Helpful Score: 4
OK chicklit. Main characters are a little stereotypical and the book is fairly, although not completely, predictable. Would be alright for a beach read or something light if you're in the mood for that.
Helpful Score: 3
If you are the "smart" one instead of the "pretty" one, I think you will enjoy this book a lot more. I actually found enough truth in this fiction work to have painful moments. The author does an engaging job of insightfully sharing how much sibling labels can impact our adult self-perceptions and behaviors.
Yes, the outcome is a little too predictable and probably not very realistic. But I found it both an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Yes, the outcome is a little too predictable and probably not very realistic. But I found it both an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this book. I could go on for days about how much I enjoyed reading this book. I do not have any siblings, but the bond they have is so heartwarming it didn't matter. I hope there will be a sequel.
Helpful Score: 1
To strangers, Ava and Lauren Nickerson could not be more similar and some would even go as far as to call them twins. But to Ava, they are worlds apart. Lauren, the younger sister, is beautiful and carefree, attracting men wherever she goes. Thanks to her ravenous shopping habits, Lauren is also in debt and about to evicted from her apartment. Ava, on the other hand, is a successful lawyer and is as conservative and responsible as they come. She lives for her job, does not see the purpose in being fashionable or wearing make-up, and has not had a date since law school.
When Ava tricks Lauren into sitting down with a debt counselor, Lauren swears to get back at her sister. She finds just such an opportunity when she comes across a document her parents jokingly drew up years ago, betrothing Ava to their friends' son, Russell Markowitz. Lauren tracks down Russell, a charming but doubly-divorced bachelor who finds the entire engagement contract amusing and is only too happy to play along. Ava is convinced that Russel is only sticking around for Lauren and cannot believe that someone like him would be be even remotely interested in someone plain like her. But, before long, Lauren's hijinks are throwing the "engaged" pair together in unexpected ways and even Ava is forced to admit that there is more to the whole contract than meets the eye...
A charming addition to chick lit, "The Smart One and the Pretty One" is entertaining, engrossing and a definitely fun read for the beach or a long flight. LaZebnik's writing style is light and chick lit fluffy; the book is not serious literature nor does it pretend to be. At times, I wished that LaZebnik was not so narrowly focused on the relationship between Ava and Russel. Certain story lines could have been better developed or brought to a more satisfying end, such as Lauren's own romantic relationship, but "The Smart One and the Pretty One" kept me interested and intrigued regardless.
When Ava tricks Lauren into sitting down with a debt counselor, Lauren swears to get back at her sister. She finds just such an opportunity when she comes across a document her parents jokingly drew up years ago, betrothing Ava to their friends' son, Russell Markowitz. Lauren tracks down Russell, a charming but doubly-divorced bachelor who finds the entire engagement contract amusing and is only too happy to play along. Ava is convinced that Russel is only sticking around for Lauren and cannot believe that someone like him would be be even remotely interested in someone plain like her. But, before long, Lauren's hijinks are throwing the "engaged" pair together in unexpected ways and even Ava is forced to admit that there is more to the whole contract than meets the eye...
A charming addition to chick lit, "The Smart One and the Pretty One" is entertaining, engrossing and a definitely fun read for the beach or a long flight. LaZebnik's writing style is light and chick lit fluffy; the book is not serious literature nor does it pretend to be. At times, I wished that LaZebnik was not so narrowly focused on the relationship between Ava and Russel. Certain story lines could have been better developed or brought to a more satisfying end, such as Lauren's own romantic relationship, but "The Smart One and the Pretty One" kept me interested and intrigued regardless.
No matter how old we are or how far we travel whenever we return to our first family we often revert to the old familial roles. Like an oldie but goodie tune sung slightly off key grown men and women transform into âthe babyâ or âthe favoriteâ as soon as they re-enter their childhood homes. And few familial relationships are as complex as the sister bond.
In The Smart One and the Pretty One author Claire La Zebnik spins a delicious tale of adult sisters who come to appreciate that they are more than their childhood labels. The twentysomething Nickerson sisters reunite due to personal crises: their mother has cancer and sister Lauren is in dire financial straits. The sisters quickly resume their respective roles as the âsmart oneâ (Ava) and the âpretty oneâ (Lauren). Ava, an attorney, has a successful career and money in the bank, but hasn't had a serious romantic relationship in years. Lauren, an unemployed clothes buyer, dresses stylishly and is never long without a new guy on her arm, but is homeless and has creditors chasing her for unpaid debts. While both sisters love and support each other, they believe that they can âfix âthe other sister. To that end Ava corrals Lauren into cleaning up her financial mess, while Lauren plays matchmaker for the reluctant Ava.
While both sisters have romantic entanglements, the men are supporting players to the sister relationship. The author even includes her own personal sister Hall of Fame at the back of the book: Little Women's the March sisters; The Simspson's Bouvier sisters; the real-life Brontes; Pride and Prejudice's the Bennet sisters; and Greek mythology's the Gorgon sisters.
The Smart One and the Pretty One is witty chick-lit fare with a meaningful twist!
Publisher: 5 Spot (September 10, 2008), 304 pages
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of Hachette Book Group.
In The Smart One and the Pretty One author Claire La Zebnik spins a delicious tale of adult sisters who come to appreciate that they are more than their childhood labels. The twentysomething Nickerson sisters reunite due to personal crises: their mother has cancer and sister Lauren is in dire financial straits. The sisters quickly resume their respective roles as the âsmart oneâ (Ava) and the âpretty oneâ (Lauren). Ava, an attorney, has a successful career and money in the bank, but hasn't had a serious romantic relationship in years. Lauren, an unemployed clothes buyer, dresses stylishly and is never long without a new guy on her arm, but is homeless and has creditors chasing her for unpaid debts. While both sisters love and support each other, they believe that they can âfix âthe other sister. To that end Ava corrals Lauren into cleaning up her financial mess, while Lauren plays matchmaker for the reluctant Ava.
While both sisters have romantic entanglements, the men are supporting players to the sister relationship. The author even includes her own personal sister Hall of Fame at the back of the book: Little Women's the March sisters; The Simspson's Bouvier sisters; the real-life Brontes; Pride and Prejudice's the Bennet sisters; and Greek mythology's the Gorgon sisters.
The Smart One and the Pretty One is witty chick-lit fare with a meaningful twist!
Publisher: 5 Spot (September 10, 2008), 304 pages
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of Hachette Book Group.
Perfect mindless read for traveling or a night in. Jessica W's review sums up the book: stereotypical characters, almost predictable plot, not a great novel but enough to capture attention.
A good read to get ur mind off the real world. I didn't like the ending.
I hadn't read anything by this author before, but really enjoyed this book. It is a light book, perfect for a summetime read. You can relate to the characters, who are sisters!
This is a nice, easy read. Funny, but not laugh out loud funny.
Really liked the story line.
Absolutely Absolutely looooved this book. Very good if you love chicklit. I don't have any sisters and it still resonated well for me. Finished it in two days-- definitely a quick read if you're a chicklit addict like I am. :)
Easy summer read but it keeps you interested and entertained. Good book for a beach vacation!
