The description of the book is misleading, this really is a memoir from Jim O’Heir, but it was a trip down Parks and Rec memory lane none the less 

Overall 3.5 stars. 

This was the perfect cozy fantasy to curl up with on a cold winter day. 

I do agree with some that this seems to lean more YA or middle grade but I think it also worked as an adult novel as there were a lot adults and adult issues in here. However a teenager or middle grade person could probably read as well

I originally DNFd this one at 18% in 2023, but picked it up in 2025 for a little book club discussion. 

I hate that this book is still so timely. We live in a society where women shouldn't be treated like this.

I don’t have a nice thing to say about this. It was written in the early 2000s and does not stand up to 2020s standards.

Upholds white colonialism of Africa. Upholds wars in the Middle East and the use of “defense contractors”. The part of this book that takes place in Africa, all Black people described to be either bad people or women who work as sex workers. 

The main character is the worst. She’s horrible to her parents. 

The author needed to choose a plot and stick with it instead of flipping between the hijacking and the relationship between Lilly/Jess/Peter etc