Being chosen to take part in a makeover show brings up a lot of difficult emotions for Abbey Miller.  She only applied for her friend Jennifer and never expected to be chosen, but now she will be on TV showcasing all of her flaws.  Quinn Campbell started Makeover Miracle to help people but has never been drawn to someone as strongly as Abbey.  There is something about her that reminds him of his sister, the one person he was unable to help.  Per the book’s synopsis:  “This is a story about one woman’s journey through emotional turmoil and the man who is able to make her believe in herself.  Set against the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, Makeover Miracle is a story about forgiveness, understanding, personal growth and, of course, falling in love with that one special person.”

I really enjoyed this story.  Abbey has one of those sparkling personalities that makes for a fun read.  She’s got some serious self-esteem issues, with reason, and it is satisfying to watch her come to believe in herself. The TV show covers a lot of things, not just weight loss, so I think that maybe a segment with a counselor would have helped from a realism standpoint, but the growth that she does have, thanks to her friends and Quinn, is compelling and believable nonetheless.  Quinn is charming and engaging.  He’s got some issues of his own, residual guilt about his sister’s death, but it helps to give him a sympathetic understanding of the show and a specific relationship to Abbey’s issues.  I will say that the writing was a little awkward in some spots but that just kept this great story from being exceptional.

This book is full of memorable characters, with a moving story-line and a feel-good ending.  For an uplifting read, give Makeover Miracle a shot.