Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Twenty-five-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Lacey doesn’t want to lose her breasts. For one, she’s juggling two career paths; her work with the prestigious New York trend forecaster Hoffman House, and her role on the founding team of a sustainable fashion app with friend/mentor, Vivian Chang. Secondly, small-town Lacey’s not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their hey-day. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery.

This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Ultimately, this is a story about Lacey’s relationship to her body and her future. Both are things she thought she could control through hard work and sacrifice. Both are things she will change by choosing to have a major surgery that could save her life, and will give her the future she really wants.

Featuring the pitch-perfect “compulsively delicious” (Redbook) prose of The Regulars, The Bucket List is perfect for fans of Amy Poeppel and Sophie Kinsella.

Review:

I honestly don’t think the blurb for this one accurately conveys exactly what type of story this one really is, I feel like it doesn’t totally prepare you for both how emotional it is and also how sexy it is. Bit of a weird combo, right? No doubt about that and while it sounds strange it works in an odd way.

It took me awhile to warm to this one, initially I found it a bit hard to switch between some tender and touching moments where Lacey deals with her feelings about a possible double mastectomy and then onto the next chapter where she’s off on one of her sexcapades as part of her boob bucket list. It was a big leap to say the least and the sex scenes aren’t the type left up to the readers imagination but instead are graphic and racy making the transition pretty bold.

As I kept reading this I did become more accustomed to the style and vibe of the book and I enjoyed it more as I found a groove. It was one of those reads that just kept getting better the further along I read, so for me it was worth it in the end. This was really witty and felt hip and modern, definitely a book a twenty something could relate to as Lacey herself is edgy and cool but there was enough depth and maturity that someone older (ahem cough ME) could still relate on some level. The overall message was fantastic, very female positive and kick ass without being cheesy. It’s definitely not your average chick lit book and I admire the author for making some bold choices and tackling an extremely scary and serious subject matter in a really interesting way.

The Bucket List in three words: Provocative, Empowering and Honest.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.