I was so excited to read this, after all the rave reviews I have seen for this author, but for me I just couldn't get into it. I tried multiple times,I was so excited to read this, after all the rave reviews I have seen for this author, but for me I just couldn't get into it. I tried multiple times, but I found the writing to be a little to cheesy for my tastes. Not much was explained adequately, and while some aspects were original, much of the novel quickly delved into the mundane. Don't think I will read this author again.
Pretty good for chick lit. The situations were often (but not always) unrealistic, but the character's emotions were genuine, which helped to make the Pretty good for chick lit. The situations were often (but not always) unrealistic, but the character's emotions were genuine, which helped to make the heroine likable and impressive. The second half of the book was pretty strong and I devoured it quickly.
I liked that Cannie's weight loss obsession took a backseat when other more important issues were happening in her life. I was glad that the book wasn't just a huge diatribe of weight loss woes. Overall worth a read.
Stella Grey is a fifty something divorcee who is ready to start dating again. Warily she ventures into online dating. This book chronicles her three y Stella Grey is a fifty something divorcee who is ready to start dating again. Warily she ventures into online dating. This book chronicles her three year long experience. The premise caught my eye right away, I am always interested in books about online relationships and I was curious how online experiences differ by age.
However what I did not consider was how online experiences would differ by personality. Here is where I had a hard time relating to the author, and indeed in a book with a premise such as this it is important that the author be at least a little relatable and sympathetic. It was hard to “ be in her corner” when she came across as so many cliches that are found in online dating, and what many men are accused of labeling online women as...bitter, angry, snobby, obsessive.
I think a small amount of each of these is understandable considering her situation, especially in the beginning of her experience. But the large amount of these qualities tainted the story for me. It was hard to agree that every guy was a classless jerk when in all fairness she herself displayed a lot of unlikable qualities.
There were also a lot of contradictions, for example she complains about one line greetings from men but then she herself does it. She also complains about clinginess in an admirer even though earlier she had practically stalked a man and went on and on about how daily communication was important to her....Of course nobody is perfect, but I have never had much patience for hypocrites. 1.5/5
If Karen Walker from Will and Grace, wrote a book this is what the outcome would be. She's snobby, has man problems and is a little bitter, but overal If Karen Walker from Will and Grace, wrote a book this is what the outcome would be. She's snobby, has man problems and is a little bitter, but overall she is still entertaining. I am not sure if Melissa Kite's life is worthy of a book, (especially a book whose title is about hardship), since the most difficult times in her life seemed to be about very trivial stuff. However after I got over her snobby attitude and ridiculous lifestyle I did start to enjoy this book more. There is a lot of rambling, but for the most part it is a decent read.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
Man I am so torn about this novel. For the first 50% it was true love, but after that point it started to fizzle out into annoyance and resentment. Th Man I am so torn about this novel. For the first 50% it was true love, but after that point it started to fizzle out into annoyance and resentment. This romance book and I had a complicated relationship. I started off loving Rosie and finding her very relatable. It was quite easy to be sympathetic towards her, that is until she started acting like a complete doormat!
I completely understand that sometimes life gets in the way of your dreams and things pop up that are unpredictable. However at some point in your life you have to stop blaming everyone and everything else for your problems and just take responsibly for your life and live it the way you want to. It just got to a point where I was skimming the constant diatribes of her moaning about her life, and I stopped caring if her and Alex ever got together.
Alex wasn't a huge improvement either, he was a bit of a wimp BUT... I rolled my eyes less during his letters, however that is probably due to the fact that his sections were often cut short due to Rosie's super long ramblings.
There were some things that I did like though, I liked how the family dynamic was written. For the most part it was pretty realistic. I am also impressed that a book told through letters manged to draw my attention so forcefully. Normally I wouldn't touch a novel told purely through letters with a ten foot pole, but the writing just sucked me in and I think that is a big credit to the author.
I also liked that, although there were multiple letter writers I liked them all! So not only did this novel manage to entice me to read the entire thing, it did so while implementing my huge disdain for multiple narratives and with a letter format no less! This alone is enough to make me want to read more from this author. 3.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
I really enjoyed the unique concept of this novel. I think as kids most of us fantasize about sharing our dreams with our friends in the most literal I really enjoyed the unique concept of this novel. I think as kids most of us fantasize about sharing our dreams with our friends in the most literal way, at least I did. The descriptions of the dreams were amazing and I felt myself easily transported to Hugo's Island.
For the first half of the novel I felt really sympathetic towards Rose, but the second half, well that's a whole 'notha story. The second half of the book takes such a dramatic departure from the beginning that it took me a while to get re-immersed into the story.
Everything changed really fast and I found myself resenting Rose for her poor choices more and more. I didn't really like the almost blase way that Rose came to her epiphany about her life at the end of the novel, but I did think that the end twist was very creative, if disturbing. This book turned out a lot differently than I was expecting, but overall I still found this to be an inspired mesmerizing read.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
When I first started this book I was admittedly a little biased and not in a good way. I hated the cover and the title, and was worried that this woul When I first started this book I was admittedly a little biased and not in a good way. I hated the cover and the title, and was worried that this would turn out to be about another female comic who relied on her “slutty antics” for entertainment.
