Book Review: The Last Blind Date by Linda Yellin

The Last Blind Date by Linda Yellin

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publish Date: October 4, 2011

Paperback, 288 pages 
Non-fiction, Memoir
 ISBN: 978-1451625899

My Review:
My thoughts:  A genre that continues to surprise me as one that engages me from cover to cover is the memoir.  I never thought nonfiction would read like fiction and be so interesting.  I mean my life is pretty boring.  And Linda Yellin is an ordinary woman, but I think that is what makes her book so interesting.  She's not a movie star, a talk show host or a broadway star.  She's just a married woman like me trying to find her place in the world.

From the first page, Ms. Yellin's humor shines through, but there is more than humor in this book.  There is pure emotion and feeling in each page.  I feel her pain when she is looking for a friend when moving to New York, or when trying to navigate the waters of being a step parent (something I wouldn't want to do).  I feel her joy when she finds love, or a good take out place.  I feel the emotions with her in each chapter, she can make you feel like you are with her and because she is a normal everyday woman, you can sympathize with her on each page even if you have never been to New York like me, or never been a step parent or even married.

The Last Blind Date is a love story of Linda and Randy, how they meet, fall in love, have a long distance relationship, decide to marry and then how Linda moves to New York to be with Randy and his kids.  This is where Linda's life changes and she changes.  And this is where the book is so much more than a love story.  It's the story of a woman who comes into her own over time.  It's beautiful, inspiring and a book I truly believe all women at any age should read.  There are lessons to be learned, inspiration to take away and laughs to be laughed on hard days that any woman has.  That is what a reader can take from this book.  That is what I took.  Ms. Yellin has charmed me with her wit and her emotion.  Her writing has inspired me to look around me and find what makes me happy in my current life and hold on to that.  And most of all she's inspired me to not take things too seriously - to laugh at things from time to time because laughing is needed.


I can't end my review without mentioning one of my favorite chapters - "Private School Benjamin" - I have never laughed as hard as her take on the private schools and the lengths parents went to for their kids and the references to her public school education.  Hysterical.  You will have to read this book just to read this chapter - it's well worth it.

So check this out, it's worth the time, it's not a long book.  It reads quickly and it's very enjoyable.  Full of humor laughs and great moments.  Have a tissue ready for the end if you cry at commercials some times.  It's classic and great.  I just cannot say enough great things about this book.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
A fun, charming memoir about a woman who falls in love, packs her bags, and starts over in the city that eats its young.

About the Author: 

Website
Blog

Giveaway:
I have an extra copy from the publisher of this wonderful book to giveaway.  US/Canada only. Ends 10/14.  Only mandatory entry is your name and email in Rafflecopter below, all other entries are extra.  Thanks!

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.