Linda Ann Rentschler

“State of Disgrace” is about Mary Beth Everitt, a young woman who had a strict upbringing, went to catholic school, kept her virginity when girls around her got pregnant, and, well, you get the picture. Now in her 20’s, adolescence is catching up with her, and she’s unwilling to keep a job for more than a few months, she falls for the wrong men, and she follows her impulses, even when they tell her to impersonate a dead nun to rescue a shoplifting hooker from jail.

When I read the first page of the book I wondered if I’d be able to relate to Mary Beth or not: her Catholic world seemed so far from my own. By the time I reached the third page I was completely engulfed, and I spent most of the day reading it, carelessly waving off real life duties. The book was filled with moments where I thought, “That could SO have happened to me,” like when the heroine goes to buy some fancy lingerie and has to try to figure out how it works. I also loved the way her new colleagues oooh-ed and aaah-ed over her ability to write actual notes about who called for them and when.

Rentschler has written a wonderful story with relatable characters that come to life on the pages. Even the smallest side-character feels like a real person, and that makes the entire world feel real. It’s a book I will read more than once, and I will definitely check out the other books by the author.… (mehr)