Helpful Score: 4
I love chick lit, but this book pushed the limits even of the "light read." Zoe Rose is a tad too obviously fictional, not in a cute-like-Amelie way but in a kind of bad-melodrama way. Too many unbelievably accurate, in fact genius, insights about the people around her (like her sister) while she claims to be unawares; too many totally oblivious blind spots about her own life while she claims to be insightful & intelligent & educated. The villains in the book were one-dimensional and thus unbelievable and thus not very interesting. I had to keep deciding again & again whether I wanted to pick up the book and keep reading, or leave it unfinished (and I almost NEVER do that). The writer herself must be an interesting person, and her skillful use of language is what kept me hanging on to the end.
Helpful Score: 3
I tried to get into this book as I wanted a light read. I couldn't get past the first few chapters. The dialog and actions the author had for just-over-1-year-old and a kindergarden-age child were so completely unbelievable, I couldn't focus. That and the main character was painted as so completely and broadly ridiculously inept (seriously, who goes to a new job at a NYC power magazine dressed in the way the author described?) that I couldn't suspend belief long enough to keep reading. After trying to skim a few more chapters I decided a conversation with my significant other was a better way to spend a car ride and gave up on the book.
Helpful Score: 3
I think I'd be going on a limb if I said I enjoyed this book. Lessing left little dialogue to the reader and I found myself saying, "Really, you had to spell that out for me, I could have figured it out." While important, Lessing tried to address too many issues in this book and didn't really do a good job on any of them. I found myself anticipating the end just so I could move onto another book. Sorry Lessing.
Helpful Score: 2
If you like chick lit, this is right up your alley. Light and entertaining
Helpful Score: 2
Some of the events in this book seemed unbelieveable. However, it seemed to all come together in the end. A fast read!
