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Confessions of a Contractor

By: Richard Murphy

2008; 288

Rating: 2.5

In screenwriter Murphy's breezy debut, Henry Sullivan, a single, in-demand L.A. contractor, can pick and choose his high-end home renovation jobs. Henry's self-imposed rules--don't sleep with clients and don't take on too many projects at once--go out a half-finished window when he falls for two clients at once: Sally Stein, a single and successful purse designer, and Rebecca Paulson, an unhappily married mother of twins who is Sally's former best friend. Why the two women he loves are no longer speaking becomes so intriguing to Henry that he begins to dig for answers while simultaneously finishing (or, rather, attempting to finish) both their houses.

"Confessions of a Contractor" is definitely not a serious read if you are looking for one. But it is one of mindless fun, and rather funny actually. At first I read it to kill some reading time while waiting for another book to arrive. When I started it, I didn't have much intention to finish it. However, Murphy's writing style definitely kept me laughing and therefore kept me reading. Overall, I did enjoy "Confessions of a Contractor". I found it funny, and probably more true to life than I realize.

If you're looking for a way to while away a few hours (perhaps waiting in a waiting room somewhere), then "Confessions of a Contractor" is a good choice for you. Or maybe you need a break from all that serious reading. If so, check out "Confessions of a Contractor". But if you're looking for a thought- and discussion-provoking book, this one probably isn't the one.