Twenty years ago, Allie Denty was the pretty one and her best friend Olivia Pelham was the smart one. Throughout high school, they were inseparable…until a vicious rumor about Olivia— a rumor too close to the truth—ended their friendship. Now, on the eve of their twentieth high school reunion, Allie, a temp worker, finds herself suddenly single, a little chubby, and feeling old. Olivia, a cool and successful magazine beauty editor in New York, realizes she's lonely, and is finally ready to face her demons. Sometimes hope lives in the future; sometimes it comes from the past; and sometimes, when every stupid thing goes wrong, it comes from a prettily packaged jar filled with scented cream and promises. Beth Harbison has done it again. A hilarious and touching novel about friendship, Love's Baby Soft perfume, Watermelon Lip Smackers, bad run-ins with Sun-In, and the healing power of "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific." Hope in a Jar: we all need it.
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"I liked Hope in a Jar better than Always Something There to Remind Me. I like Harbison's laid back writing style. It flows so naturally. I can't help but wonder if the rest of her books are also about unrequited teenage love that results in a happy ending later in life."
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
Chapters begin with quirky quotes that any baby-boomer would recognize, and Cassidy imbues them with dry, overly dramatic tones, making them the novel's comedic highlight.
— Publishers Weekly" This book is much better than I expected. The characters are well drawn, and the relationships are realistically interwoven. I found myself caring what happened to the characters and seeing how they solved their problems. There might have even been a few worthwhile life lessons presented. "
— Joan, 2/20/2014" Completely enjoyable read, though it never quite scratches the surface. Still, a bonbon of a book. "
— Ivy, 2/13/2014" The premise had such potential, but unfortunately it just falls flat. I gave it 3 starts but would really give 2.5 if I could. If you grew up in the 70s and 80s you will enjoy the references to products and pop culture but it is not enought to move the story along. The switch from current time to the past is done fairly well but again it could have been so much more. "
— Kelly, 2/10/2014" cute, quick read with lots of references to things i remember as a middle and high schooler... "
— Littlemissbean, 2/10/2014" Nice book about friendship and how to keep and sustain a long friendship "
— Beth, 2/6/2014" Picked this by default as the library didn't have in the book I was looking for. Very much enjoyed this. Rather nostalgic as it flashes back to junior high and high school during the 80's. I could totally relate! Might have to check out her other book. "
— Jen, 2/2/2014" Predictable, but I loved all the Maryland references. "
— Victoria, 1/25/2014" Since I was in Jr High and High School during the 80's I loved going memory lane in this book. I had to run out and buy Bonne Bell Lip Smackers so my girl friends could go down that road with me. Good Fun Chick Flick Summer Read. "
— Rene, 1/20/2014" Very easy read. Read it in one afternoon. Kind of nice to read a chic lit book about friends/relationships from high school. "
— Holly, 1/20/2014" A good feel good fluffy read. "
— Aschroder, 1/11/2014" Nothing spectacular but it was just one of those easy to read, lazy Sunday kind of books. Cute. Chick-lit. "
— Krystal, 12/31/2013" Predictable, but cute "
— Jenny, 12/31/2013" Sometimes I just want a light-hearted, but not grotesquely stupid girly book to read. Beth Harbison is great at those. This was a fun one--nothing super innovative, but still worthwhile. "
— Julia, 12/23/2013" I think most of people will have the similar experience of friendship like ALLIE and Olivia. However, the true friend should go through the challenge. "
— Josephine, 12/21/2013" This was an easy read and probably meant more for a day at the beach. Thinking is not required while reading. "
— Mary, 11/22/2013" It made me smile. I did not have a deep understanding or change of life experience because if it. But it was a cute book and it was a memory jerker of all things middle and high school. And it was not about laundry or cooking or cleaning. "
— Cloie, 11/5/2013" It is an easy read and is a lot like Something Blue & Something Borrowed. "
