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The Break-Up Diet
Annette Fix
The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir
"Annette Fix is pleased to announce that her memoir, The Break-Up Diet is receiving great response from readers.
BOOK COVER BLURBS:
The Break-Up Diet is delicious. Heartbreaking and humorous...any woman can relate.~ Jill Soloway, author of Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants, and writer for ABC's Grey's Anatomy
In this delectable memoir, Annette Fix serves up a fresh, funny, honest, and insightful dish of sex and the single mom.~ Colleen Sell, Editor, A Cup of Comfort series
BOOK REVIEWERS:
"Not everything always goes as you plan, as Annette Fix will explain in "The Break Up Diet", a memoir after her life when her pro-golfer boyfriend dumped her. Describing the title concept as the diet one goes on to make one more appealing to the shallow end of the dating pool, "The Break Up Diet" is Annette's story of her working as an exotic dancer to bankroll her writing career and to support her preteen son, a story many single mothers will surely relate to as she balances her dreams and the hassles of being a mother. "The Break-Up Diet" is highly recommended for memoir shelves and for any women in need of an uplifting tale of someone in a predicament not so different from their own."
~ by Midwest Book Review (5 stars)
"After spending two blissful years with her live-in boyfriend and her pre-teen son, Annette Fix was very content with her life. That was until Kevin unexpectedly broke up with her without any plausible explanation. From that horrible instant Annette's emotions went on a downward spiral with no safety net in sight to apprehend her fall. And, just like that Annette found herself on THE BREAK-UP DIET - an unwanted diet overflowing with painful despair, countless tearful moments, daily struggles to function normally, hatred, bitterness, unhealthy eating habits and most of all guaranteed weight loss. Will Annette be able to find the courage and strength to overcome the negative and depressing effects of THE BREAK-UP DIET?
Wow! That's the only word I can use to describe Annette Fix's memoir in THE BREAK-UP DIET. This is one book that will definitely hit close to home and I am sure that once you dive into this book, you will not want to put it down until the very end. On more than one occasion I found myself wishing that I could give Annette a hug and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Annette tried to use every trick she could think of win Kevin back; yet, no matter how hard she tried he would not renew their relationship and because of this Annette wanted to give up on life; but, she knew that she needed to be there for her son. So, she tried to move on in life without Kevin by reentering the dating pool hoping to find her new prince charming. By the end of THE BREAK-UP DIET I had gone through a multitude of emotions that ran from laughter, teary-eyed, agreement and joyfulness. This truly was a heartfelt story that I enjoyed immensely. "
~ Contessa at RomanceJunkies.com
"The Break-Up Diet, which is being released on Valentine's Day, is the true story of how new author Annette Fix survived and overcame the end of her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Kevin. Annette thought Kevin was the man for her, her one and only true love, her soul mate. But Kevin thought differently and after two years called it quits. The shock and pain of being abandoned by the person she loved left Annette completely devastated and unable to move on with her life.
In her diary, Annette wrote about Kevin and how she felt like there was no one else for her but him. Annette used her diary entries as inspiration for her book, which is in diary format and told in first-person point of view.
Annette worked as an exotic dancer for six years to support herself and her son, but she still had big dreams of moving to Fiji, becoming a writer, and getting married. All of her aspirations went out the window when Kevin left her. Until one day, Annette meets a man who actually cares about her like no other has before. He encourages her to pursue writing full time and whole heartily believes in her.
Will Annette end up with her prince charming or will her ex-boyfriend Kevin and her feelings for him come between her and a second chance at love?
The Break-Up Diet is a romantic, humorous, inspiring and beautiful story about starting over after a relationship abruptly ends. Any person who has ever gone through heartbreak will find joy and solace in Annette's story. The writing was engaging and very humorous at times.
Every chapter begins with a recipe with emotions as ingredients instead of food. This adds a humorous undertone to the serious subject of depression and heartbreak. This memoir was very interesting and had a chick lit flavor to it. Annette Fix is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading another book by her.
