If Lucille Ball was in a pageant................this book was so funny I cried with laughter in parts.

I loved the setting, decades gone by, so good.

I loved Maxine. I know people like Maxine.

This would be a good beach read, the pages seem to turn themselves and while there are a few heavy parts, overall it wasn't a heavy or depressing story.

A really zany story balanced out with some strong emotions in parts as well.

Recommended!

As a pageant girl, I was happy to read this book. It was so funny and I enjoyed it so much. I've given it to friends as gifts and also recommended it to everyone. The book takes place in the 1960s and Maxine, a Palm Beach socialite has learned that her husband is going to leave her for a younger woman.

Maxine moves to Arizona after she is divorced where she learns about the Mrs. American Pie pageant which crowns the best wife and mother in the country. But, Maxine doesn't have either so she needs to figure this part out.

This was such a funny book and I laughed so much. Highly recommend!

I started to read the book, but wasn't drawn in to the story & didn't feel like I would enjoy it if I continued, so I was unable to finish it.

Maxine is both a scheming social climber and a desperately lonely woman searching for selfworth and family in 60s California. The story of how she lost one husband, started over and gained children and a faux husband was entertaining and moving in places.

After the first half of the book I felt it dragged a bit before picking up and I found the ending very satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy,

I struggled to get into this book. I think it was just not more me.

I have to admit, it took me a long time to get into this book. I would start reading and then get side tracked. It wasn't until a recent vacation I actually sat down and read it, and boy was I missing out. I will say it takes a few chapters to get into the book. However, after the incident with the turkey, which left me laughing till tears, you will be hooked and longing to find out what how Maxine's life progresses. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a flashback to the late 60's/early 70's, who loves to laugh, doesn't mind some curse words, and needs a good book to get lost in. Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The year is 1969. Maxine Hortence Simmons is a wealthy, Palm Spring socialite, seeking to climb the next step on the social ladder. A divorce throws her completely off the ladder, and she wants back in. Thus begins her quest for the Mrs. American Pie contest. Parts of this book are funny, and parts are just slow. The book ends as you might expect - or at least how I expect from the very beginning.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/04/mr-mrs-american-pie.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I loved this caustic, twisty and downright weird book, and recommended it in the course of my summer reading instagram series. The tone shifts from deadpan to almost surreal moments and it's knowingly incisive about the milieu of the society set.

There are a lot of books out there that don't quite get the love that they deserve. This appears to be one of those. (Although, I did see that this is being developed into a TV series!)

Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is quite possibly one of the funniest books I have read this year. It's an entertaining read that ends up being anything but shallow as it explores what it means to be a family. To be completely honest, this is one of those books that I enjoyed so much that I don't feel as if anything I have to say will really do it justice.

If you like laughing then you need this book. If you have found yourself randomly binging on Toddlers and Tiaras with the inability to turn it off, then you need this book. If you thought Betty Draper was a fabulous character then you will find that Maxine is even more fabulous.

(Slight disclaimer: If you have problems with the f-bomb, then you may find yourself offended.)

Thank you to InkShares and NetGalley for this free review copy!

A comical tale from heart break to craziness! Showing how people can react and behave when all they want is love. A funny novel but with a heart breaking undertone.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.***

This was a great book. The story was captivating and kept me interested throughout. Can’t wait for more from this author.

This was a quick, laugh out loud and heartwarming read. Maxine was certainly a “hoot.” She’s zany, quirky and, as it turns out, has a heart of gold.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for the free ebook galley.

A quirky, fun-filled romp that also tackles serious issues.
Maxine Simmons might be written off by some people as a social climber and vapid socialite: obsessed with her dining room renovation, shopping, and impressing the ladies at the club. But she’s driven to achieve and possess the things she wants, and creates her reality through a combination of sheer force of will and her larger-than-life personality.
When Maxine’s husband announces he’s leaving her for his (much younger) secretary, she has a very public and very humiliating breakdown at Thanksgiving dinner in front of the who’s-who of Palm Springs society. Forced to leave, she relocates to Scottsdale and reluctantly establishes a life there. Determined not to let her divorce ruin her life, she vows to make her dreams a reality.
Maxine draws people into her orbit and her antics: Robert, a kind tavern owner, and Charles, her twelve-year-old neighbor unwittingly (and sometimes wittingly) become part of Maxine’s schemes.
When Maxine decides the way to prove herself is to win the Mrs. American Pie pageant, a prize for the best wife and mother, she will stop at nothing to make sure the crown is hers. Robert, Charles and Charles’ little sister become props in Maxine’s charade to show the pageant judges, and all of America, what she’s made of.
Maxine’s capers are over-the-top and hilarious, but Mr. and Mrs. American Pie doesn’t shy away from serious issues. You’ll find weighty matters lurking between the lines: self-worth, infertility, gender, sexual orientation, and race. For a lighthearted fiction read, it’s not shallow in the least.
I adored and was sweetly exasperated by Maxine, who reminded me of Lucille Ball or Holly Golightly. Eccentric, unpredictable, seemingly self-centered but cares greatly for those around her, and hiding deep sadness. She’s a heroine you’ll want to root for.

