A State of Jane By: Meredith Schorr *Book Excerpt, Author Guest Post & My Review*

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Hello! Thank you so much for stopping by. You will see a great Book Excerpt from A State Of Jane. The Author has written and provided a Guest Post of her favorite Chick-Flicks and I must say, a lot that are on the list, are some of my personal favorites. Thank you Meredith, for sharing that! :) My Review is below and ok, here you go! 

Book Description

(From Goodreads)

Jane Frank is ready to fall in love. It's been a year since her long term relationship ended and far too long since the last time she was kissed. With the LSAT coming up she needs to find a long term boyfriend (or husband) before acing law school and becoming a partner in her father's law firm. There's just one problem: All the guys in New York are flakes. They seemingly drop off the face of the earth with no warning and no explanation. Should she join her best friend Marissa in singlehood, making cupcakes and watching True Blood? Or should she follow her co-worker Andrew's advice and turn the game back on those who scorned her? As Jane attempts to juggle her own responsibilities and put up with the problems of everyone around her, she starts to realize the dating life isn't as easy as she originally thought.

Check Out This Book Excerpt

As I embraced him, I looked at Trish to gauge her reaction to seeing her new live-in boyfriend with his arms around his ex-girlfriend of nine years.  She was smiling and although I looked really hard, I saw no jealousy or insecurity behind her beady eyes. 

                When Bob and I separated, Trish jumped up and down.  Clapping her hands excitedly, she came barging at me, squeezing me with full force. Although her mouth was eye-level to my neck, I was able to make out her muddled version of, "I'm so happy to finally meet you!"

                Taken aback, and somewhat frightened, if truth be told, I pulled away and straightened the top of my scoop neck sweater.  Offering my hand, I forced a smile and said, "Hi. I'm Jane."

                Jumping up and down again, Trish squealed, "I know!  Bob's told me so much about you. And I've seen all of Arlene's photo albums.  Love the ones from the high school prom." Winking at Bob, she said, "He looked so cute in his tux."

                I glanced at Bob, hoping he'd roll his eyes and we'd share a silent laugh, but he had his hand on Trish's shoulder and was beaming as brightly as she.

                While I counted the number of tiny freckles on her nose, Trish continued, "Looking at the pictures, part of me wished I knew Bob back then.  But you were such a great girlfriend to him.  Thanks to you, I got him un-jaded. Unlike some of these other NYC guys."

                When I heard a cough in the background, I remembered Todd was next to me. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said.  Gesturing towards Todd, I said, "This is Todd.  My, uh, my -"

                Interrupting my eloquent introduction, Todd nodded at Bob.  "Todd.  Jane's lucky date.  Nice to meet you.  Jane baked this potato soufflé for you guys." 

                Taking the platter from him, Trish said, “Thanks so much!  Bob said you were a really good cook.  Me, not so much!” Her eyes dilating in interest, she looked from me to Todd and asked, "How'd you guys meet?"

                I started to explain.  "Todd's a lawyer and my friend Marissa's sister thought we'd ..."

                "At a party," Todd cut in. 

                "Cute!  When was the party?" Trish asked.

                Wanting to keep the duration of my relationship with Todd vague, I started to answer, "I don't really remember…"

                "Last Saturday," Todd said.  "Jane liked my Red Sox hat."

                "That's funny since Jane has zero interest in sports," Bob said, laughing.

                "Yeah, Bob told me about the time his boss got tickets to a Ranger's game and you fell asleep in the second half." After she said this, Trish covered her mouth with her hand.  I wasn't sure if she was regretful for embarrassing me or just trying to contain her laughter.  The former would mean she was nice so I hoped for the latter.  But I guessed the former.

                I shrugged. "Yeah, well.  It was a week-night game. Long day of work."

                Patting my back like a child would a pony, Todd said, "Aw, she's a good sport.  Watched basketball with me this week and even accompanied me to my firm's bowling tournament.  And we've only been dating a week." 

                Feeling busted, I reluctantly met Bob's glance.  His eyebrows raised, he nodded, "Yup.  A great sport indeed."

                "I'm gonna get another beer.  Anyone want anything?” Todd asked.

                In unison, all three of us replied, "No, thanks."

                After Todd was out of ear shot, Trish said happily, "He seems nice!  There are too many people here tonight for us to really talk, but you guys should come over for dinner sometime.  Bob speaks so highly of you. I would truly like us to be friends."

                I examined Trish's face again for some sign that she secretly hated my attendance at her party.  Some indication that late at night when Bob was asleep, she stuck needles in a Jane-inspired voodoo doll wishing that my existence would be removed from Bob's memory and that all pictures of me would magically disappear from Mrs. Krauss's photo albums.  But what stood before me was a truly nice person who was neither fat nor ugly and seemingly not fatally flawed in any way.  Trish was sincere.  She was not threatened by me.  She was not jealous.  She was not insecure.  She was in love, she was happy, and she wanted me to be happy too.  And she actually wanted to be friends. 

                My whole charade was failing miserably. It was obvious Todd and I were not on our way to cohabitated bliss like Bob and Trish, and worse, pretending to be right behind her in the line to romantic happiness was pointless and would only serve to make me look even more pathetic than I already did.  I had to change directions and fast.

                I leaned in toward Bob and Trish and motioned with my finger for them to close the space between us.  When they moved in, I confided, "If you must know, I don't think Todd is the one."

