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Click: An Online Love Story
Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2011
12 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Becker
37 books322 followersLisa Becker is an award-winning romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money - on books and margaritas. As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone! You can share your love stories with her at www.lisawbecker.com.
Find Lisa's books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Becker/e/...
Find Lisa's books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Becker/e/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
August 22, 2013
This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.
The idea of Click really appealed to me - probably because I’m single and turning thirty later this year. *gulp* Completely different from anything I’ve ever read, Click was told solely through emails between Renee and her friends, as well as men from Choose Jews, the dating site one of her best friends convinced her to join.
Renee had a great variety of friends, from the anal to the slutty to the prudish. Through their emails I felt like I got to know each one of them, and by the end I felt like they were my friends. With the story being told through emails, I was surprised at just how well I felt like I knew them. My favourite was Shelley - crude, sassy, tell-it-like-it-is, and hilarious, she was an amazing friend to Renee, always trying to boost her confidence and encourage her. She and Renee seemed like unlikely friends, but she was the exact type of friend Renee needed in her life.
Click had this fascinating voyeuristic quality to it, getting to see inside someone’s life through their personal - often very personal - emails. Being the curious person I am, I thought it was a lot of fun getting to read these emails without the consequences you’d experience in real life. The type of guys on the site ran the gamut from crazy to amazing. Renee had a lot of hits and misses (mostly misses) with the dating site, and it was hilarious to read about.
A touching and laugh-out-loud funny story about friendship, life, and love, Click is a must read for fans of women’s fiction and romance.
The idea of Click really appealed to me - probably because I’m single and turning thirty later this year. *gulp* Completely different from anything I’ve ever read, Click was told solely through emails between Renee and her friends, as well as men from Choose Jews, the dating site one of her best friends convinced her to join.
Renee had a great variety of friends, from the anal to the slutty to the prudish. Through their emails I felt like I got to know each one of them, and by the end I felt like they were my friends. With the story being told through emails, I was surprised at just how well I felt like I knew them. My favourite was Shelley - crude, sassy, tell-it-like-it-is, and hilarious, she was an amazing friend to Renee, always trying to boost her confidence and encourage her. She and Renee seemed like unlikely friends, but she was the exact type of friend Renee needed in her life.
Click had this fascinating voyeuristic quality to it, getting to see inside someone’s life through their personal - often very personal - emails. Being the curious person I am, I thought it was a lot of fun getting to read these emails without the consequences you’d experience in real life. The type of guys on the site ran the gamut from crazy to amazing. Renee had a lot of hits and misses (mostly misses) with the dating site, and it was hilarious to read about.
A touching and laugh-out-loud funny story about friendship, life, and love, Click is a must read for fans of women’s fiction and romance.
February 3, 2012
Online dating…oh what an interesting thing you are.
Back in the “bad ol days” when I had a “day job” I had the misfortune pleasure of working with a nymphomaniac. Now, I am by no means one to judge (*cough*) but her lifestyle was…well, lets just say it left very little to the imagination. While normal (or at least “normal” by HR’s standards) office mates talk about their children or whatever new dive bomb trend diet they are currently on, Madame X (which is what we are going to call her because she’s the type of person who would set my house on fire for this) used to talk about her trials (aka hook-ups) in online dating.
At first, (I have to be honest) I was pretty shocked. It’s not everyday that you are told (in great detail) about the “guy with the iguana on his profile” (iguana is code… I’ll let you figure that one out) and how after a long night of bar* hopping (bed*) she snuck into Captain Underpants’ bathroom and dunked his toothbrush into the toilet a few times (because he lied about his height…duh) But the longer I was forced allowed to “bunk” with her, the more entertained I found myself, and eventually I became utterly enthralled by the crazy unique world of online dating.
So, (I have a point.. I’m not just rambling. Ok…I’m rambling a little) when Lisa Becker shot me an email and asked me to take a peek at her novel “Click: An Online Love Story” I just couldn’t refuse. (We’ll just call it a stay a home moms grievous attempt at entertainment.)
“Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with “My buddies and I were out drinking one night,” to the egotistical “B” celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC’s, FWD’s and inadvertent Reply to All’s, readers will root for Renee to “click” with the right man.”
Now there are some brilliant things about this book and there are some disastrous things. And since I like to go straight for the jugular (wow, that sounds harsh) I’ve decided to talk about the bad first.
In theory… a book written entirely in email format is fascinating, interesting and NEW! In reality, it’s a tad confusing. While the book as a whole (plot wise) isn’t difficult to grasp, (think beach read easy) the layout and speed in which it was written was. Confusing.
There are 4 main characters in this book. Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley (this is important…so pay attention.) And the book revolves entirely around these 4 characters. But instead of character development in the “traditional” sense… (monologues, back history, internal dialogue) we learn about these (slightly neurotic) people through a series of fast paced (sometimes obtuse) emails.
For example:
From: Renee Greene – February 24, 2011 – 11:52 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?
You don’t think that’s rude? You know how I hate to be rude. And remember what nonsense ensued the last time I ignored an email?
From: Shelley Manning – February 24, 2011 - 11:54 AM
To Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?
Yes, Miss Manners. I know how you are. And yes, I remember the psycho. But seriously, in this case, I think it’s much nicer to ignore it than tell him he’s a 35-year-old freak of nature.
After a while there are so many Re:’s Fwd:’s and CC:’s that if you’re not paying very close attention you’ll get lost. Especially when a brand new email pops up and makes reference to something that was never even mentioned in a previous email, (like say…they talked about it at lunch, but we weren’t privy to it because…they didn’t eat lunch over the internet.)
Becker’s choice to write in this format also limited the readers ability to connect (emotionally) to any of the characters, most importantly Renee…who is supposed to be the “lead” and in search of love. Without the “guts” (the filler that takes up about 50% of most novels) the entire novel read more as water cooler fodder than an actual book.
Now, all of that being said, there are some diamond in the rough moments that I couldn’t help but love. The most noteworthy being Shelley and her need to name her sexual conquest.
“Thankfully, it was an attractive, musky, manly scent that protruded from his highly-active pores. From now on, he will be know as Fire Hose.”
It was these glimmery moments of humor that I was hoping for when I decided to read this book to begin with.
Also, after 2 very intense books in a row (“The Storyteller” and “Smoke Screen”) it was kind of nice just to kick back and not think so hard. There was a story, it was predictable, kitchy and read a lot like an episode of “Sex in the City” but still, it was fun.
So what is my final conclusion, (since I was kind of all of over the place in this review) It was cute. Not great, and by no means the “next great American novel” but sometimes it is what it is. FLUFF.
If you aren’t one for deep meaningful reads and just feel like taking a load off, this one might be a good choice for you. Everyone else… I choose the “meh” button.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Peer pressure is evil, and so am I.
Back in the “bad ol days” when I had a “day job” I had the misfortune pleasure of working with a nymphomaniac. Now, I am by no means one to judge (*cough*) but her lifestyle was…well, lets just say it left very little to the imagination. While normal (or at least “normal” by HR’s standards) office mates talk about their children or whatever new dive bomb trend diet they are currently on, Madame X (which is what we are going to call her because she’s the type of person who would set my house on fire for this) used to talk about her trials (aka hook-ups) in online dating.
At first, (I have to be honest) I was pretty shocked. It’s not everyday that you are told (in great detail) about the “guy with the iguana on his profile” (iguana is code… I’ll let you figure that one out) and how after a long night of bar* hopping (bed*) she snuck into Captain Underpants’ bathroom and dunked his toothbrush into the toilet a few times (because he lied about his height…duh) But the longer I was forced allowed to “bunk” with her, the more entertained I found myself, and eventually I became utterly enthralled by the crazy unique world of online dating.
So, (I have a point.. I’m not just rambling. Ok…I’m rambling a little) when Lisa Becker shot me an email and asked me to take a peek at her novel “Click: An Online Love Story” I just couldn’t refuse. (We’ll just call it a stay a home moms grievous attempt at entertainment.)
“Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with “My buddies and I were out drinking one night,” to the egotistical “B” celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC’s, FWD’s and inadvertent Reply to All’s, readers will root for Renee to “click” with the right man.”
Now there are some brilliant things about this book and there are some disastrous things. And since I like to go straight for the jugular (wow, that sounds harsh) I’ve decided to talk about the bad first.
In theory… a book written entirely in email format is fascinating, interesting and NEW! In reality, it’s a tad confusing. While the book as a whole (plot wise) isn’t difficult to grasp, (think beach read easy) the layout and speed in which it was written was. Confusing.
There are 4 main characters in this book. Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley (this is important…so pay attention.) And the book revolves entirely around these 4 characters. But instead of character development in the “traditional” sense… (monologues, back history, internal dialogue) we learn about these (slightly neurotic) people through a series of fast paced (sometimes obtuse) emails.
For example:
From: Renee Greene – February 24, 2011 – 11:52 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?
You don’t think that’s rude? You know how I hate to be rude. And remember what nonsense ensued the last time I ignored an email?
From: Shelley Manning – February 24, 2011 - 11:54 AM
To Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?
Yes, Miss Manners. I know how you are. And yes, I remember the psycho. But seriously, in this case, I think it’s much nicer to ignore it than tell him he’s a 35-year-old freak of nature.
After a while there are so many Re:’s Fwd:’s and CC:’s that if you’re not paying very close attention you’ll get lost. Especially when a brand new email pops up and makes reference to something that was never even mentioned in a previous email, (like say…they talked about it at lunch, but we weren’t privy to it because…they didn’t eat lunch over the internet.)
Becker’s choice to write in this format also limited the readers ability to connect (emotionally) to any of the characters, most importantly Renee…who is supposed to be the “lead” and in search of love. Without the “guts” (the filler that takes up about 50% of most novels) the entire novel read more as water cooler fodder than an actual book.
Now, all of that being said, there are some diamond in the rough moments that I couldn’t help but love. The most noteworthy being Shelley and her need to name her sexual conquest.
“Thankfully, it was an attractive, musky, manly scent that protruded from his highly-active pores. From now on, he will be know as Fire Hose.”
It was these glimmery moments of humor that I was hoping for when I decided to read this book to begin with.
Also, after 2 very intense books in a row (“The Storyteller” and “Smoke Screen”) it was kind of nice just to kick back and not think so hard. There was a story, it was predictable, kitchy and read a lot like an episode of “Sex in the City” but still, it was fun.
So what is my final conclusion, (since I was kind of all of over the place in this review) It was cute. Not great, and by no means the “next great American novel” but sometimes it is what it is. FLUFF.
If you aren’t one for deep meaningful reads and just feel like taking a load off, this one might be a good choice for you. Everyone else… I choose the “meh” button.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Peer pressure is evil, and so am I.
April 14, 2012
I like books about dating and social networking. So when I found this book was about online dating in the form of e-mailing I had to grab it. This is the main characters e-mailing each other as well as potential dates. Loved it. The only flaw about this book is that Renee is so down on herself throughout the whole book.
