This was just dreadfully boring... I admit I didn't read past chapter 5. It just wasn't my cup of tea, sorry darlin 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

Taking place in 1993, it's Laurie's last year of high school before adulthood and college where she deals with her first big job, the pains of owning a vehicle that constantly needs repair and traversing the world without leaving Montreal with foul mouthed little neighbour Cindy who visits as a way to escape her broken home life.

I really enjoy literary fiction like this that sort of tells an everyday story about everyday people. Nothing magical just straight and to the point but still leaves you with stuff to think about.

The narrator Hillary Huber does a good job capturing both Laurie's on the cusp of adulthood voice and Cindy's very young, and always annoyed demener.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐. 5/5

CW/ Cancer, Death, Death of a Parent, Child Neglect, Misogyny

Marie-Renee Lavoie reminds us that adulting is hard - especially when you're new at it. Laurie is not only juggling college and a new job, but also looking after Cindy, her little neighbor who's neglected by her parents. When Laurie's family dynamic is upended, it brings the weight of life upon her in a way that make's the reader's heart go out to her. I loved the metaphor of her car - how the old junker needs constant attention to one thing or another to keep running. It's an apt description of life and how sometimes it seems that we're just running from one thing to another in an ongoing attempt of upkeep. Lavoie's characters are richly described, and the book is beautifully written. Highly recommend.

I liked all the characters in this book. It was a story about Laurie learning some life lessons after graduating high school. It was a short listen (5 1/2 hours) so I finished In one sitting. The language wasn’t needed in my opinion. Wish there was a hint before downloading the book. Overall, good story but not sure I’ll be recommending that often. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This was a pleasant story of a young woman experiencing some first in life. First real job, first real boyfriend, loss of a parent. I listed to the audio book and things were chugging away. I thought they were all a long set-up for the real plot. then the book ended. i checked to see if there was a part 2 I was missing. But, nope. It was finished.

Most plots have some kind of crisis or turning points. Not this. She loved and was loved by her parents. Her boyfriend was not a serial killer and he had a loving family. The biggest concern was a sexist pin-up calendar at her father's place of employment, an auto mechanic shop.

I will have to admit that there is nothing in the book that will keep me up tonight. There are no unresolved issues or parts I will want to re-think.

This might be a good choice for someone who would be happy to know what is behind the life of someone she sits nest to on the bus. But for me it was not much ado about nothing.

Well they always say don't judge a book by the cover and that's exactly what I did....
The narration was good, used different voices for different characters. I found it hard to listen to especially when others were around for the language- and to think most came from a potty mouth girl- it is obvious she lives in a family of neglect and probably hears a lot of profanity to repeat. I would've probably enjoyed to read the book more as I'd skip of the profanity- maybe there was a warning of that but as I said I judged the book by the cover.... something of the cover reminded me of my childhood... well if you don't mind profanity and enjoy audio books grab this book....

I didn’t hate this audiobook, but I didn’t love it either. It was an okay read, in my opinion but it had more potential.

A Tragicomic Delight!

SOME MAINTENANCE REQUIRED by bestselling storyteller Marie-Renée Lavoie, author of Autopsy of a Boring Wife is a highly recommended quirky, emotional, thought-provoking, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud funny, and ultimately uplifting novel about love, loss, self-discovery, survival, and hope.

Exploring both the dark corners and hidden joys of life's journey –and the remarkable resilience of the human soul. In this tremendously moving novel, the author demonstrates how people trapped by life's circumstances can break free and find a place in the world where love is genuine and selfless.

Set in 1993, Laurie is eighteen and about to embark on her life into adulthood and enter college. A good student, and hard worker, she discovers she has a lot to learn and finds maturity comes with often tricky challenges.

Laurie has two wonderful parents who are both working class. Her mom, Suzanne (I adore her), is a voracious book reader and booklover. She travels like a globetrotter through books. (love all the book references), works in a hospital parking lot booth, 17 sq ft. She has a great attitude, intelligent, and everyone loves her. She surrounds herself with things she loves.

