PATRICIA WANTS TO CUDDLE - Samantha Allen


 Four women have made it to the final of a reality television dating show (ala The Bachelor). Their prize? A sleazy bachelor who doesn't seem to want to choose any of the women before him. Their destination for their final? A mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest.

Each contestant represents a classic stereotype and each has their own reason for being on the show (it's no secret really that it's not to hook up with the bachelor).

Living alone in the woods on the remote island is Patricia, who watches as the female contestants primp for the camera and prepare for whatever contests the TV producers come up with for them.  But the cast and skeleton crew left on the remote island may need reclusive Patricia's help if they are to survive into the next round.

I requested this book because I was in the mood for something light and fun, and with the television filming as a background I really thought I might get into this. And I did, a little bit.

The characters really are stereotypes, each person representing one quite obvious (to reality tv watchers) character trait. One of these stood out to me - the uber-religious - and I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it was just too easy to constantly have this person make a pithy religious quote.

There is a mysterious horror aspect to the book, which I found enjoyable ... until it became more ridiculous than horrific.

Ultimately, this is both the success and failure of this book ... this is heavy satire. But perhaps it is satirizing too much?  The satire of the reality show works well, but this strange addition of the dark turn takes it out of satire and then we're no longer enjoying the book we thought we were getting in to.

It tries to come back or maintain the light-hearted satire, but I think it goes over the edge, making the come-back nearly impossible.  

Also ... the title? Patricia is not nearly as much a prime character in this book as one might think, given that she is the titular character.

Looking for a good book? Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen is a chick-lit satire of reality television shows until it turns dark and gruesome but tries to hang on to a light-hearted atmosphere anyway.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

* * * * * *

Patricia Wants to Cuddle

author: Samantha Allen

publisher: Zando

ISBN: 163893004X

hardcover, 256 pages

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