March 19, 2019
3.5 stars. A very light and quick read that gave me a good number of legitimate chuckles throughout. I do have to take off stars because the book does get a bit repetitive at times, particularly with the escapades of the Shelley character; so what started as somewhat humorous at the beginning became a bit tiring towards the end. But that didn't deter me from finishing it and overall I still had an enjoyable time reading this.
June 19, 2012
Picture this. Opening the first page on my computer what do I see ??? The book cover, the title page. All good. The table of contents tells me there are nine chapters.
Tap…kindle clicks over to the first page of the story.
Interesting. The book starts with a couple of e-mails. Including the ‘From, To and Subject’ lines of the e-mails.
Tap. Next page.
Tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
OMG !!!!!!!! The whole freaking book is nothing BUT e-mails with every e-mail including the ‘from, to and subject’ lines. Capitol letters emphasise words. Comments such as pop up all over the place.
What a friggin’ nightmare to read.
I was done by page five I think. So I can’t tell you whether this one is littered with mistakes that need a proofreader to sort out. Because I lost interest.
I have read books in the past that are based solely on a series of letters between people. One I thought was done exceptionally well. But in truth I think it is a lazy way of writing.
I have gone back and browsed through it, but it is just not my cup of tea.
The plot ???
Renee Greene is talked in to going online by her firend Mark Finlay to find love.
The further the plot progresses, the sillier it gets. I didn’t believe it. It felt forced.
Tap…kindle clicks over to the first page of the story.
Interesting. The book starts with a couple of e-mails. Including the ‘From, To and Subject’ lines of the e-mails.
Tap. Next page.
Tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
OMG !!!!!!!! The whole freaking book is nothing BUT e-mails with every e-mail including the ‘from, to and subject’ lines. Capitol letters emphasise words. Comments such as pop up all over the place.
What a friggin’ nightmare to read.
I was done by page five I think. So I can’t tell you whether this one is littered with mistakes that need a proofreader to sort out. Because I lost interest.
I have read books in the past that are based solely on a series of letters between people. One I thought was done exceptionally well. But in truth I think it is a lazy way of writing.
I have gone back and browsed through it, but it is just not my cup of tea.
The plot ???
Renee Greene is talked in to going online by her firend Mark Finlay to find love.
The further the plot progresses, the sillier it gets. I didn’t believe it. It felt forced.
August 12, 2011
I enjoyed this but I somehow couldn't keep Renee and Shelley straight and kept forgetting which was the star. Maybe not being able to see them as they talked contributed to this, since everything was done via email. (Also maybe reading it at a cottage didn't help, since my attention wasn't always 100% on it.)
I also felt some threads weren't wrapped up at all at the end, and I really didn't like the "big disaster" Renee faced at the end. It didn't seem like a big deal to me at all.
I DID like the interplay between Shelley and Ashley, though, and I liked some of the dating situations that befell Renee.
I'd like to give this 3.75 stars but that isn't an option. :)
I also felt some threads weren't wrapped up at all at the end, and I really didn't like the "big disaster" Renee faced at the end. It didn't seem like a big deal to me at all.
I DID like the interplay between Shelley and Ashley, though, and I liked some of the dating situations that befell Renee.
I'd like to give this 3.75 stars but that isn't an option. :)
April 3, 2013
3.5-4 stars
=======
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. She didn't ask, but I agreed to provide an honest review in exchange for her generosity. This is my honest review.
========
This hip, quirky book is a fun and easy read. It's an almost year in the life of Renee Greene, about to turn 30, and rethinking her life. Like most of us, she's at a milestone birthday and thinking about how she *thought* her life would be at this point... and how it's not. In the book, Renee corresponds with her 3 besties - friends she's known for a very long time: Mark Finlay, Shelley Manning, and Ashley Price.
The story is told strictly through emails, which, at times, is tough to parse. I admittedly found my eyes automatically skimming past the whos and the dates to get to the message. And then, often, finding that I needed to go back to the whos and the dates. But that's the way I read email, too - :-)
I love the friends and their friendships. They felt real and stayed true to the characters throughout the book.
* Mark is the token guy, but he's a real doll; a computer programmer nerd who creates games (specifically for phones) and who is a bit OCD. But Mark really cares about Renee. I found myself, at times, wondering WHY she wouldn't consider Mark as a potential mate. But as I kept reading, I realized that she and Mark had been friends for too long. You know how that goes, right? You know someone for so long and so well that there's not much mystery or spark. You love that other person with all your heart, unconditionally. It's a great friendship, but that's all it's meant to be.
Mark is the one who gets Renee into the online dating scene. He wants to try it, himself, but he doesn't want to go it alone. Which I found a little odd, since he and Renee go for totally different dating sites; I figured they'd pick one and try it together. But Renee is Jewish, and Mark knows that, ultimately, Renee wants to please herself and her family and stay within her faith. So, good heart that he is, he finds a top-rated Jewish online dating site for her!
* Shelley is the Samantha from "Sex in the City" kinda friend - obviously gorgeous and ready to hit the sack with any guy who takes her fancy. Shelley isn't looking for commitment, although, IMO, she's secretly looking for love. But as a friend, Shelley's true-blue. She helps keep Renee hip and trendy - in fashion, hot spots, and eateries. Shelley is constantly boosting Renee's confidence with compliments and pep talks. And she guides Renee through the gauntlet of men from the dating site.
Shelley's idea of "commitment" is 3 dates... and she freely and generously shares the details of each guy she "dates" (more like beds), including her quirky nicknames for each guy, based on something about him. Like Preppy Guy (who becomes forever after known as The Cuddler, because Shelley can't stand cuddling after sex), Fire Hose (fireman and more!), Jet Setter, Ape, Mocha Man, The Trampoline Man, Marathon Man, and... well, you get the idea. At one point, Shelley gets drunk enough at the Valentine's Day Tiffany Blue party to make out with Mark!!!! I kept wondering if *they* would end up hooking up permanently before the book ended - you know, the opposites thing. But, alas, no. Probably better for Mark, but I kept hoping for his HEA too.
* Ashley is the Miss Priss, or perhaps the Charlotte of the group, if we're staying with the Sex in the City motif. But the truth is, Ashely is no Charlotte. She's too insecure, self-righteous, and truly a Miss Priss. Ashley is so afraid of being alone that she's constantly taking back her ex, Evan, even though it's more than obvious they're not right for one another. Only to dump him or be dumped by him within days... and being back to miserable. Ashley's motto if often "misery loves company".
Not that she's not a good friend to Renee, but strictly on her own terms. She offers a lot of back-handed compliments to Renee. And her fashion sense is stuck in the 80s and 90s. Ashley is probably the one character who seems to grow the most throughout the book. She discovers her sick-cycle carousel (to borrow a phrase from Lifehouse), and by the end of the book, she's found a way to step OFF the carousel. In doing so, she sheds some of her unflattering traits and possibly finds that love she's been looking for.
In terms of the replies Renee gets from the site (ChooseJews.com - ha!), there truly is a gauntlet that Renee has to learn to navigate. At the beginning, I thought that, perhaps, Renee was being too picky. She was doing what we all do - looking for the PERFECT MATCH immediately. Thing is, if your "type" was working for you, you wouldn't still be single, right?
But the first few guys that she rejects or dates show themselves to not be right. (Although I did feel a bit bad for the doctor... I mean, he was a romantic at heart. Just maybe moving a bit too fast.)And Renee has to suffer her share of pricks and jerks until she finds Ethan. Which is really funny, because when Ethan first sent her an email re: her profile, Renee was going out with someone else and told him she wasn't available - guess she's a one-guy-at-a-time dater... which I've never understood. Why, until you know THIS IS THE GUY, would you limit yourself to dating only one guy at a time? ANYWAY, when Renee figures out the guy she's dating is one of the aforementioned jerks, Ethan sends another email; which, for whatever reason, hits Renee wrong, and she accidentally sends him a very scathing and harsh reply. She thinks he thinks that she's not capable of sustaining a relationship or something. But the guy was only trying to express his continued interest in her.
Well... the scathing reply is in Ethan's favor, because Renee feels guilty enough to go out with him. And discovers that this guy really might be THE ONE.
What ensues is a glorious up-and-down relationship. Both Ethan and Renee have their hot buttons, and things are touch-and-go at times. THEN, the INCIDENT happens - the event that throws everything to the wind... takes your breath away. In fact, I was a little ticked, because in email time, it took *forever* to discover what happened at Mark's 30th birthday party that put Renee into such a tizzy!!!
Turns out, it's ASHLEY who smooths things over and brings everyone to his or her senses. She's the one who helps Renee see what's real and what's all in her silly head.
So, we end up with our Happily Ever After, after all.
If you like contemporary romance with quirks and a kick, this is an author to watch!
=======
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. She didn't ask, but I agreed to provide an honest review in exchange for her generosity. This is my honest review.
========
This hip, quirky book is a fun and easy read. It's an almost year in the life of Renee Greene, about to turn 30, and rethinking her life. Like most of us, she's at a milestone birthday and thinking about how she *thought* her life would be at this point... and how it's not. In the book, Renee corresponds with her 3 besties - friends she's known for a very long time: Mark Finlay, Shelley Manning, and Ashley Price.
The story is told strictly through emails, which, at times, is tough to parse. I admittedly found my eyes automatically skimming past the whos and the dates to get to the message. And then, often, finding that I needed to go back to the whos and the dates. But that's the way I read email, too - :-)
I love the friends and their friendships. They felt real and stayed true to the characters throughout the book.
* Mark is the token guy, but he's a real doll; a computer programmer nerd who creates games (specifically for phones) and who is a bit OCD. But Mark really cares about Renee. I found myself, at times, wondering WHY she wouldn't consider Mark as a potential mate. But as I kept reading, I realized that she and Mark had been friends for too long. You know how that goes, right? You know someone for so long and so well that there's not much mystery or spark. You love that other person with all your heart, unconditionally. It's a great friendship, but that's all it's meant to be.
Mark is the one who gets Renee into the online dating scene. He wants to try it, himself, but he doesn't want to go it alone. Which I found a little odd, since he and Renee go for totally different dating sites; I figured they'd pick one and try it together. But Renee is Jewish, and Mark knows that, ultimately, Renee wants to please herself and her family and stay within her faith. So, good heart that he is, he finds a top-rated Jewish online dating site for her!
* Shelley is the Samantha from "Sex in the City" kinda friend - obviously gorgeous and ready to hit the sack with any guy who takes her fancy. Shelley isn't looking for commitment, although, IMO, she's secretly looking for love. But as a friend, Shelley's true-blue. She helps keep Renee hip and trendy - in fashion, hot spots, and eateries. Shelley is constantly boosting Renee's confidence with compliments and pep talks. And she guides Renee through the gauntlet of men from the dating site.
