The Ups & Downs of Being Round

ISBN-10: 0977443566

The Ups and Downs of Being Round is a coming of age story about a girl who struggles throughout her life with issues of weight. Overweight as a child, Madison Jenson struggles with teasing and physical limitations until she loses the weight during her adolescent years. Just as she begins to enjoy life as a slim girl she gains the weight back during her college years. Finally, being fed up with being unhappily overweight, she loses it again as a young adult, but to her surprise she loses a lot more than just the weight and finds out that physical weight loss does not guarantee happiness.

Praise for The Ups and Downs of Being Round

“Monica Marie Jones is definitely an author to watch and I look forward to reading more of her work. GREAT JOB!!!!”
- Jacquelin Thomas, National Bestselling and Award-Winning Author of Simon & Schuster books

“Through humor, spiritual insight and guileless transparency, Monica Marie Jones, has written a novel that is sure to please readers for years to come.
Cxandra, The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Friends since childhood, Abel, Solomon and Jabez strive to climb the social ladder. Cousins, Dionysus and Torah strive to climb that same ladder, but they would much rather travel on the backs of men like Abel, Solomon and Jabez. Tyse wants to climb that ladder as well, in the company of men like Abel, Solomon and Jabez, while attracting women like Dionysus and Torah.

When the worlds of these six socialites collide and become intertwined the outcome is scandalous. Will the controversies that they encounter be worth the cost that it takes to FLOSS?

Praise for FLOSS

This is a well-told drama, involving friends, lovers, and family that will have you laughing, crying and cheering for a great ending. I recommend this to readers of all genres, and I look forward to Ms. Jones' next book.
Cheryl H, APOOO Book Club

Author Monica Marie Jones delivers greatness once again with her 3rd book, Floss. But don’t let the title fool you, this book is far from your typical urban fiction novel littered with the plights of a king pins and his “ride or die chick.” Floss is more of a warning of what happens when you allow the love of money to be your sole focus and only motivation.
-Cindy E. Folson, Freelance Journalist, Michigan Front Page Newspaper

Exploring friendships, familial ties, sexual and sensual relationships, FLOSS is a wonderful journey from street mentality to a search for true redemption. FLOSS goes back to original street literature, following a strong moral compass that the characters originally violate until a higher intervention forces them all to succumb.
a. Kai, The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

“…The author does an exquisite job in providing concise details on the lives of each character which she explains and provides the reader with an understanding of the characters personal struggles and insecurities that define why we all are, ‘perfect at being imperfect.’ This novel will leave the reader to reevaluate their life and question their motives and ‘flossing tendencies’, and how this is affecting their social relationships. Surprisingly, the author underscores not only the characters insecurities, but the constant struggle with being concerned with worldly possessions and one's personal relationship with God.”
-Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes, Ph.D.

“My wife purchased this book a few weeks ago and I mistakenly took it on a trip to Reno NV last week. As the plane ride was long I decided to just take a look at a few pages. Three hours later I was on the last chapter as we were being told to prepare for landing. As soon as I departed the plane I sat down in the airport to finish the book as I just had to know what happened to Di.... I'm a Man in his mid-thirties and am impressed how Monica has somehow managed to tap into the inner-workings of the Male system of friendship and emotions surrounding them.”
Lin Rountree, International Jazz Recording Artist