Sandi P

This plotline is all kinds of clever

Revisado: 08-04-22

I don’t do reviews of audiobooks very often, but I loved this book so much I felt compelled. At first I wasn’t exactly sure where the story was going, but once I got into it I was completely fascinated, and the twists and turns that followed were so clever. This author is really creative. This story definitely goes beyond your average ChickLit fare. My only beef with the narration was that Evanna Lynch, who I recognized right away as the actress who played Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter, was voicing the wrong character. Evanna has a very ethereal voice as fans of the movie will know, and yet they gave her the badass character of Siobhan to voice, and it didn’t work. The character of Jane would’ve been perfect for Evanna Lynch‘s voice, because that character WAS kind of shy and ethereal. So for me, that was a glaring miss. But otherwise, a fabulous listen. Currently seeking out other books by the author.

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Riveting if you’re a tv freak

Revisado: 10-15-21

I read some reviews where people said “oh this is really just inside stuff and if you’re not really that into TV you won’t be able to follow.” Well duh, why are you reading it then, or listening to it? If you are into TV, this, the second of Bill Carter’s late night books, is absolutely riveting. I liked it even more than his first one, which dealt with Leno versus Letterman. This one (Leno vs Conan) had way more twists and turns, and frankly it read like a spy novel. Even though I lived through this era, I don’t remember what happened, so I had to keep myself from googling what actually did happen. Although I did pull up clips that were mentioned in the book. Carter’s breadth of research is just astounding, I have no idea how he got as much insider info as he actually did. And the narrator is crisp and clear and highly appropriate for this kind of work. Again, if you are into TV and all of the interesting machinations surrounding it behind the scenes, this is the book for you

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One of the best bios I’ve ever read

Revisado: 05-07-21

...or I should say listened to. This book is absolutely riveting - Nichols was epically talented, but like many creative people, also had his demons. The book is a fascinating look at a fascinating man who changed the worlds of comedy, theater and movies. Could. Not. Stop. Listening! And CANNOT say enough about the narrator. Newbern is hands down the best bio reader I’ve had the privilege to listen to. And I’ve listened to many! You would swear he knew Nichols personally. Never a false note. Highly recommend.

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Couldn’t stop listening!

Revisado: 06-08-20

There are so many twists and turns in this one that I was hooked. I will say I wonder what happened in this poor author’s own marriage or relationship, because ALL her books seem to center on getting revenge on a cheating ex! But no matter - the characters are well-drawn, the plot unpredictable, and the reader spot on. Loved it!

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A little simplistic

Revisado: 05-17-20

The plot line was a little predictable and simplistic, and not very realistic. Not that I ever expect chicklit to be realistic so I guess that isn’t really a valid criticism LOL. But I found several things ridiculously implausible, starting with the idea that three women who were connected to the same man would randomly meet (in Central Park no less, which is huge) and then become friends. Um, no. And equally difficult to believe this woman was running a billion dollar enterprise. She seemed to only interact with her assistant, and even with her, not very often. She didn’t seem to be very busy - seemed more like an Etsy seller! I also didn’t buy that Oliver wouldn’t connect the dots of a woman named Naomi with red hair who didn’t like him, to a girl named Naomi with red hair who actually lived in his house when they were younger. Finally, the constant naming of designer brands every two seconds was extremely grating. “She picked up her YSL bag, looking at her Cartier watch while putting on her Dolce and Gabbana coat and Chanel sunglasses and listening to her Jimmy Choo heels clicking in the floor...” Seriously? Ok we get it, she has money. But is this a novel or a Nieman Marcus catalog?

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The good, the bad and the...huh?

Revisado: 09-09-19

First, the good: this is a good read, with an original storyline, great well-drawn characters and dialogue, and the plot zips along to a satisfying conclusion. You won’t bs disappointed if you’re a fan of romantic chick lit.

The bad: my one beef here (and really, it’s an annoyance, not a deal-breaker) is that the intimate scenes seem a bit gratuitous at times - but worse than this is that the characters, that the author has taken care to develop, turn into completely different people during these scenes. The character of Travis, who we are led to believe is a caring individual who has genuine, romantic, loving feelings for the character of Georgie, turns into a domineering jerk, spewing positively cringeworthy dialogue from a cheap porn film. This behavior should have earned him a slap across the face by Georgie...but this character - who whines throughout the book about not being respected by anyone as a mature, strong, independent woman - suddenly turns into a submissive doormat during sex. It was as though the author was suddenly writing the “shades of grey” series.

