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Waking Beauty
Waking Beauty
Author: Elyse Friedman
What would you do if you went to bed ugly, fat, and depressed and woke up the next morning in the body of a goddess? This is exactly the miracle that befalls Allison Penny, who has spent most of her twenty-two years on this earth in a serious slump (to say the least). — Having long since given up on her life, Allison is stuck in an apartment with...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9781400051069
ISBN-10: 1400051061
Publication Date: 6/22/2004
Pages: 256
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 23

3.3 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

jai avatar reviewed Waking Beauty on + 310 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Allison is very ugly but wakes up one day looking like a model. No reason is ever given for this, just that one day she wakes up looking nothing like she used to. The only thing she has lost is her great voice and can no longer sing with the range she had before. Immediately she sets out to see what she can do now that she has outside beauty. This includes getting revenge on those who treated her badly, like her cute but mean roommate and a jerk at the offices she cleans. She also tries out dating - a rich, handsome movie producer and a balding video store clerk. And overall she sees how differently she is treated for her looks. There were some realistic parts, like how ugly people no longer trusted her because of her beauty, but some parts of this book were rather surprising because they were written in a stark, gross/crude way. Actually, I still remember the first line of this book because it is in that vein and used the words "vaginally plumbed". A little bit off putting, but also somehow refreshing because under Allison's beauty there seems to be an undercurrent of bitterness comparing her treatment before and after the change. Allison doesn't buy into the superficiality of being beautiful and manages to make her own choices and her own peace. Very interesting take on the ugly duckling turning into a swan cliche.
reviewed Waking Beauty on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting premise for a book, but it wasn't that well written. There were some funny moments, however.
reviewed Waking Beauty on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you ever felt down about yourself or felt like you didn't exist, read this book and you will see how pretty and needed you are
reviewed Waking Beauty on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Modern day fairy tale about a woman who becomes beautiful overnight. Funny and ironic.
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colie1718 avatar reviewed Waking Beauty on + 70 more book reviews
Light and Airy with a dark undertone. I would consider this book to be chic lit. The main character is heavy and unattractive and then wakes up one day to be the opposite. It is never explained why or how this transition occurs but it doesn't matter because this book is not about that. Not really. It's meant to be devoured by a reader who wants a comfy , funny tale that ask's ...what if?


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