                Bob laughed. "Oh really?"           

                Trish frowned.  "That's too bad."

                "Nah!  As you know, I had the same boyfriend for nine years.  My first and only boyfriend, if you know what I mean." I gave Trish a knowing look but she stared back at me blankly.  "Bob was a good lover and all, but I've got serious oats to sow before I settle down." I did a 360 of the room as if making sure no one could overhear my next words.  "All the guys I'm dating now?  Using them," I whispered.  "For sex." 

Meredith's Guest Post

Favorite Chick-Flicks

Just as my favorite books are “chick-lit”, my favorite movies are “chick-flicks” or Romantic Comedies.  In fact, it wasn’t until I started dating my current boyfriend that I actually went out of my way to see other types of movies.  Since we’ve been together, I’ve become somewhat of a comic fan –I’ve seen and thoroughly enjoyed The Avengers, X-Men, Iron Man (1 and 2) and a whole bunch of others.  I’m also becoming somewhat of a sci-fi geek but “chick flicks” continue to hold a special place in my heart. The following movies, in no particular order, are my top ten and I have (and will continue to) watch them over and over again: 

1.       When Harry Met Sally.  This is my absolute favorite RomCom and I often quote the lines with my sister, most often “This stupid wagon wheel Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table.”

2.       Clueless – Cher is just adorable. She is such a contradiction in that she is self-absorbed and incredibly protective of the people she loves at the same time, as well as both vapid and incredibly intelligent.  Alicia Silverstone is absolutely perfect as the starring role.

3.       Thirteen Going on Thirty – Until I saw this movie, I never thought much of Jennifer Garner but she perfectly captured the mannerisms of a 13 year old and made me a forever fan.  She is my age and so was Jenna Rink, the main character, when the movie came out and so her flashbacks of being 13 brought me right back to the mid 80s.  I loved her chemistry with Matt “Beaver” (Mark Ruffalo – hottie) and her thriller dance almost made me tinkle in my pants.  I absolutely adore this movie. 

4.       The Sure Thing – While not as well-known as John Cusack’s other movies, this film about a college freshmen, Walter “Gib” Gibson who travels across the country to meet “a sure thing” and falls in love with Type A, Alison instead on the road trip is hilarious and John delivers some deliciously funny lines.

5.       Sixteen Candles – What’s not to love about this movie?  Molly Ringwald’s spot-on portrayal of a 16 year old whose parents forgot her birthday?  Love it.  Long Duck Dong?  Love him.  Farmer Ted.  Yup, love him too.  And of course, Jake Ryan.  I would gladly give my panties to a geek if Jake Ryan would get them back for me.

6.       Bridget Jone’s Diary – I actually cannot believe I didn’t think of this one until number 6!  This is the quintessential chick flick and Bridget Jones is the quintessential (and funniest) single girl ever.  Oh dear Bridget, like Mark Darcy, I too like you “just as you are.”

7.       Love Actually – Do you sense a Colin Firth theme?  Although all of the vignettes in this movie were entertaining, my favorite was the Jamie/Aurelia storyline.  I loved when she spoke Brazilian and he spoke English and they could not understand a word each other said, yet fell in love anyway.

8.       Can’t Buy Me Love – I crushed on Patrick Dempsey even when he portrayed a high school guy who went from “totally geek to totally chic.”

9.       Something’s Gotta Give –The chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton was white hot.  And I love a story where an older man who typically dates younger women falls in love with a woman his own age. 

10.    Working Girl – I have to fight the urge to do a fist pump when Tess gets her window office at the end of the movie and I always choke up when Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run” starts playing in the background.     

 Because I had so much trouble limiting the list to ten, these get honorable mentions, The Way We Were, You’ve Got Mail, Jerry McGuire, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, Legally Blonde and 500 Days of Summer.

About The Author

A born and bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related emails way more than she was probably supposed to, and was famous among her friends for writing witty birthday cards. After dabbling in children’s stories and blogging her personal experiences, Meredith found her calling writing “real chick lit for real chicks." When Meredith is not hard at work on her current work in progress, she spends her days as a trademark paralegal at a law firm in New York City. Meredith is a loyal New York Yankees fan and an avid runner. She also loves to read and is always on the lookout for her new favorite author. A State of Jane is her second novel.

Social Media Links

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https://twitter.com/MeredithSchorr

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4355520.Meredith_Schorr

Buy The Book

B&N :http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-state-of-jane-meredith-schorr/1112799844?ean=9781935961697

iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-state-of-jane/id562887940?mt=11 

My Review

A State Of Jane was a very good Chick Lit Novel; I enjoyed it! The main character, Jane of course, and whose POV we read from, to me, seemed like a relatable character, and I liked that. The Author wrote some great character development, including other characters in the story. Jane just seemed believable and goes through situations that some of has may have gone through. Jane just has so much on her plate, from not studying for her upcoming LSATs, to being miserable as a single woman, and when seeing guys casually doesn't work, what is she to do? Well, I believe Jane's journey of self-realization was so unpredictable, and I liked that; turning the page without a clue of what's going to happen next, for me, I liked not knowing what's going to happen, and you might see that same type of attitude in the story, just saying :) All in all, this was a well written story with enough conflict, some happy moments, kisses and... more, a lot of alcohol and just more to keep you turning that page!

My Rating: 4.4/5
I say a Strong PG-13 Rating (Some Mature Language & Mild Sexual Content)