Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. I can't identify with any of the characters, but especially the main character, so they are all unlikable to me. The writing is simple and dry, kind of like a story or report written by a kid for class. Sadly, I just don't care what happens to anyone in this book. I requested it based on the cover and title, thinking it would at least be funny. "Don't judge a book by its cover." Message recieved.

Honestly, I thought this was going to be a different book when I requested it but that's what you get when you judge a book by its cover. It was a decent read but it took me a while to get into a different headspace.

I found this to be a solid, middle of the road, light-hearted chick lit offering. Fans of Finlay Donovan will love Ramona and her escapades as she tries to evacuate with her kids while the rest of her world keeps spinning. (The hurricane and the characters’ indifference to taking is seriously was made slightly less fun by the reality of two rather severe hurricanes taking place in real life this week.) It’s cute, it’s funny, but it never really measures up to the brilliance of its title.

This was funny, but didn't quite reach the level that the title would make you think it's going to. A second round purchase for most libraries.

Funny and relatable! Spending two days in Ramona’s world… dealing with a petulant boss while navigating life with two small children and alllll the responsibilities… made me even more grateful that season is behind me. Ha! Hang in there, mamas! It gets easier!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive: A Novel by Carolyn Prusa is a book that I had to read. That title alone guaranteed it, no matter what the story. The story is about a tumultuous 48 hours in the main character’s life where she finds out about her husband’s infidelity, evacuates for a hurricane, deals with an inconsiderate boss, and revaluation of her entire life.

I really enjoyed this one. I read it in one sitting. I liked the main character Ramona. From the moment she was introduced, she was likable and identifiable. Dealing with an unreasonable boss, finding out her husband is cheating on her, trying to evacuate her home, and basically reevaluating her entire life. The hits literally just keep on coming for Ramona.

One thing that is pretty clear from the beginning, is that Ramona is a huge Prince fan, which I actually just love. If you don’t know who Prince is, I feel sorry for you. If you have never had the joy of watching Prince perform, you really missed out. If you never had the opportunity to just watch that man exist, I pity you. Prince was an unparalleled, unrivaled, unmatched talent the likes of who we will probably never see again. Ramona equates everything in her life to before Prince died and after Prince died.

“Prince has been gone six months, and the world already feels less sparkly, specifically my world. He is never again going to don a shoulder-padded blazer with a billowing scarf and remind us that we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.”

Ramona, at her core, is every woman. Every wife and mother that is doing a lot, sacrificing parts of her personality, her wants and dreams, and her passions just to be able to get through the day. Only to be rewarded with her husband stepping out on her because he needs sex and she is too tired at the end of the day after doing everything for everyone but herself to simply fall on her back in bed. I admired Ramona’s reaction and her handling of the situation because I would have been doing my best Angela Bassett impression from Waiting to Exhale. Honestly, Ramona’s journey is a joy to watch and by the end of None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive, you really enjoy not only Ramona but her journey.

I devoured this book - I loved the writing and descriptions. The characters felt so real and well rounded. I found even without having gone through any of the situations as the characters that all of the characters stories were so relatable. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

In this novel, a Category Four Hurricane is heading towards Savannah where Ramona, thirty-eight, leads a busy and harried life as a project manager, mom to a toilet training toddler, and she’s dealing with her own mother who is refusing to evacuate. In the evacuation hurricane panic Ramona rushes home to find her husband having an affair with a mom from their kids’ school, so she makes the choice to evacuate without him. Throughout the novel, Ramona revisits memories where Prince’s songs played during seminal moments in her life. This was a fast and funny read taking place over the course of a frenzied 48-hours. Thank you to Atria books and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

This was a cute, fast read! Mothers will find this highly relatable. People who have decided to be child free will feel very vindicated in their choices. didn't love how it ended abruptly on a bit of a cliffhanger, and Ramona is probably the most illogical character I've read this year. We need more Christopher, though.

A chaotic story of one working mom trying to keep it together, with a strong dose of humor and reality. The writing was enjoyable, but I just didn't enjoy the story.

Bonus points for solid and appropriate Prince references!

This fun, campy debut follows Ramona over a day period of time while she is juggling the new revelation of her husband’s infidelity along with an encroaching category four hurricane. Needless to say, we are finding Ramona as her life is both literally and figuratively being blown apart. Prusa’s cheeky protagonist may appeal to harried mothers of young children who have recently been cheated on and have questionable support systems, but often comes across as too stereotypical for those not in her identical boat.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review and boy are you getting one. Wow, so this whole book was like a train wreck you didn't want to look away from. From the kids that make you not want to have them to the husband who's weaponized his own incompetence so badly that the main character stills thinks she might love him EVEN THOUGH he's cheating on her, everyone in this book is the worst. Except maybe Bailey, who's really just along for the train wreck.

