Reviewed by Lori Twichell, Radiant Lit

Genre: self help, tips, non-fiction

Publisher: Avon Books

Publication Dates: May 11, 2010

If you were to take a little bit of “Hints from Heloise”, a little “Emily Post” and some good old fashioned “Dear Abby” seasoned with Manolo shoes and modern day situations and you’ve got The Modern Girl’s Guide to Sticky Situations. The book even comes with a special laminated see through plastic cover just in case your situation really is sticky.

I was delighted when I picked up this book (with the cool cover) and immediately started flipping my way through the pages. I love facts and information that can help make my life easier and this book has those in spades. Did you know, for instance, if you’re hosting a dinner party and you have a really tight space or you just don’t want your guests pulling drinks from a plastic cooler on the floor, you can use your WASHING MACHINE to chill your drinks, etc.? Seriously. Just grab a bag of ice and stick it all in there. (Buckingham does caution to make sure your dainties are out before you do this and also, to make sure the food/drinks are gone before you do your next load of laundry…) I never would have thought of this and honestly, I nearly giggled with delight. What a great tip!

No matter what your issue is, Buckingham covers it. To prove this, the book has a fifteen page index so you can get straight to the heart of the issue. And I mean it covers everything. Don’t know what to say in an awkward situation? She’s got it handled. Not sure how to remove that stain? Look it up in the index. Having trouble at work? At home? Plumbing? Food prep? Yes, she covers all of it. I was amazed at the number of topics covered in the books and immediately planned to keep it in my kitchen where I thought I’d need it most. Or maybe the bathroom under the sink? Or…yeah. It’s that kind of book. You almost want a copy for your purse, your car, and every other room in your house.

As I was reading cover to cover though, I had to be honest. A lot of the book didn’t apply to me. I guess I’m not a ‘Modern Girl’ as defined by Buckingham. I’m in a long term relationship (my husband is quite happy about that) so I never have to worry about whether to pack an overnight bag ‘just in case’ the date lasts past dinner. (I never did before I was married either. I guess I wasn’t modern then either. But I’m okay with being old-fashioned.) There’s a lot of material of a sexual nature covered in this book and reading it cover to cover made me realize that. I don’t need to worry about what types of underwear to wear on a date (or heaven help me) waking up next to someone and not knowing his name.

I loved the facts/information and tidbits about how to hold my underwire bra together when the wire is insistent on poking my eye out and also how to make sure my slingbacks stay slung across my heel rather than slipping off to give me that flip flop look. If I use the book just for the sections that I need like plumbing, odd chores, fashion faux pas and entertaining, then it’s brilliant. And the design, broken up into sections and with the index in the back, allows me to completely skip over parts that I won’t use or that may offend me. This book’s merit will be decided by each individual user based on the value of the information and tips included vs. the things that might offend or be unnecessary for a happily married Christian woman.

PG-13 for frank discussion of sex, adult situations and adult conversation.