Review of Backcomb & Tattoo

[Tonia P]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Backcomb & Tattoo" by Shea R Embry.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Rachael LeBlanc returns home to Atlanta after staying by her mother's side in the hospital for a while. Getting home, she realizes that her husband, Jake, left a note stating that he had to leave for a show. Rachael gathers from the note that she is to attend a dinner party at Teri, their neighbor's place. At the party, Rachael meets an older woman who introduces herself as Aunt Mary Opal. The two women clicked instantly. Rachael tells Aunt Mary Opal about her mother's cancer and learns that Aunt Mary Opal is a cancer survivor.

Mostly alone in her apartment due to her husband's frequent travels, Rachael's friendship with Aunt Mary Opal continues to grow, especially as new women become part of their group. Please read this book to learn more about these women and the effects their friendship had on their different lives.

Backcomb & Tattoo was a fascinating read. I loved how I got to understand where the title of the book was derived from. From the first few pages of the book, I already found a lot of positive aspects. First, I loved the style used in writing the book. I appreciated the use of situational irony in the book, as it added to the thrill of the story. The book was comical; I found the parts where the women played the "What’s Her Story?" game funny, and I enjoyed Aunt Mary Opal's retelling of her life story. The dramatic addition each time she told the story was superb.

Shea R. Embry added themes that made this educational book relatable. She discusses domestic violence, cancer, failed marriages, loneliness, and whatnot. You'd be surprised at just how well she weaves these themes into the book. The characters were adequately developed, and it was easy to understand their actions. The importance of a support group was evident in the lives of the women in the book. The author's descriptions were vivid, and this helped me imagine several places in Spain.

All in all, I had an amazing time reading this book. I disliked nothing about it, especially as it contained no errors. The author adequately touched on several aspects. Since I found nothing to dislike about the book, I have no reason to deduct any stars from my rating. Hence, I rate the book five out of five stars. The positive aspects I found influenced my rating of the book. Lovers of books showcasing friendships will love this book; it is also very suitable for a relaxing weekend read.

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Backcomb & Tattoo
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