Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless by Liz Czukas | Book Review

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Top Five Things That Are Ruining Chloe's Day5) Working the 6:30 a.m. shift at GoodFoods Market4) Crashing a cart into a customer's car right in front of her snarky coworker Sammi3) Trying to rock the "drowned rat" look after being caught in a snowstorm2) Making zero progress with her crush, Tyson (see #3)1) Being accused—along with her fellow teenage employees— of stealing upwards of $10,000Chloe would rather be anywhere than locked in work jail (aka the break room) with five of her coworkers . . . even if one of them is Tyson. But if they can band together to clear their names, what looks like a total disaster might just make Chloe's list of Top Ten Best Moments.

I think I have this new habit of deciding to save whatever Liz Czukas book that crosses my threshold for the most stressful time of my year and then reading it, because her books have this magical way of making me laugh and taking my mind off whatever is bothering me. LIKE THIS WEEKEND! Okay, so this past weekend before I wrote this post – I went to the bank and had some issues with the ATM which sucked because I needed the cash to get a money order because the debit reader at the post office was down. It was the literal worst and my bank where I was a loyal customer for 10 years treated me like a criminal and liar – never mind that after reviewing technology and malfunctions I was correct! So needless to say, I was upset and I was not about to get into a serious book because that would just depress me more. I saw Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless sitting all by its lonesome on the floor in my time of need and it completely delivered as I had expected.

Chloe works at a grocery store to save up money for college. Along with Tyson, Sammi, Gabe, Micah and Zaina, Chloe is a youngling – no she’s not a magical creature, this just means she’s not an adult yet, she’s a YOUTH. Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless opens with Chloe warding off lectures from her mother and driving into work on Christmas Eve. Chloe has written a to do list for the day and it includes driving her crush Tyson home from work which she can’t do if her mother drives her to work. Anyways, this book takes place in one day! ONE! And on Christmas Eve but it’s not quite a Christmas book. Anyways, so Chloe gets into work, finds out what her task is and hops to it. Throughout the day weird things happen, including a woman eating salsa and drinking peppermint schnapps in the bathroom. THEN! The pivot point of this book, someone has stolen the majority of the money in this present box that has been raised for the local food bank. The younglings are suspected of doing it and so, in Breakfast Club style they are locked into the break room until one of them confesses to stealing the money.

I loved Chloe and her list making! YOU GUYS! I make lists! So I could absolutely relate to Chloe. She is constantly making lists as am I. And like Chloe, I put pretty much everything in lists. Anyways, she has this mother who is super overprotective – but that’s because Chloe has diabetes. This is a plot point and is important to the story line. It’s also something that does not define Chloe, just a characteristic. She is also the sort of character who doesn’t seem to have friends because she assumes that people don’t want to be her friend because she’s not anything super special. This is where Chloe is wrong – as much as this book is a mystery it is also a story of burgeoning friendships and I loved how Chloe got to know everyone and just move past her assumptions.

THERE IS A ROMANCE! So, Chloe has a crush on Tyson, and it’s huge. There’s even a list detailing why – because she is a list maker, obviously. So, anyways, Tyson is sort of the boy scout type of guy – meaning he’s very nice. He’s also really smart and works super hard because he is saving all of his money for college. He makes a good partner for Chloe as they have chemistry and just seem to get each other.

Frankly, this book was exactly what I want in a book that’s set in a grocery store. There’s a quirky cast of characters. There’s talk of food. There are strange customers. There are friendship bonds forming. Also? The pacing is mad fast – like I read this in pretty much one sitting because it’s the kind of book where you’re all ‘oh one more chapter – they are so short’ then eventually you’re done without even realizing it. Straight up, I want more books from Liz Czukas. Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless basically cements her place among up and coming authors. Her books are awesome if you need a book with pep in its step.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

• A Christmas To Remember by Beverly Jenkins | Book Review - December 5, 2024
• Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake | Audiobook Review - December 4, 2024
• Christmas at Corgi Cove by Annie England Noblin | Book Review - December 3, 2024