I have a friend who listens to the audios of the books written by mother-daughter team Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. As much as I enjoyed their new book, I’m guessing she’s right. It’s probably even funnier when the two of them read the essays in Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat?


Scottoline and Serritella write the “Chick Wit” column for The Philadelphia Inquirer. And, that’s the best description of their “True Stories and Confessions”, chick wit. Women will appreciate the articles about insecurities, class reunions, going to the gym, and moisturizing legs. Since Scottoline and I are so close in age, I appreciate her articles a little more. Since I’ve talked to her at Book Expo in New York, one of my favorite articles was about Book Expo and librarians. I empathize with her comments about food and lack of exercise. I loved the comment about “The next stage of life, which is when you stop proving dumb stuff to yourself…I think this is called maturity.”

Anyone who follows their column or the authors’ Facebook pages knows their beloved mother and grandmother, Mother Mary, died. They discuss her death with their usual wit, acknowledging Mother Mary was feisty until the end. But, they share their loss with their readers, just as they share their daily complaints and celebrations with their readers. It’s why readers can see themselves and their lives in these books.

It’s obvious that Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella share a love of friends and family. And, it’s always a treat when they include us in their family conversations as they do in Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat?


Lisa Scottoline’s website is www.scottoline.com

Francesca Serritella’s website is www.francescaserritella.com

Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat? by Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Serritella. St. Martin’s Press. 2015. ISBN 9781250059949 (hardcover), 290p.

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