At just 19, Sherri Taylor's life has imploded. Her parents have both tragical died, she has no savings and no plan, and she is saddled with a building in the heart of her tiny nowhere town that she can't get rid of. But when she unexpectedly lands a job as a Playboy Bunny, Sherri's fortunes take a turn. As Sherri learns to navigate the rules of being a Bunny, she must also learn to navigate the parties, drinking, sex, and drugs that come with the lifestyle.
I was both interested and extremely frustrated with this novel. I love the concept--I've never read any fiction/historical fiction centered around Playboy. The details about Playboy that author Christina Clancy has laid out and built her story around are fascinating! Everything from the uniform process, to approved mannerisms was interesting to read about. However, I was frustrated with Sherri! This is a coming of age novel, so of course there are some poor decisions, some realizations, some tough decisions. But Sherri kept repeating the same silly things over and over, making the story progress slowly, and by the time the book was needing to end, it felt rushed. I was however pulled back in by the very end, I found older Sherri's story intriguing.
Thank you to Macmillan via NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in return for an honest review.

I don’t usually go in for women’s lit or beach reads. But when I was 11 years old, I announced to anyone who asked that what I wanted to be when I grew up was a playboy bunny. I had seen the resort in Jamaica and just thought that was the poshest thing ever. So, I wanted to read this book. This story takes place in 1981. Sherrie is at loose ends when she applies to be a bunny at a Playboy resort in Wisconsin. She’s 19, her mom has just died and she needs to earn a living.
I expected there to be some meaningful discussion about how the girls perceived themselves. . But the author spent more time talking about cramps and sore feet than what it meant to be a bunny. It became obvious this book was never going to be anything I’d enjoy. I kept finding reasons to listen to anything but this. When something is that painful it’s time to give up. Which I did. This is a DNF.
Anna Leigh Ashford narrated and had one of those breathy sort of voices that irritated me.

This was a story of a small town girl and her future at the playboy club. Sex and family in connect to make her life travel a path unexpected. What does being in love mean? What does success look like?
Romance and success are never truly experienced in a straight line

I love this author. Her style of writing draws you right in and truly makes you believe each and every single thing that is happening. The people, the places and experiences are written with such tenderness, humanity, emotion and enough reality to make you feel like it all truly happened and that you’re right along side watching it happen. Sherri is 19 and all alone in the world in small town Wisconsin. Her best friend decides to audition to be a Playboy Bunny and completely out of character Sherri joins her. Sherri gets picked and leaves her sad lonely sad past behind her. At least she believes she has. She goes from a naive
teenager to a grown woman while she searches to figure out who she truly is, wants to find love, control of her life and a safe future. Not always easy when you have only yourself to rely on and no one to hold your hand along the way. Family isn’t always what were born in to. It is those we chose to let in to our hearts. Living with regrets is never an easy path, but until we know the truth can we ever really forgive ourselves? So many questions in this beautiful book.

An inside look at what life was like for the young women who worked as Bunnies at a Playboy Resort in Wisconsin in the early 1980s. The main character, Sherri, is young and naive and she keeps making bad decisions. At age nineteen, I gave her the benefit of the doubt at first, but gradually I got more and more annoyed with her behavior. This book shows the effects of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” on someone who doesn’t have the street-smarts to deal with all of that. We eventually find out how she spent the next 40 years, including one big reveal, as the author ties up lots of loose ends.

An “okay” read, not a compelling one. Because of the prologue, you start out knowing that Sherri winds up a successful business person in Palm Springs, so there was no real tension about her fate. The most interesting part was learning about how the Playboy Bunnies lived and worked.

Karissa Vacker is an excellent narrator, voicing all the female and male characters.

CW: sex and sexism, drugs, references to racism

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Last year I read Christina Clancy’s The Second Home and found a new favorite author. Her writing is natural yet provocative, and it helps that she is from my home state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, 1981. At only nineteen Sherri Taylor has lost both her parents. While she once had dreams of going to college, she now finds herself interviewing at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva. Her friend Roberta convinced her to come along and apply. Like Sherri could ever dream of being a bunny. The Playboy Club is known for its glamour and wealth, even attracting big-name stars.

But when Sherri gets the job, her real education begins. Sherri must learn to navigate the rocky waters of female friendships, drugs, misogyny, and relationships. She soon finds herself in too deep.

I loved this book. Maybe it’s because I grew up not far from Lake Geneva and remember when the Playboy Club existed or perhaps it was all the great ‘80s references. I found the story easy to get lost in. Sherri was raised somewhat naive in a small town and then thrust into a world of sexuality, drugs, and image. We learn that these bunnies had real lives, tough lives, but many lost their way. It’s a hard commentary about losing your values and true north, but for what?

Thank you to @stmartinspress for a #gifted copy and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook on @netgalley.

