Helpful Score: 3
A very funny read. This is a classic story of how family, although caring, can sometimes stick their noses in where they don't belong and how sometimes, it works out for the best. If you like humor, this is a great book to read.
Helpful Score: 3
Love this book! Very entertaining, fell in love with the characters, was sorry when it was over...........
Helpful Score: 3
From Library Journal
This utterly charming second novel by Cook (Ready To Fall) is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach. Sarah Hurlihy is 40 years old, divorced, and happily teaching preschoolers a multicultural curriculum. But her interfering, overzealous Boston Irish family thinks that she should be dating, and with much love she is pushed into answering a personal ad from a gentleman seeking a lady "who enjoys elegant dining, dancing and the slow bloom of affection"; the clincher is that he's a man who "loves dogs." That man turns out to be the last man on earth any woman would want to date, but Sarah pushes on, slowly falling headlong into the dating game with decidedly mixed results. Meanwhile, Sarah's widowed father has his own dating troubles, brother Michael is deep in marital problems, and sister Carol is having difficulty at home with her temperamental teenage daughter, who turns to her favorite aunt for comfort and body-piercing support. Somehow, they all seem to end up on Sarah's doorstep at the most inopportune moments, keeping the laughs going all the way to the not-quite-storybook-perfect ending. Suitable for all public libraries. Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton
This utterly charming second novel by Cook (Ready To Fall) is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach. Sarah Hurlihy is 40 years old, divorced, and happily teaching preschoolers a multicultural curriculum. But her interfering, overzealous Boston Irish family thinks that she should be dating, and with much love she is pushed into answering a personal ad from a gentleman seeking a lady "who enjoys elegant dining, dancing and the slow bloom of affection"; the clincher is that he's a man who "loves dogs." That man turns out to be the last man on earth any woman would want to date, but Sarah pushes on, slowly falling headlong into the dating game with decidedly mixed results. Meanwhile, Sarah's widowed father has his own dating troubles, brother Michael is deep in marital problems, and sister Carol is having difficulty at home with her temperamental teenage daughter, who turns to her favorite aunt for comfort and body-piercing support. Somehow, they all seem to end up on Sarah's doorstep at the most inopportune moments, keeping the laughs going all the way to the not-quite-storybook-perfect ending. Suitable for all public libraries. Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton
Helpful Score: 2
Made into a movie, the book is a good read. Sarah, its herioine, is a down to earth woman whose divorce has left her wondering if there is life after marriage. Determined to find out, she gets back into dating--with her large, Irish family alternately helping and complicating things. Funny, true to life, leaves you wanting more.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was fun to read, and, happily, so much better than the movie (no surprise there!)
Helpful Score: 2
great story fast read.
Helpful Score: 2
I'm afraid I liked the movie better.
Helpful Score: 2
Read the book then rent the DVD I found the book funnier and much more interesting.
Helpful Score: 2
A great, entertaining read.
Helpful Score: 2
What an adorable book! It was sweet and funny, gently poking fun at how pathetic single life can be, but I liked the movie better.
Helpful Score: 2
I read this before it was a movie, the book is so much better.
Helpful Score: 1
Loved it! funny.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a really cute story. Most chick lit is based on the younger woman, which I'm not anymore so.... I could releate to everything going wrong at once. Good read.
Helpful Score: 1
In this comic romance, fortyish divorcee Sarah Hurlihy starts a relationship with an unlikely man whom she meets through a personal ad. Meanwhile, Sarah's divorced dad and married brother each have their own relationship travails, and she does her best to advise them
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book many years before the movie & loved it then. It was a bonus that John Cusack played Jake in the movie!
Helpful Score: 1
Cute. It was a quick read and good break for some heavier books.
Makes you believe in the basic good intents of people.
Makes you believe in the basic good intents of people.
Helpful Score: 1
Somewhat like the movie, but not really. I think I liked the movie better because I like looking at John Cusack. The story itself was cute.
Helpful Score: 1
It was an average book. Some places were a little slow, but overall a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a funny, quick, easy read.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is an absolute joy! I rarely laugh out loud at a book, but this one did it. It also has some touching moments. Any woman who has ever been in the "dating scene" will love this book. What a gem!!!
This might be a weird criticism to some, but I expected more dogs in this book. She didn't even own one! By the way, I had the same problem with the movie. Don't promise me dogs unless you're going to give me dogs.
Helpful Score: 1
An enjoyable chick-lit novel. I didn't see the movie, because the actors in it don't match up with my idea of the characters at all.
This was such a good book. I could identify with this. She is someone that could be your best friend.
Very funny! Quick No-brainer.
Fairly light reading - good for summer. I haven't seen the movie, but this book moves fairly fast and is a cute romance!
Cute. Better than the movie. Easy reading about a woman who has a big family always interferring, trying to find her love.
A laugh-out-loud novel....a light and lively read for anyone who has tried to reenter the dating scene---or tied to "fix up" somebody else. "Voluptuous, sensuous, alluring and fun. Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must love dogs.
Loved the book, loved the movie!!!
Cute,fun book.....
Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must love dogs.
3 stars = enjoyed reading this book. It was a cute book, good read for a plane ride. Didn't see the movie but based on the book, I wanted to.
This is a delight! Laugh your way through this charming romance...and this is an autographed copy.
I actually enjoyed the movie better than the book.
Cute book. I got a real kick out of reading this book, as I also live in "Marshbury" where this book takes place, and the author has her home.
An amusing novel about love and dating and family relationships.
A fun story about relationships, familial and romantic.
Very funny and romantic story. Just like the movie!
