User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
So far this book is like a martini topped with mini marshmallows.
Update: I'm past the halfway point and the book is now a martini topped with marshmallows poured over a steaming pile of dog excrement.
Update the second: I retract my earlier statement, as it is demeaning to the martini. Martinis are fabulous and should never be associated with dreck like this. It is, however, like marshmallow-dotted dog poopie, as it is cloyingly sweet, fluffy, and a real stinkeroo.
Update the third: WARNING. I am not going to mark this review as spoilerific, because I'm assuming that after the above comments no one wants to read the book anyway. And if you do still plan to read this, well then, you're an idiot and deserve to be spoiled.
Adriana, Leigh, and Emmy are best friends in New York who are about to turn thirty. Adriana is the wealthy daughter of a former supermodel (even though the term "supermodel" wasn't really coined until the nineties), has no job, lives in her parents' NY penthouse apartment, and sleeps with any man who looks at her. Not because she's insecure, mind you. She's just
that beautiful. Leigh is a book editor with the perfect apartment and sportscaster boyfriend but she's suffering from panic attacks and some kind of strange OCD-like symptoms. Emmy is a serial monogamist who has just broken up with her boyfriend of 5 years.
The girls decide to shake things up. Adriana pledges to settle down within a year, Emmy wants to whore it up all across the globe, and Leigh wants to do something (she just doesn't know what).
The novel alternates between characters. Adriana whines about no one taking her seriously, Leigh whines about her job and her boyfriend, and Emmy whines both about wanting to have random sex and not thinking she can go through with having random sex.
The biggest problem I have with this book, beyond the basic boring insipdness of the plot, is that Weisberger doesn't seem to know her characters. They are not only underdeveloped but they constantly contradict themselves. Adriana is oh-so-cool that men want her and women want to be her, yet she very uncooly gushes over Salma Hayek, "Brangelina," and, inexplicably for someone who doesn't want children, Angelina's son Maddox.
Leigh isn't in love with her boyfriend (who later becomes her fiance) but Weisberger makes a point of telling us that while she doesn't want to have sex with him, she isn't repulsed by his touch, either. The significance of this revelation is never explained. When she later and very predictably has sex with one of the married authors she's editing, she feels exhilarated in one sentence and in the next, with no explanation for the mood change, is angry/shamed/insecure. She is so upset that the author is married, yet when it is revealed that he only married his wife so she could get her green card, she no longer cares that he has no plans to get a divorce.
Emmy insists all over the place that she's ready to give up her monogamous ways and slut it up with at least one man from each continent (she travels for work) but this isn't really what she wants to do, nor is she very good at it. Later, one of the girls comments that Emmy has slept with every strange man she'd met over the past year, when in reality she only slept with three. She's also so unaware of herself that she can't figure out why she scares off a would-be one night stand by asking him if he wants children.
It would have been much more interesting if Weisberger had given a reason for these inconsistencies, such as the characters having an internal struggle over doing what they want to do and doing what everyone expects of them. I suspect this was Weisberger's intention but she never really made it clear which version was the facade and which was the real girl, especially in Adriana's case.
It also wasn't very believable that these girls were best friends. When Leigh calls Emmy to tell her of her engagement, she tells Emmy flat out that she doesn't think she's in love with her fiance but all Emmy wants to talk about is the proposal and the ring. A real best friend would have jumped all over it and told her friend that she shouldn't marry a man she doesn't love. It also isn't believable that Emmy and Adriana wouldn't confide their problems to each other.
There are also huge holes in the action. The three girls go on vacation to Aruba, ostensibly to give Emmy the opportunity to sleep with someone, but the narrative ends just as she meets someone and jumps ahead several days, and the result of their Aruba trip is only mentioned in passing several pages later. The lengthy description of their flight to the island is utterly pointless.
The ending is so contrived and predictable that one can only assume Weisberger was up against the deadline, couldn't figure out how to end it, and just wrapped everything up without any creativity whatsoever.