Shelley's idea of "commitment" is 3 dates... and she freely and generously shares the details of each guy she "dates" (more like beds), including her quirky nicknames for each guy, based on something about him. Like Preppy Guy (who becomes forever after known as The Cuddler, because Shelley can't stand cuddling after sex), Fire Hose (fireman and more!), Jet Setter, Ape, Mocha Man, The Trampoline Man, Marathon Man, and... well, you get the idea. At one point, Shelley gets drunk enough at the Valentine's Day Tiffany Blue party to make out with Mark!!!! I kept wondering if *they* would end up hooking up permanently before the book ended - you know, the opposites thing. But, alas, no. Probably better for Mark, but I kept hoping for his HEA too.
* Ashley is the Miss Priss, or perhaps the Charlotte of the group, if we're staying with the Sex in the City motif. But the truth is, Ashely is no Charlotte. She's too insecure, self-righteous, and truly a Miss Priss. Ashley is so afraid of being alone that she's constantly taking back her ex, Evan, even though it's more than obvious they're not right for one another. Only to dump him or be dumped by him within days... and being back to miserable. Ashley's motto if often "misery loves company".
Not that she's not a good friend to Renee, but strictly on her own terms. She offers a lot of back-handed compliments to Renee. And her fashion sense is stuck in the 80s and 90s. Ashley is probably the one character who seems to grow the most throughout the book. She discovers her sick-cycle carousel (to borrow a phrase from Lifehouse), and by the end of the book, she's found a way to step OFF the carousel. In doing so, she sheds some of her unflattering traits and possibly finds that love she's been looking for.
In terms of the replies Renee gets from the site (ChooseJews.com - ha!), there truly is a gauntlet that Renee has to learn to navigate. At the beginning, I thought that, perhaps, Renee was being too picky. She was doing what we all do - looking for the PERFECT MATCH immediately. Thing is, if your "type" was working for you, you wouldn't still be single, right?
But the first few guys that she rejects or dates show themselves to not be right. (Although I did feel a bit bad for the doctor... I mean, he was a romantic at heart. Just maybe moving a bit too fast.)And Renee has to suffer her share of pricks and jerks until she finds Ethan. Which is really funny, because when Ethan first sent her an email re: her profile, Renee was going out with someone else and told him she wasn't available - guess she's a one-guy-at-a-time dater... which I've never understood. Why, until you know THIS IS THE GUY, would you limit yourself to dating only one guy at a time? ANYWAY, when Renee figures out the guy she's dating is one of the aforementioned jerks, Ethan sends another email; which, for whatever reason, hits Renee wrong, and she accidentally sends him a very scathing and harsh reply. She thinks he thinks that she's not capable of sustaining a relationship or something. But the guy was only trying to express his continued interest in her.
Well... the scathing reply is in Ethan's favor, because Renee feels guilty enough to go out with him. And discovers that this guy really might be THE ONE.
What ensues is a glorious up-and-down relationship. Both Ethan and Renee have their hot buttons, and things are touch-and-go at times. THEN, the INCIDENT happens - the event that throws everything to the wind... takes your breath away. In fact, I was a little ticked, because in email time, it took *forever* to discover what happened at Mark's 30th birthday party that put Renee into such a tizzy!!!
Turns out, it's ASHLEY who smooths things over and brings everyone to his or her senses. She's the one who helps Renee see what's real and what's all in her silly head.
So, we end up with our Happily Ever After, after all.
If you like contemporary romance with quirks and a kick, this is an author to watch!
March 26, 2020
I liked the idea a bit more than the execution, but I still overall enjoyed the story. Although for some reason I had it in my head that I wanted Renee to somehow end up with her best guy friend, Mark, and that is not even remotely a part of this storyline; they are strictly friends, no ifs ands or buts about it. I guess I’ve read too many friends-to-lovers books lately. 😂 I enjoyed this enough that I’ll read more in the series.
April 1, 2017
This story is told only using emails. I tend to like epistolary (in several of its possibilities) novels, so it was fun to read this.
I thought the plot would be like any other chick lit and it's not too complicated, no. But it had some funny things and, surprise, a slight twist at the end which I never imagined, bt now that I think about it, it's not weird it happened. Still, fast and entertaining.
I thought the plot would be like any other chick lit and it's not too complicated, no. But it had some funny things and, surprise, a slight twist at the end which I never imagined, bt now that I think about it, it's not weird it happened. Still, fast and entertaining.
September 12, 2012
Check out the interview with Lisa Becker at http://www.romanticreadingescapes.com
I was laughing from the very start of this book! Out loud! Lisa Becker managed to grab me and take me right into the friendships of Renee, Shelley, Ashley, and Mark...via email. The unconventional format of the writing really made feel as though I was a part of the conversations going on between these nutty friends. Yes, the book is written completely in the form of emails...and I became a pseudo-participant in the ongoing email-fest between my new book friends. Perhaps, this is why I was able to really connect with the characters so much. I mean, for Pete's sake! The author made ME want to sign up on Plenty of Fish...or Match...or eHarmony...or some other online find-your-man site, for crying out loud! ... at first, that is.
Now, I normally like highlighting my favorite passages and making my notes for later use in my reviews. Unfortunately, almost the entire book is now yellow with notes written everywhere! I want so badly to quote the entire book for you...I'm that excited over it! If you only knew how hard it is for me to keep from giving you spoilers! I loved this story!! Have I said that already? Well, I did!
Meet Renee. She is your average career girl who is earnestly looking for the man of her dreams. Reluctantly, she agrees to sign up for the online dating experience with her friend, Mark (her self-proclaimed big brother). She has a plethora of experiences that would scare away any woman from ever entering an online dating website, only to keep coming back for more with the hope of finding 'the one.' From the psycho dude, to the crier, to the serial texter, to the snap-snap-snapper. She definitely has her share of dates from Hell, but she always has her good friends for that needed support and encouragement. But, to help herself weed out the undesirables, Renee develops a list of important and relevant questions to ask her online suitors...just to deflect any duds that might creep through:
- Who is your favorite Brady? - If Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman got in a fight, who would win?
How'd that work out for you, Renee? Just when she feels discouraged, her good friend Shelley is there with comic relief and advice.
Meet Shelley. She is easily my favorite character of the bunch. She is definitely the fun girl who carries her smut with class and her one-track mind in this motley crew....she is nothing short of HA-HA-larious! I've decided Shelley is going to be my new BFF (sorry, Lisa M.). She is constantly encouraging Renee and building Renee's self-confidence, good friend that she is. But, she is not without her own share of losers for dates. She absolutely cracks me up with her descriptions and little names she dubs her dates.
...I was with a gentleman who I shall refer to as the Equestrian. Quite a ride!
...this man was sweating - profusely. From now on, he will be known as Fire Hose. And, ironically, that also helps to describe another manly feature of his. :)
I would love to see a spin-off novel with Shelley as the main character...*hint hint*
Meet Ashley. If ever there was a judgmental prude, here she is. Ashley has her own men troubles...her on and off dysfunctional relationship with Evan against the better advice of her friends is a back and forth tennis match. She couldn't be more naive when it comes to Evan.
"...he promised that things would be different this time. ...I just know things will be better this time."
How many times, Ashley? Perhaps, you should lay judgement on your own relationships? Look in a mirror, maybe? There is no love lost between Shelley and Ashley, but they do manage keep it mostly civil out of respect and love for their mutual friend, Renee. Yes, I actually started to like Ashley....a little....toward the end.
There are many secrets between these close friends....but secrets always have a way of coming out. Does Renee find the man of her dreams and live her HEA? Does she find him online or in the conventional dating sense? I'm not saying, but I will say I loved the ending of the book....and once again, I would love to see Shelley have her own book. Just throwing that out there...or perhaps I'll send the author an email?
Lisa Becker has provided a funny and somewhat realistic view of what I perceive to be the online dating experience with fun and quirky characters. This book will pull you into the pages and keep you reading nonstop. It is a very light and fast read that will put a smile on your face and keep it there. I give this lovely group of friends and their dating adventures 5 stars and recommend it to all those who need a good laugh at the end of a hard day...or any day...and to those who have ever suffered through those painful searches for the ONE....try going online!
I was laughing from the very start of this book! Out loud! Lisa Becker managed to grab me and take me right into the friendships of Renee, Shelley, Ashley, and Mark...via email. The unconventional format of the writing really made feel as though I was a part of the conversations going on between these nutty friends. Yes, the book is written completely in the form of emails...and I became a pseudo-participant in the ongoing email-fest between my new book friends. Perhaps, this is why I was able to really connect with the characters so much. I mean, for Pete's sake! The author made ME want to sign up on Plenty of Fish...or Match...or eHarmony...or some other online find-your-man site, for crying out loud! ... at first, that is.
Now, I normally like highlighting my favorite passages and making my notes for later use in my reviews. Unfortunately, almost the entire book is now yellow with notes written everywhere! I want so badly to quote the entire book for you...I'm that excited over it! If you only knew how hard it is for me to keep from giving you spoilers! I loved this story!! Have I said that already? Well, I did!
Meet Renee. She is your average career girl who is earnestly looking for the man of her dreams. Reluctantly, she agrees to sign up for the online dating experience with her friend, Mark (her self-proclaimed big brother). She has a plethora of experiences that would scare away any woman from ever entering an online dating website, only to keep coming back for more with the hope of finding 'the one.' From the psycho dude, to the crier, to the serial texter, to the snap-snap-snapper. She definitely has her share of dates from Hell, but she always has her good friends for that needed support and encouragement. But, to help herself weed out the undesirables, Renee develops a list of important and relevant questions to ask her online suitors...just to deflect any duds that might creep through:
- Who is your favorite Brady? - If Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman got in a fight, who would win?
How'd that work out for you, Renee? Just when she feels discouraged, her good friend Shelley is there with comic relief and advice.
Meet Shelley. She is easily my favorite character of the bunch. She is definitely the fun girl who carries her smut with class and her one-track mind in this motley crew....she is nothing short of HA-HA-larious! I've decided Shelley is going to be my new BFF (sorry, Lisa M.). She is constantly encouraging Renee and building Renee's self-confidence, good friend that she is. But, she is not without her own share of losers for dates. She absolutely cracks me up with her descriptions and little names she dubs her dates.
...I was with a gentleman who I shall refer to as the Equestrian. Quite a ride!
...this man was sweating - profusely. From now on, he will be known as Fire Hose. And, ironically, that also helps to describe another manly feature of his. :)
I would love to see a spin-off novel with Shelley as the main character...*hint hint*
Meet Ashley. If ever there was a judgmental prude, here she is. Ashley has her own men troubles...her on and off dysfunctional relationship with Evan against the better advice of her friends is a back and forth tennis match. She couldn't be more naive when it comes to Evan.
"...he promised that things would be different this time. ...I just know things will be better this time."