Armchair Interviews Says: A fabulous debut and an author to look out for! GREAT book!!"
~ by ArmchairInterviews.com
AMAZON TOP REVIEWER:
"This light-hearted memoir addresses a serious topic: author Annette Fix focuses on her experiences after her live-in boyfriend of 2 1/2 years, Kevin, suddenly breaks up with her. Using a journal-like format, Fix writes about her emotional devastation following the breakup combined with her struggles to continue functioning on a daily basis; as the mother of a pre-teen son, Fix really has no choice but to pick herself up and to try to move on. Although Fix's heartbreak comes across as real and genuine, she takes a humorous approach to telling her story. This is clearly evident her use of jokey journal entry titles such as "He's Not Heavy, He's My Stalker." Similarly, the book is peppered with mock "recipes" for things like "Doubt Cake," "Bitter Shake," and "Sexual Stir-fry"--I found these to be a bit silly, but they certainly added to the overall tongue in cheek tone of Fix's recollections. (These recipes also account for the word "diet" appearing in the title of the book--in the early weeks and months following her breakup, Fix experiences weight loss as an unintentional effect of her emotional turmoil.)
This book is extremely relatable; virtually every woman will see herself in at least some of Fix's experiences and emotions. I also think that a number of men might enjoy reading Fix's story, as it would provide them with some amusing, insider's views of the opposite sex. Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable, entertaining, and a very quick read, and I would definitely recommend it, with a final rating of 4 1/2 stars."
~ by Beth Colette, Amazon Top 100 reviewer (4.5 stars)
AMAZON READER REVIEWS:
"I loved this book. I met the author in person and she is a doll. Having spent my adolescence in Orange County I can say a LOT of this book rang true for me, and my experiences. The author is funny, honest, and heart-breakingly blunt. Fast, wonderful read."
~ by Jillian Clemmons in West Hollywood, CA (4 stars)
"The Break Up Diet is energetic, humorous and refreshingly genuine as the author lays herself open to EVERYTHING! It makes you feel good and sympathetic/empathetic at the same time...you will cry, laugh and lose yourself in this one!!"
~ by Judy Goss in New York, NY (5 stars)
"I laughed, I cried, I even bit my nails a bit. Is there such a thing as a love thriller? If so, this is it. Ya it's about love. But it is interesting enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, bed, bike, porch, floor, car, whatever. I took it with me everywhere until the end. Annette's story dispels the world's lies that say we can't find a good man and we don't deserve love. Prepare to crack up then cry then crack up again because Annette can do anything other writers can do but she does it while wearing stilettos."
~ by J Quillin in Oceanside, CA (5 stars)
LIBRARY THING EARLY READER REVIEWS:
"Annette Fix's debut novel, "The Break-Up Diet: a Memoir," is a wonderfully funny and witty commentary on life, love and starting over. Fix begins her memoir with a devastating breakup with Kevin, and continues with inevitable journey of rebuilding after such a traumatic loss. As the book progresses, Annette regains her confidence, always meeting the challenges of being a single mother head on. "Break-Up Diet" is well written, full of great one-liners, and is a very quick read.
The recipes included in the book are a nice touch of anecdotal humor, expressing the very essence of what one goes through in times like these. More than once I found myself laughing out loud with Annette's snappy writing style, such as the incident with the boxes in the garage or the entry when Annette is solicited online. The whole book is kept in check when needed; her concern for her son is paramount, and never once did the book deviate from the purpose of the book, which is to show healing and the rebirth of hope. "Break-Up Diet" tells the story of breakups and life; a transitional account of the life and death of relationships, and is a huge asset to my personal library. I would highly recommend it to anyone, and only hope that there will be more novels in the future of a similar vein.
~ by Kristin in Rockville, MD (5 stars)
"The Break-Up Diet" by Annette Fix was one of the best books I've read in a while. In this memoir, Fix describes the phenomenon of the weight loss that happens following a break up. More than that, she draws the reader in with her humor and by the end of the book you feel like she is someone you know and want to root for. There are portions of the book that are laugh out loud funny, and others that made me slightly teary-eyed. I am currently going through my own break-up diet and this book is a must read for anyone who is going through or has ever been through a rough break-up. Highly recommended.
