So you keep hearing about this book about potatoes and pie and literary stuff somewhere in Guernsey, wherever that is. Word on the street is it’s the best book written since sliced potatoes but then you hear it’s written entirely in letter form and that kind of makes you nervous because, “Seriously?” How good can a book be if it’s relying on weird gimmicks and strange pies? And that woman on the cover doesn’t look very exciting. But seriously, what the heck is a potato peel pie?

Rather than give into the hype of the latest “Awesomest Book Ever According To Everyone,” I’ve cleverly devised a simple system which will help you decide whether or not to read this book that everyone keeps telling you about. The answer to your prayers, I know. No need to thank me – this was for the greater good of literature and literature lovers everywhere, I’m sure.

So, are you ready to take my quiz? Great! Let’s get started!

1. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like writing letters, as the book is chock full of fantastic letters and will have you itching to write to everyone you know immediately.
2. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you do not like writing letters, because after reading all of the fantastic letters in this book, you just might change your mind.
3. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like great literature, as this book is also chock full of fantastic literary references that will make the book geek in you swoon with delight.
4. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you have not read much great literature, as this book will give you several great examples of where to start.
5. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like strong, witty characters. There are several in the story to choose from.
6. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like annoying, judgemental dim-witted characters as there are a few of those, too – but don’t worry, we mostly just laugh at them and roll our eyes a bit.
7. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like laughing – because you’ll get many chances to do so while reading this book.
8. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you do not like laughing, because there are also several deep, soul wrenching stories that are sure to tug at your heart strings and make your mouth go all frowny.
9. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you like love stories. This book has a couple great ones complete with impatiently waiting and “Does he or doesn’t he?” and best of all, a few happy endings.
10. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you have an interest in World War Two or life shortly after the war. There are many fantastic stories of the war and tales of courage, bravery, heart ache, hardship and survival. It’s supremely moving, motivating and … magnificent.
11. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you don’t have an interest in World War Two, because this book might just change your mind and give you a reason to be interested. The letter format of the book will deliver stories of the war, of romance, friendship and more in very nice, bite sized chunks, making the whole thing very manageable and easy to digest.
12. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if it’s been a long time since you’ve read a really great book – because this one fits the bill.
13. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you’ve just finished a really great book, because isn’t it always nice to read two in a row?
14. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you are still asking, “What in the world is a Potato Peel Pie?” because I’m surely not going to tell you, so you’ll just have to read the book to find out.
15. You should not read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you do not know how to read yet - but really, shouldn’t you learn how to read already so that you can finally read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?
16. You should read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society if you do know how to read, because otherwise you really have no good excuse.

So, what were your results?

I am a huge Jane Porter fan after having read two of her previous books, Odd Mom Outand Easy On the Eyes. So when I was given the opportunity to review her new book, She’s Gone Country which was just released today (August 23), I jumped at the chance (there may have been squealing and happy dancing involved). This book tells the story of Shey Darcy, 39 year old former top model and mother of three teenage boys.

After her husband announces that he is in love with someone else (a male someone else), Shey moves herself and her boys to her childhood home – a family ranch in Texas. Moving back home is never easy and Shey finds herself dealing with her Southern Baptist mama, over protective brothers, the typical struggles with three teenage boys, one of whom has been battling depression – not to mention the death of her brother, life as an older model and run ins with her ex-crush Dane Kelly.

One thing that I love about Jane Porter’s novels is the fact that things never start or finish in a tidy way. Her stories are very true to life with no perfect happy endings. She jumps in the middle of the action and leaves a few loose ties as well. Some of those loose ties stand to upset readers but I actually like that she leaves things open – and knowing that her characters will likely pop up again in future novels with more details of how things work out is an added bonus. Did I mention that the other novels of Porter’s that I’ve read feature Shey as a character? Shey’s two best friends were the respective main characters in Odd Mom Out and Easy On The Eyes and all three girls appear in all three books, with bits and pieces of their stories told in each – so the story never really ends for any of them.

Another thing that I enjoy with Jane Porter is her very conversational writing style. It’s not always perfect, in fact sometimes I find myself obsessing over her sentence structure, wanting to rewrite bits and pieces – but the overall result is a book that feels like it may have been written by your best friend – it’s not perfect, but it’s so easily digestible – which is good given the often heavy subject matter of death, depression, cyber bullying, family trauma, divorce, heart break and more. Life is messy and Porter’s stories are often a bit messy as well – and a bit heavy. Her writing style makes all of this much easier to digest I think, giving an overall feel of light, dare I say chick-lit – in the midst of some pretty deep subject material.

I definitely recommend She’s Gone Country – it delivers in much the same way as Porters other books – and I think most women (especially moms or fans of chick lit or this new cross breed of mom lit) should enjoy it. I might recommend that you read Odd Mom Out or Easy On the Eyes first but I don’t think it’s necessary.

I’m giving away a copy of She’s Gone Country at my review blog – the giveaway ends September 6th so make sure you head over there and enter to win a copy!