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Kendall's managed to wrangle her grandmother's house free and clear except for the rules. No male roommates. But that's ok; with the right ad she'll pull in some girls, their rent and, if she's lucky, she won't have to go to work any time soon. For their part, Anna, Lelani, and Megan all have their reasons for wanting to move in: Anna has got to get out from under her overprotective parents; Lelani can't take another day in her aunt's tiny crackerbox house overflowing with toddlers and Megan needs a place free of her current roommate from Hades. Though they come with assorted extra baggage filled with broken hearts and dreams, they will discover they also have a vast array of hidden strengths. As they struggle to become the women they want to be, they'll find new hope, and maybe even Kendall will learn a thing or two about life, love and the true meaning of friendship.
Average Rating:
Rating:
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This is the first book I have ready by Melody Carlson and found it to be truly enjoyable. The characters are well created and ones that you care about. This was a quick read and thoroughly delightful. Look forward to reading more by this author.
Rating:
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I started off this series intending to read just this book for the day, and then ended up reading the entire series in less than 24 hours. It's THAT good, trust me. What I've always enjoyed about Melody Carlson's books is unique and fresh and just keeps you wanting more. While her stories may have Christian characters and do have faith elements sprinkled throughout, they are not preachy nor fall into the stereotypical Christian fiction trap.
I think what I liked best about this book was that I could totally relate to the main characters (well 3 out of 4). They are all the same age as me and are in the same stage of life as I'm in. It wasn't that long ago that I was in the same situation concerning job and trying to find a place to live on my own. I enjoyed reading about their adventures and getting to know them. Megan, Anna and Lelani are three different girls with very distinct personalities yet they all blend very well together. They get along almost immediately from the start yet it's not fake friendships. They have a take charge attitude and since they are also businesswomen they are able to negotiate and make deals when needed. I also appreciated the diversity of the cast. It's refreshing to see this in Christian fiction and Melody is one of the key contributors to that. The romance in this book is light and not really a main factor but there's just enough to keep things interesting.
Kendall, on the other hand, completely turned me off from the start. I know I shouldn't be judgmental on someone because of their looks but right from the moment Kendall was described I didn't like her. Then her attitude, actions and personality just validated my I wanted to slap Kendall so bad while reading this book. She was one of the most stuck up, spoiled, lazy, clueless person I have read in a book. Honestly, I had to put down the book and scream during certain scenes. She is the type of character that would fit right at home on a show like The Hills or just be paparazzi fodder. She just annoyed me so much that I just wanted her to be gone. Since I have read the other books in the series that she does change but it's a long and slow process
Overall I really enjoyed this book. They are perfect for the twenty something group but even if you aren't that age, you'll enjoy the story. The relationship between each girl and her mother plays a key role throughout the entire series and in this book you begin to see glimpses of how each girl is shaped because of her mother. It's a fun, light quick read and once you start this book you're going to want to read the other so be sure to have the rest of the series on hand! This book is probably one of my favorite chick lit series of the year. HIGHLY recommended.
Rating:
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I just finished reading this first book of the series - what a light, fun read! I was led to find the book from a thread on the Kindle discussion board on free books.
This is just the kind of story I want to take a break from my usual heavier spy-drama-thriller reading. I enjoy reading stories of female friendships, and this one sets the stage for a growing set of relationships that promise more fun to come.
There were a small number of formatting goofs in the book; certainly not enough to take away from the enjoyment of the story.
Rating:
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When I got the book in the mail, I opened it up and was just going to give it a cursory glance before putting it down to read later. I could not do that. In fact I could not go to bed that night until I finished the book. Thankfully I finished it by 2am so I was able to get a little bit of sleep before getting up for work later that morning.
To say I relate to this book is a mild understatement. I've had good roommates and I've had bad roommates. Thankfully I've never had a roommate that was as self-absorbed as Kendall is. You will find yourself frustrated at her actions while hoping that she finds the change she so desperately needs.
Carlson's use of what I have recently found is called Deep Point of View is captivating, making one feel like she is in the middle of the action - watching as Megan is ripping up carpet, or as Anna is dealing with a charming co-worker, or Lelani is dealing with family. All four characters are well developed - their actions true to their personalities and backgrounds. The setting is fun and the light hints of romance are engaging. Each character gets her chance to tell her story during the course of the novel.
The second book, Let Them Eat Fruitcake, comes out in September. Is it September yet?
Rating:
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PROS
-A fun read with interesting enough characters and premise.
-I especially found the Megan and Anna characters to be especially well-portrayed and realistic.
CONS
-A little too much high-end product placement for my taste (Prada purses, Nordstrom shopping trips, etc.)
-The author tends not to use "show, don't tell"--I think it would have been interesting to see more action and little nuances than to have the author state everything.
-Sometimes this book comes off as a soap opera. At one point, Lelani's uncle by marriage comes onto her in a way that is random and schlocky.
Lelani's "big secret" is played out in similar fashion.
-Kendall is a completely stereotypical blonde "Barbie doll" lazy rich girl with few redeeming qualities.
-The Christian element is barely there, which was kind of disappointing for me, although the book is generally fairly clean.
Overall, not flawless but far from awful. Light, fluffy, and a slight touch of melodrama.