I'm pretty pissed off that I paid for this book, and that I've contributed to its sales as it will surely be a best seller. I can only hope that people will begin to see that
The Devil Wears Prada was an anomaly, and that Weisberger can't write interesting fiction.
Rating: really liked it
I absolutely LOVED "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing." I live in NYC and love reading about places I've been to, or places I've heard of. I understand what it's like to work in NYC. I could not wait for this book to come out, and even splurged and bought it before it was out in paperback. I am on page 115 and I'm completely regretting it. The most annoying parts are the following:
-Otis, Emmy's ex-boyfriend's African Grey parrot or bird that he left behind. I cringe every time I read about him. Hearing him constantly yelling out demands and criticisms is beyond boring, and I could care less what it eats. Who let's their boyfriend brutally dump them, and then say, "Sure, I'll take care of your pet that I hate." What kind of person leaves their pet behind? If she loved it, I'd understand, but she hates it so why doesn't she sell it or give it to a pet store so that someone can love it, give it attention and not constantly be covering it with a towel? There have been two long passages about Otis already in this book, and the worst part was when Emmy decides to travel and dumps the bird on her friend Adriana. The fact that the bird can shout out that Adriana is a "Fat Girl" and her actually contemplate losing weight makes me furious.
-Adriana's use of the word querida in EVERY sentence. You can open the book to any page and find it. Since she is Brazilian, I assume that this is Portuguese for something. Upon translating it, I found that it means "wanted" rather than what I thought, which was "Sweetie" or "honey." Can someone please enlighten me? Do Brazilians use the word querida to mean something else? Otherwise, her saying, "Yes, [wanted], I'd marry you in a second," just doesn't make sense. All I'm saying is that I don't know why she says it, why it's the only Portuguese word she ever says, and why she says it in EVERY sentence. I'd kill my friend if she did this.
This doesn't even start with the fact that I can't identify with any of the girls or why they are friends. Adriana, the only thing the novel has her ever thinking about is how beautiful she is, how people look at her, how everyone loves her, how 8 men wanted her, etc. It is sick. Leigh knows she's not in love and gets engaged anyway. This may be understandable at 22, but she's 29, get ahold of your emotions. And Emmy, allowed herself to be with a man for 5 years who wore her thongs and cheated on her so many times he gave her STD's - come on. It is just something disgusting I don't want to read about - again, she's 29 and I'd hope she'd be thinking of a future and realizing that this was NOT the man.
I try never to give up on books, but we'll see how much farther I can get it.
Rating: really liked it
Absoulutely one of the worst books I've ever read. I am completely done reading the vapid crap that this woman purports to "write". She's a no talent-hack, who I'm convinced just knew the right people and got a contract for telling-all about Anna Wintour. When people bought that admittedly interesting, albeit horribly written book, it perpetuated a book deal and now she won't stop writing. And she should. She's HORRIBLE.
Rating: really liked it
Like eating a whole sleeve of not particularly great cookies and then feeling like, "Why did I do that??"
Rating: really liked it
I'm not sure why I am still reading this dreck. I didn't purchase it on my kindle because it had such horrible reviews, but when I saw it at the library I thought I would give it a chance. I think I am just avoiding housework but the pile of laundry is starting to look more appealing.
Rating: really liked it
I'd never read anything by Laura Weisberger before. I'd seen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", and to be honest, that was pretty rubbish storyline-wise, but I thought hey, I'll give her a chance. So I saw this book, thought it might be a laugh. Gave it a go.
One of the first things I noticed was that every time I picked it up, I wanted to put it back down again about a minute later. It was that unreadable, clearly. But I did get through it. Although I really wish I hadn't wasted my money on it.
It had the potential to be quite a good book. You read the blurb, and think ok, this could be good. If a really good author had written it, it could be really good. But nope, it was written by this one. Then again, I bet the blurb for the Devil Wears Prada looked good as well.
