LauraD’s review of Project Jennifer by Jill Amy Rosenblatt
Chick Lit released by Kensington 29 Jul 08

Chick Lit has its origins in Great Britain, and we Americans have never quite captured whatever it is that makes Chick Lit, well…..Chick Lit. Those Brits just seem to have a sense of irony that us Yanks can’t quite get to. We seem to want our Chick Lit heroines to actually learn Life Lessons, when the point is really just a fun book where in the end the girl gets a reasonably happy ending. Up to bat here in America’s latest is debut author Jill Amy Rosenblatt, and danged if she doesn’t get it.

Joan Benjamin starts out losing her fiancé, job, and apartment. The fiancé and job are both due to Jennifer, a woman so completely her opposite that Joan is jolted into action-she wants the things that Jennifer has, then the answer is to become a woman like Jennifer. She enlists the help of her friend Carrie and tries to change herself into “Jennifer”.

Jill Amy Rosenblatt gives readers a great view of what happens when a perfectly normal, intelligent women suddenly starts investing too much energy into Cosmo magazine’s advice columns, and using self-help books to self-style. Suddenly, she’s so determined to lose her virginity that she ends up in an affair with a married man – who’s also her boss. Not good. Of course, her best friend Carrie is also in a relationship, and her guy may or may not be cheating.

Project Jennifer combines funny and bittersweet in equal doses. Joan has a lot of growing up to do, and it’s not necessarily pretty. However, it’s always real; and it’s usually good for a laugh. Joan is also a lucky girl, as she gets to meet a few interesting men along the way. Rosenblatt has also written some other great characters, including Joan’s college adviser. Project Jennifer was a hoot to read, and kudos to Ms. Rosenblatt for a great first novel.

Grade: B

What’s In A Name?

Joan Benjamin, a plain and uptight secretary on Long Island, New York, is suffering an identity crisis brought on by a very bad week. Her ex-fiancé just married someone else; she’s lost her cushy overpaid job; and she’s been kicked out of her apartment. All because of women named Jennifer! So when Joan learns that her parents almost named her Jennifer, she decides to transform herself into the Jennifer she might have been…

It’s Either Everything…

Armed with all the pop psychology she can get her hands on—and with the help of a dear friend who can recite Cosmo-style stats by heart—Joan sets out to cultivate her inner Jennifer: a sexy, successful belle-of-the-ball who’s completely in charge of her professional and private lives.

Or Nothing At All.

But “Project Jennifer” is not a rousing success right out of the gate—apparently, even Jennifers can have bad dates and wardrobe malfunctions—but soon Joan begins to feel transformed by her new self. In fact, her Jennifer persona might end up teaching her a few unexpected lessons about life: like how to say “yes” to things you want and “no”” to things you don’t, and that just being yourself is enough. Even if that self is named Joan…