Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

Early Romantic Comedy by Bestselling Stephanie Plum Series Author

Nov 3, 2009

Zinging dialogue, quirky characters and improbable situations make this early Janet Evanovich novel an easy read and a budget friendly Thanksgiving getaway for the mind.

The romantic comedy,Thanksgiving was written early in Janet Evanovich’s career. Before she became known for her Stephanie Plum mystery series, Evanovich wrote twelve romance novels. Evanovich describes the novels as “red-hot, screwball comedies.” The books went out of print almost immediately. HarperCollins re-released Thanksgiving in 2006. This easy to read, cozy holiday love story will make you laugh out laugh.

Set in Colonial Williamsburg, the story brings together feisty but broken-hearted Megan Murphy and the town’s new pediatrician, Dr. Patrick Hunter. After a harrowing experience with a clothes nibbling rabbit and a multitude of comic circumstances, Megan and Patrick befriend each other.

Patrick’s family is coming to Williamsburg for Thanksgiving and Megan is enlisted to help prepare the Thanksgiving feast. Megan and Patrick find themselves attracted to each other, but Megan’s past heart break and Patrick’s fiscally and time strapped future as a new doctor pose big hurdles if they are to become a couple.

Evanovich uses witty dialog, a very cute baby, a rotund rabbit, two sets of matchmaking parents, and the world’s largest Thanksgiving turkey to move this romantic comedy along.

Review – Evanovich as a Romantic Comedy Author

This is a very sweet novel. In fact, it may be too sweet for some. Evanovich wrote Thanksgiving in the late 1980s and her newness as an author shows. The plot is thin and the reader is asked to suspend common sense a few too many times. Still, nothing can hide the quick wit and unique characters of an Evanovich novel.

Thanksgiving is very light reading. No complex plot to track or philosophical questions to ponder in this book. For seasonal, pure escapist mind candy and a few belly laughs, Thanksgiving works.

Background 411 on Janet Evanovich

Evanovich lived in northern Virginia and often took her young children to Colonial Williamsburg. One of the family’s favorite times to visit was Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving was inspired by these trips with friends and family.

Evanovich offered this insight in 1988 on why she decided to write romantic comedy. “Romance novels are birthday cake and life is often peanut butter and jelly. I think everyone should have lots of delicious romance novels lying around for those times when the peanut butter of life gets stuck to the roof of your mouth.”

Ms. Evanovich says of herself, “It turns out I'm a really boring workaholic with no hobbies or special interests. My favorite exercise is shopping and my drug of choice is Cheeze Doodles.”

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The copyright of the article Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich in Chick Lit is owned by Lynn Brogan. Permission to republish Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.