Review: 4 Stars for a book that is not going to fail you!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 18, 2013
Received an Advanced Copy for an honest review.“My deepest fear is that I’ll look back on my life and wonder what I did with it.” -Anonymous  When a book starts out with a quote like that, you know you are in for a ride.Beautiful Failure is the story on Emerald Anderson.  Raised by her single mother who happens to be New Jersey’s most sought after escort.  Emerald is taught 3 things early on in life: “ 1. Always put tons of effort into the way you look.  2. Don’t make friends. Make sponsors – people you can use to get you whatever you want. 3. Beauty wins over brains every time.  Your body is your most important asset.”After her mother’s death she finds herself in Blythe, Alabama (which we don’t read about it’s just mentioned later in the book).  Emerald finds her way to NYU -  during a flash back - Emerald uses her mother’s lessons in life, which gets her ostracized on campus.  She does get revenge in the best way she can.After being kicked out of NYU Emerald finds herself back in Blythe trying to find a job anywhere that will hire her, especially with her lack of people skills.  Emerald finds herself in trouble after an accident.  She now owes $8,000 in fines and is now a part of AA.  Just the place any alcoholic wants to be.  Emerald needs a job and finally lands one at Starbucks.  After working with Sarah, who went to high school with Emerald, they begin a friendship; despite Emerald’s attitude towards friendships.  Also while working at Starbucks, Emerald starts to fall for a regular customer, Carter Black.  He tries to talk to Emerald and get to know her but she shuts him down every time, even though she is totally crushing on him.After hanging out one night after Sarah’s mom passes away, Emerald learns that Sarah is a dancer at a Gentleman’s club called, The Phoenix.After being fired from Starbucks – what does she have to lose?Her first days at the Phoenix are trial and error she can’t dance but she can make guys fall for her.  On her first night who should we find but Carter is there with a bachelor party (at least it’s not his bachelor party) so she gives him a lap dance but low and behold he doesn’t fall for her “Raven” personality (aka the name she uses at the club) and walks out half way through her dance.As she gets closer to Carter and Sarah outside the club, Emerald starts to let her guards down and realize there’s more to life than escaping in drinking or sex.The use of flashbacks also show how she was raised and how she came to be a "Beautiful Failure" just like her mother.This book is about growth and moving on passed our pasts.  Emerald grew up thinking one thing only to learn over time and experiences that there’s more to life that what her mother taught her.  This book is a great read.  If you like no-nonsense speak what they think main characters that are slightly damaged but never a failure.A truly good read and I cannot wait for book #2!!