How many times, Ashley? Perhaps, you should lay judgement on your own relationships? Look in a mirror, maybe? There is no love lost between Shelley and Ashley, but they do manage keep it mostly civil out of respect and love for their mutual friend, Renee. Yes, I actually started to like Ashley....a little....toward the end.
There are many secrets between these close friends....but secrets always have a way of coming out. Does Renee find the man of her dreams and live her HEA? Does she find him online or in the conventional dating sense? I'm not saying, but I will say I loved the ending of the book....and once again, I would love to see Shelley have her own book. Just throwing that out there...or perhaps I'll send the author an email?
Lisa Becker has provided a funny and somewhat realistic view of what I perceive to be the online dating experience with fun and quirky characters. This book will pull you into the pages and keep you reading nonstop. It is a very light and fast read that will put a smile on your face and keep it there. I give this lovely group of friends and their dating adventures 5 stars and recommend it to all those who need a good laugh at the end of a hard day...or any day...and to those who have ever suffered through those painful searches for the ONE....try going online!
February 26, 2017
This review was first posted on Northern Plunder, if you want to see more reviews please click here.
I was lucky enough to recieve a copy of Click for review after mentioning it looked good over on Talk Supe's blog. The synopsis for this book seemed really interesting to me as I met my current boyfriend online, though not via a dating website.
(If you must know we've followed each other on tumblr for 5 years and spent a lot of that time gaming together too, but we only got in a relationship this February)
Okay so first things first even though I knew that it was email based, I didn't expect the whole book to be all from email perspectives but it was and wow, it worked so well.
Having the book in email format helped keep it chatty and hilarious, whilst allowing the pacing to be fairly quick due to the fact the main events would've already happened so you're finding out the important details as two friends talk about them.
I love how each of the characters personalities are very different allowing for you to know easily who is talking in each email, y'know in case you happen to skim the header of the emails now and then.
As this book follows Renee looking for love the book isn't filled to the brim with romance, I think this is what made it so enjoyable for myself as I'm very picky with romances as they're not one of my go to genres. There are a lot of failed dates, or emails, some with hope that lead to heart break, and of course the one perfect man.
Renee is such a great character, I loved how her confidence grew throughout the book and how her two best girl friends are very different but she still has close friendships with them that work.
I also related to how she handled a smoker that she went on a date with, that was a big "you go girl" moment for me because ew smoking!
The last few chapters made my heart do happy little jumps and then over anxiety clenching roller coaster rides. It was crazy how many emotions I felt towards the end of this book, the ending was so great and I can't wait to read the next books.
P.S. If reading explicit sex scenes isn't something you enjoy with romances (they're a bit hit and miss for me as when they're written badly its so obviously written badly, and euphemisms can be dreadful too) then this book will definitely work for you as you're always reading a recollection and gossip session between friends, who at times will want their privacy.
P.P.S. Don't be stupid and read the synopsis for book two 77% of the way through, don't do it. You don't NEED to know the name of the final man at that point, you can just keep reading a few more pages to find out properly. It doesn't matter how impatient you're getting, stop being a fool.
4.5 stars
I was lucky enough to recieve a copy of Click for review after mentioning it looked good over on Talk Supe's blog. The synopsis for this book seemed really interesting to me as I met my current boyfriend online, though not via a dating website.
(If you must know we've followed each other on tumblr for 5 years and spent a lot of that time gaming together too, but we only got in a relationship this February)
Okay so first things first even though I knew that it was email based, I didn't expect the whole book to be all from email perspectives but it was and wow, it worked so well.
Having the book in email format helped keep it chatty and hilarious, whilst allowing the pacing to be fairly quick due to the fact the main events would've already happened so you're finding out the important details as two friends talk about them.
I love how each of the characters personalities are very different allowing for you to know easily who is talking in each email, y'know in case you happen to skim the header of the emails now and then.
As this book follows Renee looking for love the book isn't filled to the brim with romance, I think this is what made it so enjoyable for myself as I'm very picky with romances as they're not one of my go to genres. There are a lot of failed dates, or emails, some with hope that lead to heart break, and of course the one perfect man.
Renee is such a great character, I loved how her confidence grew throughout the book and how her two best girl friends are very different but she still has close friendships with them that work.
I also related to how she handled a smoker that she went on a date with, that was a big "you go girl" moment for me because ew smoking!
The last few chapters made my heart do happy little jumps and then over anxiety clenching roller coaster rides. It was crazy how many emotions I felt towards the end of this book, the ending was so great and I can't wait to read the next books.
P.S. If reading explicit sex scenes isn't something you enjoy with romances (they're a bit hit and miss for me as when they're written badly its so obviously written badly, and euphemisms can be dreadful too) then this book will definitely work for you as you're always reading a recollection and gossip session between friends, who at times will want their privacy.
P.P.S. Don't be stupid and read the synopsis for book two 77% of the way through, don't do it. You don't NEED to know the name of the final man at that point, you can just keep reading a few more pages to find out properly. It doesn't matter how impatient you're getting, stop being a fool.
4.5 stars
November 21, 2011
What's there not to like? Hardly anything if you ask me. I begun with this book last night and here I am, sitting in front of my laptop after my hours of sweet dreams writing a review that will go like this:
Renee knows that if she wants to be in a relationship she needs to be outside, looking for a guy but... all the good boys are taken, right? Or a gay, of course.
But then one of her best friends, Mark, sends her an e-mail asking her for help: he has decided that one of his New Years's resolution is to try an online dating service but he can't do it alone and it would mean the world to him if they could do it together.
And after considering the pros and cons (with her best friend Shelley -best character of the book, I'll tell you more about her later) she says yes. And then her world goes upside down with so many interesting, fascinating and HA-larious men! Psychos, creeps, liars, ego-maniacs, boring-to-death guys, after-sleeping-with-you-I-don't-remember-your-face guys... you name it the book has one of those. And the good ones too, of course, but the bad ones are la Crème de la crème.
Personal opinion:
This book is about a love story, yes, but it's also about friendship. Let me tell you something: I would LOVE to have a friend like Shelley. There, I said it. It would be so much fun to change e-mails with her everyday. Why? She is just crazy and I love that. She is confident, knows what she wants and goes for it, is always there for Renee when she is feeling down and is loyal. And she likes sex, a lot, and is not afraid to admit it. If you liked Sex and the City you will enjoy this book a LOT.
Seriously, I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stop my laughing from waking up my husband.
The writing was smart, sexy and funny. The situations Lisa Becker creates for Renee to go through are, I'm sure, 100% real and that makes this book even more interesting. The author portraits the flora and fauna of the dating world in a wild ride of a book and, believe me, you will want to ride this stallion without stop.
A winner from beginning to end.
Renee knows that if she wants to be in a relationship she needs to be outside, looking for a guy but... all the good boys are taken, right? Or a gay, of course.
But then one of her best friends, Mark, sends her an e-mail asking her for help: he has decided that one of his New Years's resolution is to try an online dating service but he can't do it alone and it would mean the world to him if they could do it together.
And after considering the pros and cons (with her best friend Shelley -best character of the book, I'll tell you more about her later) she says yes. And then her world goes upside down with so many interesting, fascinating and HA-larious men! Psychos, creeps, liars, ego-maniacs, boring-to-death guys, after-sleeping-with-you-I-don't-remember-your-face guys... you name it the book has one of those. And the good ones too, of course, but the bad ones are la Crème de la crème.
Personal opinion:
This book is about a love story, yes, but it's also about friendship. Let me tell you something: I would LOVE to have a friend like Shelley. There, I said it. It would be so much fun to change e-mails with her everyday. Why? She is just crazy and I love that. She is confident, knows what she wants and goes for it, is always there for Renee when she is feeling down and is loyal. And she likes sex, a lot, and is not afraid to admit it. If you liked Sex and the City you will enjoy this book a LOT.
Seriously, I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stop my laughing from waking up my husband.
The writing was smart, sexy and funny. The situations Lisa Becker creates for Renee to go through are, I'm sure, 100% real and that makes this book even more interesting. The author portraits the flora and fauna of the dating world in a wild ride of a book and, believe me, you will want to ride this stallion without stop.
A winner from beginning to end.
September 4, 2012
Since I happened to meet my husband online, I am always looking for more online love stories. Click immediately got my attention and it did not disappoint! Renee Greene is such a lovable character. She works hard and loves her friends, even when they are constantly bickering with each other and she has to keep the peace. I truly wanted her to meet someone worthy of her attention because she was such a genuine person. Renee's friends are also strong characters, complete with their own quirks and back stories. I will admit that Shelley, Renee's best friend, was my favorite. She was always on the prowl for a new "boy toy" to bring home and had no issue with telling Renee all about their adventures. Some of the names she gave these men were absolutely genius.
When I first learned that Click was told through emails between the characters, I wasn't sure how this was going to work. How would I be able to connect to them emotionally if I wasn't able to see them in their day to day lives? However, I was actually surprised to find myself loving the email style. It felt more intimate because people will often feel more open with their feelings through email since they aren't standing next to the other person and feeling vulnerable. It is much harder to tell people the truth or upset them when they are staring right at you. I felt it gave the characters a better chance of being honest with each other.
I absolutely loved this book. The banter between friends, the horrible dates that Renee endures and the hilarious sexual escapades by Shelley had me laughing out loud from start to finish. I loved these characters. If they were real people, I would desperately want to be part of their group. I highly recommend Click to everyone. Whether you are a lover of Chick Lit or just looking for a quick paced, hilarious read, you are going to love this book.
When I first learned that Click was told through emails between the characters, I wasn't sure how this was going to work. How would I be able to connect to them emotionally if I wasn't able to see them in their day to day lives? However, I was actually surprised to find myself loving the email style. It felt more intimate because people will often feel more open with their feelings through email since they aren't standing next to the other person and feeling vulnerable. It is much harder to tell people the truth or upset them when they are staring right at you. I felt it gave the characters a better chance of being honest with each other.
I absolutely loved this book. The banter between friends, the horrible dates that Renee endures and the hilarious sexual escapades by Shelley had me laughing out loud from start to finish. I loved these characters. If they were real people, I would desperately want to be part of their group. I highly recommend Click to everyone. Whether you are a lover of Chick Lit or just looking for a quick paced, hilarious read, you are going to love this book.
August 28, 2011
Renee is single and about to turn 30. She's looking at a future of DVD marathons and frosting binges, and she'll need a couple of cats, too. So when her friend Mark suggests they try online dating, she's just desperate enough to give it a chance. Really, how bad could it be?
This is a smart, fun read. It's written entirely in emails (the modern epistolary novel), but fear not, the characters have such clearly defined voices that you'll sort it out in no time. The perils of modern communication abound - accidentally sending the draft, mixing up recipients, cybermanners (can you dump someone electronically after you've met face-to-face?). It's a sharp commentary on today's world, where you life story can be had at the touch of a button.
