Internationally acclaimed crime fiction writer Hannah (Orphan Choir) enters the self-help arena with a humorous yet insightful book about the nature of grudge-holding-why people do it and how this behavior can actually be a positive thing. She supplies an abundance of examples (her own and others), from snubs (forgotten birthdays) to unprovoked attacks (questionable statements about one's appearance), and shows how to put these remarks into perspective so as not to dwell on them incessantly. Readers will identify with the multitude of grudge-worthy comments and actions and tend to laugh at themselves at the ridiculousness of holding on to such trivia. VERDICT A fun read with an important message.-Deborah Bigelow, Dexter Dist. Lib., MI © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Hannah, a popular mystery author, is proud to be an expert at holding a grudge. She can remember slights from years before and is happy to recount them in exquisite detail. Unlike psychologists and philosophers who claim that grudges will drag holders down in bitterness, Hannah finds them comforting as sources of important learning moments. She differentiates between good and bad grudges and describes painstakingly how to collect, rate, and maintain them. The key is understanding the intent behind the incident, assessing the actual damage, and evaluating the resulting relationship with the guilty party. Hannah shares both her own experiences and those of others as examples, and offers a series of handy tests to help readers rate and classify their memories. Grudges come in a variety of forms, and Hannah covers a wide range, including unintentional, betrayal, underestimation, and injustice. She also admits to being a grudgee and provides tips on righting past wrongs. Hannah's tone is light, but beneath her humorous analysis lie some interesting insights. Given Hannah's following and the catchy title, this should be a hit.--Candace Smith Copyright 2019 Booklist