Belinda’s Review: In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

In Need of Therapy
written by Tracie Banister
published by Tracie Banister

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I read Chrissy’s five-star review and decided to give it a try.

Did I enjoy this book: Yes.

So why only three stars? I’ll get to that. First, I want to go on the record pointing out that Chrissy gave Divergent by Veronica Roth four stars and gave this piece of fluff five. Hmmmm, kinda makes me wonder who here is in need of therapy. (I’ve been on her case about Divergent for two weeks. I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.)

But I’m off topic. This was an enjoyable easy read. I like fluff sometimes. It’s a nice, feel good diversion, and we all need that sometimes. 

I deducted two stars away from fabulous to rate this mediocre for one reason. The main character who starts out as a protagonist has to get rescued by her boyfriend. I don’t like it when our protagonist isn’t the protagonist. That’s not how literature works. 

Would I recommend it:  If you’re looking for something quick and light, yes. If you’re OCD about literary structure, stay away from this one. It’ll drive you crazy. Then we’ll have even more readers in need of therapy.

About the book – from Goodreads: Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can’t stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she’s left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.