The supporting characters are wonderful. Mark, the instigator, is too busy comparison shopping dating sites to actually get around to posting a profile. Ashley is what passes for a prude these days, betting on the handsome prince finding her without Facebook. Shelley, well, Shelley's just fabulous. Jumping from man to man like it's a scavenger hunt and they're the clues, she doesn't even bother with names - she just tags them and moves on. You really feel the relationships here - you can picture what happens when they all get together.
This is one of the best novels about modern dating that I've ever read. It's funny and real, with lots of true to life moments. Championing online dating while secretly thinking it's for losers, embracing modern advances and still believing that 30 is a cutoff point - don't pretend it hasn't crossed your mind, too. The format makes it a quick read - just one more email! - perfect for stolen moments in your busy day.
This is a smart, fun read. It's written entirely in emails (the modern epistolary novel), but fear not, the characters have such clearly defined voices that you'll sort it out in no time. The perils of modern communication abound - accidentally sending the draft, mixing up recipients, cybermanners (can you dump someone electronically after you've met face-to-face?). It's a sharp commentary on today's world, where you life story can be had at the touch of a button.
The supporting characters are wonderful. Mark, the instigator, is too busy comparison shopping dating sites to actually get around to posting a profile. Ashley is what passes for a prude these days, betting on the handsome prince finding her without Facebook. Shelley, well, Shelley's just fabulous. Jumping from man to man like it's a scavenger hunt and they're the clues, she doesn't even bother with names - she just tags them and moves on. You really feel the relationships here - you can picture what happens when they all get together.
This is one of the best novels about modern dating that I've ever read. It's funny and real, with lots of true to life moments. Championing online dating while secretly thinking it's for losers, embracing modern advances and still believing that 30 is a cutoff point - don't pretend it hasn't crossed your mind, too. The format makes it a quick read - just one more email! - perfect for stolen moments in your busy day.
May 12, 2013
The main reason I agreed to review this book was beacuse over twenty years ago I met my husband through the precursor of internet dating: a lonely hearts in a newspaper and I was eager to see if Renee could find her true love on the internet. One of Renee's friends, Ashley, at the beginning of the book says that it's only desperate people who would resort to such a thing, but I don't think that's necessarily true, as evidenced by my own experience of finding my Mr. Right. I'd never have met him otherwise and we wouldn't have been happily together for over twenty years if I hadn't sent off that ad.
The was a fun read about the online dating scene. Written entirely in emails between the characters I wasn't sure how that was going to work, but I was pleasantly surprised. Each email has its own 'voice' of the character, so even if you've missed the headers, you can usually tell who is talking.
We learn all about Renee's disastrous dates, about her relationship with her friends and I have to admit I was smiling at nearly all of her friends Shelley's emails. Shelley seemed to have a man for every night of the week and they had some great nicknames from 'The Cuddler' to 'The Firehose'.
You laugh with Renee over some of the more disastrous men she's been out with and you feel the pain along with her when some of the men treat her horrendously. The book runs the gamut of emotions and even though you are only reading emails and not prose, somehow it works and you do get to know the characters that way.
It's a book about searching for love but it is also one of friendship an support. And no, I'm not going to say whether or not Renee ever finds Mr. Right, you're just going to have to read to find out :)
Review copy supplied by author
The was a fun read about the online dating scene. Written entirely in emails between the characters I wasn't sure how that was going to work, but I was pleasantly surprised. Each email has its own 'voice' of the character, so even if you've missed the headers, you can usually tell who is talking.
We learn all about Renee's disastrous dates, about her relationship with her friends and I have to admit I was smiling at nearly all of her friends Shelley's emails. Shelley seemed to have a man for every night of the week and they had some great nicknames from 'The Cuddler' to 'The Firehose'.
You laugh with Renee over some of the more disastrous men she's been out with and you feel the pain along with her when some of the men treat her horrendously. The book runs the gamut of emotions and even though you are only reading emails and not prose, somehow it works and you do get to know the characters that way.
It's a book about searching for love but it is also one of friendship an support. And no, I'm not going to say whether or not Renee ever finds Mr. Right, you're just going to have to read to find out :)
Review copy supplied by author
November 18, 2011
Click: An Online Love Story is a fun novel that charts twenty nine year old Renee Greene's search for love online. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee, her three closest friends and the men Renee meets through "Choose Jews".
I enjoyed the format of this novel, I have email conversations with my friends like this all the time (though not on the same subjects) so its familiarity is engaging and authentic.
Becker manages to establish distinct voices for her characters so that the email headers quickly become unnecessary. While it is Renee's online dating adventures we follow we are also privy to Mark's procrastination in his own search for love, Ashley's turbulent relationship and Shelley's lusty encounters with men she gives nicknames like The Cuddler and The Tongue. What I found particularly clever, especially given the format and subject of the novel, Becker's characters are shown to grow, Renee in particular becomes more self confident and assertive while Ashley finally manages to escape an unhealthy relationship. There is a nice twist at the end but as expected Renee finally finds someone she clicks with.
I was particularly entertained by the lighthearted humour as Renee corresponds and meets a variety of suitors whose inappropriate behaviour is a source of mirth. Becker plays out some of the stereotypes surrounding online dating with amusing commentary from Renee's friends. Shelley's risque adventures are also fun.
Click: An Online Love Story is a sharp modern take on dating in the 21st century. Funny, well written and entertaining this is a quick read for chicklit fans.
I enjoyed the format of this novel, I have email conversations with my friends like this all the time (though not on the same subjects) so its familiarity is engaging and authentic.
Becker manages to establish distinct voices for her characters so that the email headers quickly become unnecessary. While it is Renee's online dating adventures we follow we are also privy to Mark's procrastination in his own search for love, Ashley's turbulent relationship and Shelley's lusty encounters with men she gives nicknames like The Cuddler and The Tongue. What I found particularly clever, especially given the format and subject of the novel, Becker's characters are shown to grow, Renee in particular becomes more self confident and assertive while Ashley finally manages to escape an unhealthy relationship. There is a nice twist at the end but as expected Renee finally finds someone she clicks with.
I was particularly entertained by the lighthearted humour as Renee corresponds and meets a variety of suitors whose inappropriate behaviour is a source of mirth. Becker plays out some of the stereotypes surrounding online dating with amusing commentary from Renee's friends. Shelley's risque adventures are also fun.
Click: An Online Love Story is a sharp modern take on dating in the 21st century. Funny, well written and entertaining this is a quick read for chicklit fans.
July 6, 2011
Renee is 30 years old, single, and ready to find a lover. Through convincing of her best friend, Mark, she joins an online dating site hoping to find a suitable date. With so many different sites to choose from, she settles on "Choose Jews." The online dating site name alone tickled me. The messages Renee received were even more chuckling.
In this technology age, the e-mail format was engaging and addicting to read. It is nine chapters that you can complete in one sitting. It only took me a few hours to read and flip those e-pages anxious to find out if Renee found a love match.
Although the story is told entirely through e-mails, the characters are well-developed and each has a personality of their own. Ashley is judgmental and prissy. Mark is anal with a severe case of OCD. My personal favorite was the enthusiastic over-loving Shelley. There's even a twist at the end of the story that involves a friend. I would have preferred the book to be just a little bit longer. Hopefully Lisa Becker has plans for a follow-up book or short story.
For your chance to keep updated with news, giveaways, and more reviews, like "Click: An Online Love Story" on Facebook.
In this technology age, the e-mail format was engaging and addicting to read. It is nine chapters that you can complete in one sitting. It only took me a few hours to read and flip those e-pages anxious to find out if Renee found a love match.
Although the story is told entirely through e-mails, the characters are well-developed and each has a personality of their own. Ashley is judgmental and prissy. Mark is anal with a severe case of OCD. My personal favorite was the enthusiastic over-loving Shelley. There's even a twist at the end of the story that involves a friend. I would have preferred the book to be just a little bit longer. Hopefully Lisa Becker has plans for a follow-up book or short story.
For your chance to keep updated with news, giveaways, and more reviews, like "Click: An Online Love Story" on Facebook.
December 2, 2012
Click: On Online Love Story by Lisa Becker is the first book I've read in email form. That's right, the whole book in an exchange of emails between friends. I thought this a unique way of telling a story. For the most part I liked it, but I did miss those little details in stories that don't quite come across in emails. However I think Becker did a great job of pulling off an entertaining story line.
Renee Green is about to turn 30. She makes a pact with her friend Mark to try online dating. As you can guess Renee gets quite a few interesting responses. Renee mainly communicates with her three best friends, Mark, Shelley, and Ashley. They all have very distinct personalities, and at times they reminded me a bit of Sex and the City. The book basically follows Renee on her quest to find Mr. Right. It's full of humor, romance, and perhaps a cautionary tale of online dating.
I enjoyed reading this book. I read it during a period where I needed to read something light-hearted and fun, and it was just the right fit.
Renee Green is about to turn 30. She makes a pact with her friend Mark to try online dating. As you can guess Renee gets quite a few interesting responses. Renee mainly communicates with her three best friends, Mark, Shelley, and Ashley. They all have very distinct personalities, and at times they reminded me a bit of Sex and the City. The book basically follows Renee on her quest to find Mr. Right. It's full of humor, romance, and perhaps a cautionary tale of online dating.
I enjoyed reading this book. I read it during a period where I needed to read something light-hearted and fun, and it was just the right fit.
September 4, 2011
I was really worried about reading this book at first because it was written all in emails. It was kind of hard to read at first because of the whole email thing and it took me a little longer to get a link to the characters but once I got there and I started getting into it i started to relate to the people in this book.
Reading this book made me think of the the life I lead, I have so many friends that I only talk to online and i know so many other people out there do the same thing. So Lisa did really well to bring the kind of world we all live in to a story. In this book I found the emails very interesting and really fun to read. I think everyone should give this book a try because it gives you an incite to the world most people are living and it is a very different and creative way to write a book.
Reading this book made me think of the the life I lead, I have so many friends that I only talk to online and i know so many other people out there do the same thing. So Lisa did really well to bring the kind of world we all live in to a story. In this book I found the emails very interesting and really fun to read. I think everyone should give this book a try because it gives you an incite to the world most people are living and it is a very different and creative way to write a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2013
This was a great story! As I said many times, I am not a big fan of chick-lits, although I enjoy it occasionally. This time, it was a bit different, as I totally LOVED IT! The idea of setting the whole story through email exchange was very unique and clever, and it's because of this that the story is very fluent and just the right amount of fast-paced.
I related to Renee a lot, although I've never used an online dating service. But there is always a first time for everything, right? I was happy when she was happy about her dates, and sad for her when things went wrong, and I liked how supportive her friends are. However, I am not very fond of Ashley. Despite what she says, she IS very judgemental, and I think she should watch herself in the mirror before judging other relationships.
I look forward to the sequel, and to see how things between Renee and Ethan are going!