I absolutely adored this book! I didn’t know what to expect going in but instantly fell in love with Sherri, flaws and all. She’s a woman on top, with a desirable job and comfortable relationship, whose story is told in flashback, revealing a naive girl who was prone to poor decision-making. It’s so relatable, or at least it was to me, as I feel my younger self feels more like someone I used to know.

I’m so grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel, as I may not have found it. If you’re reading this, you have, and I certainly recommend you read it!

A tale of growing up in the Midwest in small town America all while being seduced by the allure of Big City America. This story offers all sorts of nostalgia for those that grew up in the Midwest - from town squares with the local ice cream parlor, to riding bikes throughout the town, to card games like Sheepshead. That is all the backdrop for the journey to escape those comforts in lieu of bigger and shinier things ranging from becoming a “Bunny”, to using drugs, to moving to the West Coast only to be drawn home again. It’s always important to realize our foundations - for where the bright and shiny catch our eye, it truly is the foundations that show who we really are deep inside. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look!

I can't say enough good things about Christina Clancy's writing style and her ability to totally immerse the reader in her stories. This comes to mind while reading this book, 'Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world...' Sherri Taylor is that girl in this coming of age story, trying to escape her boring life in her boring small Wisconsin town of East Troy. So, when her best friend convinces her to audition for a job at the Playboy resort in nearby Geneva, she sets her life on a different path. There are many times in this story I wish Sherri could hear me yelling at her, but alas, she can't hear me and makes some bad choices. All the loose ends come together at the end of this well told story of love, loss, friendship, and family. The narrator for the audiobook did an excellent job. #netgalley #shoulderseason

Sherri finds herself working at a Playboy Bunny resort. I used to watch Girls Next Door back in the day and was always fascinated with the dichotomy between outward appearances and inward workings of the Playboy Bunny industry. This book follows Sherri as she figures out life as a new orphan and with her new knowledge of her appearance to the outside world. Really great book, 10/10 recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

Thanks for the audio arc of Shoulder Season!

Sherri accidentally interviews to be a Playboy Bunny when her friend is the one who wants the job. She comes from a small town and needs a job with a ticket out off her life. She gets the job as a bunny and quickly must adapt to the lifestyle. At one point she gets sent home (as a punishment) for gaining weight! Sherri begins to dabble with strangle people, drugs, lying, etc.

I was excited when Sherri got the job as a bunny. It’s not a topic I know much about but the lifestyle is so interesting to me. I wanted to read all about what comes with this and what it’s like to live and work there. This book took some twists away from what I was expecting. I didn’t learn a ton about the Playboy Bunny life besides the affects it can have on a girl. There were a lot of pieces to this story that were a shock which I think the author could have explored more. It felt like it jumped from one chaotic storyline to another without finishing. Everything wrapped up at the end but I was left a little unsatisfied. It seemed things were missing or just incomplete.

I enjoyed the narrator. She kept my attention and I liked the way she told the story.

Wall flower Sherri Taylor is lost. Her parents have recently passed away and she seems to be adrift. When her more adventurous best friend Roberta convinces her to interview at a new local resort, her life is turned upside down.
The newly opened Playboy Resort needs Bunnies. When Sherri is hired, but Roberta is not, she feels that this may be the chance she is looking for to break out of the mold that she cast for herself. This is her chance to re-invent herself. But can you re-invent yourself if you don't know who you are or what you want? Her new life as a Bunny is filled with men, money, parties & drugs. With the pressure to be the perfect Bunny mounting, will it all be too much for Sherri? When men start showering her with compliments, attention & gifts will Sherri be able to stay grounded?

I have always been fascinated by the Playboy Bunnies. They seemed so glamourous, pretty & perfect. That is what drew me to this book. But Sherri quickly began to irritate me. Yes, she's young & slightly naive. Yes, she's been thrust into a life unlike anything she's ever known. A life full of parties, men & drugs will change a person. But Sherri became self-centered & flighty.
But not everything is as it seems? Sherri will learn that there is usually more to the story that someone is trying to sell you & that sometimes you need to look a little deeper than the surface.

I just finished listening to Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy, and I have to say, what a ride. The story focuses on Sherri Taylor, an awkward young woman who has never found comfort in her own body.


When her best friend Roberta encourages Sherri to apply to be a Playboy Bunny. After she is hired, Sherri is thrown into a new world, unlike anything she could have expected. Sherri's journey takes audiences from viewing a young naive woman coming to terms with a world that she knows nothing about to an older woman reflecting on her younger days. One of my favorite things about this book is its specific focus on female relationships. There are several scenes where Sherri gets a reality check from the women in her life.


