This reader's personal opinion, ©2018, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by goodreads, Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers*

This was so hit and miss with me, I need to review it. I was drawn to this library wishlist-one because of interesting premise (think reverse Pygmalion), an author I've been meaning to try, and wanting a funny read.

Well, I like the author's writing and the humor. The premise somehow turned just plain mean.

It was a funny book.

Mixed feelings about the main character. Every time I thought about DNF'ing the book, she'd do or say something I could relate to or sympathize -- none of which carried through to the end. I did not like or connect with her or any of the characters. I expected shallow and vain from the book description, but I expected it to be hilarious and lesson-worthy instead of the woe-is-me-I-can-get-any-guy-and-will-even-if-I-don't-want-him. Mean-spirited on the part of the default best friend and main character often mean-spirited to others. Still, she had her moments so did not DNF.

I think the premise went too far. If main character had decided to drab herself up to see if guy was attracted to her or her looks, that would have worked better for me than the frenemy harassing her into it from jealousy then pushing it too far. By too far, I mean changing name, job and residence -- who would do that? At least MC fought back when frenemy pushed for more like binding breasts and hinted at actual surgeries (that saved a DNF right there).

Everyone was at times judgmental, selfish, jealous, petty, mean, arrogant, blame others good qualities for why others notice their bad qualities ...

Overall all, didn't really like most of it (mostly for characters) but would read more by the author. Ending seemed a bit rushed and could have been more satisfying without some cheating, hypocrisy and deus ex machina.

Really close to the end there was a rape-apologist bit that would have made for an automatic DNF had it come anywhere earlier. It totally soured the book for me despite earlier laugh-out-loud moments.

I don't think she learned or grew at all from the experience other than dumping the frenemy.

*©2018. All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher (except Penumbra Publishing) to reprint/quote in whole or in part. I may also have cross-posted on Libib, booklikes, and other sites including retailers like kobo and Barnes and Noble. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties or indicate release of copyright.

Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:

★★★★★ = All Time Favorite
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Average. Okay.
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked or meh? but kept reading in hopes would improve.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Cannot imagine anyone liking. (Might also be just an "uploaded" word spew or collection that should not be dignified by calling itself a "published book." If author is going batshit crazy in the blogosphere over reviews -- I now know why they are getting bad reviews. Or maybe author should take remedial classes for language written in until basic concepts like using sentences sink in. Is author even old enough to sign a publishing contract or do they need a legal guardian to sign for them?) ( )

Yesterday I posted a less-than-stellar review of my initial opinions of this book, then felt terrible for the rest of the day. I know how much work it is to create and release a novel, and I have no doubts that Ms. Baratz-Logsted poured a lot of time, energy and emotion into this story. She deserves better than the wise-cracking criticism of someone with one whole published book under her belt (meaning me). I deleted my original review and am reposting.

My main problem at this point is a heroine with whom I can't relate. Simply put: We have nothing in common. She's quite beautiful by way of nature rather than artifice, and has tons of money, thanks to the benevolence of her deceased father. Oh, and she's younger (than I am).

I can't sympathize with her either. When your biggest problem is attracting male attention too easily...well, you won't catch me worrying about you. That she's a single woman -- no husband/significant other, no children -- doesn't bother her like it does her friends (at least not at this point in the story). So I can't even empathize with her loneliness. She doesn't seem to have any.

I know there's going to be a valuable lesson to this story. I just haven't gotten there yet, so I read on. ( )

I had a slight problem with the fact that the heroine didn't realise she was being set up, but apart from that, it was quite enjoyable. not as good as I'd hoped it would be, but I still read through it reasonably quickly, I suppose. I loved the premise though!

Synopsis: Scarlett Jane Stein has always turned men's heads. With her long, black hair and perfect breasts, she draws attention wherever she goes. But an adult case of the chicken pox and the words of her envious friend Pam make Scarlett start to wonder if her looks, not her personality, are the only reason men like her. So Scarlett opts for a "makeunder," cutting off her long hair and dressing in dowdy clothing. Determined to truly reinvent herself, Scarlett quits her job at the Danbury Library, changes her name to Lettie Shaw, and gets herself hired at the smaller Bethel Library. She sets her sights on Saul, a handsome investment adviser she meets in a bar who, sure enough, just wants to be friends, that is, until Scarlett defrumps at a Halloween party. But one of the library's patrons--Steve Holt, a window painter--seems to be taking to Lettie just as she is.

My review: This book is pure fluff. I could not get past the first 5 chapters. ( )

I thought the story sounded unique so I picked it up. The newness wore off around the 5th chapter, and I started skimming around the 7th chapter. The story had so much promise but it ended up falling flat. The characters were shallow, selfish, and acted like they were in high school. Try as I might I just couldn't put forth the effort to finish this book cover to cover. One main reason is I dislike reading a book about women (most of which were going on 40 years old) acting like a bunch of immature 10th graders. That was the biggest turn off for me. ( )