By: Beth Harbison
Hope In A Jar is Beth Harbison's third novel and centers around the lives of two women: Allie and Olivia. Allie and Olivia were the best of friends growing up, until a horrible secret tears them apart. They meet again, several years later, at their high school reunion. This impromptu meeting causes the girls to band together to save Allie's romance with childhood crush Noah. In doing so, they get a new lease on life and another chance for their friendship. This book shifts from present to past effortlessly and is structured to ease the reader in making these shifts in time. This makes the book very easy to follow. The chapters are broken up with each chapter beginning with a quote from a beauty campaign/object, a brilliant way to tie in the concept of makeovers and beauty in a timeless and accessible way. I wouldn't say that I enjoyed this book as much as her "Shoe Addict" books because Harbison's knowledge of beauty products seemed a bit flimsy and contrived. That being said, the book was fresh, interesting, well-structured and very charming. You'll be surprised when you finish it off in a few hours! Review by Sarah. (Fiction) 07/28/09