Hilda
Hilda
I love this book
Good book.
Cute, quick little story but just not my cup of tea. I'll stick with my mystery and thrillers.
The movie really doesn't do this book justice. It leaves out a lot of the quirciness of the characters and some of the funniest parts in the plot. I loved the book and the movie was okay.
Forty-year-old Sarah Hurlihy, a divorced preschool teacher whose life is her classroom, is about to meet her first date in more then a decade. It was the "Loves Dogs" that hooked her in the personal ad, and now she is scanning her neighborhood cafe for the man with a yellow rose. And find him she does, but he's the last person on earth she expects to see.....
A very funny book! I really loved this one.
Loved it - a warm, funny romantic story - and much better than the movie! Great story about families and change.
This was a really fun story and easy book to read....lots of humor..highly recommend for a light fast read.
Pleasant and quick read, even though I myself am not a dog lover. Go figure...
I really enjoyed this book and found it very funny. I related to many of the characters and it also reminded me of my prior dating days in between my starter marriage divorce and 2nd marriage when I was looking for Mr. right in all the wrong places.
Laugh out loud funny in parts, this book is fun! The movie is a great adaptation, but the book is worth a read.
so fun much better than than the movie. Very much a boston story.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read, and very funny. Can't wait to see the movie now.
I loved this book! It was an easy read and very entertaining. Now I need to see the movie!
Slightly less fluff than the movie, but fun to read
Very enjoyable.
A humorous look at a barely 40 divorced woman getting back into the dating scene. Between her new dating status and her family, there's never a dull moment. The pages practically turn themselves.
Funny, romantic comedy.
Really cute, now I have to rent the movie!
A cute quick read. Perfect for lunch hour entertainment. This book is far more about family relationships than true romance.
A cute and and charming story.
Cute book....quick summer read.
A funny, quick read!
Cute book. Fast read. I recommend.
I loved this book! Really rooted for the heroine.
A light hearted, fun read, with at least a couple of laugh-out-loud scenes.
This was a first read of this author...I liked it very much..a real page turner..
I loved this book....I thought it was well written and funny.
Cute, easy, fast read. Being a preschool teacher myself, I could relate to lots of it-this would be a great book for the beach or pool. I enjoy Claire Cook's writing-and will read more of her work.
I HOPE THE MOVIE IS AS GOOD AS THE BOOK. A GOOD FAST READ. DEFINITELY CHIC LIT.
I love dogs so, of course, couldn't resist buying this one even though I knew very little about what it contained inside its pages. Turns out I picked a winner as this book was humorous and oh-so-charming. It's about a 40ish divorced woman who decides its time to start dating again (actually, I believe it was one of many siblings who decided it was time for her to find a new love). I enjoyed this book because the heroine isn't a fashion obsessed witch (for a change) and was actually a nice, down-to-earth chick who was scraping to make ends meet with two normal jobs (a pre-school teacher & an after-school teacher). Lots of fun and highly recommended for those looking for a love story with a more mature (and likable) heroine than typical.
This book is laugh out loud funny. Wonderful story, excellent writing. I loved this book!
very funny read!
Fun book - not my usual choice, but I enjoyed reading it. The author has a nice sense of humor.
Book Description
Claire Cook's beguilingly original Ready to Fall struck a vibrant chord with its "perky take on midlife angst" (Publishers Weekly). In Must Love Dogs she gives us a contemporary Everywoman in a big rollicking south-of-Boston Irish family-a zany novel with the flavor of Nora Ephron, Susan Isaacs, and Jeanne Ray's Julie and Romeo.
Forty-year-old Sarah Hurlihy, a divorced preschool teacher whose life is her classroom, is about to meet her first date in more than a decade. It was the "Loves Dogs" that hooked her in the personal ad, and now she is scanning her neighborhood café for the man with a yellow rose. And find him she does, but he's the last person on earth she expects to find there . . .
Claire Cook's beguilingly original Ready to Fall struck a vibrant chord with its "perky take on midlife angst" (Publishers Weekly). In Must Love Dogs she gives us a contemporary Everywoman in a big rollicking south-of-Boston Irish family-a zany novel with the flavor of Nora Ephron, Susan Isaacs, and Jeanne Ray's Julie and Romeo.
Forty-year-old Sarah Hurlihy, a divorced preschool teacher whose life is her classroom, is about to meet her first date in more than a decade. It was the "Loves Dogs" that hooked her in the personal ad, and now she is scanning her neighborhood café for the man with a yellow rose. And find him she does, but he's the last person on earth she expects to find there . . .
haven't seen the movie, but this was a very quick read - you could pick the outcome from the beginning, and many of the characters were two dimensional, but a fun beach book
Good book
This was a great book, that gets you from the first page..
Good book. One I could relate to, and a fun main character. Quick read. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. I felt that it didn't give me the closure I was looking for.
Wonderfully funny and great read!
Great fun read! This couldn't have came along at a better time for me to read. A fun and hopeful read.
very funny! perfect book to relax with & laugh!!
A fast read and funny book! The slightly crazy big Irish family reminds me very much of my own!
I couldn't put this one down!
voluptuous, sensous, alluring,and fun. barely 40dwf seeks special man to share starlit nights. must love dogs.
A terrific read, haven't seen the movie yet.
Good Chik Lit
Really cute easy-to-read story. And you don't have to be a dog lover to laugh out loud.
Light hearted and full of fun and entertainment. If you liked the movie, you will love the book!
I liked it alot, very cute!
This is a delightful, funny and witty book. I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie, and I'm glad I did. Definitely will read more by this author.