This book did feature mostly dating stories, but luckily they were not of the Margaret Cho variety. While not hysterical, I would say I chucked about half a dozen times while reading this book. I found the author to be relatable in terms of typical girl problems. I guess we never truly outgrow them. Overall this is an entertaining read about a female comic's search for The One.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
If any author could turn me onto chick lit it would have to be Stella Newman. This is the second book that I have read by her and just like the f3.5/5
If any author could turn me onto chick lit it would have to be Stella Newman. This is the second book that I have read by her and just like the first it was filled with relatable characters, funny situations and clever dialogue.
I do have to make note though, for the first 30% or so of the novel I did get a strong feeling of Deja Vu, it was so similar to Pear Shaped that I honestly thought maybe I had already read this and that this book was simply a re-title of Pear Shaped.
After going back and flipping through I realized these were not the same book but it was a little troubling. HOWVER despite some similarities between the two I really enjoyed both of them. Its kinda like why you keep going to see the next Nicolas Sparks movie, yes they all follow a simple formula but you still love it.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict:Borrow ( just because of similarity to the previous book)
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
I had a pretty good time reading this book, I did end up chuckling throughout the story. I don't read a lot of chic lit books, but I'm glad that I wen I had a pretty good time reading this book, I did end up chuckling throughout the story. I don't read a lot of chic lit books, but I'm glad that I went out of my comfort zone for this. The premise of a young(ish) women battling the dating game is not a new concept, but I felt that the witty dialogue and (mostly) relatable protagonist gave a fresh take on a popular plot concept.
For the first half of the novel I was in love and couldn't read it fast enough. At around the 50% mark the protagonist did start acting a little silly, and it broke the reality a bit (okay a lot). Luckily though there was only one real example that raised my brows and that was when Lauren calls her friend over to her desk to show her the latest dating guide attempt;
I called her over to my desk and showed her one of the cards, which involved a photo of my face superimposed onto a turkey and the words 'Gobble Gobble!' written about it. Inside a generic 'Happy Thanksgiving' message was followed by a personal appeal: This is the year I would like to find someone to have sex with and I need your help. If you know anyone suitable, please fill out the enclosed card and return it to me. Thank you! Lauren xx.
Over lunch, I signed and addressed cards to every single person I knew in London- Lucy and Cathryn, obviously, but also my landlord, cleaner, local off license clerk and everyone I had ever been on a date with. I briefly considered giving one to my boss but Cathryn talked me out of it.
She then goes on to complain about all the creeps responding to her sex advertisement.... i could go on but you get the point. Despite this rather ridiculous chapter I did highly enjoy majority of the book. Overall this is a very entertaining and humorous read and I would recommend it. I also thought the authors note at the back was a sweet little touch. 3.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
This book was not for me. The story took place in the 80's but I felt like I was in the 50's. I found the characters to be unrealistic and the story f This book was not for me. The story took place in the 80's but I felt like I was in the 50's. I found the characters to be unrealistic and the story flat. A bigger fan of Chick Lit may enjoy this.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
This book was such a awkward read, everything about it made me uncomfortable. From the childlike dialogue and inner narratives, to the overuse of the This book was such a awkward read, everything about it made me uncomfortable. From the childlike dialogue and inner narratives, to the overuse of the same descriptive words over and over again. Example: Alice lugged her huge body to the room, Alice hugged her son with her huge body, Alice is huge huge huge. Ugh I get it, after a while it just started to sound offensive.
This book also dealt with some very serious issues and I felt that the low quality of writing almost made these issues come across as a parody. I am happy that the author has obviously never dealt with any of the issues in the book, but I don't appreciate every subject being peppered with stereotypes.
The only good thing about this book was the cover. This story had potential, but at the end of the day the writing just couldn't live up to the imagination.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. ...more
While slightly Jerry Springer in nature, I did find this book to be an addictive read. I was not a big fan of the main protagonist, but the writing wa While slightly Jerry Springer in nature, I did find this book to be an addictive read. I was not a big fan of the main protagonist, but the writing was good enough that that did no deter much of my enjoyment from the story. I thought that the glimpse into the world of midwives was very fascinating and I appreciated the authors attention to detail.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy ( for fans of Call the Midwife), Borrow (for everyone else).
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review....more
This was a decent read of the bittersweet chick lit variety. For the first 50% of the novel I was supremely bored. Not much happened and I found the p This was a decent read of the bittersweet chick lit variety. For the first 50% of the novel I was supremely bored. Not much happened and I found the protagonist to be selfish and dull.
However after getting more into the novel I realized that everyone deals with grief and guilt differently, and for Jensen her sorrow changed her completely. After the 50% mark the story really picked up and I started to enjoy it a lot more.
This book did fall into some chick lit stereotypes, but I still think that this is a worthwhile read. Although my initial boredom does make rating this a little hard, overall I would say this is a middle of the road redemption novel, and a solid 3/5.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I feel like I'm the last person to read this novel, at least in regards to my friends anyways. I always love to read books about people who love to re I feel like I'm the last person to read this novel, at least in regards to my friends anyways. I always love to read books about people who love to read books, so coming into this I was already pretty happy. I liked the mystery aspect of the story, although it turned out to be not as shocking as I was anticipating it still added to the story. Overall although a little sappy at times this book is a warm and cozy story to curl up in.
Loading...
