When it comes to realistic, literal laugh-out-loud funny, and absolute craziness, you can relate to it’s rare to find a fictional book that checks all the boxes. However, Tanya, We Have a Problem is one of those books that checks those boxes and more. Author Patti Lee is here with her newest book, and if you’re looking for something that is going to keep you page-turning, have you smothering snickering giggles to choking out full-blown guffaws then this is the book for you. We promise.
Tanya, We Have a Problem catches the eye of readers with a bedroom scene. No, nothing risque, just a couple in bed before the start of the day. The scene is bright, giving the implication that it’s morning and that the woman sitting up is the first to rise for the day. Dressed in pajamas, her hair appears tousled from sleep, and her cheeks are slightly flushed. To her right (your left), a phone sits on the nightstand with the screen lit up.
Could it be that our FMC has been checking her messages shortly after she woke up? Guess we’ll have to dive in to find out! Beside her is a man asleep. His dark brown hair is also tousled, but doesn’t appear as tousled as the woman’s. Has he had a sounder night’s sleep than she? Is this the husband? Or the “mystery” man she wakes up next to, spurring on a grand amount of chaos? Well, the guessing is half the fun, so it’s time to dive in!
Tanya, We Have a Problem begins in a way that will absolutely have you glued to the pages. Author Patti Lee kicks this story off with Tanya waking up to quite a predicament. She’s naked. In bed with a man…who is most definitely not her husband. That is the perfect setup for many a reader to sit forward, elbows on knees, with their best “tell me more” face on. LOL!
The fact alone that Tanya doesn’t even know who this guy is initially makes this beginning absolutely jaw-dropping, but hilarious at the same time. Now, we’re sure that as a married woman, Tanya doesn’t go around randomly picking up various guys and taking them home. So, curiosity will prevail in discovering who this mystery guy is. But it’s safe to say that this is not the beginning of Tanya’s problems.
From there, author Lee shifts the story to “pre-waking up in bed with a “stranger””. With this pivot in Tanya, We Have a Problem author Lee allows us to get to know more about Tanya and her family. Told from the first-person POV, we get first-hand accounts of Tanya’s life, upcoming shenanigans, and a deep dive into how her mind works.
It’s rather lovely to witness Tanya and her family together on a school day morning. This dynamic shift from chapter one to this allows readers to more easily relate to Tanya. It gives you the feel of a “typical” morning in Tanya’s household. Well…mostly typical…with a few additions of shock that will have you…fighting off a chuckle or two at someone else’s expense.
Of course, once the kids are off to school, that’s when author Lee shows you a different side to Tanya’s situation. When Tanya’s husband shows just how detached he is it’s sure to annoy you. But when he complains about a clean pair of underwear and demands a new/fresh pair from his wife…it’s definitely going to raise eyebrows.
You have to give it to Tanya. She takes Bill’s bs on the chin. LOL! They’ve been together for several years, and she’s acclimated herself to his habits and quirks. What we get to know about Bill in chapter two though, is just the tip of the iceberg of what there is to discover about him. Don’t worry, as Tanya, We Have a Problem progresses, Tanya herself will let us know more and more about this man she’s been married to all these years.
Wondering what really kicks off the drama in Tanya, We Have a Problem? Well, we’ll give you a little teaser – a radio show. Yep. When Tanya gets back into her Jeep and turns on the radio, she hears someone say something about underwear. That, of course, piques her interest. Why? Because of her husband’s comments that exact morning.
From there Tanya’s mind begins to spiral. She starts speculating about a myriad of things concerning Bill and his behavior. Of course, it doesn’t help that Bill has a…past that is against him when it comes to being faithful. Yep, Bill has been caught cheating in the past. So, could it be that he’s at it again? Or is Tanya just being paranoid and overreacting?
What unfolds as Tanya, We Have a Problem progresses morphs into a collective of hilarious incidents all staring Tanya. Because when Tanya gets a bug in her ear to discover the truth, she is bound and determined to see it through no matter what. She’ll even go so far as to rope her friend Bonnie into her shenanigans as she looks for the answers she knows are out there.
Tanya, We Have a Problem is so much fun to read. Most readers will be able to relate to Tanya when it comes to jumping to conclusions. It’s understandable to wonder and then to yield to the desire to seek answers and the truth. Granted, most of us wouldn’t also go out, get drunk, and have an old “crush” ultimately drive us home. Yes, there’s more, but that’s for you to discover, fellow readers. LOL!
Author Lee creates Tanya to be such a realistic character, and we truly appreciate it. Tanya is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. She’s super flawed, and it’s on full display in chapter two. How so, you ask? Well, the house is a literal disaster area, and what does Tanya do? She goes to the bakery she works at, gets a snack, then goes and visits her friend Bonnie’s boutique. You can’t help but think… Tanya?! What are you doing?! LOL!
We say this, but at the same time, we can easily imagine someone out there right now doing exactly what Tanya does in Tanya, We Have a Problem. Going to vent to a friend about your concerns, then doing some “sleuthing” that leads to wild conclusions (some wrong, some right), and complete hilarious chaos that at times turns quite expensive.
When we started reading Tanya, We Have a Problem, we had no idea that this book was going to be so much fun to read. But it is an absolute must-read. If we absolutely had to complain about something concerning this book, it would be how it ends. Author Lee leaves you on this weird cliffhanger that makes you want to yowl. LOL! The ending leaves us questioning…are there going to be more “misadventures” with Tanya? Honestly…we’d absolutely be here for more. LOL!
The ending is weird for Tanya, We Have a Problem. We get answers to a lot of questions, but the ending leaves readers in a bizarre place. We’re really left wondering…is this the end end? Or is this just the end…for now? There is no clear way of knowing, really. If this is just “the end for now,” then it’s a great way to leave readers begging and eager for more. If it is “the end – the end” then it’s going to leave readers really dissatisfied and a tad bit grumpy. LOL!
One of the biggest positives for Tanya, We Have a Problem is this – it’s a clean read. Author Lee keeps her story free from swearing, illicit drug usage (other than one scene of Tanya drinking too much), and free from any steamy scenes. This is simply a drama-packed novel that gives readers a relatable character, with humorous situations as she navigates the sticky situations of trying to discover whether or not her spouse is cheating on her…again.
All in all, Tanya, We Have a Problem is an overall absolute delight of a “regular” fiction novel. You get realistic characters that you can absolutely relate to. Tanya is a complete mess, but you can’t help but root for her regardless. It’s a series of unfortunate events that will have you fighting off guffaws of laughter at Tanya’s expense. Author Patti Lee has really written something really fun with Tanya, We Have a Problem, and we look forward to more books from her like this.
Pros:
- Engaging storyline
- Good amount of humor
- Realistic story and characters
- Page-turner
Cons:
- Without an explanation the ending is dissatisfying because it leaves readers with questions.
Scribble's Worth 
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