Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon ~ a Review

by MK French

Poppy Banks has a dead-end job at Thought Buzz and feels like she's living her entire life on the sidelines. Her aunt Margot keeps telling her to live out her dreams at their secret yearly lunches, but Poppy hasn't been able to start yet. When her aunt dies, Poppy is left a writer's residency in the French Riveria—if she can finish her novel in six months. When the writing countdown begins, Poppy realizes she has more to confront than her writer’s block.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2023; Park Row; 978-0778334200
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); women's fiction

From the start, Poppy didn't have a great relationship with her mother or with herself. She had given up on her authorial dreams, especially with her brother having a much easier time making it with a multibook deal, being on the bestseller list, and having their mother's support. Her friends were also getting deals. As much as she wished them well for their success, she was also jealous and felt sorry for herself. Giving up was easier than setting herself up for even more grief, something we all understand and have probably done at some point in our lives. We don't have someone handing us a residency program to work on our dream job, but now we get to live vicariously through Poppy.

Things don't flow smoothly for Poppy, because she doubts herself and what she can do. She tries writing a romance instead of the thriller she wants to, and tries dating and visiting areas outside the villa. All the while she's distant from her family and the person she wants to be. Life does go well for a while, but she doesn't trust it. I can understand that; the heartfelt talks that we know have to come for the novel's resolution are necessary for Poppy to move on, but doesn't feel like something that would happen in real life. She needed the conversation and perspective to see what she wanted out of life is just as important as a safety net, and that living a life of regrets is even more painful. That's certainly a lesson we all can use. New things are scary because it's unknown, but not everything new is going to be awful. Sometimes, with a little Main Character Energy, we too can do it for the plot.

Buy Main Character Energy at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.