The Opposite of Me: A Novel (Paperback)

~ Sarah Pekkanen (Author)

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.
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Review

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

"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?

“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

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

“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

“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

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439121982
• ISBN-13: 978-1439121986
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,697 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT book!, March 11, 2010

By	WriterCrys "WriterCrys" - See all my reviews

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A devastating incident forces twin sisters to discover and love one another., March 16, 2010

By	Regis Schilken "Rege" (Bethel Park, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

A New York advertising firm promises dedicated Lindsey Rose the vice-presidency of their firm. In The Opposite of Me, Lindsey Rose is about to bring-in a huge advertising account--Gloss Cosmetics. At the last minute, Lindsey's co-worker, who has her own advertising campaign, uses feminine guile, possibly even sex, to sell her advertising ideas to Gloss Cosmetics. It is she who brings in the millions in profits. This same unethical woman promises to leave the company and take all her influential accounts with her if she is not made VP. Obsessed and overworked Lindsey is passed over, dumbfounded.

Staggering under this unprincipled turn of events, stunned Lindsey sneaks back into her office building to view the winning advertisement. Seeing what she thinks is inferior work, she finds some measure of consolation by becoming sexually involved with a young stud underling. Without warning, the new vice-president returns to her office to find Lindsey and the young hunk almost naked. Lindsey is immediately fired.

In one hapless night, she has lost everything. Lindsey is twenty-nine years old. Lying about being fired, she returns home to live with parents claiming she is scouting a new firm location that will open in the D.C. area. Losing her high paying job is an unacceptable disgrace, especially since family, relatives, and friends have always thought of Lindsey as the more intelligent twin.

At home, the paths of Lindsey and her "gorgeous" sister Alex begin to cross. To Lindsey, Alex is beautiful, glamorous and famous because of her weekly TV program "bantering with the movie review guys and interviewing stars who are shooting the latest political thriller film in D.C." Alex has always been a classic beauty. Nowhere can she appear in public without people noticing. Men swoon over her and she appears delighted to be the constant center of attention.

Lindsey considers herself unattractive and plain, an intellectual who could better use wits and a business suit to win her fortune in the world instead of any "gorgeous" beauty she might possess. Lonely and despondent, Lindsey tries hard to rekindle a love affair with a gentle, wholesome man who unfortunately has fallen under Alex's "gorgeous" charm. Although Lindsey tries with this man, it becomes clear that her love is not mutually returned.

In The Opposite of Me, Lindsey meets a spirited thoughtful woman who operates a dating business. She is a genuine matchmaker in this sense: She meets her clients often until she knows them well. Before she ever attempts a match, she uncovers a person's honest marital status, their general likes-dislikes, their interests and mannerisms, as well as a glimpse of their personality type. Lindsey confides her problems to her. The woman defines dysfunctional family as, "any family with more than one member in it."

Lindsey becomes a soulful partner in this same enterprise. She uses similar skills at matchmaking as her partner does. In time she finds this low-key job rather absorbing and becomes quite successful. However, she earns less than one-quarter of her former salary as a high pressure New York businesswoman. Still, she refuses to allow her "gorgeous" sister or her parents to know her New York company fired her.

But The Opposite of Me takes a rather macabre twist. Alex confides to her boyfriend that she has severe headaches at times. She complains that her vision is not always clear. Eventually, Lindsey convinces Alex to visit a doctor. After a series of tests and scans, an eventual diagnosis is reported that will affect both twins, possibly for a lifetime. How they deal with fate I will leave to the reader.

To me as a reviewer, the cover of this book is unjust to the story inside for this reason. The cover picture immediately emits the message that The Opposite of Me is merely another Chick-Lit tale when, indeed, Sarah Pekkhanen's story is an enticing and enjoyable piece of fiction. I can imagine customers glancing at the cover and dismissing it without much thought.

The Opposite of Me is a pathetic story in many ways because it points out what damaging effects extreme jealousy can have on a kin relationship--a bitterness over beauty and brains. Unreasonable resentment denied both twins twenty-nine years of what could have been a loving satisfying bond. Sure, Lindsey thought Alex was more beautiful, more "georgous" as they grew up in the eyes of their parents, but as she eventually finds out, her perceptions were more imagined than real.

I really liked this book because of the inversion that occurs in both twins when fate forces them to realize there is far more to life than advertising and using beauty products. The tale makes it clear that real beauty of personality comes from the indomitable spirit within. It is something neither fate nor fortune can destroy. Hats off to Sarah Pekkanen for painting such intimate portraits.

Other interesting stories:
You Know When
The Murderer's Daughters
Battle Scarred
The Sugarless Plum

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE this book!, March 11, 2010

By	Elizabeth A. Fenton "writergal" (LA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!