~ by Rita in Bakersfield, CA (5 stars)
"I received an advance copy of this through Library Thing, and I really enjoyed it. This is a memoir of a woman who survives a break-up and comes out the other side a better person, with a better relationship. The "twist" of the story is that she is a single mom who is making ends meet by topless dancing while trying to establish herself as a writer. I'm so glad she was able to persevere in the writing, because she has a very fresh, easy style that is fun to read and quite entertaining. The "recipes" for things such as "doubt cake" and "guilt stew" are very clever.
The author's website has some pretty entertaining break-up stories, and a quiz, as well as some other fun stuff.
Overall, one of the more entertaining things I've read lately."
~ by Jennifer in Tucson, AZ (5 stars)
"I absolutely loved this book. I was stunned at the candor and freshness of the voice that jumped out of the pages. As I read through the book, I felt upset, applauded, and basically got really involved in Annette's life. I found myself reading recipes out loud to my friends, all of us appreciating the amazing wit and word choice. I am going to recommend this book to all of my friends, sisters, and my mom. This book is perfect even for those who haven't suffered a heart break yet."
~ by Laura in Minneapolis, MN (5 stars)
"I loved this book. I finished it in about a day and a half. Annette Fix does a wonderful job in allowing you to relate to her as well as the other characters in the book. it is written in diary form, but reads like a novel. anyone who enjoys chick lit will appreciate this book as well as those who have suffered thru a breakup."
~ by Kate in Hamilton Square, NJ (5 stars)
"This book read like Chick Lit, and I couldn't put it down! I loved it! Although not meant for the prim and proper, I loved Ms. Fix's style and she told her story with such honesty. I would admit there were parts of the book which held a little too much information (e.g. sexual encounters), but I do think it added to the humor. I felt involved in the story -- rooting for Annette at certain moments, hoping certain things would happen, and sympathizing when things didn't work out as she had hoped (and rejoicing when they did). The recipes were just an added bonus. I can't wait to see what Annette Fix has in store for us next and you can be sure I will be watching for her next release."
~ by Denise in Plantsville, CT (5 stars)
"This heartwarming book is the true story of a young woman in turmoil....being a budding author is her passion, but she also works as a topless dancer to pay the bills. She has a young son, who she calls "Wonderboy", a charming kid who is wise beyond his years.
The story begins just as her boyfriend of two years, decides that he's done with the relationship and breaks her heart by leaving her to follow his dream of becoming a pro golfer. She believed that he was her one true love and she spends the first half of the book trying to get over the pain of the failed relationship, and also to stop loving him. Her girlfriends rally around her, and they all form a tightly knit bond of women who have been ditched by lousy men.
Further along in the book, she writes about several different men she dates, trying to start over and once again find Mr. Right. All are disappointing to her, because none can measure up to the high standard of the one who left her behind.
Eventually, her heart begins to heal and she gets on with her life. Unexpectedly, a new man enters the picture....a man that bears an uncanny resemblance to her first love. A whirlwind romance develops and Annette feels her broken heart mend even more as she begins to fall in love once again.
This true story was a very smooth, fast read. I loved the short chapters and the very witty and humorous "recipes" that were scattered throughout the book, relating to her journey to heal from heartbreak and find true love.
I found this book to be quite endearing and hard to put down. I would highly recommend this to any woman who has experienced love and loss. Nice ending, too!"
~ by Julie in Peoria, IL (4 stars)
"The Break-Up Diet is a fast, enjoyable read that held my attention from the first page to last. Annette Fix's world is turned upside-down when her perfect boyfriend of two years phoned to call off their relationship. Annette, a single mother who earns a living as an exotic dancer, longs to leave dancing behind, become a famous writer, and live blissfully with this man of her dreams. All seemed possible and within reach until that phone call cancelled everything-or did it?
