While "Coming Clean" by Beth Uznis Johnson began promisingly, I found myself struggling to fully connect with the narrative as it unfolded. The leisurely pacing and ambiguous plot direction left me feeling somewhat adrift at times. Additionally, I was hoping for a more nuanced exploration of the protagonist beyond her role as a cleaner. However, Johnson's vivid descriptions of the homeowners and their abodes offered intriguing glimpses into the diverse lives intersecting with the character's world. Although the book didn't entirely resonate with my personal preferences, I appreciate the author's efforts to craft an atmospheric, character-driven tale.

A great premise which lost its thread somewhere in the middle which was a terrible shame. I struggled to follow where we were going at times which was frustrating.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this book so I eventually decided to DNF. It was well written, just not for me.

Quite a unique story with some quirky characters. It was an interesting read.
Many thanks to Regal House Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had potential but there were some pretty big holes in the story that I really couldnt get past.

I think as far as a debut goes, it was ok and I will definitely try the author again one day. There were some really good things about the book and I fdid finish it but the ending needs work.

Coming Clean is the first novel by American author, Beth Uznis Johnson. Dawn has been cleaning homes in upstate New York for almost a year, and she’s very good at it. It’s not what she had intended to do with her life: college and psychology and becoming a therapist had to be put aside when her fiancé, Terry Folly died in a motorcycle accident in which she was herself badly injured. Some of his close friends and the Folly family seem to think she’s to blame, markedly reducing her list of supportive friends.

Now, instead of being enfolded in the Folly family, she’s living in a mobile home bought with insurance money, earning trailer park rent by cleaning. She counts as friends the black onsite manager, Justice, and Matthew, the press photographer sent to document the tragic accident. Her mother, Susan claims to be supportive, but is full of negativity, and really too busy being resentful of what she sees as her ex, Dawn’s father’s shirking of his responsibilities. Her father Jack is much more relaxed, a genuinely caring guy whose focus is happiness.

On this Monday morning, as she cleans at Beth and Fred Turner’s wannabe middle-class house, Jack calls from his bar in Key West: his best barmaid has quit and would Dawn please come and take the job. It’s tempting, but there’s her trailer and her business, her lack of cash to make the trip, her mother, and the invite from Sandy Folly to a candlelight vigil for Terry (has she finally been forgiven?).

Oh, and she promised to help Matthew with his Krindle Visual Arts grant project, worth a cool $20K if he wins, to be split with her. He’s such a perceptive photographer, able to find art in pain, beauty in difficulty, and creatively shooting her at work in the homes of her diverse clients might be the trick.

“She’d become so accustomed to the nuances of her customers’ lives that weeks might pass without her paying attention to any of the good details” but “his talent was rooted in the exploration of his subject—or object—for whatever it was that exposed a pulse of pain or a twinge of sadness or, sometimes, an ache so strong you had to look away”

“Matthew got how a person’s past could taint what came next, be it abusive parents, neglect, or overindulgence. It didn’t matter what, but the what mattered to the future. He always did a good job summing up situations in a way that confirmed what Dawn subconsciously knew. Like zooming in on an object and enlarging it for a better view.” So, stay? Go?

As a cleaning lady, Dawn knows intimate particulars about her clients, (often gritty) details that she and Matthew might incorporate into his project. But during that process, she discovers that she doesn’t quite know everything about them, that she doesn’t necessarily have a complete picture.

“How easy it had been to make assumptions and generalizations based on surface discoveries. Hadn’t that been the very worst part about being involved in the accident: that friends, teachers, classmates, random strangers passed judgment with virtually no information?” Dawn learns quite a bit about herself in their process, even if things don’t quite go according to plan.

Uznis Johnson gives her readers some quirky characters who display insight and wisdom, although they are are free with expletives, and there is some explicit sexual description; each chapter is prefaced with a cleaning/life tip, while the story itself is prefaced with a (quite devious) list of 100 ways to mess with customers; Matthew’s many iterations of alternatives to calling her Dawn, eg D-vine, D-lightful, D-ceiver, D-vulge, D-lux, D-cider and D-mystifyer, to name a few are entertaining. A blackly funny tale with a feel-good ending.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Regal House Publishing.

Thank you to the author, Regal House Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book tells the meandering story of a young woman who has lost her way in life, and is trying to find her feet again. Working as a cleaner gives her insight into the individual quirks and miseries of other people's lives, and gets her involved with a photographer who wants to chronicle her interaction with the lives of her cleaning clients. While the writing is accomplished, I could not connect in any way with any of the characters and found this hard going. There were lots of little bits going on in parallel to the main narrative, and while I'm not a fan of neatly-tied-with-a-bow endings, this was very much the opposite of that, giving a transient look into someone's transient lifestyle, involving many bad or dubious choices.

While i loved the writing and the separate scenes in this book, i had a hard time stringing the pieces together and finding the main plot and message of the book. Nevertheless, i enjoyed reading.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

I liked the idea of this novel but it was very slow, the narrative meandering and dull. Unfortunately I could not finish and gave up at 24 %. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Coming Clean had promise but was moving too slowly for me to get truly invested into the characters or plot.

This woman named dawn was cleaning houses in upstate new york. She had a lot of different issues especially with drinking and loneliness. She was starting her own business because she had a lot of tragic Aries in her life. Her boyfriend died in a motorcycle accident. And this was really hard for her to get it over.. It. She was also in the hospital because she was on the back of the motorcycle. She was struggling with a lot of things. Her parents were divorced and. Your father ran a bar in key west. She meets this man named Matthew who wasn't photographer. And he seemed really friendly to her but he also had a girlfriend. Justin Run a mobile park home. Where she lived. He was really good to her too. He would come over and talk with her and everything else. She was just trying to find out what she really wanted to do in life but it was really hard for her. We've been pretty strange in this book because everybody had some kind of issue. Matthew put her up to closing in people's clothes in their master bedrooms. This did not turn out well for her. His girlfriend was also a part of this. She had a friend who was a client of hers. And this didn't turn out well either. She felt she kept making poor choices in life. But she kept struggling and kept going on. The book has a happy ending you'll like it

I made it 20 percent in before dnfing.