The...huh? Again, minor point but - what was with the title “Fix Her Up” (“Love wasn’t in the blueprints...”) and the illustration of the two characters on a ladder? This story has nothing to do with home renovation except for Georgie’s family’s business- a business that Georgie has nothing to do with! And although Travis briefly worked for that business - very briefly - the two of them were never on a ladder, nor looking at blueprints lol. The story was more about...baseball. And kids’ parties. Bizarre.

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Was this written by a middle schooler?

Revisado: 08-11-19

I’m seriously at a loss as to how this book ever got published. It’s that bad. It really does appear to have been written by a seventh grader - and the constant invoking of the same movies and actors and scenes over and over and OVER is just....cringeworthy (something a seventh grader writing a story for English class would do - and would be given a C for her efforts).

The story is so predictable you can see every cliched plot point coming from a mile away. And by plot points, I mean ridiculously convenient plot points. The main character’s uncle just happens to know the director of a film, for starters (insert eye roll here). The author also appears to have very little knowledge of the way the film industry works, if early in the story two of the characters strolling onto a movie set is any indication. That would never happen. You’d be blocked before you ever got near the place. (Surprising that this author, who name checks ” Nottinghill,” would not have remembered Hugh Grant’s difficulty doing just that). It is also completely ridiculous that the main character is supposed to be a famous movie star, but has no “people. “Yes, he is supposed to be a down to earth regular guy, but every actor of that caliber has publicists and handlers and agents and managers. And If said movie star does happen to implausibly hang out with some local girl he met on a movie set, his phone would be going off every two seconds with calls from all those people, unless he turned it off. Such is the life of a celebrity - this guy’s life has about as much going on in it as an accountant.

The entire thing is a contrived, embarrassing, cliched mess and the narrator, who reads Annie’s voice as though the character is about ten years old, doesn’t help. Avoid at all costs. Nora Ephron she’s not.

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Another hit, with one gripe

Revisado: 01-09-19

Schorr has scored again, with the next in her “girl” series. One again I love the characters and the pop culture references sprinkled throughout (although I question whether Project Runway’s “Kelly from the Deli” would ever use the word “ magnifique” lol). Again, it’s fun to get a peek inside the world of a chick lit writer and all the publishing world goings-on. An altogether fun read, storyline and great narrator. One gripe - although Schorr’s bio says she’s a native New Yorker, her dialogue is peppered with British colloquialisms. No New Yorker I know (I grew up in New Jersey) would ever use the word “knackered” or say someone “pulled a face” or that things were “on offer” on a menu. These British terms stick out like sore thumbs and are very distracting. Imagine a southern writer setting a book in London with Londoners saying “Y’all” and you get my drift. Seriously what is up with that? But otherwise...Bravo!!

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Her books all have the same plot

Revisado: 11-18-18

I loved the first book I read of hers, “Faking Friend.” So I picked this one next. But then I realized that every single book she writes is about cheating husbands/boyfriends and their wives/girlfriends getting revenge on them without them knowing they’re doing it.. Her characters are great, but she seriously needs another plot line. If you like reading multiple books on getting revenge on cheating significant others then by all means read all of hers but I’m moving on.

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Terrific - except for one small detail...

Revisado: 02-17-18

Let me start by saying I loved the story, loved the narrator, thoroughly enjoyed it. The New York setting is fun and enchanting, the characters well-drawn, and the storyline has some good twists. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

My one issue and the reason for the four stars on “overall”? I could tell from the get-go that the writer was British, and the constant Britishisms were jarring and distracting. Why set the book on New York, with American characters, one who was raised in Brooklyn, and have them say things no American would utter, like “in hospital” instead of “in the hospital,” “queuing up” instead of “lining up,” “diary” instead of “calendar,” “motorbike” instead of “motorcycle” “top of the range” instead of “top of the line” “wind her up,” “messing her around” - I’m from New Jersey, and trust me, no one - whether from Maine or NY, uses those expressions. To me it totally distracted me from the story. Wouldn’t it have been simple for the author to have an American read the story before publishing and point those things out? I don’t get it. I’d say the same thing to an American author setting her story in the UK with British characters who say “trunk” instead of “boot” or “trash can” instead if “waste bin” - surely this would be jarring to British readers.

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