Title: The Opposite of Me
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition
Publication Date: March 9, 2010
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-1439121986
Genre: Fiction
Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully constructed life implodes. Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.
My Review:
Delightfully witty and endearing, The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen is a beautiful story that will capture the reader’s heart. Lindsey is the smart twin and Alex is the pretty twin, or that is how they were raised. Lindsey has it all as an add executive at a prestigious New York firm, until one slip-up found her without a job and returning home to her parents and her sister. Alex is a successful model, works in television and is about to be married causing all the old jealousy and inadequacies Lindsey has felt her entire life to return. The Opposite of Me is told by Lindsey in a bright, witty, and absolutely charming manner. The book starts out as a rather light and predictable read until Pekkanen takes the reader through some very serious issues with her characters and which point the novel picks up speed and intensity. I found myself truly enjoying The Opposite of Me and could not set the book down (we order takeaway) as I wanted to know what would happen to Lindsey, Cheryl, Alex, Bradley and Matt. I adored Pekkanen’s writing style and would recommend The Opposite of Me to any reader, especially reading groups.
Sarah Pekkanen’s work has been published in People, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New Republic, The Baltimore Sun, Reader’s Digest, and Washingtonian, among others. She writes a monthly Erma Bombeck type column for Bethesda Magazine, and has been an on-air contributor to NPR and E! Entertainment’s “Gossip Show.” She is the winner of a Dateline award and the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship. Sarah lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her husband and three young sons.
I received a complimentary copy of The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen from BookSparks PR. Receiving a review copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.
Oh, I really want to read this! I am on a waiting list for it at the library. The story sounds fantastic. If you couldn’t put it down then I am sure it must be amazing. Thanks for your review!
I loved this book, too! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Pekkanen and I have to tell you she is absolutely delightful!
Again, a book that sounds so interesting I had to visit the website! Thanks!
I really enjoyed this one as well and I am so excited to see what she writes next!
She was a new author to me and I look forward to reading her other books.