ISBN: 9781402770319 Publisher: Sterling Innovation Cover Price: $9.95

Every so often life gets to be a bit too real, and a great way to escape is to read a funny book. It's Not PMS, It's You by Deb Amlen is a perfect fit for one of "those" days. Don't believe me? Let me tell you about my day that needed some escaping from and then I'll tell you about how much this book made me smile.

I'm sure you've had a day like this. If you haven't ever please don't tell me, I need to feel as if my chaos is normal to everyone. Wake up time is 45 minutes late. The first stop of the day doesn't have their full shipment so reschedule for later in the day, hoping like mad it won't require a weekend visit. Go about the day, and back to the first. Wait, there is a fixture missing. That's supposed to be a permanent fixture. Where did it go? 20 minutes later no one has responded to the question. Ask again. Another 25 minutes later. Really, not a single person who could answer the question could be found? Well then what to do, because if it's not here it will have to be re-ordered. So, re-order it even though some one here knows where it went to but they're just magically not available for comment? When did I start working for the "No comment" kind of people? Do they need to hear back from their publicist before they can answer a question?

Fine. Steam, vent to boss, and moving on. Lunch has a phone call that says Dad is going to have surgery, and they're not sure yet how serious this all might be, more tests are needed. Flash forward to end of day, back and forth picking up kids from after-school activities, making dinner, entering data reports for work, husband is sitting on couch referring neighbor's kids to ask you about a school fundraiser, ignoring you (no, literally), but willingly discussing truck repairs that need to be done. Do I look like a golden goose?

Did I forget to mention that in all of this I accidentally created my own little fire bowl in a planter on my front porch? Yep, and little is not actually the correct word. This planter is one of those pots that's oh about 3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide. One of those HUGE pots that require 2 or 3 people to carry. Nasty little habit smoldered all day in a huge pot with potting soil. I learned something new. Potting soil has mulch in it. Mulch likes to burn. Scary at the time, but freaking hilariously stupid after the fact.

So that was my day. What about the book? After dinner, I gave the whole family the evil eye. They knew. Ask her for NOTHING. You will walk away maimed, if you walk away at all. Laughter came rolling out after just a couple minutes.
"Good book?" (sarcastically asked)
"Great book."
"What are you on the first page?"
"Um," looking at pages, "No, the third."

That says it all. After a day like that (I know there could be worse) this book was able to make me literally laugh out loud within just a few pages. I spent the next few hours of my day laughing, chuckling, smiling, and just all around having a great time! It's not a big book so it doesn't take long. And if you're family isn't as old as mine (or as trained to be very afraid), it's separated into neat little sections that easily allow you to pick it up and set it down as needed. Highly recommended read! Though I would steer women towards it more than men.