A witty collection of stories from Ali Berlinski's life, outlined with the humor she uses to get through all of the dysfunctional parts of her daily life with her family, love life, and career.
Imagine what your life would be like if you laughed through all the mayhem? Biracial and bicoastal, Berlinski spent her childhood flying between the dysfunctional families of her divorced parents, always feeling like an outsider. Fortunately, she never lost her sense of humor, which is apparent on every page of her debut story collection, a riotous and revealing exposé of the new normal and the consequences of too much air travel, cultural diversity, and conflicting and conflicted parents. With an open heart, she recounts her somewhat misspent youth and a wildly exciting (though equally torturous) love affair with the guy of her dreams, eventually leaving it all to start again abroad.
She’s Carrie Bradshaw reimagined as a third grade teacher in Brooklyn with zero interest in Manolo Blahnik. She’s a tough New Yorker with a tender twist of California sunshine whose journey will be oddly familiar and utterly unique to anyone who’s ever believed that love would save them – if not with this guy, then maybe with the next.
As her grandfather once said, “Well, it may not be the party you hoped for, but since we’re here, we might as well dance.” So now she lives in Spain and, despite everything, continues to dance through this messy, magnificent life. Say yes to your mess.
Professional Reviews
Hard to Describe, but still great...
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy on a goodreads giveaway, and I was so glad I did, for it entertained me this afternoon immensely. I could not put it down until I finished it, (in three hours) and I loved every minute of it.
The first 3/4 comes across like the musings of a standup comic, with some drama thrown into the first half of the last 1/4, then it winds down to a lovely conclusion. (It would make a good movie, with Jamie Chung or Kristen Kreuk as Ali.)
To say Ms. Berlinski's life is complicated is a massive understatement. Half Filipino, half Polish, with an Asian stepmother and two half-Filipino-half-Puerto Rican younger siblings, as well as two older Caucasian siblings, she finds herself in the TRULY unique position of simultaneously being the youngest, oldest AND middle child!
I don't want to give away any spoilers of what happens within, but it's a definite page turner-- and not in a trainwreck way, but in a way that you're truly rooting for this woman to have real, honest-to-goodness HAPPINESS and peace. She is lucky in some ways to have her past, and she has humor, compassion, and true intelligence. I hope that this book translates into more for her, and if you were a fan of Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy by Frances Mayes, then you'll enjoy this book twice as much, because I know I did!
A joy to read.
I absolutely loved this book! It's such a fun and quick summer read. Ali Berlinski is hysterical, and I love the depictions she gives for her family: "Asking him to change his ways now is like asking a dog to pee without lifting its leg. You're just fighting nature." Witty banter and very refreshing perspective on life. A must read for sure!
Keep me thoroughly intrigued from beginning to end!
I really enjoyed reading Ali Berlinski's book A Beautiful Mess. The book is compilation of the author's personal life stories that keep me thoroughly intrigued from beginning to end! Berlinski openly tells her personal ups and downs throughout her life with ton of sarcasm and wit. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good and fun read!
