Minivans, Meltdowns & Merlot: My first book report in years!

I haven't actually done a book report since school. I wasn't all that great with them back then but I'm hoping that I've improved with age, like a fine Merlot. Speaking of Merlot (how's that for a segue?) I have just finished reading the first book by author Carolyn Coppola called Minivans, Meltdowns & Merlot. You know me, if there's wine in the title, how can it be wrong? And I have to say, I was NOT disappointed. Quite the contrary, I was genuinely entertained! Carolyn takes stories from her life and writes them in such a way that you feel you're there with her, sitting around the table with her friends drinking Grey Goose martinis. This is not your average run of the mill series of short blogs by a 'mommy blogger' (God I hate that term, it makes me wanna hurl). No, Carolyn doesn't actually have a blog about her kids or her family. No, instead, she has a blog about her basset hound, Leo. And he's quite the sweetie.

Carolyn had me when I read her chapter The Elephant in My Purse. It's so easy to feel inadequate around your friends when your lives take much different paths, but it all came home when she realized that her path wasn't any less exciting or amazing than that of her friends, it was just as satisfying.

Her son's correct use of the words "Fucka bitch" at such an early age nearly had me peeing in my pants. I love that she doesn't just give you the brief Cliff's Notes version of things, she gives you the back story and the details that other current books lack. She goes for quality of story over brevity for the sake of getting more chapters in. And I loved it.

The chapter called "Fancy Pants" was like reading a page right out of my world with picky children and picking your battles. She's not afraid to be honest, even if it means you get to hear about her three breasts, her breastfeeding bag that she tried to pass off as her daughter's backpack, and her penchant for purchasing shiny silver jewelry that she'll probably never, ever wear. Her style of writing is real and honest and absolutely hilarious. If you're looking for a book that will make you think, make you laugh and make you realize that you are not alone, pick up Minivans, Meltdowns & Merlot.