It’s been quite quiet here on the Hidden Ponies front this week!  I do apologize – I’ve been busy enjoying the company of my dad, visiting all the way from across the country for a few days :).  Rest assured, we’ve been eating – in fact, I made eclairs again (they’re that easy), these cookies with Oreo chunks, these muffins…you get the picture.  Food, food, and more food!

But I’m here to distract you for yet one more day from recipes…

I love reading, but when I’m in school I find I often get more into T.V. watching and other mindless activities since my school-required reading makes reading a book for fun seem a little less appealing.  

That’s why I love book clubs, because they force me to read, and, once I start, I can’t stop. I love having a book to turn to when I sit down for a minute, or a page turner that keeps me up til the wee hours of the morning, even if I do struggle bleary-eyed through the next day. I’m in two real-people book clubs, but also occasionally get to participate in a fun online book club through BlogHer.com.

This month’s book, “Diary of a Mad Fat Girl”, by Stephanie McAfee, besides having a fantastically entertaining title, was a perfect book to read mid-semester.  It’s a lighthearted, easy read about a single gal with a rocky relationship past, who is trying to fight small town politics at the same time as she is trying to get her best friend out of an abusive marriage.  As totally not-funny as that may sound, this book actually had be laughing out loud regularly.

I loved the hyperactive chiweenie dog, the small town bar, the random biker gang that was totally not a gang, and so many other completely improbable but hilarious twists to this story that made it seem like it could actually be real life.

Diary of a Mad Fat Girl

Ace Jones, the main character, is a pizza and beer-loving, loud-mouthed, walking ball of crazy, but you can’t help but like her.  Her best friends, a skinny romantic lusting after a much younger deputy, and the aforementioned abused woman, have hefty personalities of their own, and, combined with their new friend, the richest old lady in town, rollicking adventures ensue.

This book was actually a self-published hit before getting a “real” book deal, a testament to everyone hoping for self-published success stories! I was happy to discover that the book is not actually written in “diary entry” form, but in regular first-person novel form. ,l;[While by no means a classic, and with era-sensitive lines and references like “I went after that like a Biggest Loser Contestant going for a one pound advantage”, this book holds its own as a fun escape read.  I can’t help but wonder if it’s something of an autobiography after reading the brief author bio…

“Diary of a Mad Fat Girl” would be a perfect summer beach companion.  The publisher was kind enough to send me a second copy, which I am thrilled to be able to pass on to one of you lovely readers! I love the idea that you can spend your lazy days of summer reading this fun, sassy novel, so all you have to do to enter is:

1) Live in Canada (I know right? When do contests EVER say that? But I live in Canada, and I want shipping to not ruin the whole point of a free book to give away :P Sorry, American friends. I still love you longtime.)

2) Comment below with your favourite summer beach read! Or really, any favourite book.  I love book recommendations, so shout ‘em out :)

*Note: This is a sponsored post for BlogHer Book Club, but all opinions are entirely my own! For the full discussion, which is bound to be entertaining, head over to the Book Club Page on blogher. com. The first discussion is all about whether you text (as Ace’s friend incessantly does) or actually pick up your phone and call!

*Other note: Giveaway closes Saturday, March 10 at 8:00 am.  I’ll be back with some delicious Saturday Sweets and the name of the winner, generated by random.org!