Pam

Bailey was a bit insufferable to begin with. Charlie wasn't much better. But as you learn more about them, the more you like them.

I found myself comparing this to When Harry Met Sally.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading Pick a Color. Yes, I read the synopsis, but I still wasn't sure what to expect. Especially when you realize the book covers a single day. More accurately, it's an 8-hour work shift. That's a lot to squeeze into a book this short.

So what did I find when I started reading Pick a Color? A book that examines the life of someone who others may consider invisible. Ning, like the rest of the Susans, is of South Asian descent. While the book never specifies which country they are from, the author is from Laos. Actually, there's not much discussion as to where the book is set, other than a big city.

The Susans are a group of women who work with and for Ning at her nail salon called Susan. Why did she do that? Because she thought it was cheaper and easier to have all the employees share a name. Besides, who other than them really cares?

While we spend the whole day with Ning, we never really get to know her. We learn what she did before working in a nail salon. But we know she's unhappy and untrusting of people. But why? What made her so distrustful of people and her own emotions?

Overall, Pick a Color is an interesting character study. What do we really know about those around us? Are we ever really open and honest, even with those we consider friends?

Question Kerry's quick acceptance of Patrick's behavior when they first met. But it was a nice read overall.

Thankfully, this is a short read. All the strife in the story would be solved easily by having honest conversations — Madison and Addie, with their differences, especially Addie's attitude; Madison and Gavin, about what happened all those years ago.

Eliza Reid has become an instant-read author for me ever since I read her first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar. In her first book, she discusses Iceland’s work towards gender equality. In this book, she shares how she took it upon herself to be a sprakki (Icelandic for an extraordinary woman).

Reid takes readers on a brief journey through her childhood and her decision to study in England. I enjoyed that she let readers see she was always a bit outside the norm. I mean, how many 8-year-olds play bridge? She also shares the solo journeys that she took before marrying her husband.

When Reid became the First Lady of Iceland, she found herself unsure of what she could and should do, as there was no instruction manual for the position. One thing she knew was that she would not be more than her husband’s companion. She didn’t know how to go about doing that. So, Reid did what felt was right to her.

Though I’m older than Reid, I want to be like her when I grow up! And I’m not just talking about her actions as first lady, but the way she fights for what she feels is right.