Written in diary format, the book captures the reality of life after an unexpected break-up, and women, especially, will identify with it. This story expresses a wide range of emotion from humorous highs to the lows of desperation and despair. Yet no matter how distressing or depressing, there is an overriding tone of optimism that everything will work out fine. But does it?
I appreciated the author's straightforward account, but admit there were some details of her dating activities that could have benefited from a more delicate approach. The pseudo-recipes correspond to events in the story and while not essential, are a nice touch. Overall, I enjoyed this memoir and would recommend it to others."
~ by Dawn in Venice, FL (4 stars)
"Annette Fix's memoir is a wake-up call to women-stop banking on your five year plan that includes that oh so perfect man. In an instant, your life can change leaving you to pick up the pieces. In the book, Annette shows the reader that picking up the pieces after a break-up is painful- yet can be done and that it IS possible to move on. Annette's memoir is also inspirational, encouraging women to pursue their dreams...even if it means doing things in the meantime that are not ideal, like topless dancing. By writing The Break-Up Diet Annette has fulfilled her dream.
I thoroughly enjoyed Annette's style and wit in The Break-Up Diet - I sped through the book in no time. I was quite surprised that I related to her story even though I am a southern belle, leading a vastly different lifestyle than the Orange County supermom. I am also impressed with the book's companion website. I am already looking forward to her next endeavor but, next time, please cool it with the too-cute chapter titles and recipes, they were over the top!"
~ by Trisha in Drexel, NC (4 stars)
"Fix's writing is funny, catchy, honest, and easy to read. I did, however, have a few issues. First, I got tired of the chapter titles. I realize they are supposed to be clever, but I often had to stretch them so far to make them relate to the chapter that I eventually just stopped trying. My second complaint, and really the bigger of the two, was that I found the "recipe" gimmick to silly and unnecessary; in fact, I just stopped reading them altogether. I'd have liked the book better if the "recipes" had been omitted, in which case the title could have changed as well--to something that actually fit the book--since the "recipes" were the only thing diet-related about it. The book doesn't need a gimmick; it's great on its own. Once I started ignoring the titles and "recipes," I found the book to be honest, fun, well written, and just generally a good read."
~ by Erin in Albany, NY (4 stars)
This memoir is an enjoyable read. Ms. Fix definitely has a knack for getting down on paper the emotions and frustrations that are part and parcel of being dumped by someone you really, really love. The "recipes" that go along with the "diet" are quite amusing.
There were a few personal details that I could have done without, but I realize that it's a memoir and it's supposed to be...personal! Ms. Fix really bares all (pun intended) and the reader gets a good look into the life of someone who is trying her best to pull it all together.
~ by Natasha in GA (4 stars)
If you saw the movie "Waitress", then you must read Annette Fix's "The Break-up Diet". This cleverly written memoir uses recipes to sum up her emotional roller-coaster experience of breaking up with Mr. Perfect, Kevin, while exploring the dark and often dangerous world of dating (especially if the guys you meet at work...a strip club where she dances...are your first choice) to finally finding her knight in shining armor, Mr. Right. From "Devastation omelette" to "Sexual stir-fry" to "Contentment cookies", the reader is treated to fast-paced journal entries that reveal the twists and turns of her emotional and literal life...not easy when home-schooling a 12-year old son and trying to break into the publishing world with her first book. Her determination to stick to her fairy tale approach to finding Mr. Right at times can be off-putting, but her humor and witty writing overcome this flaw and in the end "Steven" does rescue her on his white horse. Can't argue with a happy ending. Good Luck Ms. Fix... your writing days are off to a great start!
~ by Jennifer in Milwaukee, WI (3 stars)
This memoir reads like chick lit, the good kind. I kept forgetting it wasn't a novel as I read it. Every "character" feels real and Annette's voice is so authentic. It's a quick read and fun, even when working through some really tough, emotional stuff. It's not the kind of thing I usually read, but enjoyed it. If you like Jennifer Weiner's work (and I definitely do), you'll probably like this.
~ by Kaijsa in Laramie, WY
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