I related to Renee a lot, although I've never used an online dating service. But there is always a first time for everything, right? I was happy when she was happy about her dates, and sad for her when things went wrong, and I liked how supportive her friends are. However, I am not very fond of Ashley. Despite what she says, she IS very judgemental, and I think she should watch herself in the mirror before judging other relationships.
I look forward to the sequel, and to see how things between Renee and Ethan are going!
June 12, 2015
I have to admit, I had a challenging time adjusting Lisa Becker's email style of telling the story. I was looking for a more traditional way of storytelling with full descriptions, facial expressions and body language, atmospheric setting, etc. I almost DNF'd CLICK, but seeing all the positive reviews on GR encouraged me to power through.
And I'm glad I did because CLICK was so fun, flirty, and quite the romantic comedy! I enjoyed Renee's comical circle of friends as well as all of their romantic struggles. I can totally relate to Renee's single life blues and her determination to find a good guy worthy of her time and attention. It took a lot of frog kissing on her part but she did get a quasi-fairy tale ending. Eager to see where this series leads!
And I'm glad I did because CLICK was so fun, flirty, and quite the romantic comedy! I enjoyed Renee's comical circle of friends as well as all of their romantic struggles. I can totally relate to Renee's single life blues and her determination to find a good guy worthy of her time and attention. It took a lot of frog kissing on her part but she did get a quasi-fairy tale ending. Eager to see where this series leads!
May 17, 2014
3.75 sweet stars
I really enjoyed the premise of Click, especially in this digital age and when we are getting more "time poor".
It took me a little while to get my head around the characters, as the whole story is written in email form. it took a bit for me to figure out whose pov the emails were coming from, but the characters all started to get their own voice and I could distinguish them all better.
This is a sweet, funny read that felt a little bit like You've Got Mail with ADHD!
I really enjoyed the premise of Click, especially in this digital age and when we are getting more "time poor".
It took me a little while to get my head around the characters, as the whole story is written in email form. it took a bit for me to figure out whose pov the emails were coming from, but the characters all started to get their own voice and I could distinguish them all better.
This is a sweet, funny read that felt a little bit like You've Got Mail with ADHD!
August 12, 2011
A hysterical read! I was laughing out loud quite often. It was a quick read which I like, not saying this is a bad or good thing. The main character, Renee, reminds me of me actually lol, and her friend reminds me of Samantha from Sex and the City. If anyone has tried the online dating world, it will be that much funnier.
November 18, 2011
A fun, easy read.
May 28, 2013
Click: Lisa Becker
Emails are fun to send and when several friends get together and share their thoughts with readers you will laugh, cry, smile and wonder just what gossip, tidbits and dating tips you will get when reading Click by author Lisa Becker. Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Renee are great friends who can’t seem to find the right soul mate you might say. Mark and Renee decide to venture out of their comfort zone and join an online dating service to see if they can meet someone right for them. Mark is smart, astute and very careful about his choice of which service to join. Lining up the top ten he researches each one before sharing the list with Renee. As Renee goes through the list, their requirements, their services and more she decides on one that just might be right for her. But, in the interim we hear from Ashley who can’t seem to get away from Evan her boyfriend whose qualities are not right for her but she needs to see that for herself. Next, Shelley whose presence alone makes everyone else disappears and whose steady stream of dates keeps her busy in many departments. Told in the form of emails the characters share their innermost thoughts, experiences, hopes and desires in a humorous, delightful way. Although the story is told through emails the reader can follow the trend, the dates and the final results with no problem.
Shelley from the start is a real barracuda and men gravitate to her. Although she has a plethora of dates she joins Mark and Renee and goes for the online dating too. But, the star of the book is Renee and just like most women she is looking for the right guy but first you have to go through a slew of wrong ones. Mark is a great character and great friend, researches everything, provides the good and bad of each site and then leaves it up to Renee to choose the one that is right for her. Online dating is not something to take lightly and you really need to be careful before deciding to meet someone. Even dating services where you pay a huge fee and claim to check out their clients beforehand are not always that reputable. Renee from the start you can tell is sweet, kind, gorgeous and just needs a boost. When you read her profile you get the feeling that she does not really know how great she is and is trying to convince herself that what she wrote is the truth.
But, things start to get a little bit out of control as Renee shares her thoughts as she is about to celebrate her 30th birthday and join her friends for a fun night. Her online dating service and emails she receives will definitely bring more than just a few laughs to readers as she relates each one to Shelley, asks her sage advice before answering them and finds herself in the midst of some really strange dates. One guy seems taken with her even before she agrees to go out with him and his reaction to her gentle rejection is priceless. Poor guy. Another turns out to have a difference sexual preference but he just doesn’t know it but eventually he will. When you read the emails you will begin to wonder just how reputable this dating service is and who are these people that are emailing her. One is a doctor who seemed nice but when he asks for a date on Valentine’s Day Renee turns him down. Why? you need to click on her email to find out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. But, poor Mark can’t seem to find his way to joining anything and for some reason he over does things, appears to have a strong case of OCD and his research is never ending but what happens between him and Shelley at the Valentine’s Day Party they all attend is priceless, embarrassing and funny.
This is a book that is not only about online dating, searching for the right person but is truly about friendship, loyalty and a bond that four friends have that hopefully will never break. Ashley is very judgmental and often speaks before she thinks. Shelley is a straight shooter whose advice keeps Renee on point but at times seems over the top. Mark is very controlled, OCD is definitely part of his makeup. Kindhearted, wanting to live in the moment of each of the three girls but never really giving himself a chance to meet anyone. Too analytic and too critical or maybe just smart enough to be more discriminating.
Renee seems centered at times, focused, listens to the advice of others but when will she see herself for who she really is and understand that she is totally worth it. A television host that she dates seems right at first but is he? Shelley’s descriptions of two men referred to as Toddlers and Cuddlers come back in her face. Mark seems to really care about Renee so why not date your best friend?
One friend who finds her way into many different beds and another who gets burnt the first time out Click is one book that will make you think twice before choosing online dating.
Four friends each with different goals, each protective of the other and each hoping to find the right person to fill that empty need. Shelley might be what you would call over the top in some things she does but is she really looking for love or is she afraid to commit? Always there to pick up Renee when she falls down, eager to give her sage advice is one BFF that everyone just might want.
Each time Renee meets someone she thinks might work out she asks for her profile to be hidden. When she meets Matt she thinks it’s the real thing but what happens shakes her confidence to the core and deciding to push aside an email from Ethan just might prove to be a mistake. Misunderstandings, tons of hilarious dates, some not so funny and others well you have to read Shelley’s descriptions of The Tongue, The Rocket and even Toddler will crack you up. But, what about Ashley? How does she react when Renee finally lets her have it with all of her comments, put downs and more? Will their friendship be dissolved? What happens when Renee dates Ethan, things heat up and a hidden truth comes out?
What is the final outcome for these four close friends? Online dating can be fun if you don’t take every date so seriously it seems. Finding the right person happens when you least expect it. Read Click: Maybe on click on the right profile and you just might find Mr/Ms. Right. Author Lisa Becker is happily married thanks to online dating. You can be too. Told though emails in conversational tone we get to know four friends whose lives change throughout the course of this book. Find out how and more when you read Click: An online love story and much more.
Fran Lewis: reviewer
Emails are fun to send and when several friends get together and share their thoughts with readers you will laugh, cry, smile and wonder just what gossip, tidbits and dating tips you will get when reading Click by author Lisa Becker. Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Renee are great friends who can’t seem to find the right soul mate you might say. Mark and Renee decide to venture out of their comfort zone and join an online dating service to see if they can meet someone right for them. Mark is smart, astute and very careful about his choice of which service to join. Lining up the top ten he researches each one before sharing the list with Renee. As Renee goes through the list, their requirements, their services and more she decides on one that just might be right for her. But, in the interim we hear from Ashley who can’t seem to get away from Evan her boyfriend whose qualities are not right for her but she needs to see that for herself. Next, Shelley whose presence alone makes everyone else disappears and whose steady stream of dates keeps her busy in many departments. Told in the form of emails the characters share their innermost thoughts, experiences, hopes and desires in a humorous, delightful way. Although the story is told through emails the reader can follow the trend, the dates and the final results with no problem.
Shelley from the start is a real barracuda and men gravitate to her. Although she has a plethora of dates she joins Mark and Renee and goes for the online dating too. But, the star of the book is Renee and just like most women she is looking for the right guy but first you have to go through a slew of wrong ones. Mark is a great character and great friend, researches everything, provides the good and bad of each site and then leaves it up to Renee to choose the one that is right for her. Online dating is not something to take lightly and you really need to be careful before deciding to meet someone. Even dating services where you pay a huge fee and claim to check out their clients beforehand are not always that reputable. Renee from the start you can tell is sweet, kind, gorgeous and just needs a boost. When you read her profile you get the feeling that she does not really know how great she is and is trying to convince herself that what she wrote is the truth.
But, things start to get a little bit out of control as Renee shares her thoughts as she is about to celebrate her 30th birthday and join her friends for a fun night. Her online dating service and emails she receives will definitely bring more than just a few laughs to readers as she relates each one to Shelley, asks her sage advice before answering them and finds herself in the midst of some really strange dates. One guy seems taken with her even before she agrees to go out with him and his reaction to her gentle rejection is priceless. Poor guy. Another turns out to have a difference sexual preference but he just doesn’t know it but eventually he will. When you read the emails you will begin to wonder just how reputable this dating service is and who are these people that are emailing her. One is a doctor who seemed nice but when he asks for a date on Valentine’s Day Renee turns him down. Why? you need to click on her email to find out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. But, poor Mark can’t seem to find his way to joining anything and for some reason he over does things, appears to have a strong case of OCD and his research is never ending but what happens between him and Shelley at the Valentine’s Day Party they all attend is priceless, embarrassing and funny.
This is a book that is not only about online dating, searching for the right person but is truly about friendship, loyalty and a bond that four friends have that hopefully will never break. Ashley is very judgmental and often speaks before she thinks. Shelley is a straight shooter whose advice keeps Renee on point but at times seems over the top. Mark is very controlled, OCD is definitely part of his makeup. Kindhearted, wanting to live in the moment of each of the three girls but never really giving himself a chance to meet anyone. Too analytic and too critical or maybe just smart enough to be more discriminating.
Renee seems centered at times, focused, listens to the advice of others but when will she see herself for who she really is and understand that she is totally worth it. A television host that she dates seems right at first but is he? Shelley’s descriptions of two men referred to as Toddlers and Cuddlers come back in her face. Mark seems to really care about Renee so why not date your best friend?
One friend who finds her way into many different beds and another who gets burnt the first time out Click is one book that will make you think twice before choosing online dating.
Four friends each with different goals, each protective of the other and each hoping to find the right person to fill that empty need. Shelley might be what you would call over the top in some things she does but is she really looking for love or is she afraid to commit? Always there to pick up Renee when she falls down, eager to give her sage advice is one BFF that everyone just might want.
