I attempted to read this book twice. For personal reasons, this book just wasn’t for me. I DFN at 88%.

What an adventure! This book was thoroughly entertaining and the main character, Maxine, is a riot. The time period the book is set in (1969-1970) has a lot to do with the hilarity that ensues. Maxine is a woman ahead of her time. I can only hope to see her again in a future book.

I would absolutely recommend this book to friends.

Juliet McDaniel has produced a frothy, laugh out loud, delightful summer read. I was initially drawn to this title because of its Palm Springs connection (I live there) and there was enough local content and satirical humor about the resort lifestyle to make it fun for anyone. But, the book offers more than that.

It started off a bit silly and I was tempted to put it down, but it was a story of grit and determination wrapped in slapstick humor. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it would make great light reading while traveling or on the hammock. This is not great literature, but it is highly entertaining.

I know most people have loved this book, but I just wasn't into it. I found the main character Maxine annoying and she really grated on me throughout the book. I struggled to finish reading it.

I did like the use of the 3 points of view.

I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book because it just looks like a “fun” and possibly “quirky” book to read. I was needing a book to take me away from all the thrillers I’ve been reading and this definitely fit the bill. This book takes place back in 1969 and I can tell from the very beginning that Ms Maxine will be one to reckon with! There are some laugh-out loud moments in this book. This book demonstrates how “the other half” (meaning richer than rich) live and they seem very sad and lonely at times. I thought the beauty pageant seemed to drag and I felt like I was skimming through parts of that. Overall, it was a light read and definitely something different for me to read. 3 stars overall. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the perfect beach book for any reader who enjoys women's fiction. The time period is well-portrayed -- late 1960s. The main character is fun and just vulnerable enough to keep you rooting for her. I like the three points of view (the pre-teen boy and the bartender friend, in addition to the main character).

Three and a half stars: A story with quirky, unconventional characters who learn what it means to be family.

Maxine Simmons is about to make her move. She wants to get an in with Evelyn, the Queen Bee of Palm Springs. On the afternoon of what is supposed to be Maxine’s triumph, disaster strikes. Her husband, Douglas, informs her right before her catered Thanksgiving dinner that he is leaving her for his secretary. The party goes on, but not as planned. Maxine has a very public and embarrassing meltdown, which leaves her reputation and her life in shambles. Maxine is exiled to Scottsdale, Arizona. What can a girl do in 1969 to get herself back on top? Enter the Mrs. American Pie Pageant. The crown is awarded to the best wife and mother. Maxine needs a family in order to do that. Will she be able to return to glory or go down in flames?
What I Liked:
*Mr. and Mrs. American Pie was certainly an unexpected and quirky read. I haven’t read anything like it. It was funny, unique and it had heart, though you had to look hard to find the heart. This is a story about a group of completely different individuals who come together and learn what it means to be family. If you want something completely out of the box this is one to try.
*Maxine is one of the most extraordinary characters I have ever encountered. She is beastly at first. Completely narcissistic, cunning and willing to do whatever it takes to further her agenda. You would think, how could a character like that be likeable? To be honest, for most of the book, she is a total piece of work and there isn’t much about her to like. However, she is downright hilarious. Some of the stuff she does is hysterical. She will make your jaw drop. Then, surprisingly, she makes a sort of turn around, and I couldn’t help but like her. Maxine is a character you need to experience for yourself!
*Then there are Charles and Robert. Charles is a precocious twelve year old boy who is forced to care for himself and his two and a half year old sister while his mother works. Charles is sweet, kind and intelligent. He is absolutely endearing. I loved how he could see the good in people, even Maxine. Robert is unexpected as well. He runs a small tavern in Scottsdale. He is also kind and caring, and he too can see the good in Maxine. I adored Robert and Charles. I appreciated that the book was told with their voices as well as Maxine’s.
*I enjoyed the setting and the era. Even though this took place slightly before my time, I was still able to relate to many of the pop cultural references. I also liked that this took place in Scottsdale, Arizona. Having lived in Phoenix for ten years, it was fun for me to go back in time and see what the area was like almost fifty years ago.
*I was pleased by some of the final developments with the Mrs. American Pie Pageant. Things didn’t turn out as I thought, but that was fine, because it was even funnier the way it went down.
*I was pleasantly surprised by the turn around by Maisey one of the front runners in the pageant. Maisey does something unexpected at the end, which I liked.
*The ending was terrific. There were some shocking developments at the pageant, and then the dust settled. The book flashes forward to 1982. The final narration is from Dawn, Chuck’s little sister. I loved the Epilogue, and I was blown away by how things turned out. It was a fantastic ending.
And The Not So Much:
*As much as I loved the Epilogue, I was left wanting to know so much more. I think a lot of the tedium of the pageant could have been eliminated, and instead I wish that there was more focus on the aftermath, especially how the Hogarth’s made it work.
*I was troubled that there was no further mention of Chuck’s dad in Vietnam. Did they ever learn the truth?
*Maxine is such a conundrum. She does some terrible things, but I liked her because she was so darn fascinating. It made more sense when I got a little background information on her childhood years. I only wish that more details were given so I could have a better understanding of how Maxine came to be the way she was.
*I have to admit, I got bored of the whole Mrs. American Pie pageant. At first, it was fine and even interesting, but then it dragged on and on and on. I think the book would be better if some of the tedious parts of the pageant were taken out and more focus was put upon the characters.

