Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around

De: Camille Pagán

Narrado por: Amy McFadden

A seriously funny novel about a woman trying to keep her family vacation - and yes, her life - from going south by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences.

It’s been thirteen years since doctors declared Libby Ross-Velasquez a goner. Yet here she is - cancer-free. So why doesn’t she feel more alive?

Sure, Libby’s husband, Shiloh, has been distant. One of their daughters has a serious health condition. And her father’s death hovers over Libby like a rain cloud. Still, this eternal optimist knows she’s the winner of the existential lottery.

But when her forced cheer isn’t enough to keep her family from catching her blahs, she decides to fly them all to Vieques. The Puerto Rican island is where she and Shiloh fell in love - and where she decided to fight for her life after her cancer diagnosis. Where better to put their problems into perspective?

Then a tropical storm strikes. Libby pretends everything’s fine, even as she fears she’s doomed her family. What she can’t see is that the worst disaster they’ve faced may be the best thing that ever happened to them. But first, they have to get through it.

©2021 by Camille Pagán. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Pagán combines realistic midlife concerns with likable characters, showing that perfection is an illusion and that it’s the difficult times that truly bring us together. Fans of Maddie Dawson and Allison Winn Scotch will enjoy vacationing with the Ross-Velasquez crew.”—Booklist

“The Amazon charts bestselling author Camille Pagán writes with depth and soul about what makes a family whole.”—Good Morning America

“An impressively crafted and deftly written novel, Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around by author Camille Pagán is an inherently compelling read from first page to last. With having a special appeal to readers who appreciate humor and family dynamics.”—Midwest Book Review

Love The narration

I so enjoy books narrated by Amy McFadden. The stories by Camille Pagan are fun and so relatable. Please keep them coming!!!

Witty & Relatable Read!

A witty, relatable read with a fabulous blend of humor and tension all in one. Love Camille’s books!

Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around

Don’t Make Me Turn this Life Around by Camille Pagan
Chick lit.
Libby Velasquez has received her 10 year free from cancer diagnosis but before she can share the news with her family, there are many other life issues that she needs to deal with. A family vacation may be just the thing they all need.

The title made me think it would be more a humorous outlook but it was more a life story on learning to deal with death. At one point Libby is asked if she might be depressed which she empathetically denies. Yet she later admits to secretly crying everyday.
Ah, folks, that’s one of the signs of depression. Don’t feel ashamed to talk to your doctor if you can’t seem to move beyond a death or feel like you need to hide your everyday crying.

In the whole, it was a woman’s story of surviving life and learning to live to the fullest.
Anxious and worrying through most but an uplifting message at the end.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Amy McFadden. The performance was well done and easy to listen to with the emotional tension and voice variations.

For a particular audience

It is a good, well written book that is not for everybody. Some readers/listeners will relate to the main character. The self realization aspect of the novel, I feel, most people could learn from. There is a lot of ‘what if’s’ and negativity, but many times I did laugh out loud. I like that it was not a perfect family life with real concerns (no matter how much the repetitive references irritated me). I’m glad I listened through to the very end!

Camille Pagan and Amy McFadden =perfect match!

I’ve read several of Camille’s books and have yet to be let down, this is another one of those. Narrator Amy McFadden is perfect. As a mother and a daughter, I’ve been able to relate to many of her books and they all have great life lessons.

Great story about finding inner strength

Loved it! Another great story by Camille Pagan that reminds you that no matter what difficult things life throws at you, you can persevere.

3.5 stars

Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around by Camille Pagán is a follow-up to Life and Other Near Death Experiences. It has been almost 4 years since I read that book. I won't get into the controversy of that book, but I liked it and was happily surprised when I figured out this tidbit.

This book has drama, tension, and moments that dragged on and left me checking to see how much time remained. However, there are also moments where I teared up because Camille brings the emotion through in her writing. I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, so will rate it 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Amy McFadden is amazing, as always. She is definitely one of my favorite narrators.

Great Read

This book touched on the several stresses of life and balancing and facing them head on.

Life with all its ups and downs

This novel brought back many memories in a good way. Thanks for the laughter and tears through real peoples.

Cute story

Enjoyable listen. Amy does great voices. She’s a good speaker, I just don’t always love the midwestern accent.