Synopsis

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy’s a capable person―how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It’s not like she has a choice; her life couldn’t get any worse. Even so, this Midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.>As a single mom, she’s rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn’t sew, and she doesn’t know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.
Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she’s always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

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Review

I have mixed opinions about this book. It starts with Poppy putting her head in the sand after discovering that her accountant ran off with her money, and now the IRS wants years of back taxes and more. On top of that, she is trying to figure out how to send her daughter to nursing school, find a new job, and is struggling to make it through the day. Enter Three, a former lover from around 18 years ago that she runs into at the airport. Is he the answer to her money issues? He can get her a job in the wardrobe division of a movie being shot in California. Poppy just has to get there from Wisconsin. With all of her other money issues, she decides to drive. And what an adventure that is. But the real adventure is on the set of this movie. Apparently, “must-hires” are looked down on by the rest of the crew because this person is usually not qualified for the job. There are quite a few conflicts with other crew members, making up this story’s crux.

At first, I didn’t like Poppy’s character. She came across as wishy-washy and perhaps a bit incompetent. I know many business owners don’t always pay attention to the financial details, but to not be aware of IRS notices and such? However, as the story came to a close, I had a little more respect for her as she found her strength and learned that she doesn’t have to make everyone happy all the time. That it is ok to look out for yourself first.

I do have a small gripe about the whole IRS situation. While it wasn’t a good place to be, the fact that the author had the IRS agents telling Poppy that they would take all of her money and she would have absolutely nothing to live on was incorrect. If a person has no money for rent, utilities, groceries, etc., they would be unable to repay the IRS at any time because they would be homeless and have no way to help support themselves. This may be fiction, but I feel like situations like this should be represented correctly. That said, do not ignore IRS notices!

That said, if you can look past some of the inaccuracies throughout the book, you will find a quirky cast of characters that learn more about themselves in the space of a week. They create new friendships and learn that they do not have to do everything on their own.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Ann Garvin, Ph.D., is the USA Today bestselling author of I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK, I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around, The Dog Year, and On Maggie’s Watch. Ann writes about women with a good sense of humor who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She teaches at Drexel University Masters of Fine Arts program and has held positions at Miami University and Southern New Hampshire in their Masters of Fine Arts program. Ann is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers, where she is committed to helping women writers find readers. She is a sought-after speaker on writing, leadership, and health and has taught extensively nationally and internationally.

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