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is an unforgettable book. I adored the quirky characters and their antics. This is a book about a woman who loses everything, and then manages to claw her way back, finding friends and even a family in unexpected places. This is a book that will make you laugh. Maxine does require extreme patience because she is downright nasty at times, but on the other hand, she is so darn entertaining. If you want a unique book, this is one to try.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

The first chapters of this book detailing Maxine Hogarth's spectacular fall from grace from 1960's Palm Springs society were absolutely laugh out loud hysterically funny. As Maxine was exiled from the life she knew, banned from Palm Springs and forced to begin again in a dumpy condo in Arizona, the book fell off a little bit for me, but Maxine still managed to keep me thoroughly entertained as in her Maxine way she manufactured a faux family and positioned her to compete for the title of Mrs. American Pie back in...you guessed it...Palm Springs. The "family" grew on me as the grew on each other and although Maxine was FAR from perfect, I thought this book ended perfectly!

Do you need a little break from so many thrillers? Here we go, a book that’s not twisted and scary but funny and zany! Mr. and Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel. This one is high on my to-read list and the reviews are awesome.

Synopsis:

The year is 1969. Dick Nixon was just sworn in as the thirty-seventh President of the United States. Neil Armstrong just took one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind. And notable Palm Springs socialite Maxine Simmons just found out that her husband is leaving her for his twenty-two-year-old secretary.

After a public meltdown at Thanksgiving, Maxine finds herself not only divorced, but exiled to Scottsdale, Arizona. However, these desert boondocks will not be her end―only her Elba. The former beauty queen sets her eyes on a new crown: that of the Mrs. American Pie pageant, awarded to the nation’s best wife and mother.

Maxine only has one problem: to win the crown she’ll need to find―or build―a family of her own.

I love reading so much that if I dont have a pile of To- Read books, I start to panic! I also check Kindle Deals every day to see which books I can get for $1.99.

What books are you excited to read this spring and summer?

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. The main character, Maxine, was crazy plus hilarious. I found it interesting that the book took place back in 1969. Not being around during that time, I like that it covered the perspective of different social issues at that time. An all around good, quick read.

What a completely insane and totally crazy book! Love, love, love! I wish I had half the brain Maxine does in cooking up all her schemes. She stays 10 steps ahead of everyone else. While this book is a time warp of 60's fun - Maxine takes her station in life to a whole new level. I definitely would recommend this book!!!

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel follows Maxine Simmons, Palm Springs socialite, who discovers that her husband is leaving her for his much younger secretary. After a catastrophic meltdown during Thanksgiving, Maxine finds herself exiled in Arizona trying to recreate the fabulous life she loved in California with her faux-mily. This book was surprisingly hilarious. I loved the different perspectives from Maxine, Robert, and Chuck. Each character was witty and charming. The story sets place at the end of 1969 and the beginning of 1970. The author examines some social issues during that time and shows that love can be found in unexpected places. I was hooked to the story from page one and there were some amusing surprises along way. Overall, I would highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a heartfelt hilarious read. The book releases on Tuesday 8/7/18.

