The Opposite of Me

I love these "human spirit" discoveries!

A heartwarming, exciting peek into 29 year old twins, seemingly opposites, but circumstances throw them back together again under their parents' roof where they make huge life discoveries, about the world and themselves.
I love these "human Spirit" discoveries and I could read one after another, after another.

Others I could read over and over again are: SECOND TIME AROUND, EXPLOSION IN PARIS, TIME OF MY LIFE.so many...

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic debut!

Lindsey Rose is at the top of her game. At 29, she's on the path to become the youngest VP Creative Director at her advertising firm. All she has to do is nail this top ad campaign and it's pretty much in the bag. Lindsey is convinced she has nothing to worry about. That is until an announcement blindsides her and sends her crashing on a path she never thought she would find herself on.

With her career and future in shambles, Lindsey decides to leave Manhattan and return home to Maryland to live with her parents while she tries to figure out her next step. There's just one small problem: her parents aren't aware of the REAL reason she came home. She can't tell them, she thinks, as she doesn't want to disappoint them. You see, Lindsey has a twin sister Alex. Alex is the beautiful, outgoing sister and Lindsey has lived (not so comfortably) in Alex's shadow as the smart sister. Lindsey has lost her New York City apartment and status of her job, so keeping her "smart label" is all she has right now.

The Opposite of Me is a story about Lindsey and Alex told through Lindsey's eyes. The reader is privileged to learn about their relationship through flashbacks and current events. Pekkanen does an amazing job with describing Alex from Lindsey's perspective, leaving the reader to form his/her own opinion about Alex. I have to admit, never once did I dislike Alex. I thought there would be more to her than what Lindsey thought she knew and I was happy to learn there was.

Both sisters have lived their lives by a label that was placed on them. As adult women, both have allowed these labels (either subconsciously or consciously) to shape their lives. When the sisters share a life-altering event, they are finally able to rewrite the script for their lives.

What I liked best about The Opposite of Me was I felt I was being told a story instead of reading a story. I easily pictured myself as one of Lindsey's high school friends and we bumped into each other on M Street in Georgetown. We grab lunch and catch up. Lindsey then proceeds to tell me about New York and why she's now back home. Early in the novel, I was lost in the story as the hours slipped by. I think fans of Emily Giffin will love Pekkanen's debut novel.

Ms. Pekkanen is currently working on her second book. I do hope she brings back these characters in the future. Without spoiling the ending, I want to know what's next for them! Highly recommend.

4.5 Stars

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

If you've had a sister or a friend, this book is for you.

Let's face it, we all measure ourselves by the yardstick of others at one time or another. The process of outgrowing the habit and coming into one's own is richly detailed in debut author Sarah Pekkanen's novel, "The Opposite of Me".

What I love about this book is the way Pekkanen draws each character with a deft sense of humor, while also allowing their poignant side to shine through. From protaganist Lindsey Rose's Ikea loving parents to her gorgeous sister Alex, each character has a pulse.

"The Opposite of Me" is a story to share with friends and family, book clubs and babysitters. Good for mothers and daughters as well.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great book about relationships and sisters

I loved this book sarah pekkanen did a great job writing her first book. It was a little slow at first but once you get through it everything picks up and gets very interesting all sibilings can relate to the situations the book is about having to start over and learn about yourself. All woman will enjoy this book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Something for everyone

"It would be easy to say that in "The Opposite of Me" Sarah Pekkanen has written THE "beach read" book of 2010...except that if you start reading it now, you won't be able to put it down until you've finished and it won't ever make it to the beach....Labels such as "beach read" and chick lit" do not do this book justice. Book clubs can happily choose it as their summer read, knowing it will not only be enjoyable and on the lighter side but also with enough issues to keep a lively discussion going.

Lindsay Rose has always been "the smart twin" and her sister Alex " the beautiful twin". On the brink of accepting a partnership in the New York advertising agency where she has worked relentlessly since college and been acknowledged as a rising star, Lindsay's world and future plans are destroyed in an instant. She is forced back to her hometown and back into the shadow of her exquisitely beautiful sister, Alex, who is planning her dream wedding to a handsome, rich and powerful man. In the process of examining her options and working towards healing, Lindsay discovers that life and love, are not as simple as they seem on the surface and that labels can be very wrong.