I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, hoping that Sherri wouldn't end up falling into the "unreliable narrator" trope. I hate to say it but for much of the novel, Sherri teeters on that line. When it comes to her perception of her body and the events that transpire

As far as writing, Clancy creates a completely enthralling cast of characters and plot points. There was a moment at the end of the novel where my jaw absolutely dropped. If you have the chance to pick this book up, I definitely recommend it. It is absolutely worth the slow burn.


I would be remiss if I didn't mention some triggers that audiences should know about. There are scenes of sexual harassment/pressure, drug use, and occasional body dysmorphic language. I will say that despite the inclusion of these triggering topics, Clancy does it in a way that does not glamorize anything and she shows the downside of these things.


Overall Rating: 4/5


Shoulder Season will be available for purchase starting July 6th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available for purchase. Also, be sure to check out Christina Clancy's website!

I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

Ordinarily, I don't think Shoulder Season would have caught my attention but I've been in the mood for a good summer read and I was not disappointed! The Wisconsin Playboy House in the 1980's quickly became far more interesting than I ever expected. The life of a Bunny was both glamorous and difficult and it was interesting to see how it contrasted with the Midwest way of life.

The pace and flow of Shoulder Season felt very natural and I was able to lose myself in the story for hours. Sherri spends a large part of the book trying to reinvent herself before she had even figured out who she was resulting in her being lost for most of the book. This made her unlikable at times but also kept me reading in the hopes that she would find herself. Christina Clancy's Shoulder Season the page-turner beach read everyone will be reaching for this summer!

I highly recommend the audiobook version of Shoulder Season when it releases! Karissa Vacker was able to really embody Sherri's character.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio-arc!

I fell in love with the characters in the first chapter.
The story and twist were fun.
I loved the ending.
This is going to be a sleeper hit of the summer.
Thanks for the preview.

Who knew there was more than one Playboy Resort. And in Wisconsin no less?!? Apparently, it was a thing in the 1970s and 80s. And it's the backdrop for this historical fiction romp by Christina Clancy.

“Shoulder Season” is about an unlikely 19-year-old Playboy bunny, Sherri Taylor who finds herself needing a job. And she finds a lot more than that over the course of a few summers. This is a coming-of-age story, rife with bad boy drama, sex, drugs and rock-and-roll.

Will Sherri find herself amid her new role and her new friendships? How far is she willing to go for fame and love? Unfortunately, this book sort of rambled on a bit and I found Sherri quite unlikeable and inconsistent. But I know I'm one of the rare reviewers who didn't absolutely love it!

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sharing an advanced copy of the audiobook, via the NetGalley app. This is my honest review. The narrator, Annaleigh Ashford, did a fine job.

Shoulder Season tells the story of Sherry, a young girl newly orphaned looking to figure out what to do with her life. She ends up getting a job as a bunny at a playboy resort. We are taken along as she gets caught up in an exciting new life. Men, parties and drugs have Sherry wondering if she's turning into a whole new person.

I was torn on this one. I often found myself wanting to yell at Sherry and shake some sense into her. But it was also a really interesting story. I laughed, I cried, loved it!.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

Shoulder Season is a coming of age story by Christina Clancy. I really enjoyed her book, The Second Home and was excited to read this new work.

The reader follows the protagonist Sherri though trauma, thrilling opportunities, serious lapses in judgment, more trauma, and her journey toward an honest perspective on her past and present life. This book had lofty goals but fell short for me. The plot points didn’t seem to contribute meaningfully to the overall story. The audiobook was beautifully executed and added some life to this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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#NetGalley
#ShoulderSeason
#fiction
#playboybunny
#comingofage
#fastlife
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#bookstagram

This book really threw me for a loop. I was expecting one thing, which was exactly what I got for a while, until it all changed. And the surprising turn it takes was just the right way to make the story even more enjoyable. I won't say anything more, because I don't want to spoil anything.

The narration was well-done, making this an easy recommendation.

Sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll... but there's so much more than that.

Sherri Taylor doesn't know who she is and takes an unlikely journey to find out. After a death in the family at 19, she finds herself lost in all senses of the word. From a small town in Wisconsin, Sherri is as sheltered as they come yet she somehow ends up in a tiny costume working as a Bunny at the Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva. 'Bunny Sherri' is thrown into the thick of all that comes with the title and doesn't know what hit her.

Back to that sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... Sherri takes it all one step too far. From losing her virginity to pregnancy scares, to speed addictions to keep weight down... the twist and turns don't stop. While I found her hard to root for at times, I think it's safe to say I saw a bit of my younger self in her. No one really knows who they are at 19, and it's through our mistakes (in Sherri's case, there were plenty!) that we blossom into our true selves.

An out-of-the-box coming-of-age story with interesting nods to 80's nostalgia, I found "Shoulder Season" intriguing and an easy listen. Many of the characters weren't exactly likable, and the multitude of "surprise character flaws" grew predictable but I enjoyed the unique setting. Sit back and enjoy the wild ride.