Book tour: Surviving The Rachel - Aven Ellis

Life after college graduation is not at all what twenty-one-year-old Bree Logan expected. Unable to find a professional communications job, dumped by the guy who was THE ONE, and stuck with a pricey city apartment she can’t afford, Bree ends up moving back home with her parents in the suburbs and working as a cocktail waitress at a posh Chicago hotel.

In a desperate attempt to get a fresh start, Bree goes to a hip salon and requests that the first available stylist chop off her long dark hair. Alarmed when the stylist suggests “The Rachel,” after the famous haircut from the show Friends, Bree is hesitant, but decides to go for it when she is assured it will be a “fresh, modern adaptation” of the infamous 90’s cut. Unfortunately for Bree, it turns out to be exactly the same cut, but with horrific heavy bangs added to it. Hideous doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Bree is convinced nothing will ever go right when she meets neighbor Jack Chelten, a twenty-five-year-old German translator. Not that Bree is looking to date anyone, but there’s something quirky and intriguing about his freckle-splashed face and blue eyes. And suddenly Bree finds herself seeking out different opportunities and challenges . . . as well as the boy next door.

In her new adult life, Bree learns that sometimes you have to go through crises to get to where you need to be. And if you can survive The Rachel, you can survive anything, right?

My opinion. Aven Ellis has done it again. What a wonderful book. Bree is an amazing MC. She's smart, funny, determined and secretly a hopeless romantic. The connection with Jack is there from the start, but I loved how Bree still had her own goals in the story, beside her love interest. She finally has a chance to prove herself professionally and I loved how Aven showed us that side of her.And Jack... Well, he fits her just perfectly, doesn't he? Their instant connection just makes you fall in love, not just with them or their relationship, but with the idea of love.

There's just so much romance in this book but what makes it so special, is that these two characters really respected each other. It's not just about passion or attraction (although Jack sounds like thé most gorgeous man) - they just fit. Perfect couple

Another fabulous aspect of this novel is the Friends references. For a Friends-freak like me, this was heaven. I loved how Jack and Bree had this in common, but even more importantly: it showed that they have a great sense of humor and they can not only be romantic together but FUN as well. VERY important in a relationship, and again, I love Aven for showing these different sides of them as individuals AND as a couple.

Loved everything about this book. Read it. NOW.

 

Read more about Aven's other books here

About the author.

Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night.  Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) are two further novels written by Aven.

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

Get in touch with Aven

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EXCERPT- Surviving the Rachel

Now it’s just me and Jack.

“Firefly,” he says, breaking the silence.

“What?” I laugh.

“Right there, hold on a second,” Jack says, pointing near the pond. “There!”

And I see it. A firefly lights up the darkness for a brief second, a flash of yellow in the dark sky.

“I condemned many fireflies to a sad death in a Cool Whip container in my childhood,” I admit, laughing.

“Did you poke holes on the top?” he teases.

“Of course! I didn’t try to suffocate them on purpose.”
                “Murderer.”

“I was not,” I giggle.

“Challenge for you,” Jack says. “Can you still catch one?”

“Absolutely I can.”

“Prove it.”

“Oh, okay, you’re on. First one to catch five wins,” I say, throwing down my own challenge.

“I’ve so got this,” he declares.

So we both get up and begin catching fireflies. We’re laughing and teasing each other and before I know it, I have bested Jack.

“That’s five,” I declare happily, snatching the fifth firefly. I open up my palm to reveal it to him, and then I release it to the night sky.

And in a way, I feel released, too. I’m releasing the negativity about the job search, and I’m starting new tomorrow with Jack’s help. I gaze at his profile, and I know this German-speaking boy next door has something—if not everything-to do with this newfound feeling I have.

He turns and catches me looking at him. We don’t say anything for a moment, and another firefly flashes light between us.

“I guess I should be heading home,” he says softly.

“Okay.”

“So I’ll see you tomorrow for sushi?”

“Yes,” I say, smiling back at him. “And I’ll send you my resume right now.”

Jack nods. “Okay then. I’ll see you tomorrow. And thank you for tonight.”

“I should be thanking you,” I say softly.

He turns and begins walking across the grass. I cross my arms over my chest, his sweatshirt still keeping me warm. Jack suddenly stops and turns to me.

“’Hochzeit mit Hindernissen,’” Jack says.

I begin laughing. “What?”

“The German title for ‘The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding,’” Jack says, grinning at me. “That’s one of my favorite Friends episodes.”

Another firefly lights up in front of me as I watch him walk away. And then I realize that’s what Jack is to me.

He’s like a firefly who has lit up the darkness.

And I find myself drawn to his light.

To the wonderful Aven Ellis: thank you SO much for the opportunity.Thank you for letting me be a part of your amazing BETA team.I love having a front-row seat to your creative process. You truly are an inspirational woman and writer.
But mostly, thank you for your friendship.I love you.