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Smart vs. Pretty
Smart vs Pretty
Author: Valerie Frankel
Out-of-work urban professional Francesca Greenfield has always known that she was the "smart" sister.  Amanda was the soft and lovely one who, from the beginning, had always garnered most of the attention -- and all the dates.  Now they've been thrown together in a last-ditch effort to save the family coffeehouse business...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780380805426
ISBN-10: 0380805421
Publication Date: 2/1/2000
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 65

3.2 stars, based on 65 ratings
Publisher: Avon Trade
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 80 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Good representation of the relationship between sisters of a close age.
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't relate to the characters in this book so i though it was ok, a friend of mine read it a liked it a lot.
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 377 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Too silly for my liking...
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 337 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Two sisters fight to keep their family heritage - a coffee shop - from going under. Not the best chick-lit I've ever read, just okay.
Read All 15 Book Reviews of "Smart vs Pretty"

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sharalsbooks avatar reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 259 more book reviews
This book has been languishing on my TBR pile for quite a while and is written by a new to me author. I enjoyed the premise of this story taking place in a coffeehouse. What the book description failed to convey to me was that when the story begins, Francesca aka Frank and Amanda are already running the coffeehouse and have been a while. Unfortunately, the business is failing fast and they are facing foreclosure and becoming unemployed as well as homeless.

Frank and Amanda are complete opposites. Frank is pessimistic and cynical. Shes been burned by love and is carrying huge quantities of guilt over the death of their parents. As the older sister, she feels she has to shoulder the responsibility of everything and she resents the way Amanda seems to stroll through life without a worry or care in the world.

Amanda is more trusting and accepting of strangers. She practices I Ching divination, tossing pennies on the table to advise her on matters of importance. Amanda doesnt appear to be burdened with the stress that plagues her sister. She appears friendlier and happier, though it appears, at times, she is unable to separate business from pleasure.

As complex as they both are, I felt they complemented each other perfectly and I enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve and strengthen. This story had a lot of interesting supporting characters. Clarissa, the grad student who takes Frank and Amanda under her wing to help them save the business proved me right as someone who isnt all they claim to be. Matt, the anti-social, anti-establishment outspoken employee surprised me. He comes across as a slacker but turns out to be that and so much more.

This story is about so much more than sisters and sibling rivalry. Theres romance, murder, mysterious coffee beans, unpaid debts, revenge, dishonesty and slander. It seems like a lot to juggle and understand, but the story worked. Some of the dialogue is choppy, but was easy to overlook once I got focused on the story and wanting to know what would happen next. There are better chick-lit books out there, but this one turned out to be a surprise for me. I recommend it and will be anticipating reading more from this author.
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 9 more book reviews
Fun book about sisers, murder, love, and coffee!!
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 23 more book reviews
When their coffee shop begins to loose money from the new Starbucks next door, too sisters re-do the entire shop...
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 109 more book reviews
A story of 2 sisters and how they deal with life, love, and each other. Fun read!
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 74 more book reviews
Fun mystery in the Chick-Mystery genre, along with sibling rivalry, how-do-I-fit-in and more!
reviewed Smart vs. Pretty on + 41 more book reviews
My sister and I both enjoyed this book about two sisters who have always thought of themselves as the Smart one and the Pretty one--if you have a sister you're close to, this will probably make you laugh, too!


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