Latest Review: The Rosie Project

Summary Blurb:
An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love.

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.
 

My Blabberings:
I really loved this unique and nerd-tastic romantic comedy!  This book was definitely a page turner, the atypical characters compelled me to find out what quirky thing would come out of their mouths.  My connection with both Rosie and Don was immediate - I loved these two misfits!  Don made me smile with his misunderstanding of people and Rosie was tough but vulnerable too. The Rosie Project was unlike most chick-lit books I've read thanks to the strength of the main characters.

This book helps the reader realize that sometimes, even with heavy preparation, we don't know what we want.  Recommended?  Absolutely!  Why should you read it?  Characters that you will be rooting for on the edge of your couch and laugh-out-loud funny to boot!  If you liked the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" or enjoy watching "The Big Bang Theory" you will like The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

4/5 stars

TTT: Swoony Titles

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this week's topic: Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon.

1.  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - Asperger swoons...yup, that's right!

2.  The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley...historical and magical realism lovins!

3.  Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell...touching high school romance

4.   Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder...fantasy adventure and swoons

5.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness....witch and vampire love!

6.  Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park...witty new adult love story

7.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green...sad and swoony

8.  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller...epic swoons!

9.  The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen...magical realism with two love storylines!

10.  You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning...Bridget Jones-esque swoons!

Latest Review: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Goodreads Summary:
Sweet, bookish Neve Slater always plays by the rules. And the number one rule is that good-natured fat girls like her don’t get guys like gorgeous, handsome William, heir to Neve's heart since university. But William’s been in LA for three years, and Neve’s been slimming down and re-inventing herself so that when he returns, he’ll fall head over heels in love with the new, improved her.

So she’s not that interested in other men. Until her sister Celia points out that if Neve wants William to think she's an experienced love-goddess and not the fumbling, awkward girl he left behind, then she’d better get some, well, experience. 

What Neve needs is someone to show her the ropes, someone like Celia’s colleague Max. Wicked, shallow, sexy Max. And since he’s such a man-slut, and so not Neve’s type, she certainly won’t fall for him. Because William is the man for her… right?

Somewhere between losing weight and losing her inhibitions, Neve’s lost her heart – but to who?

My thoughts:
**Beach Read Alert!!**
I actually read this much earlier in the year when I came across it after reading a lot of praise for Sarra Manning's Unsticky.  I just happened to find a paperback copy for cheap and I'm sooooo glad I did!

Title and cover notwithstanding, this is above and beyond just any old chick-lit!  Now, the basic elements of the plot are pretty average romantic fare but what makes You Don't Have to Say You Love Me stand out is the realistically flawed characters.  You love and completely sympathize with the awkward and inexperienced Neve.  Also, the reader quickly realizes that the seemingly shallow Max has a lot more going on than what's apparent on the surface.  Oh, and the chemistry...sizzling!

Something else that I really liked about this book is that Max and Neve challenge each other to become better people by forcing the other to get over some serious self-esteem issues.  Often in chick-lit self image issues are one-sided (usually it's the woman with the problems) so it's refreshing to see that both of the characters need to get over some major hurdles.  Anyways, if you liked Bridget Jones or are just looking for some good summer fluff, I highly recommend this book!

4/5 stars

Other reviews:
The Allure of Books

Foodie Fiction Review: The Love Goddess' Cooking School

Goodreads Summary:

Holly Maguire's grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine--a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like "sa cordula," an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone "sa cordula." Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy. 

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed--"and "tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness. 

My thoughts:
Fantastic foodie fluff!  I loved the remote island setting and all of the yummy descriptions of Italian food.  The premise of this book is similar to The School of Essential Ingredients - even though it's not as good, this bit of foodie fiction is still a really enjoyable read.  My favorite character is the spunky tween Mia - she's such a riot!  This is a lovely story about love, food, and friendship.  I heartily recommend for those in the mood for a light read and a penchant for Italian cuisine!

3.5/5 stars

Latest Review: Girls in White Dresses

Goodreads Summary:
Wry, hilarious, and utterly recognizable, Girls in White Dresses tells the story of three young women grappling with heartbreak and career change, family pressure and new love—all while suffering through an endless round of weddings and bridal showers.


Isabella, Mary, and Lauren are going to be bridesmaids in Kristi’s wedding. On Sunday after Sunday, at bridal shower after bridal shower, they coo over toasters, eat tiny sandwiches, and drink mimosas. They’re all happy for Kristi, but they do have the ups and downs of their own lives to cope with. Isabella is working at a mailing-list company, where she’s extremely successful, and wildly unhappy. Mary is in love with a man who may never love any woman as much as he loves his mother. And Lauren, a waitress at a midtown bar, finds herself drawn to a man she’s pretty sure she hates.

With blind dates and ski vacations, boozy lunches and family holidays, relationships lost to politics and relationships found in pet stores, Girls in White Dresses pulls us deep inside the circle of these friends, perfectly capturing the wild frustrations and soaring joys of modern life.

My thoughts:
I've seen a lot of ranting and raving over this one - which is why I picked it up from the library.  But honestly, my reaction was "meh."  It wasn't bad but it wasn't really great either.  The story is told in little vignettes about each of the many characters (delineated by chapter) which didn't allow me to truly feel for the characters.

If I'm giving my recommendation it would be this: it's a decent, sometimes funny read...but nothing mind-blowing.  It does illustrate realistic relationships...but, I don't know, it just wasn't all that compelling of a read for me.  I wish I had known this prior because then I would have put it later on my TBR list.  Recommended for hardcore chick-lit fans and/or folks that are interested in modern relationships of people in their 20s and 30s.

3/5 stars

Beach Reading - Kristan Higgins

Now that warm weather is fast approaching I thought I'd share some fun and breezy books - perfect for a day at the beach.  I've already mentioned that Sarah Addison Allen novels are a perfect choice for beach reading.  Another author that is a great pick is Kristan Higgins.  She has perfected charming chick-lit with endearing characters and slowly building romances (admittedly also obvious romances...but it doesn't detract from the entertainment value).  I suppose my favorite of hers is All I Ever Wanted (yes, it's a horrible title) but all are equally fun reads.

So there you have it, if you're in the mood for some fluff go grab a Higgins book from the library and have yourself a fun day in the sun this weekend!

Latest Read: I Think I Love You

When I saw praise for this novel I thought it would be a perfect read around Valentine's Day!  I heard this book described as high-brow chick-lit...I hate the term "chick-lit" as it seems inherently demeaning somehow.  Anyways, I don't know how I would categorize this book...but it's definitely not just a tale of friends or shopping or whatever chick-lit is supposed to be about.  It's a really sweet story that deals with identity, fate, and the intensity of a crush on a teen idol.

 

The book has two storylines: one following a Welsh girl named Petra beginning when she was 13 and the other following a young man named Bill starting after college graduation.  Both stories intertwine at points and follow how the character's life is affected by the 70's teen heartthrob David Cassidy.  I think the author does a wonderful job accurately portraying the woes of being a female teenager.  The only complaint I could see people having is that the ending may be a little too perfectly happy...but I rather enjoyed it all the same.  A fun little read!

3/5 stars.