Her love and passion for reading have been passed down to her daughter, Laurie. Laurie now has decisions about college, apartments, jobs, car, finances, friendships, love, relationships, and what she wants to do with her life.

Her dad works at a garage, and Laurie now has a car she calls the Pony he attained for her. She works at a part-time bakery while in school and then gets a job at a restaurant, where she excels. She is often puzzled by life when things do not go as planned.

She often wonders how her mom can be happy with her life and be fulfilled working in a claustrophobic parking booth and never complains. And her dad at his dead-end job. They are lovely providers, and their life seems happy, and they want her to get a college education and a good job. With her friends, sometimes she is embarrassed by them and feels guilty about their vocations. Also, the people she meets in these types of jobs along her journey- how can they be happy? Do they not want more?

Her mom is the most beautiful person she knows. She wants more for herself. However, her mom has a positive attitude, caring, kind, and intelligent. When she gets sick, she is devasted, and life is so unfair.

Then we meet Laurie's latest project: her neighbor, a second-grader, foul mouth little girl named Cindy, curses like a sailor, has little food and clothes, and horrible parents, and finds her way into their hearts and home after Suzanne invites her in. Their home is now a safe haven for the little girl. (Lots of laugh-out-loud funny and whiny scenes). Cindy is like Laurie's bratty little sister.

Cindy's family is poor but they are not abusive but neglectful. She barely has anything to eat or wear. Instead of calling children's services for the neglect, and risking getting lost in the foster system, they decide to keep her close. Befriend her, take her under their wing to try and be a strong influence in her life in any way they can. Will they be able to save her from this environment?

Cindy is rough around the edges, pouty, with no role models. Laurie befriends her and sets the stage for travel through books, and teaches her things about life, school, manners, etc. Then the family moves without her knowing- she must find her. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Laurie learns that although she can't fix everything for Cindy or herself, at least she's no longer alone.

Laurie faces many new challenges and emotions: death, grief, class, privilege, social injustices, work, dating, romance, career, and complex relationships. Her car and people in her life break; some maintenance is required. A PERFECT TITLE!

I LOVED the audiobook! Short (5 Hours, 25 Minutes) but big on life lessons and wisdom. Highly entertaining, narrated by the fabulous Hilary Huber. A perfect range of voices for all the full cast of diverse characters, their vulnerabilities, fears, and distinct personalities

My first book by the author. Love her insightful writing style! Bittersweet, sad at times, but sparkling and witty, heartfelt and clever—a story about finding your place in the world, no matter your age and how impossible it seems. I cannot wait to read the author's backlist.

For fans of authors: Elizabeth Berg, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Fredrick Backman, Anne Tyler, and Joyce Maynard (some of my favorites).

Readers will find friendship, community, and kindness on full display. The characters will tug at your heartstrings and it is hard not to root for Suzanne, Laurie, and Cindy! You will find yourself missing Laurie as the book ends and desire a follow-up to see where she landed and, of course, Cindy.

A perceptive journey, maneuvering this course we call life— from the eyes of an eighteen-year-old girl. An eye-opening, dazzling coming-of-age, mother/daughter, family drama novel meets humor and literary fiction. Think, This is Us.

In tragic and comic detail, the author cleverly renders the notion that every life—however blessed—has its share of loss, but those crushed hearts can be revived with the help of others. Sprinkled with literary influences, well-developed relatable characters, and beautiful writing—a 5 Star must-read for all booklovers! Makes you think about the little joys in life. One you will want to read more than once.

A stirring, insightful novel of tremendous warmth and humor that illuminates the kindness and cruelties of our daily lives.

A special thank you to #DreamscapeMedia and #NetGalley for an audiobook ARC to listen to, enjoy and review.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
July 2022 Must-Read Books List

Writing: 4/5 Plot: 3/5 Characters: 4/5 Audio reader: 3/5

A sweet novel about a young woman kind of wandering through her own life: school ends and she contemplates university, she gets a job and experiences the drama of group dynamics, and she watches over (and becomes quite attached to) a badly neglected 2nd grader. And then … circumstances beyond her control slam her in the face. It’s a story about bringing love (and continual ongoing maintenance) to our relationships — with family, friends, and even possessions like a favorite car.