— Myra, 11/3/2013" This was a really fun read. I found that it kept giving you just enought to keep reading and you didn't know what happened until then end! "
— Shannon, 10/18/2013" This book was so great to listen to! It captured me as a listener and drew me in. I can't wait to read more of her books! "
— Lisa, 10/5/2013" A little cheesy. "
— Christine, 8/22/2013" i wish icould read the whole book online. Instead of always having to buy it or rent it from the libary. "
— Jaala(Jay-la), 6/15/2013" Cute, but cliched. Fast read though - I finished it in a day (that included a 3-hour car trip, so I had plenty of time). "
— Sara, 3/30/2013" Entertaining easy read. "
— Kristy, 2/13/2013" I read this in an afternoon, and thoroughly enjoyed. Fun, easy chick-lit. "
— Rhonda, 12/7/2012" It was a good beach read. It's not my typical read but good none the less. Nothing spectacular, pretty formulaic chick lit. "
— Robyn, 12/6/2012" Great summer chick-lit. I really enjoyed reading this book while on vacation. A very easy read. I especially enjoyed the many references to beauty products! "
— Andrea, 8/25/2012" Needed more character development and could've been much more consistent, but was a fun read. "
— Sarah, 3/9/2012" This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't a homerun either. Just mediocre, and pretty emotionally monotone. It didn't have me hooked, but I kept reading. Storyline was cute, and had some funny one-liners, but all in all, just so-so for me! "
— Jessi, 2/27/2012" The only thing that kept me reading till the end was because it was part of a book club. There just wasn't enough going on to keep me interested. "
— Sarah, 1/29/2012" really quick read and very enjoyable, perfect for the beach or pool. "
— Irene, 7/19/2011" I purchased this book at a used book store because I loved the cover (all in pastels, my favs), but the inside of the book, not so much. Lacking character development and way too many swear words. (Why do authors do that?) <br/> "
— Rebecca, 6/30/2011" Rehashing of the old high school reunion story with a huge emphasis on the importance of skin products. "
— Patty, 6/18/2011" It was a quick read, kept me interested but very predictible. "
— Brandi, 6/9/2011" Fun, light romance novel. Three old friends reunite at their 20th high school reunion and discover that their friendship is more important than they had realized. Chick Lit! "
— Karen, 6/7/2011" The story was OK, but the I found the make-up be and name-dropping a little distracting. It makes for a decent beach read, though and if you like make-up and fashion, you might like this book better than I did. "
— Margaret, 6/7/2011" Cute lighthearted novel. A little predictable, but still relatable. Perfect beach read. "
— Britany, 6/5/2011" This was a fast paced book and funny. "
— Penny, 5/31/2011" Fun read, brainless enjoyment. Does anyone expect any different from chick lit? "
— February, 5/1/2011" Overall this was a good book- somewhat predictable, but a good read nonetheless :) "
— Jamie, 4/26/2011" It's a rather cute story, but it's kind of sugary without much content. "
— Rachel, 4/22/2011" a very fluffy chic lit book - the story was pretty scatterbrained. there was several stories going on - love story, friendship, etc. I felt like the author couln't decide where to go...but an easy read and keep me busy during turn off tv week. "
— Stacy, 4/20/2011" Cute, light, and fluffy! I read this in one afternoon after reading a larger, darker novel. It was the perfect foil to the previous book. "
— Beth, 4/16/2011" Great read that is light and quick. Very predictable. "
— Amy, 4/10/2011Beth Harbison is the New York Times bestselling author of When in Doubt, Add Butter; Always Something There To Remind Me; Thin, Rich, Pretty; Hope In A Jar; Secrets of a Shoe Addict; and Shoe Addicts Anonymous. She grew up in Potomac, Maryland, outside Washington, DC, and now shares her time between that suburb, New York City, and a quiet home on the eastern shore.
Orlagh Cassidy, an American actress of stage, television, and film, is an audiobook narrator who has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, as well as many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She is a graduate of SUNY at Purchase and a recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation Scholarship. She has been seen on and off Broadway and in films, including Definitely Maybe and Calling It Quits. Her television credits include roles in Law & Order and Sex and the City and as Doris Wolfe on Guiding Light.