Lucy in the Sky

So many laugh out loud moments!

Revisado: 06-18-24

I really enjoyed this book because of the witty dialogue and the interesting characters. I had listened to Beach Read by the same author and had decided her books weren't my cup of tea because I found the plot devices so distracting (a common problem with romcoms). But then this book came out, and I couldn't resist. I'm glad I have so little will power, because this book was really a treat, and the plot (while not its main strength) was fine. I'll listen to this book multiple times, because who doesn't need a good laugh?

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Fun romcom with some original touches

Revisado: 10-01-23

This was an intelligent and funny romcom that followed the required romcom structure, but added some realism that made it feel fresh. First, the guy love interest was (in his own words) fat. Hallelujah! Am I the only reader who is sick of 6 (now 8)-pack abs? I know these romcoms don't have a lot to do with real life, but even in fantasy, a guy with sharp cheekbones, an incredible jaw, and chiseled muscles is probably a guy who is too busy doing his daily 3 hours at the gym to engage in romcom shenanigans and falling in love - except maybe falling in love with another gym rat. (Sorry for the stereotyping, you 6-packers out there.) He's also self-conscious about his body - a problem that's usually reserved for the female characters. Second, the female protagonist struggles with depression, and this was treated sympathetically without having her "cured" in service to an HEA. The sex was also more realistic than you usually see in novels - no instantly orgasmic heroines here, but lots of communication and learning, which was sweet. The romcom structure requires that after the characters get together, something must drive them apart in preparation for the final coming together and happy ending, and this was the weakest part of the plot. (This is common in romcoms- the protagonist must suddenly lose all her IQ points in order to precipitate the final crisis, and there was some of this in Weather Girl.) However, I still enjoyed the book. I'd also highly recommend Solomon's newest book, Business or Pleasure, which is even funnier and starts with a hilarious "bad sex" scene. This narrator does have a hyper-melodic delivery style, but I wouldn't call it "sing-song" because it's not repetitive. It takes some getting used to, but was fine.

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Don't be put off by the subject matter

Revisado: 11-17-22

I love Luke Daniels as a narrator, but knowing this was about grieving the loss of a child, I had to (figuratively) gird my loins before listening to this audiobook. I shouldn't have worried. While the story, of course, has sad parts, it also has a wry sense of humor and a positive message about coming through loss changed, but with a positive outlook. I especially enjoyed Luke's unsparing, but compassionate examination of his own foibles and mistakes. I'm so sorry he and his family had to endure this loss, but I'm glad he was able to share his story. I think it will help others going through similar experiences, as well as those of us who want to comfort them but don't know how.

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I love a witty narrator! Great if you need a laugh

Revisado: 07-26-22

I can't remember a book that made me laugh out loud so much. The story is fine - it hits the expected romcom marks, the characters are likeable and interesting, and there are a few surprises. But the big thing that makes this book fun is the witty observations of the main character narrating the story. An example observation (about meeting a horse unexpectedly), "It's all fun and games until you have a giant pair of nostrils in your face." Who could argue with that? The audiobook narrator, Patti Murin, is a big part of why this recording hit my funny bone so often. She has a great voice for comedy and excellent timing. I'll be looking for more books narrated by her, hoping they are as funny this one was.

I'm not a big fan of super-handsome celebrity or billionaire love interests (come on, really?), but this book pulls it off without making that character annoying. This is my first Katherine Center novel, and based on the writer's comments at the end, it may be lighter than her usual work, but I'm definitely planning to listen to some of her other novels after enjoying this one so much.

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Exuberant reviews overpromise

Revisado: 06-23-22

I usually only write positive reviews - the world has enough negativity, right? However, I purchased this book based on the overwhelmingly glowing reviews and feel the need to provide others like me who are trying to decide how to use their precious credits a more measured review. This book starts out OK with a fun premise, but like many romance novels, after the relationship is consummated, we end up with a lot of tired plot devices to keep the drama going. I like British rom coms because they generally have witty dialogue, but the dialogue (and the humor) was pretty clunky in this novel. The female protagonist also had a tendency to "screech" (this is what the narration says) when she's upset, and this got very wearing by halfway through the novel. Probably wouldn't be as much of a problem if this weren't an audiobook. The duet narration was nice, and the narrators did a good job. My only complaint is that it sounds like they were coached to slow down and clearly annunciate every word (maybe out of concern that U.S. audiences wouldn't understand their accents?), so the dialogue and narration sounded a bit unnatural. All in all, I finished this, but I won't be re-listening to this one while doing chores, as I often do the rom coms I really enjoy. For those looking for other choices that I would say are similar but better, I'd recommend Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O'Leary, and Sarina Bowen.

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Clever and dry parody

Revisado: 06-12-22

I didn't know what to expect with this short novella. At first, it seemed like the plot was going to be painfully obvious, but as the story progressed and the main character kept blithely overlooking red flag after red flag, it became clear that this was exactly the point. The cleverness and humor sneaks up on you, which makes it that much more fun when the penny finally drops. I ended up laughing so hard that I struggled to gather enough breath to explain to my husband why I was in stitches. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that if you're up for a tongue-in-cheek parody of Gone Girl-type thrillers and a humorous critique of LA fitness and beauty culture, you'll enjoy this.

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Learned so much!

Revisado: 05-24-22

I’m a bit of what McWhorter calls a “Language Head” and I took Into to Linguistics in college many years ago, but I still learned a ton. I sped through this entire course because it was so fascinating. Highly recommend!

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Sweet and funny

Revisado: 05-20-22

I love Sarina Bowen’s funnier books and this is one of them (along with Man Hands). Fun characters and great narration. Tanya Eby has great comic timing and Teddy Hamilton does a great job as Blake. A funny oaf who is deeper than he seems.

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The narration took this to 5 stars.

Revisado: 02-23-22

First, I really enjoyed the story, and it made me think - about parenting, about childhood trauma, about how we deal with people (especially children) who don't conform to our expectations. The thing that really made this 5 stars, though, was the narration. Marin Ireland's voice and accent were so specific that I instantly felt that I KNEW the main character. She was not a type; she was a very specific individual from a very specific background. I don't know how I would have responded to this story had I read it myself, but I do know that this narration really enhanced the experience. So impressive!

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Somewhat raunchy but hilariously funny!

Revisado: 01-24-22

This and series 2 are both chock full of laugh-out-loud lines. I listened while cooking, and my family kept looking at me quizzically as I repeatedly burst into laughter. The humor is smart and witty, as it seems only British chick lit is able to achieve, although I know I missed a ton of comedic references to British fast food chains and London suburbs. It presents sex work in a positive light - not trying to recruit anyone, but making the case that it should be respected like any other job - so if you have a problem with that, this isn't for you. However, I found the exploration of the day-to-day headaches of being a dominatrix (so many upfront expenses for whips and handcuffs!) hugely entertaining. The actors were great - comedy is all in the delivery, and you could tell these were experienced comic actors. A whole lot of fun. Can't wait for Season ("series" in British) 3!

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