The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken by Mari Passananti
Publisher: Rutland Square Press
Release Date: 9th July 2011
Rating: 5/5
Source: Received from the author for review. Thank you!
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | BookDepository
Goodreads Summary:

Zoë Clark thinks her world will implode when her fiancé dumps her on the eve of their splashy wedding. After nearly a decade with her college sweetheart, Zoë feels like a teenager about to be eaten alive by the New York dating scene. And her problems don’t end there. Zoë works a less-than-ideal job, managing other people’s careers while her own ambitions wither.

Enter Oscar Thornton. He’s handsome, charming, attentive and rich – the perfect boyfriend. But does he harbor a dark secret? Or will Zoë torpedo her newfound happiness by indulging a far fetched suspicion?

THE HAZARDS OF HUNTING WHILE HEARTBROKEN tells the story of a young woman who sets out to find a man to solve her problems. Instead she finds herself facing her own shortcomings, testing her oldest friendships and realizing that she has the power to make herself happy.

Packed with snappy dialogue and playful wit, THE HAZARDS OF HUNTING WHILE HEARTBROKEN will strike a chord with any woman who’s ever allowed herself to think, My life would be perfect, if I could just meet the right guy.

After suffering the devastating loss of an engagement only a month prior to her wedding date Zoë Clark is throwing everything into her incredibly demanding headhunting job. Zoë’s boss Carol is the type of women that expects nothing less and when the sudden appearance of not only one but two bouquets of roses land on Zoë’s desk she’s not at all happy with the effect on the Feng Shui of the office. Little does she know but the flowers are the beginning of a new life for Zoë, but is she ready for the the questions and complications Oscar Thornton brings? Will she be able to accept his devotion or is there more to his affection than simply falling head over heels in love with her? Only time and Zoë will be able to determine that.

What an absolutely fantastic debut novel! With The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken Mari Passananti has made her mark on the world of Chick Lit. Within a matter of a few hours I completely devoured Zoë Clark’s story and her struggles to cope with the loss of not only her engagement but her best friend. Zoë was an unbelievably fun character to read with her quirky non-stop second guessing and her demanding boss pulling on her every nerve I couldn’t help but love everything about her. The sudden appearance of Oscar Thornton was so romantic! I loved that he had seen her from a building across the street. Yes, a bit stalker-like, but still very romantic. Unfortunately Zoë can’t help but second guess his intentions, though I’m certainly not going to spoil the ending for other readers of this fantastic novel you’ll definitely want to read to the very last pages!

It’s hard to imagine working in a business like headhunting but Zoë seems to be able to handle the manic state of her boss Carol and the overwhelming demands she places on her. At first I was under the impression, from the synopsis, that she really hated working in the headhunting business and longed to be in the art world, but it was more that she preferred to work independently in her own gallery than for another gallery owner making headhunting actually better. That being said, can you imagine working for a boss who cusses like a sailor so loudly that you can’t talk to your clients while she’s in the office? Wow. It definitely made for an interesting work environment.

One of the aspects I loved the most about the story was Zoë’s personality and her need to second guess everything. She was completely believable, especially considering her recent break-up. Having been the recipient of similar news in the past (though I wasn’t engaged) I can completely understand why she’d be hesitant to get involved in anything too deep, especially with someone who’s a near stranger/stalker. Her second guessing coupled with the opinions of her two friends Angela & Kevin were at times hilarious and pertinent.

Be prepared to be swept off your feet, laugh hysterically at times and roll your eyes at the many situations Zoë seems to constantly find herself in. If you are a fan of Chick Lit or simply on the lookout for an excellently well-written novel than you should certainly pick up The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken. Mari Passananti is an author to be on the lookout for and one I’m eager to read again in the very near future!