Beth Harbison's latest book is Hope In A Jar, which is clearly written by a beauty junkie for beauty junkies. Beauty products and their advertising slogans are integral to the story and even serve as the chapter headings. Remember this one: Calgon, take me away! Or for Love's Baby Soft, You can try hard and you can try soft. Soft will get him every time.
The novel 's main characters, Allie and Olivia are inseparable friends from seventh grade through high school until something causes a painful end to the friendship. We don't find out what that is until after they see each other again at their 20th reunion as the novel goes back and forth between the past and present.
What's fun for local readers is that the author grew up in Potomac and so much of the novel features locations you'll recognize from Winston Churchill high school to a reference to the old Capitol Center.
And then are those beauty products. You'll be transported back to your high school years reading about Watermelon Lip Smackers, Sun-In and Bonnie Bell. As adults the characters graduate to brands like Benefit and Philosphy. And yes if you're a true follower of all things beauty you probably already noticed the title refers to Philosphy's best selling face cream.
Harbison's previous novels dealt with another popular obsession....shoes! She also wrote Shoe Additcts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict.
Hope In A Jar is a perfect beach or poolside read that might be followed by a trip to Sephora or the department store makeup counter for some new products to add to your arsenal.
Hope in A Jar by Beth Harbison. Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and book stores. $24.99
Coming soon is Part ll--an interview with the author.
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