While Mr and Mrs American Pie is near-universally adored, I had a rather different opinion. I mean, it is a satirical novel after-all and therefore its primary goal was to make me laugh. And, I didn’t.
...Maybe I have an odd sense of humour.
Or just high-standards.
Either way, instead of coming off as amusing, both the events and the characters of Mr and Mrs American Pie drove me up the wall. More and more it seems that people are missing the mark when it comes to satire, and are continuously failing to exaggerate things enough to turn it from character traits that people may actually have to holy-fuck-look-at-that-guy.
Literary fiction satire this was not. Instead, the characters (and some of the writing) would have fit far better into a Young Adult novel, because that’s the age they came off as. And (unpopular opinion here once again) unlike many of the other people who read this book, I think that this was only exacerbated by the inclusion of the other points of view that weren’t Maxine and instead, I feel as though this book would’ve gotten a slightly higher rating if it had just focussed solely on her.
Maybe.
It was heading in the right direction, yes, but there is no doubt that it failed to achieve its goal.

Really held off reading this book, wondering why I requested it. I was so wrong! Loved the sarcasm, the era, and the unique story. Palm Springs circa 1960's-70's, Maxine is a self absorbed, social climbing, former beauty queen, who gets dumped on Thanksgiving by her husband.Her adventures begin... Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

It is a rare book that makes me actually laugh out loud. Mr. & Mrs. American Pie delivers exactly that.

Set in the swanky upper-class neighborhoods of Palm Springs, Maxine is our heroine who is determined to climb as far up the social ladder as she can by whatever means necessary. Until one night, everything she ever wanted falls completely apart. The ensuing scene and the upcoming aftermath is not only a sarcastic social commentary but a hilarious journey from a narcissistic social climber to a compassionate, open-minded heroine. Mr. & Mrs. American Pie explores what it means to be loved, needed and accepted on the basis of character rather than social influence and all the ways we try so hard to make ourselves seem to be other than who we are.

4.5 Stars
This book was just HILARIOUS! Not the "laugh until you can't breath" kind of hilarious, more like the "shake your head in disbelief thinking What this crazy woman is up to again or How could she do something like that" kind of hilarious.

Maxine Hortence had it all, and just during one little thanksgiving party she lost it all: her husband, her glamorous social status, her beautiful house and all the friends she hate but still need and she found herself banned for Palm Springs and moving to Scottsdale, Arizona.
From her point of view, the only way to regain her self esteem is by winning the Mrs American Pie pageant. It is a pageant for wives and mother, and it's true that she has neither husband nor children, but how such a trifle can possibly come in the way of someone like Maxine.

The story was told from three points of view, Maxine and two other fascinating characters living in Scottsdale. The paths of these persons cross together in the funniest circumstances, coming close together and forming such an unlikely unit.
I will not say much of the plot, it is better to discover it and dive into it unprepared, there are not really too much unexpected things, but it's the way the characters develop through the story that makes it amazing.
I would definitely recommend it!
And did i say how much i loved that cover? it is gorgeous and it definitely sums up the essence of Maxine.

This was amazing! Vivid and wildly entertaining, funny and charming, with a dash of salt for extra flavor. It was very unique and well crafted. I found it delightful and highly recommend!

Synopsis:
Mr. and Mrs. American Pie takes place in 1969. Maxine Simmons is a socialite in Palm Springs and enjoys working her way to the top of the social hierarchy...only to be toppled by Evelyn, the social queen. Maxine is hit with divorce papers and forced out of Palm Springs and away from her husband's money. She is exiled to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she starts over. Evelyn decides that her goal is to become Mrs. American Pie - a beauty queen who is known for being an amazing wife and mother. The only problem is - Maxine doesn't have a husband or children. She doesn't that stop her, though!

Review:
I don't quite know what I expected when I started Mr. and Mrs. American Pie, but I was pleasantly surprised by this unique romp. To wrap up this book in one word - snarky! The social hierarchy and frenemies described in this novel are just as relevant in 2018 as they were in 1969.

This is definitely a satire addressing how we envision the American Dream. It also brings to light important issues such as sex, race, and homosexuality in such an amazing way. The author has a subtle way to share her social commentary while keeping the reader entertained and laughing.

This wasn't my typical read and I don't have a ton to say about it from a literary perspective beyond that I enjoyed it and I'd definitely pick up other works by Juliet McDaniel. 3.5 stars from me!

Maxine Simmons is a go-getter. She knows what she wants and she just goes for it. And 9 out of 10 she always succeeds. But there was this one time when she didn't and it required of her to make a sharp U-turn that changed the course of her life.

Set in the late 1960s during the time when beauty pageants for the perfect housewife were still a "thing", Juliet McDaniel creates a dozen of smile-inducing mishaps where Maxine makes every situation works in her favor. The rest of the characters compliment her really well - Robert (the tavern owner), Chuck and even the little always-fussy Dawn (the two neighbor's children). Together they are quite the team.

There is fun, laughter and some sweet moments. There is character progression and some deeper issues brushed on here and there. Ultimately, the novel is hilariously charming and the plot is easy to follow and well-paced. But Maxine is one of those female protagonists that leave a trace on your mind. She certainly did on mine. There is nothing impossible for her, nothing to be escaped or avoided. She does what she wants and she is not embarrassed or ashamed. She drives the novel. On top of it all, she is absolutely funny. What is more to want in a book?

Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is one of the highlight novels of my reading summer! Try it out - hilarity guaranteed! I loved Maxine and I'm sure you will too!

I have kindly received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Inkshare in exchange of a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.