Each time Renee meets someone she thinks might work out she asks for her profile to be hidden. When she meets Matt she thinks it’s the real thing but what happens shakes her confidence to the core and deciding to push aside an email from Ethan just might prove to be a mistake. Misunderstandings, tons of hilarious dates, some not so funny and others well you have to read Shelley’s descriptions of The Tongue, The Rocket and even Toddler will crack you up. But, what about Ashley? How does she react when Renee finally lets her have it with all of her comments, put downs and more? Will their friendship be dissolved? What happens when Renee dates Ethan, things heat up and a hidden truth comes out?
What is the final outcome for these four close friends? Online dating can be fun if you don’t take every date so seriously it seems. Finding the right person happens when you least expect it. Read Click: Maybe on click on the right profile and you just might find Mr/Ms. Right. Author Lisa Becker is happily married thanks to online dating. You can be too. Told though emails in conversational tone we get to know four friends whose lives change throughout the course of this book. Find out how and more when you read Click: An online love story and much more.
Fran Lewis: reviewer
July 8, 2016
I REALLY wanted to enjoy this book. I REALLY, TRULY did.
I think it might be one of those occasions where the blurb and idea sound fantastic, but once you dig in, you are disillusioned by what you find.
Truth be told, I offered to read this story simply because I loved the sound of it. Now, looking back, I am not so happy to have made that decision. But, I regress. With all of that said, I will entertain you with a bit of the premise.
Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself, “Hey, I’ve seen this movie before?” Such was the case with “Click”. The more I read it, the more I came to terms with the fact that I’d seen this movie before.
Let me proceed.
THE STORY:
Renee is going to be 30 and she is disappointed in herself for not being in a serious relationship, or not yet living the All American dream. Coaxed by her best-guy-friend, Mark, who promises to join her in the venture, Renee opts to seek love online. Continually sharing her experiences with her small group of close friends—Shelley being the primary one, followed by Mark and Ashley—Renee seeks dating counsel and solace, out of all places, via email correspondence. Her adventures include joining a site called Choose Jews, meeting men who aren’t necessarily put together, others who only want sex, others that are highly emotionally unstable, and yet others that are too far away to be with. Renee gets to meet of few of the potential suitors in person which only brings her more grief in some instances.
MY THOUGHTS:
I can never really determine what bothers me more, a book that stars off bad and remains bad all the way through, a book that starts off good and then gets back, OR a book that has TONS of potential yet doesn’t meet the mark. They all infuriate me, I have to admit.
In the case of “Click: An Online Love Story”, it fits into category Number 3. “Click” has SO MUCH potential, yet, in the end one is left disenchanted. Not because the crescendo isn’t achieved … somewhat … but because of the overall presentation is lackluster and somehow déjà vu’ish.
NOTE: I’ll get to the end, at the end. *giggling*
Now, back to what I was saying.
I anticipated that “Click” would be a very visual book, due to the nature of its content my mind’s eye saw actual emails.
A continuous stream of mock emails would not be so bad had it not been back to back … to back … to back … to back. Sometimes several to a page. Also, due to the way it is presented, the reader can easily become confused as to who is saying what. I know that on several occasions I got confused and inevitably failed to keep up with the events and the persons.
Allow me to explain:
Since one is constantly ready “To, From, Subject” again and again, after a while the “To and From” get blurred and one loses track of who is saying what.
Another deterrent was that there wasn’t any narrative breaking up the emails. Just a long stream of emails back and forth between the cast. This made visualizing what was happening all the more difficult.
A good example is, in between emails, at times, the characters met up or spoke on the phone and things of that nature. Yet, it was indicated in the emails that these things happened, yet since it isn’t narrated—the reader can’t “see” it happening. I find that it was in those moments when the author could have taken the opportunity to interject some one on one dialogue or narrative to sort of fill in the gaps.
This led me to keep thinking “Do these people EVER talk like normal folk?” Also, we’re talking about the year 2011 here!
Google Hangout, Facebook Messenger, Text messages, Skype and a wide array of OTHER computerized networking and communication methods already existed. You mean to tell me that these characters NEVER ONCE used them? I doubt that.
PS (Side Note): Camera phones ALSO existed.
Wait for it …!
Allow me to carry on.
Another thing that bugged me with this book were the characters’ behaviors and stereotypical mannerisms. This made everything so predictable. Including what Renee would do next, each and every time.
Another thought I had was, “A red pen never hurt anyone.“
While in some parts, I completely understood why the grammar and punctuation was bad, that didn’t excuse the rest of the book. There was, for example, one part where the main character is emailing back and forth with a Chef. The Chef is a “text writer“, that is to say, the man prefers to write in text speech. So, the fact that his grammar, spelling, and punctuation are terrible are excusable. However, that does not make it okay for Renee, Shelley, Mark and Ashley to have unacceptable grammar. There were way too many junctures of poor syntax.
Now, about the ending. We live in modern times. An age of advancing technology, AND HAVE BEEN living this era for some time. More so, in the last 15-20 years.
I had my first camera phone in 2004. I joined MySpace in 2002, Facebook in 2005, and Twitter in 2010. I had my first iPhone in 2011, and was blowing up Instagram in 2012.
With soooo many advances in technology, the ending of this book JUST ISN’T PLAUSIBLE, period!
Trying not to give away any spoilers, I’m just going to ask a simple rhetorical question:
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY DIDN’T KNOW, especially considering that they were using modern technology?
At this point, it is what it is.
I just wish that it had been better. With that said, I give “Click” 2 stars because it doesn’t quite make the 3 stars mark for me, sorry.
I think it might be one of those occasions where the blurb and idea sound fantastic, but once you dig in, you are disillusioned by what you find.
Truth be told, I offered to read this story simply because I loved the sound of it. Now, looking back, I am not so happy to have made that decision. But, I regress. With all of that said, I will entertain you with a bit of the premise.
Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself, “Hey, I’ve seen this movie before?” Such was the case with “Click”. The more I read it, the more I came to terms with the fact that I’d seen this movie before.
Let me proceed.
THE STORY:
Renee is going to be 30 and she is disappointed in herself for not being in a serious relationship, or not yet living the All American dream. Coaxed by her best-guy-friend, Mark, who promises to join her in the venture, Renee opts to seek love online. Continually sharing her experiences with her small group of close friends—Shelley being the primary one, followed by Mark and Ashley—Renee seeks dating counsel and solace, out of all places, via email correspondence. Her adventures include joining a site called Choose Jews, meeting men who aren’t necessarily put together, others who only want sex, others that are highly emotionally unstable, and yet others that are too far away to be with. Renee gets to meet of few of the potential suitors in person which only brings her more grief in some instances.
MY THOUGHTS:
I can never really determine what bothers me more, a book that stars off bad and remains bad all the way through, a book that starts off good and then gets back, OR a book that has TONS of potential yet doesn’t meet the mark. They all infuriate me, I have to admit.
In the case of “Click: An Online Love Story”, it fits into category Number 3. “Click” has SO MUCH potential, yet, in the end one is left disenchanted. Not because the crescendo isn’t achieved … somewhat … but because of the overall presentation is lackluster and somehow déjà vu’ish.
NOTE: I’ll get to the end, at the end. *giggling*
Now, back to what I was saying.
I anticipated that “Click” would be a very visual book, due to the nature of its content my mind’s eye saw actual emails.
A continuous stream of mock emails would not be so bad had it not been back to back … to back … to back … to back. Sometimes several to a page. Also, due to the way it is presented, the reader can easily become confused as to who is saying what. I know that on several occasions I got confused and inevitably failed to keep up with the events and the persons.
Allow me to explain:
Since one is constantly ready “To, From, Subject” again and again, after a while the “To and From” get blurred and one loses track of who is saying what.
Another deterrent was that there wasn’t any narrative breaking up the emails. Just a long stream of emails back and forth between the cast. This made visualizing what was happening all the more difficult.
A good example is, in between emails, at times, the characters met up or spoke on the phone and things of that nature. Yet, it was indicated in the emails that these things happened, yet since it isn’t narrated—the reader can’t “see” it happening. I find that it was in those moments when the author could have taken the opportunity to interject some one on one dialogue or narrative to sort of fill in the gaps.
This led me to keep thinking “Do these people EVER talk like normal folk?” Also, we’re talking about the year 2011 here!
Google Hangout, Facebook Messenger, Text messages, Skype and a wide array of OTHER computerized networking and communication methods already existed. You mean to tell me that these characters NEVER ONCE used them? I doubt that.
PS (Side Note): Camera phones ALSO existed.
Wait for it …!
Allow me to carry on.
Another thing that bugged me with this book were the characters’ behaviors and stereotypical mannerisms. This made everything so predictable. Including what Renee would do next, each and every time.
Another thought I had was, “A red pen never hurt anyone.“
While in some parts, I completely understood why the grammar and punctuation was bad, that didn’t excuse the rest of the book. There was, for example, one part where the main character is emailing back and forth with a Chef. The Chef is a “text writer“, that is to say, the man prefers to write in text speech. So, the fact that his grammar, spelling, and punctuation are terrible are excusable. However, that does not make it okay for Renee, Shelley, Mark and Ashley to have unacceptable grammar. There were way too many junctures of poor syntax.
Now, about the ending. We live in modern times. An age of advancing technology, AND HAVE BEEN living this era for some time. More so, in the last 15-20 years.
I had my first camera phone in 2004. I joined MySpace in 2002, Facebook in 2005, and Twitter in 2010. I had my first iPhone in 2011, and was blowing up Instagram in 2012.
With soooo many advances in technology, the ending of this book JUST ISN’T PLAUSIBLE, period!
Trying not to give away any spoilers, I’m just going to ask a simple rhetorical question:
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY DIDN’T KNOW, especially considering that they were using modern technology?
At this point, it is what it is.
I just wish that it had been better. With that said, I give “Click” 2 stars because it doesn’t quite make the 3 stars mark for me, sorry.
July 24, 2016
NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
To me, Click is a cross between You’ve Got Mail and Sex and the City. You’ve Got Mail comes to mind because of the way the Internet and dating is utilized. Sex and the City is also a viable comparison due to four individuals and their adventures in the world of relationships.
The premise of Click is adorable and reflective of the modern world. It can be challenging to find the time to go through the usual process of dating, so by using dating services, it should help one to weed out the promising from the disappointing. Yet, the fallacy in that type of thinking is that behind the keys lies a human being, and there are those who may have characteristics that could equate to a slammed door in one’s face—it all depends on the individuals involved.
Yet, despite the relatability, there was so much that kept Click from being the perfect read for me.
This isn’t really a book but a compilation of emails put together to create a book.
There are certain elements that makes a book a book—beyond just having a cover and pages. There has to be some form of narrative—some glue that gives the reader an idea of the characters he’s dealing with, the setting of the story, the era of time in which the story is taking place. However, in Click, there is email … after email … after email, with no narrative in sight.
