Imperfect Bliss

Reality TV— Jane Austen Style Meet the Harcourts of Chevy Chase, Maryland. A respectable middle-class, middle-age, mixed-race couple, Harold and Forsythia have four eminently marriageable daughters—or so their mother believes. Forsythia named her girls after Windsor royals in the hopes that one day each would find her true prince. But princes are far from the mind of their second-born daughter, Elizabeth (AKA Bliss), who, in the aftermath of a messy divorce, has moved back home and thrown herself into earning her PhD. All that changes when a Bachelorette-style reality television show called The Virgin takes Bliss’s younger sister, Diana as its star. Though she fights it at first, Bliss can’t help but be drawn into the romantic drama that ensues; forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, her family, and herself. Fresh and engaging, Imperfect Bliss is a wickedly funny take on the ways that courtship and love have changed—even as they've stayed the same.

At first glance some readers may compare Imperfect Bliss to a modern re-make of "Pride and Prejudice," due to the silliness of it all, and because of its noticeable similarities with the Jane Austen classic - strong heroines, men who are not what they seem, meddling parental figures, and romantic twists.  It is indeed somewhat of a parody - both of Jane Austen's world and of a more contemporary one.

 In this humorous tale, Susan managers to cover everything from the pressure from families to 'marry well', to bouncing back from divorce.  In addition, the book addresses the ridiculousness behind Reality TV and its impact on family, relationships and society.  Imperfect Bliss is basically an aged-old case of a mother wanting to live vicariously through her children - while pretending to be more than she is, while pushing her daughters to marry at any cost - as long as they marry someone with money and a title that is. 

The storyline of Imperfect Bliss explores three separate love triangles that revolve around the three oldest Harcourt daughters.  Diana is smothered with rich admirers while in reality only two men really catch her eye.  Victoria, the eldest, is torn between marrying the man her mother approves of and a secret forbidden lover.  Lastly, Bliss is tempted by Wyatt, the charming and witty TV host, and Dario, the aloof but caring executive producer.  And then there's Charlotte, the youngest of the four sisters, who desperately tries to steal the spot light with her less than lady-like demeanor. 

At the center of the story is Bliss Harcourt – hence the title Imperfect Bliss. Bliss is a head strong, divorced mother of four-year-old Bella, living at home with her parents.  After her failed marriage, she returned to graduate school in hopes of becoming a professor, and finally moving away from her controlling mother – who fantasizes about infiltrating the British throne.  She finds the antics of her over-bearing mother less than admirable and even deplorable at times, although she may not respect her mother's twisted thinking of living whitely ever after - she loves her Mum; because in the end, Forsythia loved her to the point of self-abasement.   However, prior to Bliss being able to come to such a profound enlighten assessment of her mother’s parental love and self sacrifice; Bliss's imperfect life is turned upside down by her sister, Diana, and her sudden TV fame as the star of the reality TV show "The Virgin" with a shameless tagline of: ‘where wealthy men compete to capture her heart, hand in marriage, and hymen.’   While Bliss and her father are horrified as well as offended that Diana’s chastity will be auctioned for television ratings, Diana and Forsythia are ecstatic beyond belief. Yet, as entertaining as it may appear, the foolishness of the reality TV show is basically the sub-plot to the real plot, which is Bliss’ reluctance to allow true love into her life.   

With an ideal balance of humor, wit and important social commentary, Susan Fales-Hill's Imperfect Bliss is sure to be a reading staple on bedside tables everywhere.

Imperfect Bliss l by Susan Fales-Hill

Genre: Dramatic Humor

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

One Flight Up

One Flight Up by Susan Fales - Hill

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Atria Books, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Susan Fales-Hill is an award winning television writer and producer who has worked on shows ranging from The Cosby Show to Suddenly Susan.  She is the author of the critically acclaimed Always Wear Joy.  And now, Susan Fales-Hill has written a fun, New York story that has all the elements a good novel should have, love, lies, lust, betrayal and perhaps hope – readers won’t want to put it down, not until the very end!  One Flight Up is a dramatic-comedic romp through the boardrooms, and bedrooms of Manhattan and Paris.

Atlanta, New Jersey and New York housewives meet the wives in, One Flight Up. India, Abby, Esme, and Monique this intelligent spirited foursome have been friends since their days at Manhattan’s Sibley School for Girls.  All grown up now—they seem to be living ideal lives, until the happily ever after fades and they find themselves at the crossroads of their lives, each with her own set of troubles, and suddenly craving more.

It’s not a throw your head back and laugh until you get a cramp in your side, nor is it a grab the box of tissues and boo-hoo type of story – what it is, is a refreshing diversity of characters who at first glance appear to be nice, wholesome and a lot of fun to be around, but perception and truth are miles apart when it comes to this foursome – lying, deceitful adulteress women of means, is a more accurate description.   The author provides a lesson in high-end fashion as she continuously name drops throughout the novel: Chanel clothing, Frette sheets, Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, Cariter watches, Verdura Maltese Cross bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels  – as well as taking the reader on a very descriptive tour of  Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore an exclusive fashion street in Paris.

The story follows the straitlaced main character, India Chumley, a super smart divorce attorney with a charming French boyfriend, Julien.  India is initially offended by her friends’ illicit activities.  Yet when her ex-fiancé, the love of her life and the destroyer of her heart, resurfaces in New York – she finds herself caught between the dependable man she thought was her future and the man she never quite got over. Although she’s taken the plunge by moving in with French chef Julien, she’s also keeping her own apartment – and keeping it a secret from Julien.

Abby Rosenfeld Adams is a devoted wife, mother, friend and irrepressibly upbeat gallery owner who married her college sweetheart, a passionate but tormented sculptor. After confirming her husband’s affairs, she finally realizes that perhaps there’s more to life than reassuring her husband of his artistic brilliance and she does so, by committing her body to another man, on a regular basis.
Monique Dawkins-Dubois, a successful gynecologist, is married to a powerful but dull financier who barely notices her. But when an attractive coworker summons, Monique can’t help but be flattered.   She throws caution and almost her career to the wind as she satisfies her sexual desire for attention.
Esme Sarmiento Talbot is a Colombian Scarlett, who is bored with her proper Connecticut life and her, tame, all American-husband.  Esme lives life on her terms at full speed and to satisfy her hellacious sexual appetite, she escapes to Manhattan and indulges herself with casual encounters in a style similar to a man with an out of control libido.

Although none of the women seemed overly burdened by a conscience telling them to stop their extramarital activities – Eventually, all of the women just may have to face the consequences of their actions – but do they really and will their relationships survive? The answer to those questions, lie between the pages of One Flight Up, as something for the reader to discover.

Because the story starts out featuring intelligent strong-will independent women with purpose, I would have preferred that the story had not succumb to the stereotypical chick lit mode by having the women weaken and salivating over a romp between the sheets – and almost incapable of thinking because they are totally engrossed in a man, a man that’s not even their significant other.  However, the author may have chosen that route in an effort to show that even the strongest women may still have insecurities.

One Flight Up is an insightful and easy read that has appeal for intermediate and adult readers, alike.  Interestingly, Hill treats her subject with a dose of humor, but also reaffirms the value of morality and love – giving this book all the elements needed for a Lifetime Movie. But until that happens, it might be a good idea to pick up a copy of One Flight Up, for a light summer read.

Review copy provided by publisher.