I picked up Finding out on Saturday afternoon thinking I would read a couple chapters to see what this novel was all about. Many chapters later I forced myself to stop and take a break. I was hooked!

Sheila Davenport came home from a stressful weekend of work and finds Joe, Her live-in boyfriend of seven years, standing on the sidewalk in front of their home waiting to break up with her. Joe not only breaks up with her but has already moved out of their apartment taking only his personal pictures and bedroom set with.

While Sheila is trying to figure out her personal life, at work one of the “Big Bosses” hires a friend’s egotistical privileged daughter, Crystal. Crystal is not an easy person to work with and Sheila, a five year employee, has been put in charge of training her and helping her adjust.

Ruth, Sheila’s older widow neighbor, has been keeping Sheila company and distracting her with stories of her childhood visit to Germany during Hitlers rein. The stories are told by a young Ruth as her and her siblings are hidden from the soldiers. These stories help Sheila unravel the wreck that her life has turned into. 

I loved how this novel mixed history and life stories. The novel moves so easily between the present time and Ruth’s Stories of her past. I’m not sure which I enjoyed more, both were page turning, stay up late, I can’t put the novel down.

Everyone has people like Crystal in their work place. It was fun watching Sheila learn to work with her. By learning how to deal with her, I saw Sheila grow a stronger back bone and stand up for herself and get more respect from the people around her. It is something a lot of people need to learn how to do, but not always an easy thing to do.

Finding Out ended up being so much more than the standard "chick lit" I initially expected it to be. With vivid recounts of Nazi Germany, and characters that could very well exist in the real world, Sheryn created a story that made you want to invest your time in her words.

Following a humiliating public break-up with her boyfriend of the past 7 years (ouch, I know), Sheila Davenport is immediately thrown into a slump. She yearns for closure, but finds out the hard way that the only thing she actually needs is something that her ex-boyfriend, Joe, can't, and hasn't ever given her: a true sense of knowing herself, and solid, independent, happiness.

As with the majority of break-up situations in chick lit, the female character tends to set out on a self-destructing journey of wallowing, self-pity and incessant whining. Sheila dabbled in this phase, but I found that it was with good reason. Her ex refused contact with her, and I found myself getting just as agitated with him, the poor woman only wanted the answers she so rightly deserved. My fondness grew for Sheila the second she started meeting with Ruth, the elderly neighbour who eventually plays a huge role in Sheila's mental makeover. We don't get the chance to read much dialogue between the two, the author simply implies that the pair are together, which was indicated by Ruth's account of her experience in Nazi Germany. The chapters alternate between Sheila's personal life, and Ruth's memories, with a few present day chapters of Ruth's life thrown in. Finding Out didn't focus on the romance, which was SO refreshing. I am at a phase in my own life where I just want to skip the dramatics, and read about something real and meaningful-I got definitely got that with this book.

The alternating chapters really worked for me, we got a chance to not only see Sheila grow and strengthen, but it was as though she was doing it right along with Ruth's younger self, as she made her own discoveries all those years ago. There was a large bunch of side characters in Finding Out, some who played an important role in Sheila's life and her growth, and others I could have probably done without. The author wrote in third-person perspective, and I found myself getting slightly confused at times at who was thinking/doing what. Also, I wish we got to delve a little deeper into some of their personal lives, namely Alessandra, Sheila's boss. I was disturbingly fascinated with Alessandra's character, and I found myself hoping I'd turn a page, and find her entire past written there. Maybe..in the sequel!? =)

Overall, this Finding Out was a book of self-discovery and overcoming obstacles that only seem large on the outside. I got a chance to not only root for Sheila's success, but Ruth's as well, it was a feel good experience. This book is labeled chick-lit, but it did more for me than just pass the time, it was deep, and a little bit dark, and helped open my eyes to moments and issues that will always be so much bigger than my little mundane life and complaints. A very good debut for Sheryn, I am looking forward to the sequel of this book, and her other works in progress! 

Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn follows Sheila Davenport who in the beginning of the book, believes that her life is on track. Then … she gets dumped by her boyfriend of seven years and shortly afterward, realizes that he nearly emptied their joint savings account. Weighed down by reality, the financial woes of the bills that she can no longer afford to pay, and a psychotic boss, Sheila loses grip and realizes that life is no longer what she once imagined it to be. Stuck with no immediate solutions to her problems, her friends urge her to date but she realizes that dating only causes more woes but wonders what to do next. An unexpected twist brings in an elderly neighbor who shares some insight on love, loss, and most importantly, a solid perspective on living life. What will happen to Sheila? Will she be able to move on and forward with her life? Or will she continue to dwell on all that has gone wrong? You must turn the pages to find out.

Finding Out is a true eye opener and I loved every second of it. Early on in the novel, Sheila loses everything and is so lost that she doesn’t know which way is up and which is down. But, that all changes once she meets Ruth and gets a fresh perspective on life. This is a story of second chances, love found and lost, and the strength of redemption. A page-turner until the very last second, I enjoyed this debut from Sheryn immensely. Overall, a fantastic read.

Finding Out is witty, gritty and fun chick lit novel mixed with a compelling and engrossing fiction novel.  I can honestly say that I have not read a book of this mix before and I LOVED it. There are so many thing that I loved about it so I am just going to list them.

1.  The amazing characters.   There is a character to love, one to cheer for, one you want to become friends with and so many more.  I just loved Ruth and was so enthralled by her history and resilience   I think that anyone that is struggling can learn a lot from her.  That no matter how bad it is, it could be SO much worse.  She gave Shelia (the protagonist) so much loving and caring advise in such a subtle and knowledgeable way.  I just wanted to be in Ruth house eating lunch and talking. 

Here is some of Ruth's wonderful wisdom:

"....But I do know if you keep living for other people, you'll never find out. (p. 241, MacMunn).  This is Ruth's advise to Sheila regarding the direction Sheila's life should go.  For some reason  it really stuck a chord with me.  

Also:

'The miracle will happen when you start  moving toward it.  It won't just be laid at your feet, Shelia.  You have to work for it one step at a time.  And steps don't even have to be perfect. You just have to take the action and learn from it. You do that and one day you'll realize you're in the middle of your miracle," Ruth said. (p. 283, MacMunn) .  Isn't she a gem!!!

Well besides Ruth, here are some other noteworthy points about Finding Out....

2.  The novel was written amazingly.
3.  The novel has a simple yet PERFECT cover.
4. We can hope that MacMunn has more brilliant stories to share with the world.
5.  It is a MUST read and a great book club pick.  
6. After writing this review I realize I need to change my 4 star review to a 5 star!!!!
7.  Read this book!

This story follows Sheila after she was dumped by her boyfriend on the street, leaving her severely in debt. She starts to spend time with her neighbor Ruth who tells her about her struggles during the Holocaust.

To be honest the book was not at all what I expected it to be. The description does not due justice to the whole story. The story was very well written. The way Ms. MacMunn compared the lives of Ruth and Sheila was very interesting. I never expected to hear about the Holocaust in a Women's fiction book. It was an interesting way of showing how today's problem's are not so bad compared to what others have been through. I found myself completely engrossed in the characters lives and stories. I look forward to reading more from Ms. MacMunn.Definitely pick this book up today!

5-Stars

Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn is an impressively smooth and readable novel that weaves present and past together with deceptive ease. Sheila's business and personal problems are crazy and will seem all-too-familiar to many of those who've worked in an office and endured office politics; as well as those who've been on the receiving end of a poorly executed breakup. Where Finding Out really shines, however, is Ruth's series of stories about her childhood and coming of age in Nazi Germany. I felt like I was reading tales spun by a Scheherazade, as the beleaguered family hikes through the woods to find safety and ends up camping throughout the winter in the snow and cold. I have long been a student of WWII history and read many historical novels on the subject. Finding Out ranks up there with the best of them. Finding Out is a remarkable fusion of present and past and well worth reading.