Against My Better Judgment

I didn't like this book at first. The main character phobic about germ is off-putting, but about mid through I decided I liked it. The 2nd half of the book was better than the 1st half. It's the focus is definitely on Sara the main character and her personality. #AgainstMyBetterJudgment #NetGalley

I read a lot of mystery and thrillers so for me this was a nice change of pace. A perfect cozy mystery that was seriously laugh out loud funny! 
I totally enjoyed this book. 
I totally loved Mauzzy which is the book's dachshund and Sara is such a great character. 
I didn't realize this is actually labeled as a YA book but it didn't read like one. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to the author and publisher for my ebook copy.

Against My Better Judgment (Mauzzy and Me Mystery) by B.T. Polcari
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | New Adult | Romance
Release Date: September 16, 2020

Against My Better Judgement is the first book in the Mauzzy and Me Mystery series by B.T. Polcari.

This was so much fun! Such a great cozy mystery, filled with snark, sarcasm and quick wit. The mystery was great and kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading future books in this series!

Sara is a college student whose life fulfills the 'if it can go wrong, it will' mantra every chance it gets. She handles these situations with a great sense of humor and acceptance. As a klutz, I can relate to some of the catastrophes she finds herself in.

I'm so grateful to B.T. Polcari, The Wild Rose Press, Inc, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A highly entertaining and gripping cozy mystery, I hope to read other books by this author.
Fleshed out and likable characters, an interesting setting, and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

19yo freshman Sara is just trying to get through her final month at uni when she stumbles onto what she thinks is a smuggling ring in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

Polcari chose 1st person POV in "Against My Better Judgement", which gives his readers unfiltered access to Sara's thoughts. And I do mean unfiltered. Unlike most 1st person POVs, Sara's narration is frequently interrupted by wandering thought and loud or annoying sounds around her, which makes for an immersive experience. Sara is also a fun character. She's ridiculously clumsy with a penchant for destroying things around her, which lands her in trouble more often than not. She also has a history of blowing what she deems to be suspicious situations up, which is where the uncertainty in the book comes from. 

As far as the rest of the characters go, Polcari writes up an entertaining cast that compliment Sara. Zoe serves as her tether to reality, reigning her in when she gets too out of touch. While Mrs Majelski is a wacky protector who looks out for Sara, putting even law enforcement on edge. Then there's Mauzzy. He's Sara's doggy sidekick, and a fantastic addition to the story, he brings extra levity to the story especially during more tense scenes. 

Given her past, it's unclear whether or not this this smuggling ring actually exists. It's an added layer of complexity to the plot. The story had me engaged from the get-go. It's fast moving, but the action is never overwhelming as there are enough scenes of Sara with her friends or her trusty sidekick to create a good balance. 
Speaking of the sidekick, I do have one main issue with the book and that was Mauzzie's walks. I realise they're often  gateway to get the plot moving, but there's an emphasis on how often Sara wants him to do his business and he is reluctant to. It was just a bit weird to read about that every couple chapters. 

Beyond that, the writing is decent. I really liked the way Polcari incorporates sounds into the story, but it didn't stand out much otherwise. I had no trouble getting through the book, in fact I read it in about a day. I liked Sara's inner voice and I'd happily pick up another of Polcari's books. 

All in all, I enjoyed "Against My Better Judgment" by B.T. Polcari. It's a fun mystery novel, and perfect for a more relaxed reading.

I’d point out that this is the first book that I’ve read by P.T. Polcari, but since it’s the first book that he’s published, that doesn’t seem to be necessary. I’m also a self-admitted “not by the cover” reader, but I have to admit that I give whimsical covers a second glance – especially when I’m in the mood for something light. Just to be clear, Against My Better Judgment didn’t disappoint. The cover definitely set the mood for the pages in between. 😉

Sara was such a fun character. She had a knack of finding trouble around every corner – even if there wasn’t any. Saying she had an active imagination would be an understatement, only this time the mystery was real. She just didn’t know exactly who was doing what or why.

I think what I liked most about Sara was that she didn’t take herself too seriously. She knew that she was going overboard and she would probably regret being so inquisitive, but she couldn’t help herself. There were more than a few twists and turns because Sara had pretty good instincts, but she didn’t always get things exactly right. That’s part of what made this story so much fun.

The supporting characters were great too. Sara’s supportive, but blatantly honest best friend and a few surprising allies, and of course Mauzzy. They were quite the entertaining crew. I can’t wait to see what they get into next with the continuation of the Mauzzy and Me Mystery series. 😉

An absolute riot!

The wit is second to none and I loved every moment. At first it seemed a little slow and I was not sure about it, but then I got sucked in by B.T. Polari's humor. Let's just say. Never judging a book by its first page again.

Loved it!

I really liked this book! It’s the perfect start to what be a multiple book series which would be really enjoyable! It’s quirky, fun, with a hint of mystery and romance!!! I loved Sara ! Everything about her was an absolute delight to read about ! She is a hot mess who has an adorable dog and loses her phone constantly ! I am really looking forward to these characters being explored more in the following books ! 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy !!!

This was such a funny little read! I loved Sarah, even for her quirks like her phobia of germs, especially this day in age. I thought it was definitely a great idea to have this book be in first person because we get to Sarah unfiltered. The funny thoughts, the sad, and all in between. The first part of the story is a bit slow but it picks up in the second half for sure. Buckle up for a wild ride because this book rocks!

To be honest, this book sounded like an alien trying to convince humans that he/she is actually a millennial girl. The premise is intriguing enough that I really wanted to push through to understand what happens plot-wise, but I ultimately only slogged through about 75% before calling it quits. At first I thought perhaps the narrator was deliberately stylized to be quirky and kind of a space cadet, but by the halfway mark, I realized that even if that was the intention, it's impossible to follow her logic or her actions. This was a miss for me. A decent story that would benefit from being told differently (and a more professionally designed cover). I will not be posting this review on my blog, as I do not want to damage the author's commercial prospects, and I hope Polcari's next release will have improved and found its voice.

Wasn't what I was expecting but still a good read. Thought I'd be more into it, but I found it hard to hold my attention. Probably not one I would read again, but I definitely know others who would thoroughly enjoy it!