The strength of Mr. and Mrs. American Pie lies in its complex set of core characters. Maxine, who aspires to Palm Springs society perfection, is forced to start over when her world comes crashing down. While the reader is not surprised her husband is cheating on her, Maxine's unexpected reaction sets us off on an unpredictable journey to win back her crown. Billed as a comedy, Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is not laugh out loud funny, except for a particular guffaw-inducing canned meat sequence, but it is an enjoyable read with something universal to say.

This book was hilarious from the very first page.
Set at the end of the 1960s and early 1970s, the story begins with Maxine, a mid-30s housewife and self-absorbed social climber who is pushed into exile when her husband informs her on Thanksgiving that he will be leaving her for his much younger secretary.

As up until this point, Maxine's main claim to fame was winning a pageant and her husband on the same night in her youth, she does not take well to her sojourn in a condo in Arizona. Armed with a purloined library book on Napoleon, Maxine creates her own Elba and begins to plot her return to triumph with her new friends bartender Robert and the resourceful 12 year old neighbor who cares for his toddler sister.

The book is told from the point of view of Maxine, Robert, and Chuck, the neighbor, and each new voice is both distinct and hilarious.

There are some surprises along the way, and as amusing as the book is, it does take aim at some of the social issues of this turbulent time and examines how sometimes love is found in some unexpected places.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from Ms. McDaniel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I liked the use of three narrators for this book. I like that this book was true to the time period. Maxine is a (crazy) but awesome character and I truly enjoyed her journey in Arizona trying to recreate her once fabulous California lifestyle. This book covered some big issues: women's roles, Vietnam, and the struggles for gay men. I enjoyed the style of writing and would recommend this book to others. Thanks for the ARC!

Love! Truly, I can't say enough good things about this book. Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is one of the funniest books I have read in a while. Divorced, Maxine finds herself exiled to Arizona, where she works to recreate the fabulous life she once knew in California. Despite the fact that Maxine is certifiably crazy, you find yourself rooting for her and her faux-mily. The combination of humor and heart make this book a true stand out.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

It's 1969, in the flashy, fashionable, and fabulous city of Palm Springs, where the upper crust dwell on the lush golf courses and swanky country clubs. Mrs. Maxine Hortence Simmons is anything but your run-of-the-mill, play-by-the-rules Palm Springs housewife. She is master of calculation and will do just about anything to claim a point of power in her world of high society. As she puts it, women are more adept at the art of war than they're given credit for. And in her case, the country club is the battlefield and the socialites are the soldiers, shooting each other down with stealthy gossip and cutting each other's throats with well-disguised insults. But an unforeseen gorilla-style attack throws a huge wrench in all of Maxine's diabolical scheming, casting her as ruined woman into the dusty, unsophisticated state of Arizona.

Once plopped in a grubby condo near Scottsdale, Maxine meets Robert, a quiet and closeted bartender working to stay afloat, who finds Maxine's penchant for flamboyance and drama equal parts alarming and amusing. Maxine also becomes acquainted with her curious, spy-obsessed, adolescent neighbor Charles and his baby sister, Dawn, who have essentially been abandoned by their mother. Through her natural inclination to not only survive but thrive in adverse situations, Maxine is able to turn her less-than-ideal situation into an opportunity for the recognition and adoration she craves. Maxine's climb back the top will require her to win the beauty pageant title for Mrs. American Pie, a national title that will be televised for all the world to see. The catch? She needs a husband and kids to qualify. I think you can figure out where this goes.

I thought this book was hilarious from beginning to end. Maxine is bat-shit crazy and anything but dull. All of her antics are entertaining, but the influence of Robert, Chuck and Dawn make her a more likable character. y favorite part was the very end, when they get Dawn's perspective and rehash the development of all the characters. Definitely a good book for summertime, when you're lounging by the beach or pool and want a good laugh. Look for it in August!