The writing is very good with many memorable phrases (unfortunately I listened to this in the car and therefore couldn’t capture any of them) and depictions of places and situations — both real and imagined, internal and external. I enjoyed the characters — the guys who worked at the garage with her father, her best friend, and a veterinarian-in-training who likes her, but whose social class makes her uncomfortable. And her mother — the best character of all. I also love the role that books play in the world that she and her mother have created.

Listening to this audio version of this particular book did highlight something for me that I hadn’t really noticed before. The reader did a good job with voices, pacing, etc. but she also imparted a distinct personality to each person through vocal pitch, pace, and tone over and above that which you would perceive simply from reading the words. Specifically, I found the main character to have a hint of whininess (that I didn’t like) which may or may not have been intended by the author. Overall I enjoyed listening but did take note of that point.

I think I might have enjoyed this more as a physical book. The narration for the audiobook didn’t work for me. It made the book just pretty blah for me.

Love, love, love the audiobook Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie!

My heart though! I fell in love with little Cindy and her LoLo. The narration was perfect. Probably my favorite character’s narration was Cindy. It perfectly captured her sweet, innocent, mischievousness. Please give this book a listen or a read, you won’t regret it.

This story follow Laurie as she navigates the time from the end of high school to young adulthood. Laurie learns to understand the differences between classes and learns how to come to accept circumstances beyond her control. Some Maintenance Required is a true coming of age story!

When we think of a “coming of age story” we don’t think of this one. Somehow it’s a little too real, a little too raw for what our minds can conjure up, but it happens.

Laurie is one of those kids that is growing up but somehow gets rushed through that process. At first, we think the story is all about her but then we meet her neighbor Cindy and we understand some maintenance is required. Cindy needs Laurie and her mother in ways that Laurie is still learning to manage. Laurie is sometimes struggling herself but understands that Cindy’s needs are greater. Over time she learns the balance of standing up for Cindy and being able to help her in the best way possible.

Laurie’s mother is so darn relatable, she’s my favorite character. She reads so many books and it feels like the author made her like that as a secret for the readers to share. A secret little “oh my gosh it’s me” crosses our mind. I could be her mother!

This book is a little sad, to be honest. It doesn’t have a fairytale ending but it’s a reality that many face. We only hope that Laurie’s influence on Cindy’s life will help her be better than the other examples she has growing up.

Some Maintenance Required follows Laurie, just graduating and entering a semblance of adulthood in 1993. While there were some parts I really enjoyed, such as the description of her mother's "office" and love of reading, this book was an overall flop for me. I think a main part of that was the narration of the audio book which made the main character seem whiny.

This coming of age story had some very hilarious moments. Little Cindy, Laurie’s young neglected neighbor, is full of wonder and potty words. Laurie learns a lot about life through working, death around her, and learning to love. The story was great but being a Christian, there were a few things I didn’t fully agree with causing me to give the story a lower rating. Other than those particular parts, I did enjoy the story. The narrator made the character seem extremely whiny. Not sure if that was the intention or not.
Thanks to netgalley and Dreamscape media for providing this audio arc in return for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this book! It was a story about Laurie learning some life lessons after graduating high school. Her relationship with Cindy, her parents and others were realistic and relatable. I was glad Laurie stood her ground on so much - college, helping others and family.

At only 5.5 hours, this coming of age story is a quick read/listen. This isn't my typical book choice. I usually go for mystery/thrillers or nonfiction so I'm sure this impacts my enjoyment of this book. I've also learned that I should read books with young main characters instead of listening to the audiobooks. Apparently, the voices in my head are less whiney and annoying. haha Overall, this story was what I expected and it's nice enough, plenty of hard things for a young woman to deal with. I'll be interested to see what those who often read this kind of book think of it.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.