Double Shot

A Book Review: Double Shot by Erynn Mangum (2010)

  Reading Double Shot spun me back in time to another dimension--the one I inhabited while a single, recent college grad.  The main character of the story, Maya, is funny, cute, and engaged to her best friend, Jack, and a barista at the local coffee shop.  The bulk of the story is spent on her trying to figure out what she wants her wedding to look like, while managing expectations of friends, family and work.  The twist arrives rather late in the tale when Jack's offered a job in Seattle (they live in SoCal) throwing Maya into a tailspin as she faces two life-altering changes back to back.

  Personally, I love chic lit and enjoy reminiscing about my post-college years, but Double Shot was strong on syrup and light on caffeine--not quite the cup for me and at times I struggled to maintain interest in the story.  It's possible that the writing style didn't draw me in as I had hoped it would.  While the closing book of a trilogy, Double Shot contained enough backstory that it worked fine as a standalone and I didn't feel that I missed anything by not having read it's predecessors.  One thing I did appreciate about the storyline was that Maya was not a bridezilla, nor did she feel like she needed months (or years!) to plan her wedding.  Also, I'm thrilled to see Mangum as an author continuing to write.  She writes with a lot of humor and was first published at a rather young age, a definite inspiration to younger aspiring authors.  A follow up book or a new series about her previous characters as newlyweds or new parents definitely holds a lot of potential.  I give Double Shot 3 stars out of 5.  Recommended for teens, twenty-somethings who enjoy happy, light reading or current Erynn Mangum fans. Kudos to NavPress for adding Double Shot as a solid addition to the tiny, albeit growing Christian YA market.

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements andTestimonials in Advertising."