were young.

This novel is about how Lindsay (smart one) and Alex (pretty one) begin to understand that those roles they were given, which caused them to feel very opposite of each other, may not be who they truly are, definitely not all they are, and that they have more in common than they thought.

Sarah Pekkanen has a fresh and funny voice, I laughed out loud many times and could relate to both sisters who were adoringly flawed and fantastic. The premise is that Lindsay, who was working in NYC at a high powered ad agency, gets fired (thanks to a comical bad decision and scenario in the boardroom) and goes back home to Maryland to get her ducks in a row. Back home, her beautiful sister Alex, who seems to have it all, is getting married to a gorgeous, rich prince charming. There's also the old high school flame and the very funny parents. Things unfold in a humorous way, at a good pace and even when things get serious and the story turns in a way that's unexpected, Pekkanen has the gift of balancing the right amount of humor and heart.

You will LOVE this book... If you love Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin and Allison Winn Scotch, then be sure to embrace Sarah Pekkanen because I believe her career in women's fiction (fun, relatable and real stories for women) is just taking off.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE this book! March 11, 2010
Format:Paperback
I Loved this book! I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy and was hooked from page one, when we are thrown into the life of ambitious advertising exec Lindsey Rose as she prepares to receive the promotion of a lifetime.

When things don't work out exactly as planned, Lindsey is forced to move back in with her parents and face the many issues she has with her seemingly perfect twin sister.

Poignant and funny, THE OPPOSITE OF ME is a must read for any Giffin or Weiner fan. I couldn't put it down!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!! March 24, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just finished The Opposite of Me: A Novel by Sarah Pekkanen and I absolutely loved this book. The author did an incredible job of describing the competition that occurs between sisters no matter how much they love each other. It had wonderful insight into what siblings are really feeling. I was drawn to the main character Lindsey and became her biggest cheerleader. I wanted her to find happiness, success and herself. When a crisis in her sister's life occurs and brings her closer to her twin you see them grow in new and wonderful ways. I am definitely going to share this book with my sister. Highly recommend this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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I'm reading this book for a book group, and having a hard time getting through it. The author was a model, and it may be that her experience of the world is so different from mine... Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars Opposite of Me
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5.0 out of 5 stars Totally awesome read!
Loved it! Great story about twin sisters who are totally opposite. Kept me interested through the entire book!
A must read! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Donna Gardner
2.0 out of 5 stars Kind of boring
This was boring. Kind of odd twists in the plot. I hated that I spent the full price for it. I've read many $2.99 and under books that were much better.
Published 2 months ago by amie
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Good light reading that makes you feel both joy and sadness at oneself. Ideal for any woman but likely not appreciated until you lived a little.
Published 2 months ago by Jane
5.0 out of 5 stars The opposite of me
Very good read!
Loved the characters very much and grew to relate! Will most definitely read more from Sarah Pekkanen
Published 2 months ago by Rachel Haberberger
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read for a rainy day
I enjoyed the book, but felt it was pretty predictable in her ups, downs, and then ups again. I was also disappointed in the "long held family secret", which didn't, in my... Read more
Published 2 months ago by G. Nicholson
1.0 out of 5 stars Total BS
This purchase was total BS. I read this on my iPad. After the obligatory opening pages the story began. This very average story at best ended at 79% of of the total purchase. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Teresa Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
This was the first book I read by the author and I think she is fantastic. Well written, great character development. Highly recommend.
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kindle reading in sunlight
Yes, and I know it's supposed to be a selling point that you can read in direct sunlight. Anyone have any suggestions?
Jul 3, 2010 by Jane Burstein |  See all 3 posts
I LOVED The Opposite of Me!!!
I totally agree with Lisa! I also received an advanced copy and LOVED it. The story paces so well, I couldn't stop reading! In fact, my husband made fun of me because I carried it with me for the three days it took me to finish, sneaking in pages here and there while I should have been doing... Read more
Feb 17, 2010 by Elizabeth A. Fenton |  See all 2 posts
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