Adriana was quite honestly the most annoying person I've ever met. I was begging she would get pregnant or get an STD and maybe, just maybe, think "oh, maybe being a slut ISN'T the best way to spend your life as a 30+ year old". I thought that might've been what the author was going for, this woman you're meant to laugh at. But things continue to play out for her, and she soon becomes a columnist. Oh come on, a columnist! It's like the bloody Wag diaries all over again. And then a movie comes. Come on!
I wanted to slap Emmy for being such a pushover. Seriously, she was absolutely pathetic. And Leigh... Leigh could have been a likeable character. Kind of someone you could relate to. But then she gets proposed to and doesn't have enough backbone to say "err, no, actually, I'm not ready". And has an embarrassing sex scene with some bloke she hates. And then you just want to slap her as well.
Not only that, but the entire book promotes the idea that being a slut is the only way forward. It really isn't. It made Adriana look pathetic. Yes, querida, it did. I bet she'd be having sex with that bloody parrot given half a chance.
It also has such pointless moments. Like when they randomly went on holiday very briefly. Smack bang in the middle of their working lives, for some reason, they just go on holiday, and you learn about the plane trip. And that's it, really. It just ends and suddenly, everything's back to normal. I'm sorry, but what? Why would this still be in here?
The ending was appalling. It collapsed completely. Perhaps her editor saw it and thought "you better end this quickly... hurry up!"
Speaking of editors, it's dead ironic that one of the characters was one, and was complaining about a book that was poorly written. But the funny thing was that she didn't have the guts to really tell him it was bad, because he was such an acclaimed author. This, to me, sounds like exactly what must have happened when this book was being published. Weisberger's editor didn't have the guts to tell her "umm, your book stinks" because she was so well known and loved after The Devil Wears Prada. So the gutless editor just let it get published, and the book went down.
I guess my experience with Laura Weisberger hasn't had a good start. But if I see another book with a shoe on the front sitting on the bookshelf, I'm steering clear of that.
I guess my review turned into a bit of a rant. Apologies for that.
Rating: really liked it
Leigh, THE BOOK EDITOR, got engaged and went to visit her mom. Her mom says "I can't believe I had to wait TWELVE DAYS to see this sparkler." Then, two pages later, an incident that happened the day of the engagement is referenced as "it had been TEN DAYS since." About 200 pages later Leigh's name is spelled LEAH. This is the kind of crap that makes me want to burn books and then back over their ashes with my car. Or just complain incessantly to anyone that will listen.
Anywho, over the top characters, far fetched ending--standard chick lit. Although I doubt Anne Hathaway will be starring in this one, it's a beach read worth reading at the beach.
Rating: really liked it
I’m going to go right ahead and start by saying that this book????
Chasing Harry Winston is about three almost 30s in various stages of relationships. Emmy has recently been dumped by her longtime boyfriend who she had every intention of marrying and birthing many of the babies with. Adrianna is a playa playa (!) who can’t be tied to one man. And Leigh has been dating the same fella for a year . . . but mainly because it’s easier to do that than break up with him. The plot here revolves around Emmy and Adrianna daring each other to switch up their respective lifestyles for a year. Emmy will become seasoned at one-night stands and Adi will have a rock on her finger. Leigh will – well I guess she was just supposed to be along for the ride.
I have loved (and I mean looooooooved) nearly everything by Lauren Weisberger. Her newest release missed the mark a bit, but I still enjoyed it. This, however? It was pretty awful. The characters were not likeable much at all, it was dated, and the plot was thin at best. I
think it was an attempt at going for some
Sex and the City vibes and sex positivity, but it sadly missed the mark.
That being said, I was not in the mood to read much of
anything and have been struggling with daily pounding headaches that could be a result of eye strain, the need for new glasses, ponytail holders that pull too tight in all the wrong places or maybe a combo of the three. Something brainless like this was definitely what the doctor ordered, it’s just unfortunate it wasn’t the caliber of
The Devil Wears Prada or
When Life Gives You Lululemons.
