Helpful Score: 4
I tried to read this book twice. The first time I couldn't get past the second chapter. I then read through some reviews saying this book was funny, so I tried to read it again. I still couldn't get past the third chapter. I think it was the author's wording, the quick dialogue that she used. It didn't grab me the way I was hoping. Maybe the book got funnier, but I will never know. Perhaps others will find the humor in what I didn't. I had high hopes for this one too. The cover grabbed my attention, not only the title but the photo. To put it simply, I was quite disappointed.
Helpful Score: 2
I'm sure there are a few people out there that have had experiences with a neighbor who makes you want to put a note in their mailbox that says, "Dear neighbor, drop dead." This is exactly what Mindy Sherman did to her horribly mean neighbor Beth Diamond.
Mindy is an average overweight wife and mom of three who juggles work, carpooling the kids and the stress of just barely managing not to drown in debt while ducking and dodging mean comments from Beth. Beth and her husband seemingly have it all; new cars, a huge immaculate house and two perfect kids. But all is not as it seems... Beth's marriage is about to fall apart at the seams and she has no real friends to turn to. Suddenly she's apologizing for treating Mindy bad in the past and looking for a shoulder to cry on.
Meanwhile Mindy's own family drama is escalating and they've just learned that Mindy's stepson is coming for a visit which eventually turns into a permanent stay. With everything flipping upside down around her, Mindy channels Oprah and Dr. Phil to help make everything right again.
Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a funny madcap look into the life of a soccer-mom. Just when you think things might be looking up for Mindy, Beth and their families another bad thing happens and you can't help but laugh. I enjoyed reading this book but the ending was just too "storybook" for me to rate it higher. Its a quick two/three day read that I do recommend reading if you have the chance.
Mindy is an average overweight wife and mom of three who juggles work, carpooling the kids and the stress of just barely managing not to drown in debt while ducking and dodging mean comments from Beth. Beth and her husband seemingly have it all; new cars, a huge immaculate house and two perfect kids. But all is not as it seems... Beth's marriage is about to fall apart at the seams and she has no real friends to turn to. Suddenly she's apologizing for treating Mindy bad in the past and looking for a shoulder to cry on.
Meanwhile Mindy's own family drama is escalating and they've just learned that Mindy's stepson is coming for a visit which eventually turns into a permanent stay. With everything flipping upside down around her, Mindy channels Oprah and Dr. Phil to help make everything right again.
Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a funny madcap look into the life of a soccer-mom. Just when you think things might be looking up for Mindy, Beth and their families another bad thing happens and you can't help but laugh. I enjoyed reading this book but the ending was just too "storybook" for me to rate it higher. Its a quick two/three day read that I do recommend reading if you have the chance.
Helpful Score: 2
I started this book and it really took a couple of chapters for me to get into the story. I am glad that I stayed with it because it was a really lovely book.
Mindy and Beth are next door neighbors who are complete opposites. In the beginning, they hate each other. Really hate each other. But circumstances draw them closer and they become best friends.
It is a tale of life - good and bad. Marriages go bad, businesses are failing, but Mindy is an optimist even when things seem bleak.
Lovely story about family, friends, and the dynamics of relationships. I really loved it.
Mindy and Beth are next door neighbors who are complete opposites. In the beginning, they hate each other. Really hate each other. But circumstances draw them closer and they become best friends.
It is a tale of life - good and bad. Marriages go bad, businesses are failing, but Mindy is an optimist even when things seem bleak.
Lovely story about family, friends, and the dynamics of relationships. I really loved it.
Helpful Score: 1
I got this book because I thought it would be hilarious to read about the impossible neighbor. And while, at times, it seemed the author had paid a visit to my neighborhood, the book wasn't as uproariously funny as I had expected.
That being said it was a very good read. I enjoyed all the characters, and the story moved along quickly. Definitely enjoyable!
That being said it was a very good read. I enjoyed all the characters, and the story moved along quickly. Definitely enjoyable!
this was a very quick and enjoyable read, neighbors who think that they are opposites are actually the same.
It's been a while since I've read a book that has made me laugh out loud as much as Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead. Saralee Rosenberg has a quick, breezy humorous style of writing that is almost chic lit (it doesn't have a girl loses boy, girl gets even better boy plot line) but just as much fun to read. South Jersey is not as Prada-loving as Long Island, but there are enough similarities that I could defintely relate to the keeping up with the neighbors mentality.
I even wrote to the author (who graciously responded) that I was positive that she had been on the same ship that I was when my parents took our entire family on a 4 day, 3 night cruise a few years ago. The similarities were spot on. Obviously, what happened on my 4 days in hell were pretty common when the parents are footing the bill.
Although I very much enjoyed the Jewish references, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this story - it could just as easily have been set in an upper class neighborhood in deep Texas with the same two types of neighbors.
You can read this book in a day or two - very quick read.
I even wrote to the author (who graciously responded) that I was positive that she had been on the same ship that I was when my parents took our entire family on a 4 day, 3 night cruise a few years ago. The similarities were spot on. Obviously, what happened on my 4 days in hell were pretty common when the parents are footing the bill.
Although I very much enjoyed the Jewish references, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this story - it could just as easily have been set in an upper class neighborhood in deep Texas with the same two types of neighbors.
You can read this book in a day or two - very quick read.
I actually really liked this book! I read it quickly, and it was light hearted and dramayc and fun, and funny! perfect chic book:) If you need a good read on the beach, or beside the fire, ..def pick this up!