I just can’t with this one. The story line is random and I just don’t like any of the characters.

The premise of this book is very intriguing. It had the potential to be a heart wrenching, powerful story of finding oneself through grief. Unfortunately, it fell flat. Many parts of the book dragged on, while others made no sense. There were also several racial comments made that left me feeling uncomfortable. There was potential for character growth, and that didn’t happen. There was also a build up to this big secret, that once revealed, left me feeling disappointed. In short, though this book could have been something great, I personally didn’t care for it and wouldn’t recommend it.

Not quite as compelling as I expected but an interesting perspective of diversity. The main character, Dawn, has a difficult history and it shows in the decisions she makes. Thanks #NetGalley

"Coming Clean" by Beth Uznis Johnson is a powerful and inspiring memoir that chronicles the author's journey towards self-acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption. With unflinching honesty and vulnerability, Johnson shares her struggles with addiction, shame, and trauma, creating a deeply personal and relatable narrative.

Throughout the book, Johnson's writing is raw and unpretentious, drawing the reader into her world with a sense of intimacy and authenticity. She recounts her experiences with alcoholism, eating disorders, and toxic relationships, laying bare the darkest moments of her life without resorting to self-pity or sensationalism.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Coming Clean" is Johnson's examination of the societal expectations and pressures that contribute to her struggles. With keen insight, she dissects the harmful cultural narratives that perpetuate shame and self-doubt, particularly for women. Her critiques are both sharp and compassionate, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences and the ways in which they may have internalized these damaging beliefs.

The book's greatest strength lies in Johnson's commitment to sharing her story without sugarcoating or tidy resolutions. Her path to recovery is messy, nonlinear, and often painful, but it is also a testament to the power of resilience and the human capacity for growth. As she confronts her demons and learns to embrace her imperfections, Johnson inspires readers to do the same, fostering a sense of solidarity and hope.

In conclusion, "Coming Clean" is a remarkable memoir that offers a profoundly moving and thought-provoking reading experience. Beth Uznis Johnson's courageous storytelling and unwavering honesty make this book an invaluable resource for anyone grappling with their own struggles, whether with addiction, trauma, or the everyday challenges of living. With its unflinching portrayal of the human experience, "Coming Clean" is a

I enjoyed the realistic nature of this story—it pointed to the truths of life as a working woman. However, I didn’t really like the main character (Dawn). I found her hard to connect with, personally. I will admit that I did have to put it down and pick it back up a few times, but I powered through and found it interesting enough to see it to the end. Regardless, the concept itself was creative and I found that the book was well written despite my lack of “feeling” for the characters. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I won't rate on GR - but this is literally the book of nothing.

Parts were good, and I feel like the accident and Terry and the whole abusive relationship leading up to Matthew was interesting enough to keep reading, but the content and plot was left SO unfinished. OF COURSE WE WANTED MATTHEW TO SHOW UP AT HER TRAILER and OF COURSE WE WANTED HIM TO COME TO FLORIDA but she slept with the guy twice and then wants to text him "come home" like that's not a wild thing to do!? I've been in that kind of love before and this convinces me I could write a book on it because matthew gave me NO ROMANTICAL VIBES WHATSOEVER and jane was useless. she could have been matthews dog that barked upstairs and gave it all away.

Okay, two star book. likely not award winning. will be just a filler book on a shelf and I know how that sounds but also, its more than 90% of the population will ever do so it's something to be proud of!

Coming Clean is a pretty interesting story. The book is about the main character Dawn, who is a self-employed worker living in Upstate New York who cleans houses. When she poses for the house she cleans for her best friend Matthew for a photography project, she connects with other people in the house. While living in the house, Dawn also confronts some dark secrets about herself and her late finance Terry. Although the story focused on forgiveness, family, and a fresh start, this story also talks about serious topics such as grief and losing a love one. The more I read the story, the more I learn about Dawn's character.

Dawn works self-employed. She could have gone to college, but she ended up cleaning houses. She was two parents that are divorced, but supports their daughter. However, her mother is quite mean to her dad. Dawn also has a best friend named Matthew, who I am assumed are possibly more than friends. This book contains mature themes which I do not recommend for minors. I really like the relationship between Dawn and Matthew. I like how the book discuss grief and forgiveness because when losing a love one it's hard to move forward.

Despite the story being short, I enjoy reading the story and it can be pretty funny sometimes. However, I wish there were more chapters in the book that a way we can learn more about the Dawn and her backstory.

Coming Clean tells the story of Dawn, a self-employed cleaning lady who is grappling with the death of her finacé and the role she may have played in it. She finds herself connecting to the lives of the people whose houses she cleans as she and her friend Matthew embark on a photography project.

While I loved the premise of the book and the photography project idea, I had a hard time relating to Dawn during large portions of the book and was expecting her to have a larger secret than she did. Dawn did have some redeemable moments and I enjoyed her growth as a character by the end.

The book was well written enough that even when I wasn’t completely hooked by the plot, I still enjoyed reading it.

The premise of this book sounded interesting and possibly a heartwarming story of making connections with those around you. Sadly I dont know if it was as I found it really difficult to connect with the characters, particularly Dawn, or care where the story was going. Bits of it felt quite tedious and I must admit I skimmed quite a lot.
Thank you to netgalley and regal house publishing for an advance copy of this book