Rating: really liked it
Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off. After reading The Devil Wears Prada and not being overly impressed, I read the blurb for this and it actually sounded rather fun. Very Sex and the City (show) style and I thought why not read this?
Well, turns out it was a mistake to read this because even though the plot sounded great at first and I started with great gusto, all my gusto started to simmer down soon after. Yes, I expected the characters to be totally immature and shallow but this was another level of being stupid and shallow. Three best friends it says and even after by the end of the book, I wasn't convinced of their friendship.
It was supposed to be witty and clever but I just got bored and rolled my eyes a lot and groaned in frustration. I really wanted to love this but I couldn't. I can't even recommend this to anyone.
1 star
Rating: really liked it
I got this book from the library. I quite enjoyed "The Devil Wears Prada" and wondered what the author was writing now. I wish I hadn't.
Now I suspected as much, but I still had to double check to find out that Harry Winston was an American jeweler, and the Harry Winston empire is known for diamonds. Uh Oh.
Quick plot synopsis (some minor spoilers): three women, each around 29. They are friends. Leigh is an overachieving and not overly successful editor at a publishing house who is dissatisfied with her romantic relationship, so she screws the author of the book she's editing. Adrianna is Brazilian American. She doesn't work, lives in her parents' apartment in Manhattan and literally screams and throws tantrums when they want to stay in their own apartment when they come to visit. Emmy has recently been broken up with after a 5 year relationship. The guy, Duncan, leaves her to be with a 22-year old virgin cheerleader (??) and Emmy is surprised and upset even though they guy cheated on her throughout their relationship. Her solution? To take a job traveling and have sex with as many men as she can.
Now, I appreciate all kinds of literature, and this includes what we call 'chick lit'. I loved Bridget Jones, The Shopaholic series, and many more. I even like teen chick lit, like Gossip Girl and the Au Pairs. It's all good, silly fun, and can even be clever in some cases.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in terms of "Chasing Harry Winston". Technically, the book didn't work. It jumped all over the place and ended abruptly. It seemed as though Weisberger was trying to write like Candace Bushnell, with less than desirable results. Even though it was a short read, I found myself finding it hard to get through it; The three main characters are superficial in terms of character development and still unlikeable. They are always talking about how 'old' they are and bitching about not having a 'rock' on their finger. Leigh has a boyfriend who seems like one of the only decent characters in the story, yet she cringes at the thought of being with him any longer. He proposes to her, and instead of telling him she doesn't want to marry him, she acts like a bitch for months, and then cheats on him. Lovely. Adrianna doesn't contribute to the story. We just hear about how hot she is and how she could get any man even though she is 'almost thirty'. The author has stereotyped her ethnicity to the point of ridiculousness. It drove me nuts. She said "querida" in almost every sentence she uttered. You know, because that's the way all Brazilians have to speak.
I found the book more than a little insulting as a woman. It's unsettling that Weisberger has fed the false notion that a woman is virtually useless once she turns thirty if she hasn't landed a man and a rock. Emmy's character is absolutely obsessed with getting married and having a baby. In one cringe-worthy scene, a waiter asks if she would like anything else, and Emmy replies, "A husband? A baby? Some sort of life? Any of THOSE on the menu?" How embarrassing. What decade are we in here? A woman's sexual liberation is great as well, but when Emmy decides to sleep with people to get over her boyfriend, all she does is refer to herself as a slut, calling her new way of being the 'Tour de Whore" (ew). Thank you, Ms. Weisberger, for giving us another nice big step back. If a man had written this book, people would have been outraged!
I guess I don't have to say that I don't recommend this book.
Rating: really liked it
By page nine, I had already laughed out loud and at page 38, I already LOVED
"Chasing Harry Winston" by
Lauren Weisberger.It's the story of three best friends: Emmy, Adriana and Leigh and a year in which they plan to change their lives. Set in New York, focussing on dating and sex, you can't help but compare it to
"Sex and the City" but it isn't a carbon copy nor are the similarities a bad thing.