The characters and situations are well drawn and believable, although it did seem that the author rushed at the ending to finish off the book.

The title also gives the reader something to think about - is Lindsay the opposite of Alex, or is she herself the opposite of all that she and others have believed her to be?"

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Opposite of Me

My heart sank when I learned this book, yet again, revolved around twins. While I am aware my experience is just one voice, as a twin I get bored of the unrealistic potrayal some books use in their storylines. In purchasing the book, I also received a free Jennifer Weiner book in the bargain so I figured what the heck. The title Opposite of Me had also given me hope this one might be more interesing.

This book is different if only it is more realistic. ALL of my friends and siblings would recognize this pair in myself and my twin. Happily, The Opposite of Me is also interesting, funny, romantic and real. The family dynamic is spot on.

Best of all I was utterly, amazingly, surpised in two parts. This author could be an excellent mystery writer! The first suprise was the "humiliation" described in the front of the book. Reading the story leading up to that part I was nervous and anxious for the main character Lindsay but I thought I "knew" what was going to happen. I was so wrong and totally surpised. And not to beat a dead horse but the actual event was oh so realistic and in a odd way a nod towards fairness to women in the workplace.

The second huge suprise involves around what the protaganist finds out about herself and her family and again I was way off. And again the actual story line was just the best way to take the reader.

All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good book. My current favorites include Elisa Lorello, Matthew Pearl, CJ Sansome, Elaine Viets and Jennifer Weiner to name just a few.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

LOVED THE OPPOSITE OF ME!

I was one of the lucky ones who received an advanced copy of Sarah's book. To say I DEVOURED it in a day and a half would be an understatement. From word one, sentence one, page one, I could not put the book down. Her hilarious writing, relatable characters and unexpected plot twists hooked me and, even more importantly, kept me hooked. I'm an avid reader, often giving up on books mid-way through when the story either fizzles or just seems to drag on. With THE OPPOSITE OF ME, I became re-excited with each chapter and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Up until the very last page, which I was very sad to reach, I was intrigued, entertained and for lack of a better description, SUCKED IN. Kudos to Sarah for writing such an out of the gates fantastic book as a debut author. I hear People Mag is giving her 3.5/4 stars and if you haven't already heard, Jennifer Weiner has taken her under her wing. She's an author to keep following and to keep reading. As a side note, follow her on Facebook because she's freakin' hilarious.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy and LOVED it. The story paces so well, I couldn't stop reading! In fact, my husband made fun of me because I carried it with me for the three days it took me to finish, sneaking in pages here and there while I should have been doing the dishes, laundry, etc.

Pekkanen does a beautiful job of showcasing the trials and tribulations of living in your sibling's shadow asks the question, can you really ever go home again? Funny but insightful as well, THE OPPOSITE OF ME should be in everyone's beach bag this summer!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The author was channeling my sister and me

I read The Opposite of Me becuase I'm a huge Jennifer Weiner fan and she had an offer I couldn't refuse--order The Opposite of Me and Jen would send a free autographed copy of one of her books for free. That's how I found this book and Sarah.

When I read the book, I found it very touching because it was as though the author was channeling me and my sister and all the fights, hurt feelings and resentment we both have. The characters are well developed and the story is plausible and makes sense.

I think it's a quick, easy read and really, you can't go wrong. It also reminded me that I should cut my sister some slack.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Opposite of Me.

Sibling rivalry can be a great motivator for us to strive for success, but it can also be an ugly, ugly thing. In The Opposite of Me, Lindsey is so consumed by her desire to differentiate herself from her twin sister, Alex, that she can't see what it has done to the most precious relationship a woman can have. A relationship with her sister. It was painfully embarrassing to read Lindsey's jealousy on paper. She had everything going for her, but her desire to be better than Alex nearly destroyed her. Once she arrives at home and starts sorting things out and seeing Alex for who she really is, well that is when I really started enjoying the book. Seeing the both of them change and grow closer was truly wonderful. Making The Opposite of Me the perfect book for sisters, friends, and book clubs all over the world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A book that begins as a story that centers around fraternal twin

A book that begins as a story that centers around fraternal twins who have always had a place in their family set in stone, but through some ups and downs these twins are having to find out how to both change and still find their place.

