Charming Falls Apart - by Angela Terry (Paperback)

About the Book

" Allison James is a people pleaser and rule follower, but the day before her thirty-fifth birthday, that all backfires: she is unexpectedly fired from the public relations firm she's worked at for twelve years, only to come home and find out that her fiancé has been sleeping with her maid of honor. Feeling lost, Allison takes her friend Jordan's advice and uses the time off for some self-reflection. Over the next few months, she devours countless self-help books (albeit skeptically), schedules a soul reading with an astrologer/psychic/magician, and goes on a meditation retreat in Costa Rica, where she finally starts to feel like she's getting her groove back. Back at home, her desire to escape the condo she once shared with her fiancé makes her a regular at the new coffeehouse in her neighborhood, where she finds some guidance from (and eye candy in) the attractive owner, Eric. Between Jordan's support, the Barnes & Noble self-help aisle, and the Tao of Eric, Allison gradually discovers that her old life wasn't as perfect as she thought--and that if she truly wants to find her happily-ever-after, she's going to have to start writing her own rules."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Allison James is a people pleaser and rule follower, but the day before her thirty-fifth birthday, that all backfires: she is unexpectedly fired from the public relations firm she's worked at for twelve years, only to come home and find out that her fiancé has been sleeping with her maid of honor.

Feeling lost, Allison takes her friend Jordan's advice and uses the time off for some self-reflection. Over the next few months, she devours countless self-help books (albeit skeptically), schedules a soul reading with an astrologer/psychic/magician, and goes on a meditation retreat in Costa Rica, where she finally starts to feel like she's getting her groove back.

Back at home, her desire to escape the condo she once shared with her fiancé makes her a regular at the new coffeehouse in her neighborhood, where she finds some guidance from (and eye candy in) the attractive owner, Eric. Between Jordan's support, the Barnes & Noble self-help aisle, and the Tao of Eric, Allison gradually discovers that her old life wasn't as perfect as she thought--and that if she truly wants to find her happily-ever-after, she's going to have to start writing her own rules.

Review Quotes

2021 Independent Press Awards Winner in Chick-Lit
2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Fiction: Romance
2020 Best Book Awards Finalist in Best New Fiction
2020 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction
2020 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: General

"From the very first page, I was hooked on this tale of heartbreak, self-discovery, and one woman's charming determination to turn lemons into lemonade. Fans of Emily Giffin and Lauren Weisberger will love this engaging and entertaining debut!"
--Meg Donohue, USA Today best-selling author of You, Me, and the Sea

"Charming Falls Apart is the perfect comfort read. A smart and heartfelt ode to the healing power of friendship and the strength in reinvention. Fans of Sophie Kinsella will root for Allison James as she rebuilds her life on her own terms."
--Allie Larkin, internationally best-selling author of Swimming for Sunlight

"A breezy read perfect for a summer day. So many young women rush to make a plan for how they think their lives should go without stopping to think about what will make them happy. We can all cheer for a heroine who loses it all and comes to realize she never wanted it anyway."
--Maria Murnane, best-selling author of the Waverly Bryson series

"In addition to being a well-woven story about second chances and trusting your own instinct, Charming Falls Apart is also a love letter to the city of Chicago. One of my favorite things about the book was experiencing the city through Allison's eyes. This book belongs at the top of your list of summer reads."
--Mary Chris Escobar, author of Neverending Beginnings