Mom's Perfect Boyfriend
Crystal Hemmingway, 2019
Galbadia Press
306 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781950458011
Summary
A smart romantic comedy about mothers and daughters, told in an addicting, fast-paced style.
Crystal has trouble saying no to her lonely, single mother. For 25 years, it wasn't a problem. But when one small mistake leaves Crystal jilted, homeless, and unemployed, she has to move back in with the person who caused it all: her mother.
Soon Crystal is sucked into her mother's vortex, partying with boomers and hawking homemade marshmallows. Desperate for some independence, she hatches a foolproof plan: get an experimental android to play her mom's "perfect" boyfriend. It's only a matter of time before her mom finds out, and Crystal will never live down the hilarious and disastrous consequences.
A story told through emails, texts, and journal entries, Mom's Perfect Boyfriend is a humorous yet deeply honest portrayal of the complicated friendship between mothers and daughters. Sometimes the people we want to rely upon the least are those who can help us the most. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
Crystal Hemmingway is a corporate washout and novelist. She lives in Los Angeles with her favorite person and two cats. In her spare time, Crystal enjoys binge-watching TV shows, eating sugary cereals, and pretending to write at coffee shops. (From the publisher.)
Book Reviews
A funny, poignant debut.
IndieReader
Mom's Perfect Boyfriend is a modern must-read.
San Francisco Book Review
A slow start mars debut author Hemmingway’s humorous exploration of love, mother/daughter relationships, and technology, but it eventually delivers a powerful message couched in laughs.
Publishers Weekly
Discussion Questions
1. This book was written entirely in an epistolary format (text messages, emails, journal entries, etc.). Why do you think the author chose to structure it this way? How did this structure affect your reading experience?
2. How similar are Crystal and Margot? In what ways do their personalities differ? Which character do you identify with?
3. David breaks up with Crystal early in the book. Who do you think is responsible: Crystal, David, or both of them?
4. How does Crystal’s relationship with Lisa compare to her relationship with Margot?
5. Adam is designed to be the "perfect man" for Margot. What makes him perfect? How is he also less than perfect?
6. Did you really believe Adam was an android? What made you feel that way?
7. After buying pants with Margot, Adam says, "It is nearly impossible for her to be 100% happy with any given choice. I try to aim for 80%, which we seem to be able to achieve most days." In what ways does Margot’s perfectionism lead to her unhappiness?
8. Both Crystal and Lisa lie to Margot throughout the book. Are these lies helpful or hurtful?
9. In what ways does Crystal’s novel, Return from the Tower, reflect her relationship with Margot? Do you think she was right to abandon the novel?
10. When Adam finds out the truth about his origins, Crystal writes, "Mom had every reason to be furious and hurt and betrayed, but instead she made herself a rock for Adam, whose entire world had just been shattered." How does this moment change her perception of Margot?
11. By the end of the story, both Crystal and David have grown and changed significantly. How do these changes affect their relationship?
12. How did the book make you feel? Were there any moments that stood out to you as particularly unique or memorable?
13. Were you satisfied by the book’s ending? Do you think Crystal and Lisa will continue lying to Margot or do you think their relationship will change?
14. What changes would you make to adapt this book into a film?
15. Would you read another book by this author? Did this story remind you of other books or authors?
(Questions from the author's website.)