This conversation with my husband ten minutes ago is going to serve as my review, even though I have 85 pages left to go.

Him: Mama, do you have to read that book all day? Put it down and do something with me!
Me: Hush! I can't put it down. This book is a total mind f(@k! It's part Alice in Wonderland, part mystical realism, part hero's quest, and part acid trip.
Him: So Tom Petty wrote it?
Me: Maybe a really good Tom Petty video.

Went back to reading and immediately found the Joseph Campbell quote to confirm (I THINK) all my suspicions about this one.

Please, please, please....write more!8 s1 comment Patty1 reviewRead

I received an advance copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway. Thank you, Ruth Bonapeace and CLASH Fiction.

Most of my reading is firmly grounded in reality, so this was a departure and a personal challenge for me. The story is exactly as it was represented in the book's promotional description. It's filled with surreal happenings and ramblings from a monkey mind. The cover could use some help from color theory, and the preface made me want to abandon the book somewhere where no one would recognize me.

But it did get better. This story made me laugh, and there is nothing better than laughter! When I got to the Rachel Ray interview, I started giggling. When I got to The Escargot Cowboy chapter, I was finding more and more humor hiding between the bizarre story lines.

The author definitely manages to accomplish some serious tasks as well. She stabs skillfully at fitness culture, beauty culture, and salesmanship.

The most annoyingly interesting book I've read in a long, long time. Four stars.

5 s1 comment Debbie9 1 follower

My thoughts on this book are all over the place. Toward the beginning, I had many wtf moments, but at the same time, I was loving the intellectual word play. Once I got into the flow of the book, things started coming together. I thoroughly enjoy smart humor that makes you think.4 s Sean Logan6

Didn’t know what I was getting into when I started this novel. Equal parts bizarre, comedic and heroic I’m still trying to come to grips with it. I kept having a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas vibe as I wandered through Tina’s strange world. I’m sorry I started it when I did as it would have been a perfect beach read. 3 s3 comments Alex | reader_mama393 1 follower

Thank you @getredprbooks for my ARC!

Tina is living in a basement apartment (that recently flooded) and is trying to navigate who she is versus who she wants to become. Enter the Bulgarian Training Manual.

This was a unique story. I was intrigued by the synopsis, and I was excited for a comedic story. There were some parts I found myself chuckling out loud during, and this was brought to life by the first person POV. I enjoyed being inside Tina’s head and was rooting from her all through the story. As a reader, your sense of reality needs to be suspended, but that’s exactly what made this novel fun. If you are looking for a quirky story, with short chapters that keep the plot moving, consider giving this a try!?2 s1 comment Lisa Albright1,080 33

I'm so delighted when a fantastically unique book seems to come out of nowhere and makes my day. This story felt a lovely flashback to my Hunter S. Thompson days and I was totally in the mood for it. Written with quick humor and occasional flights of fancy to who knows where, this slim novel takes you down Tina's rabbit hole of trying to figure out how to make sense out of her life and find her place using the magical training guide. The short chapters keep up a fast pace and before you know it the mental rollercoaster ride is over and it's time to exit and evaluate the adventure. Pure fun.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.2 s Kelly Moran1 review

Take the wild ride with "Tina" (sarcastic, funny, smart, and snarky) from her flooded basement apartment in Hoboken, NJ to Bulgaria. Inspired by a manual given to her at the gym, Tina embarks on a weird, fun, inspiring journey- with a crazy cast of colorful characters (bodybuilders,nuns, a pilot)
along the way!
She's searching for who she is, where she came from, and where she wants to go in life. It's a fun, quick, quirky read (jaw dropping at times and I laughed out loud) Bring it to the beach!
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