The Rebirth of Mrs. Tracey Higgins by Arlene Gibbs

10 CommentsTuesday • January 3, 2012 • by michelle

The Rebirth of Mrs. Tracey Higgins is screenwriter Arlene Gibbs’ debut novel about a reverend’s wife trying to get her life back on track when her marriage falls apart. At 42, Tracey suddenly finds herself single and searching for her own identity apart from being Mrs. Higgins, which begins to take form when she steps inside the kitchen to bake.

She is guided (and misguided) through this process by an eclectic supporting cast; the book is told from alternating perspectives so the reader gets a fuller picture of what’s going on with characters other than the protagonist.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, flying through it in about three days — during the holiday season when time for pleasure reading isn’t always easily found, no less. The dialogue is sharp and witty, recalling scenes from Arlene’s first feature film as a screenwriter, Jumping the Broom, and indeed, TROMTH would make a great movie as well.

Full disclosure: I do know the author personally, but I don’t believe this has affected my review other than the fact that I’ve been enjoying Arlene’s observations for years via her blog, NYC/Carribbean Ragazza, so this was a special treat to see her storytelling chops on display alongside it.

Can’t help but give this one:

Five espresso cups out of five!

One of Arlene’s FAQs regarding this book is whether it’s too “churchy,” and although that’s a fair question, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the church aspect, and I’m not a religious person. The themes of self-discovery and growth in TROMTH are universal and can be appreciated by people of all faiths or none at all and especially by anyone who has tried to reinvent him/herself or at least reinvigorate his/her life.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys women’s fiction, food fiction, and just fun, fast, entertaining reads. Can’t wait for the next one from Arlene!

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PURCHASE

As of this writing, The Rebirth of Mrs. Tracey Higgins is just $0.99 on Kindle, and the book is currently a Hot New Best Seller! The price will likely go up at some point, though, so hurry and get your copy at this great bargain price.

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