At first, I was like okay cool it's a story about a mom, Ramona, who doesn't have her shit together kind of like those Bad Mom movies that came out a few years ago and that she'd take the reigns of her own life into her hands, but here I am writing a review at 75% and she's not done anything to have any character growth. Her kids are the MOST obnoxious and just reiterate that I won't be having kids at any point in my life, because if I did and they were like hers I'd probably end up in jail.. She doesn't do anything about her husband cheating, and cares so much about her own mother she risks the safety of not only herself, but her two children and a child that she's been helping out because I'm pretty sure his parents abandoned him, to save her own mother during a hurricane. Did the author not even consider who little growth the mc has? because like they should have.

In addition to most of the characters not being likable, you also have to contend with Ramona's mother casually using homophobic language at the beginning of the book. Like it was unnecessary, especially when the gay couple was originally going to doing more to help her own child than she was. Also, there were some one liners that were kind of weird like, "Word out on the street is that teenage boys eat half their weight in food every day and I can't imagine what my Kroger bill will be once my son's balls drop." I just feel like there's a better way the author sound have wrote this. It's weird and gross honestly.

Cute and silky tale of a Gen X momma. Laughed and comiserated with Ramona and her family. Also. Spent summers in Savannah growing up so a little fond memories of Catham County. .
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book hit home for so many reasons. I loved going on Ramona’s Adventures. So much can happen in 48 hours, what a roller coaster. This was a page turner for me.

An enjoyable read. I connected with the protagonist, Ramona, as a working mother and how we often carry the mental load for our families. The story bounces between past and less t day. Given that you glimpse Ramona’s life to understand how she ticks. That said, I’d have loved to spend more than 48 hours with present day Ramona. Special mention goes to Bailey, the most likable character in the book.

an honor to read this arc.

the life and times of a working mother of two while an active hurricane bears down on her house of cards life. who hasnt felt only one disaster away from ruin? spooky and plausible, rings true for anyone who has lived through hurricane uncertainty or really a natural disaster of any kind (except less traffic!) with all the uncertainty.

compelling and raw at times but so honest and exactly what i needed after feeling underwater in life, i'd argue the schism occurred when the cubs won the world series but i guess 2016 left scars on all of us.

first time i took a screenshot and wanted to blast it to every woman i know but this is an arc so i'll put a reminder in my phone and wait for publication.

Hurricane Matthew, the brutal Category Four hurricane, is making its way straight to Savannah, Georgia, right to Ramona. Matthew has sent Ramona into a tailspin: she can’t keep up at her young hip job, her toddler is avoiding her potty training, her son’s class pet is their homes newest addition, her mother refuses to evacuate Savannah, and - worst of all - her husband is cheating on her. Ramona’s world is spinning faster than Matthew’s winds as she navigates the 48 hours of absolute chaos the hurricane brings.

This book had me cackling left and right. Ramona and her motley crew are hysterical with their one-liners and goofy antics. They are a hot mess but so entertaining. While funny at its core, the theme of marriage growing pains is so tangible and real. I wasn’t sure how Prince would fit in, but he was a focal character for Ramona, spearheading major moments throughout her life.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life...along with Ramona and her scrappy family. This was such a fun read! Ramona is a spunky character despite the onslaught of crazy issues thrust upon her at the worst possible time. Her everyday life is anything but picture-perfect, and I think that's what is so relatable in this book.

So...it was pretty obvious to me that this book was a first book by the author. It was very clunky at times, and while there were a couple places where I did laugh out loud, I struggled to enjoy other parts. It did feel reminiscent of the Class Mom series by Laurie Gelman, but it lacked the consistent humor found in the first book of that series.

I thought Ramona was a good protagonist. She echoed many of my thoughts as a mom. However, the plot fell short because truly, not that many bad things happen all at once.

Overall, It wasn't a bad read, but I feel like there are many other good books out there. The title will definitely suck you into the book, which helps! :) Who doesn't love Prince???

Ramona has to pack up her family, her mother,
the teen from next door and some furry friends
to escape a category 4 hurricane. Just before
leaving her discovers her husband has been
having an affair. This books takes us between
the 48 hours of hurricane Mathew and back to
Ramona's early relationship with her husband.
I initially wanted to read the book because of
the title. I mean who doesn't love Prince??? Am
I right?! (Thanks for the song references
throughout)
This book is both funny and relatable.
My only issue was the authors choice not to
use quotations during conversations in the
flashback scenes. It was a bit distracting.
Overall I really liked this book