I found
"Chasing Harry Winston" highly entertaining and incredibly easy to read. The characters are all likeable and the plot unfolds pleasantly. If you want a high-brow Pulitzer’s contender, then this
isn't the book for you but if you want an easy, fun and fabulous Summer read, I highly recommend
"Chasing Harry Winston".
Rating: really liked it
this book made my angry. i really had to put it down several times and walk away. aside from the fact that it reads as if it was written by a ninth grader, the overall tone and subject just supports the stereotype that all women (or at least those in a certain age bracket) are consumed with material things and status, and that true love is not quite as important as the size and make of your ring or the number of men with whom you have slept. i have known women like this (thankfully, not that many) and they are no more endearing in life than they are on the page.
i know that this is supposed to be an easy summer read. but, really? all three characters were the same, but for their "quirks", which are not really all that interesting. "fix your stupid problems", i wanted to scream at them! and for the record, not being a whore is perfectly fine. no matter how they tried to dress it up (as being seductive and mysterious, behaving 'like a man', if it walks like a duck...) this book promotes demeaning behavior. although i am sure that the author thought that she had found a clever way of being 'feminist'. but don't get me started on feminists either...
the other thing that really ticked me off is that i couldn't find the book in paperback. what a waste of money.
Rating: really liked it
Adriana, Emmy and Leigh are best friends living in Manhattan, New York.
Adriana - The Brazilian goddess, the ultimate
slut socialite who will sleep with just about anything male.
Emmy - The flat-chested serial monogamist who had been dumped by her five-year boyfriend for a virgin cheerleader (like I would believe that for a minute!).
Leigh - The obsessive and compulsive one with lots of issues despite having perfect everything i.e boyfriend, job, place... or so her friends thought.
One day, the two of them made a pact of changing their lives in a year. Adriana is to settle with ONE guy while Emmy will sleep around as she trot around the globe within a year. Leigh? Well, she has it all, no? The perfect boyfriend every women drool upon, the job with one of the top publishers, a place of her own with lots of space, unlike Emmy's. And she has this No-Human-Contact every Monday night.
It is the story of 3 not-so-young women in the big city. Each with their own issue and conflicts.
Coming from Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada), I was expecting a good read, if not a great one. The result: DISAPPOINTING! It was a HUGE letdown for me as I went through page by page. It's like reading a novel wrote by a lazy and amateurish author! There's nothing interesting or anything remotely new in this novel. It's bland. It's meaningless. It's just downright stupid. Even the title doesn't fit the story. At all.
I have only one word for this novel: BLEARGH!!!
Rating: really liked it
Uhm. I can't quite figure out how I feel about this book. It, in my opinion, lacked any real plot (bar a couple of moments), and there was no real character development, either. That being said, it was one of those reads where my brain didn't need to be entirely present or working to comprehend what was going on. And there were a few moments where I genuinely laughed out loud. It was a good, thought-less read, something that I didn't realise I needed after my last few books.
Basically, I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't love it...
Rating: really liked it
It was one of those books I wanted to throw with great force (thanks Dorothy Parker) but still had to finish just so I could see how bad it could get.
The unforgettably bad bits:
1. Yes, I too was constantly checking the cover to see if I was mistaken in thinking those were rings coz nothing in the narrative justified that design. Except the art department wanted it to connect with 'The Devil Wears Prada', correctly guessing that was the only reason people would buy this book, and they also wanted to throw in some bling.
2. That sex scene between Leigh and Jesse? Totally Mills and Boon type thing with the woman suddenly filled with self-loathing, in fact so much self-loathing that even you start wondering what on earth the guy sees in her.
Lots of terrible things besides, including some unnecessary side-plots such as that pet bird, and the fact that it's way, way too long. Really bad job by the editors, really ironic considering one of the protagonists is one!