I think this kind of sibling rivalry happens in all kinds of siblings from fraternal twins to identical twins to siblings of different ages. My sister and I serve different roles in our family - she is the creative and big picture one and I am the organized detail oriented person. I can't imagine if our roles were reversed for one reason or another and how we would all have to shift and change to make a new normal.

My favorite part of this book was thinking that it was headed in a certain direction and at a drop of a hat, the author takes it to a whole nother level. As always, I can not divulge what takes the book to the next level because this is one that must be picked up on your next trip to a bookstore (preferably an indie bookstore!).

Soooo good

well written and a great flow... story was so funny, and relateable

I laughed and I cried!

Review by Jen: Sarah Pekkanen has written a winner with her debut novel. I laughed and I cried, which is always a good sign that I was somehow touched by a novel. I very much enjoyed the character of Lindsey. Sure there were times that I wanted to smack her upside the head to knock some sense into her when she was being particularly dense or stubborn, but she was very much a real woman and not some Barbie that does no wrong. Lindsey finds herself running home to regroup and has to deal with the family she's not particularly close to anymore and some buried feelings. Add into the mix the loss of her career and a farce of a love life and a novel is born.

I have to say that slowly my prejudice against "chick lit" novels is being changed. It appears I've read a few clunkers in the past that gave me an unfair dislike of the genre. But having read two good ones in a row (Pieces of Happily Ever After and The Opposite of Me), I'm happy to keep trying more in the genre.

Good read

Best book ive read in awhile

Okay

This book was good at times, other times the main character was annoying with her obsession of comparing herself to her sister and then constantly berating her. I loved Sarah Pekkanen's "Skipping A Beat" and to me, this book is NO comparison. It isn't awful... it's predictable but all of the characters (besides Lindsay) are lovable and real. Light read, simple

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wish the author had more available

Easy and fun read. Another great weekend read.

loved this!

So well written - loved every bit of this book.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Horrible...

This book couldn't decide what it wanted to be about...It was all over the place and the ridiculousness of what was happening drove me crazy. Do not waste your money! Can't believe a book like this got published!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great New Author!

I am always looking for new authors to follow and Sarah Pekkanen is one I will add to my list! A fresh, witty book about sisters and the roles created within a family. Loved the parents as secondary characters - they cracked me up! This is a must-read!

Enjoyable Read

Lindsey Rose is destined for fame. She's developed some of the most well known ad campaigns for some of the biggest companies in the world. Life in New York is exciting . . . but Lindsey doesn't exactly know because she lives her job. In fact, the only real friend she has is Matt, and she is able to maintain that relationship because they work together.

At twenty-nine years old, Lindsey is just about to become the youngest vice president her firm has ever had. And then she isn't. And then she does the first reckless thing she's ever done in her life. And then she finds herself without a job and living with her parents in Maryland.

Sarah Pekkanen's debut novel, The Opposite of Me, does indeed explore opposites, especially the differences between Lindsey and her twin sister, Alex, and between Lindsey's old high-powered career and her new easygoing job.

But the novel goes deeper, taking as its central theme the idea that from a young age we fall into the roles and self-image we are rewarded for. Unfortunately, those roles don't always reflect who we truly are. Further, once our eyes are opened, there is no map showing us the way to escape our own and others' expectations.

Although The Opposite of Me has many elements of contemporary women's literature, Pekkanen rises above standard chick lit to focus on deeper issues than happily ever after. It is easy to care about Lindsey and her family, and we root for her ultimate success on her journey to self-discovery. Despite being a bit predictable, the book is an enjoyable read.

I would recommend the novel for book clubs because it offers a variety of discussion topics. Additional themes are child-parent relationships, sisters, twins, careers, boyfriends, and relationships with business colleagues.