Room for Improvement

“Stacey Ballis manages to be
irreverent, unflinching, sexy
and somehow very sweet.
She is truly a writer to watch.”

Laura Caldwell,
Author of Burning the Map,
A Clean Slate, The Year of
Living Famously, The Night
I Got Lucky, and Look Closely

Reviews

Sexy Side

Chicago interior designer Lily takes a job designing for Swap/Meet, a reality makeover TV show that pairs up singles looking for a new room and a new love interest. She thinks it's going to be simple and fun, but a half-wit host, a cranky but cute carpenter, and a diva designer make things difficult. When a playboy producer gets into the mix (and into Lily's bed), life becomes a lot more complicated. Self-proclaimed home improvement junkie and author Ballis (Sleeping Over; Inappropriate Men) has written a laugh-out-loud novel that will appeal to HGTV devotees as well as those who like their chick lit on the sexy side.

Five Stars!

I received an advance copy of ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT and pretty much inhaled it in two days. I adored everything about it - the size 14 heroine Lily who, instead of sitting around apologizing for her weight or feeling sorry for herself, has a fantastic career, great sex, strong friendships, a positive self-image, etc; the interesting and complicated network of supporting players - of which there were many, but were so thoroughly drawn there was never an issue of keeping them straight; the extensively-researched DIY back-story; and, best of all, the humor so pervasive throughout the book. (I defy anyone to not laugh out loud whenever Bob speaks.)
For those who say "Chick Lit" is played out, all I can say is think again. Stacey Ballis proves the genre can be funny, honest, clever, real, and most importantly, totally fresh.

Jen Lancaster, author of BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK