Title: 52 Reasons to Hate My Father Author: Jessica Brody
Published: July 3, 2012
Genre(s): Realistic/Contemporary
Page Count: 352
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.
Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.
In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.
I’ve decided that although Jessica Brody’s books aren’t the best ever, they make me happy, and that’s important. 52 Reasons to Hate My Father is a fairly typical story of a spoiled brat realizing the error of her ways, but it was well-written, enjoyable, fun, and entertaining. With that in mind, I have very little to complain about.
Brody’s main character, Lexington Larrabee, grew up with everything—except a loving parent. And as it turns out, the only thing she’s ever wanted in her life was the attention and affirmation of her absent, workaholic billionaire father. So Lexington obviously has daddy-issues galore, and that’s what fuels the central plotline of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father.
The “52 reasons” suggested by the title are the 52 different minimum wage jobs Lexington’s father forces her to work as a punishment for wrecking her car. The idea is that these unglamorous jobs will build Lexington’s character, and…surprise surprise, they do!
On the whole, Lexington’s journey from selfish brat to mature young woman is unoriginal. There is nothing shocking in this book at all. However, the story is genuine in spite of being clichéd, and it’s charming in spite of being trite. Brody is a strong enough writer that she can pull off a typical, cheesy plot and make it entertaining, if not prize-worthy material. I could definitely see this book becoming a fun, light film sometime.
52 Reasons to Hate My Father is not award-winning literature, but it’s not trying to be. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I think that made Jessica Brody’s approach to this reverse-Cinderella story so much better. I thought this book was fun and amusing, and found it to be a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
