Badass Bloggettes: *** REVIEW *** CLUTCH by Lisa Becker

clutch: a novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.

This is a sweet and funny story that chronicles some of the strange relationships that many young, single women can relate with completely. What is unique about the story is the correlation between Caroline’s career and the way she describes her suitors throughout the book. Caroline loves handbags and makes a career designing them and then builds a business around her passion. She is successful in business but not so much in love.

The book is divided into chapters with a purse heading that describes the current suitor.

Hobo is a starving artist. They connect on creativity both real and imagined.
Demi Bag is a blind date (setup by a big customer) who turns out to be short and boring.
Messenger bag is an old friend who reappears in her life to save her soul.
Doctor Bag a great catch (at first) He thinks a lot of himself and very little of others.

Diaper Bag has a secret. Can you guess what that is?
Briefcase is the business man who networks only with people who can help his career.
Wallet the man who throws money around but what are the motives behind his generosity.
Clutch is the ultimate prize. The man you hold onto and don’t let go.

Caroline is one of those women who constantly makes wrong choices. She doesn’t see the real men underneath their good looks, careers, or a combination of both until it jumps up and bites her right in the face. Caroline is often afraid to put her foot down and speak her mind in her personal life. She has good friends, especially Mike, her lab partner from college.

Mike owns Caroline’s favorite bar; one she visits regularly alone and often with her dates. He is fun and supportive of her career while he is not always helpful when it comes to her dates. But hey, what does he know? He is a player with a new woman every time you turn around.

The story is fairly predictable but the organization and relationships presented are unique and entertaining. It is a light, easy read and a good break from dark, suspense, or thriller novels that pull me under a dark cloud. To explain why the rating isn’t higher. I didn’t get all the feels that connect me to the story with Clutch. A couple of the relationships end and I get it even though I didn’t always feel the buildup. A couple, especially diaper bag, the breakup didn’t feel legitimate. I get the underlying reason but it plays into diaper’s fears more than a real reason for Caroline. This one just didn’t seem to be the Caroline in the previous chapters.

Finally the ending is a little too rushed. One statement from a person Caroline hardly knows turns on the light bulb. Whoa! She thinks a minute and Caroline knows exactly who and what she is looking for as a clutch. Really? Then once the light is on the story is over no time spent together as a couple. No epilogue. No nothing -- just The end. I guess it is just, for me, the ending isn’t as satisfying as it could be.

I like the story, the writing, the characters, and the dialogue (great by the way). I just need a little more together time for the final couple. This is a good chick lit book. I can see it as a limited TNT weekly television show. Crossbody, tote, fanny pack, bucket, I can think of several more possibilities for a good series until clutch shows up. It is a good book to read.

3.75 STARS