Search - Do They Wear High Heels In Heaven? (Red Dress Ink)

Do They Wear High Heels In Heaven? (Red Dress Ink)
Larger
Do They Wear High Heels In Heaven? (Red Dress Ink)
Author: Erica Orloff

Book Information
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Book Type: Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780373895359 - ISBN-10: 0373895356
Publication Date: 10/1/2005
Pages: 320

Book Description:
Lily and Michael have been the best of friends since she tried to burn down their apartment building in a failed attempt at cooking. They have weathered bad boyfriends, bad haircuts, the birth of her children, the breakup of her marriage, the emergence of AIDS, and the fall of disco music. Now they are faced with their most demanding challenge.

As a gimmick for Breast Cancer Awareness month, Lily's editor asks her to "get her breasts smashed and write about it." Lily, a humorous New York columnist dreads the mammogram, but nothing prepares her for what they find, and soon she's with the big C -- cancer -- and the battery of chemo and radiation that follows. Her cancer is aggressive stage 4, and she needs to get her affairs in order, including determining who will care for her children -- 15 year old Tara and 8 year old Noah. Neither of them have seen or heard much from their estranged father since he had an affair with a student, dumped the family after Noah's birth, moved to England, and started a new family.

Lily wants Michael to care for them since he has been the father figure in their lives. As her time draws near, she has to convince Michael that he is ready for this responsibility. But is Michael ready to face a life without his best friend?


Orloff has created a poignant story of love, friendship, and death. Each chapter cleverly bounces between Michael and Lily's points of view (interspersed with excerpts from his long-awaited novel and her column). The story reveals a love so pure between two people who although there is no romance between them, are each other's soul mate.

Members who requested this book also requested:


Genres:

Top Member Book Reviews

Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) - Greer, SC wrote on 1/23/2009...

6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Insightful? Yes. Character uses her sense of humor to hide her fear of dying? Yes. Character is worried about what will happen to her child when she dies? Yes. Terrific relationship with male best friend? Yes. Ms. Orloff takes on a difficult subject matter and delivers an emotional and thought provoking read. But, I hate the way she writes. Too many sentences with only three, four or five words, one right after the other. The pace was too choppy and I felt like I was reading a book written for young adults. Ultimately, an uneven read for me.

Ceylan G. (ceylang) - Dallas, TX wrote on 6/12/2007...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was an amazing story of friendship, love, and cancer. I bawled like a baby reading the ending!!! Not your typical chick lit (or RDI) book. Highly recommended!!!

Melanie H. (Melsy626) wrote on 7/5/2006...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

The best chick lit I've read in awhile!!!! It made me laugh out loud and cry like a baby!!!! Definitely a favorite of mine!!!

Eileen D. (Delpita) wrote on 4/30/2006...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

I suppose it's considered to be Chick Lit, but it's defnately not your typical Chick Lit "fluff". It's a very moving story! Keep the tissues handy, because you'll NEED them! What a wonderful book! I could not put this book down, it was THAT good! I think I cried more reading this book, than I did when I read "My Sister's Keeper".

Grace P. (momjovi) wrote on 2/2/2006...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Oh my what a book!!!! If you need a good cry I suggest reading this. I could not put it down!! I became very attached to the characters and thought about them for days afterwards. I highly recommend this book to anyone!!

Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) wrote on 10/27/2007...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

I don't often read "chick lit" romances, just because most of them remind me of an episode of Sex and the City--and I'm not a fan of the show. I am so, so happy that I picked up Erica Orloff's DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN? though, because this story transcends typical "chick lit" books.

Lily has just turned the big 4-0. With two children, the teen-aged Tara and seven-year-old Noah, an ex-husband endearingly called The Spawn of Satan who has a child-bride in London, and a gay best friend, Michael, Lily lives a full life. She's also a columnist for the local newspaper, and even though her dog is now wearing a t-shirt that says "My Bi**h is 40", she has a very fulfilling life.

Her editor at the paper, Joe, wants her to get a mammogram done for Breast Cancer Awareness month. [...].
Except good humor isn't going to get her through this one. There's a spot on her breast that the doctors are worried about, and rightfully so. Lily has cancer, the bad kind that has already spread to her lymph nodes, and life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.

DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN? is, to put it simply, amazing. Filled with laughter, tears (have a box of Kleenex handy!), and the ups and downs of daily life, Erica Orloff has captured everything there is to love, friendship, and tragedy.

One of my favorite chapters in the book is the part where Lily comes up with questions for God, besides the high heels in heaven one. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there cancer, not to mention snakes and cockroaches? Why is a good man hard to find? Is Satan real? Does God really have a problem with gay people? Do dogs go to heaven? Most importantly, why does Lily have to die before she's old?

This book is a winner. The love between Lily and Michael, and that between Lily and her children, is perfectly told. You won't go wrong with this book, and the tears you'll shed while reading it are well worth it.

Mary S. (NJMary63) wrote on 5/9/2006...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a very touching story that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Kat W. (katatonicstate) wrote on 6/30/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was very well-written! Written from two points of view, you really get a good grasp of the characters and how they became who they are. Very touching and a very quick read!

Elle S. (ElleS) wrote on 2/12/2006...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

What a story!

Cancer- such an uncomfortable, subject-

This is a story of Lili, a NY newspaper writer who gets breast cancer and how she tells her story. The story is also told from her
best friend, who happens to be gay, Michael.

It is not glum, or gory or even very sad- it is a light hearted book about love that we share with other people.

I recommend this to anyone.


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Melissa B. (melber) wrote on 8/12/2009...


Very easy read - read in one day! Connected with the characters and wanted to know their story.

Michelle D. (ShellyD77) - NH wrote on 11/6/2008...


This was a cute chick lit tale of a single mom with breast cancer. By the end of the book I was sobbing. Very good story of friendship, love, strength and courage.

Amber S. wrote on 10/18/2008...


I loved this book! It reminded me so much of my grandmother's battle with breast cancer. This book was very moving! You can't help fall in love with characters! Not your average chick lit!!!

Melissa P. (Lissa) wrote on 8/30/2008...


Get a box of tissues for this book!!

Marilynn L. (WildOrchid) wrote on 1/28/2008...


Read it, read it, read it!!!!! It was a beautiful, at times funny, story about family, friendship and love, but mostly about love. Keep the tissues close by. This is a book that I will highly recommend to anyone that will listen.

Irene N. (dilldaise) wrote on 10/7/2007...


Good story. Quick read.

Connie K. (connielk) wrote on 1/27/2007...


A book about a woman who dies of breast cancer and the people she left behind.

Linda S. (tchstroo) wrote on 1/10/2007...


I really enjoyed this book!

Shannon W. (mermaidfairydust) wrote on 12/28/2006...


Good book, funny, but sad too...

Cindy V. (CAV) wrote on 8/27/2006...


not your average chick lit, which was great...this is a touching story!


Book Wiki
Series
Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Real Places
Fictional Places
Important Events
Awards and Honors