Title: Menopausal Killer Sharks
Author: Jan Atkinson
Publisher: The Reading Glass Books
ISBN: 978-1962497770
Pages: 120
Genre: Humor / Fiction
Reviewer: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
Laurie is no stranger to repetition and is an expert at it, with marriages that took her five tries to hit the jackpot. Now she’s living the good life in Vegas, where every day has the opportunity for adventure, especially for someone looking down fifty, and that’s just what she needs. She’s searching for a better hobby than obsessing over aging. The good news is she doesn’t have to go through any of it alone. She has a group of friends who have different views on relationships and thoughts on sex, but each is experiencing the same jiggles and sags that Laurie is. No matter what, they have each other’s backs and love every second of the crazy ride they’re each on, having plenty of fun doing it.
Humor is the greatest weapon author Jan Atkinson wields in this story, and it will have you laughing out loud before you’re even through with the first chapter. This type of comedic writing is achieved through a style that incorporates clever, unique, and bold phrases that are unexpected. For example, the declaration that “prunes are not sensual” is unusual enough to catch you off guard and funny enough to make you laugh about it. Couple this with a blend of sass and bluntness, and you will easily understand what makes Laurie tick. Part of the humor is the incorporation of emails, lists, and quizzes that poke fun at the topics and are a little bit cheeky, such as The Man Test. The attitude and voice that is brought to life feel realistic and will remind you of a snarky woman in your life, which makes the story instantly compelling. The conversational style creates an aesthetic that Laurie is directly sharing her scandalous secrets with you and gossiping about the adventures she’s had. This makes her feel like a real character and keeps you engaged from start to finish.
The story primarily explores topics related to sex, relationships, friendship, and aging, with the friends exhibiting different attitudes regarding each. They share the same thrills and excitement for adventure that causes the right amount of chaos and keeps things interesting. At the heart of Laurie’s story is the dynamic she shares with her four friends as Laurie leans on each of them for advice, fun, and understanding. The scenes they share are lively and energetic, driven by their different personalities, and successfully make you want to see what hijinks they’ll get up to next. These differences are used primarily for humor as they play off Laurie’s qualities, from one believing sex is the elixir for everything, one getting out of a relationship, and one attracting incredibly flawed men. You get to know each character from Laurie’s perspective, but this doesn’t make them feel any less full-fledged characters you’d want to hang out with.
Aging is a source of humor that is used throughout, but it is also a key topic that Atkinson explores by having a vocal protagonist calling out stereotypical perceptions of getting older: there is no age limit to figuring out how to be comfortable with yourself. Life is about going along with the changes as you age, which is a concept evident by Laurie’s snarky remarks and how she makes it fun. This fantastic read would be perfect for a book club as it promotes female bonding, conversation, and laughter. The comedic writing gets you addicted, while the topics about relationships can easily draw you into deeper discussion. The playful shark illustrations and semi-crude chapter titles are the perfect icing on the cake, helping to round out the book’s charm and supporting the comedic tone.
Menopausal Killer Sharks calls out aging, relationships, friendships, and sex in a way that is cheeky, hilarious, sassy, and straightforward.