For example, when there is mention in the email about Renee’s dates, there’s no narrative downtime where the location of the date and the event is being described at that moment. All of it is told in the tones of aftermath—usually the aftermath of neglect. There’s also an awkward interaction between Shelley and Mark, which would have held more glue if it was told in that instant rather than back and forth e-mail encounters, and the occasional jabs from Renee to Shelley about the situation.
There is also the subject of appearance. Does Renee look like a Supermodel, or is this only said because of her self-esteem issues? On top of that, why does she have self-esteem issues? I haven’t read anything that has contributed to the view Renee has of herself. If there were episodes of bullying, a particularly bad romance, or her childhood, it wasn’t spoken of in the emails. What do the other characters look like? All that is discussed is their behaviors which one can only gauge via the email transactions.
Although the author wants us to like Renee, I grew to dislike her. At first, I felt sorry for her Bloopers in Online Dating but as the novel progressed, there were mean girl tendencies, along with stupid behaviors, that drained any sympathy I had for her. I was never too keen on Ashley, although she did step up to some level of redemption towards the end. Shelley is a poor, overhyped interpretation of Samantha in Sex and the City—she is not as suave or sophisticated in her approach at all. The naming of her lovers, after a while, became rather lame. The only character I adored and wished there was more focus on was Mark, and I detested the way Shelley and Renee spoke about him … was anal the only word they could use to describe him? Yes, he is particular, intelligent and willing to do the research on whoever he goes out with but I don’t believe this makes him a bad person. I honestly think if more people would bother to do research before getting captivated by a pretty face, suave words, or an exquisite body, there would be less instances of pain and regret.
The conclusion I found fault with due to the times and the improbability. First of all, this was written and took place in the year 2011. I risk revealing my age at this point, but when I was born, cell phones did not exist. I even had a cell phone which did not have the ability to take pictures. So, I have witnessed the evolution of the cell phone and social media. How is it that no one in Click was taking any pictures with their phones (which have the ability to take pictures) in the year 2011? How is no one sending pictures via e-mail or posting pictures to social media during this time? There were references to Facebook in the book. It just doesn’t make sense to me that two people who are as close as Renee and Shelley not swap pictures of any type of escapades (successful or not) in this day and age. Therefore, without giving away the ending, let’s just say that the ultimate shocker is flawed based on the advancement of technology and common sense. In other words, this should not have even been a thing because through communication, one would have figured out there was some type of similarity with a certain item.
Moreover, conclusion didn’t ring like a conclusion at all. I do understand that this is a series but the way Click ended was quite abrupt—particularly after a situation that was highly emotional. I believe an alternate way could have been presented to where this didn’t ring so incomplete, but that is the peril in only relying on emails, as opposed to actual storytelling.
Presentation and predictability mark the downfall of Click. I will continue to read the series—primarily to keep track of Mark and to see if certain characters will resurface in the remainder of the series.
Verdict: 2 Stars
To me, Click is a cross between You’ve Got Mail and Sex and the City. You’ve Got Mail comes to mind because of the way the Internet and dating is utilized. Sex and the City is also a viable comparison due to four individuals and their adventures in the world of relationships.
The premise of Click is adorable and reflective of the modern world. It can be challenging to find the time to go through the usual process of dating, so by using dating services, it should help one to weed out the promising from the disappointing. Yet, the fallacy in that type of thinking is that behind the keys lies a human being, and there are those who may have characteristics that could equate to a slammed door in one’s face—it all depends on the individuals involved.
Yet, despite the relatability, there was so much that kept Click from being the perfect read for me.
This isn’t really a book but a compilation of emails put together to create a book.
There are certain elements that makes a book a book—beyond just having a cover and pages. There has to be some form of narrative—some glue that gives the reader an idea of the characters he’s dealing with, the setting of the story, the era of time in which the story is taking place. However, in Click, there is email … after email … after email, with no narrative in sight.
For example, when there is mention in the email about Renee’s dates, there’s no narrative downtime where the location of the date and the event is being described at that moment. All of it is told in the tones of aftermath—usually the aftermath of neglect. There’s also an awkward interaction between Shelley and Mark, which would have held more glue if it was told in that instant rather than back and forth e-mail encounters, and the occasional jabs from Renee to Shelley about the situation.
There is also the subject of appearance. Does Renee look like a Supermodel, or is this only said because of her self-esteem issues? On top of that, why does she have self-esteem issues? I haven’t read anything that has contributed to the view Renee has of herself. If there were episodes of bullying, a particularly bad romance, or her childhood, it wasn’t spoken of in the emails. What do the other characters look like? All that is discussed is their behaviors which one can only gauge via the email transactions.
Although the author wants us to like Renee, I grew to dislike her. At first, I felt sorry for her Bloopers in Online Dating but as the novel progressed, there were mean girl tendencies, along with stupid behaviors, that drained any sympathy I had for her. I was never too keen on Ashley, although she did step up to some level of redemption towards the end. Shelley is a poor, overhyped interpretation of Samantha in Sex and the City—she is not as suave or sophisticated in her approach at all. The naming of her lovers, after a while, became rather lame. The only character I adored and wished there was more focus on was Mark, and I detested the way Shelley and Renee spoke about him … was anal the only word they could use to describe him? Yes, he is particular, intelligent and willing to do the research on whoever he goes out with but I don’t believe this makes him a bad person. I honestly think if more people would bother to do research before getting captivated by a pretty face, suave words, or an exquisite body, there would be less instances of pain and regret.
The conclusion I found fault with due to the times and the improbability. First of all, this was written and took place in the year 2011. I risk revealing my age at this point, but when I was born, cell phones did not exist. I even had a cell phone which did not have the ability to take pictures. So, I have witnessed the evolution of the cell phone and social media. How is it that no one in Click was taking any pictures with their phones (which have the ability to take pictures) in the year 2011? How is no one sending pictures via e-mail or posting pictures to social media during this time? There were references to Facebook in the book. It just doesn’t make sense to me that two people who are as close as Renee and Shelley not swap pictures of any type of escapades (successful or not) in this day and age. Therefore, without giving away the ending, let’s just say that the ultimate shocker is flawed based on the advancement of technology and common sense. In other words, this should not have even been a thing because through communication, one would have figured out there was some type of similarity with a certain item.
Moreover, conclusion didn’t ring like a conclusion at all. I do understand that this is a series but the way Click ended was quite abrupt—particularly after a situation that was highly emotional. I believe an alternate way could have been presented to where this didn’t ring so incomplete, but that is the peril in only relying on emails, as opposed to actual storytelling.
Presentation and predictability mark the downfall of Click. I will continue to read the series—primarily to keep track of Mark and to see if certain characters will resurface in the remainder of the series.
Verdict: 2 Stars
May 31, 2019
Cute, quick,and funny read. I will for sure pick up more by Lisa’s!
August 6, 2012
Literally, it’s a series of emails. It looks like this:
From: Character’s name here – date here – time here
To: Character’s name here
Subject: insert topic here
And of course the body of the email would be here. This is the first time I’ve seen such a format for a book. Interesting! The emails are not extremely long and get straight to the point in most cases (there are a few where you just want to know about the date or something and you first have to read through the “How was your day?” reply, but those are few). They are easy to follow the conversation and what is being discussed. Actually, there was one or two times that I wanted to go back to reread a section to get the gist of something better and it was easy to remember where the conversation was.
I have to laugh and admit that this is exactly what my BFF and I do. We email each other while at work to catch up on our days, upcoming events and vent out our frustration and stresses. This is one of the reasons why I liked this book. It reminds me of my BFF and our almost 20 yrs relationship. The same goes for Renee and her friends. They have all known each other for years and Renee is their common thread.
With it being written as threads of emails back and forth, you’re definitely not getting your traditional information. It’s similar to the first person point of view in that you’re getting thoughts and the story from their perspective only. However, in this case, we’re getting some of the details, seeing Renee, our heroine; go through the emotional ups and downs of not only dating but “online” dating and having her BFFs providing her with pointers, advice and hilarious suggestions. I believe we can all relate to this to one extend or another.
The synopsis provides us with a glimpse of the relationship dynamic between Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley. As you read through their emails (yeah, you sort of feel like a voyeur, intruding in their world. But, you quickly begin to feel more like one of the fiends and that they are now sharing the emails and including you in the thread) you get the chance to see their true colors and like with any group of friends, there’s always a little bit of tension, a little bit of judging and even some jealousy.
For those that may not know how online dating services work, you select a service provider, create a profile (all about you) and its posted on a database that only member of the service provider have access to. If someone is interested in getting to know you based on your profile, they send you an email. I laughed out loud and giggled several times as I read. The emails sent to Renee by some of the guys were either funny, far fetch, so not her type (based off of what she was looking for in a relationship) and she even got a “Crazy” one! However, this book wasn’t just about emails, but it was about Renee putting herself out there and taking a chance. Some of the guys that wanted to get to know Renee were so much better on paper, while others lead to a 2nd and even a 3rd date.
Here’s a glimpse: Renee emails Shelley asking if she should go through with Mark’s idea of using an online dating service. Below is part of Shelley’s email reply:
“At the very least, you’ll have eligible men taking you to swank restaurants. Hmmm. A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking busy.”
Yes, my BFF and I have done the above. From the dating, to the chatting to the judging (don’t judge us, you know we all do it!) and yes, all awhile, looking busy at the office.
For those of us who are about to turn 30 or in our 30s will understand the following. Renee to Shelley:
“But you have to promise – I mean promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream – that you won’t tell anyone.”
I just laughed out loud. Never have I had someone promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream!! Hahahah. I so will now!!!
This is a quick read and with such a different format/perspective it’s definitely a “palate cleanser” if you’ve been sucked in by a particular genre and want a break for it.
Note: For this and other book reviews please visit Reading Between the Wines Book Club
From: Character’s name here – date here – time here
To: Character’s name here
Subject: insert topic here
And of course the body of the email would be here. This is the first time I’ve seen such a format for a book. Interesting! The emails are not extremely long and get straight to the point in most cases (there are a few where you just want to know about the date or something and you first have to read through the “How was your day?” reply, but those are few). They are easy to follow the conversation and what is being discussed. Actually, there was one or two times that I wanted to go back to reread a section to get the gist of something better and it was easy to remember where the conversation was.
I have to laugh and admit that this is exactly what my BFF and I do. We email each other while at work to catch up on our days, upcoming events and vent out our frustration and stresses. This is one of the reasons why I liked this book. It reminds me of my BFF and our almost 20 yrs relationship. The same goes for Renee and her friends. They have all known each other for years and Renee is their common thread.
With it being written as threads of emails back and forth, you’re definitely not getting your traditional information. It’s similar to the first person point of view in that you’re getting thoughts and the story from their perspective only. However, in this case, we’re getting some of the details, seeing Renee, our heroine; go through the emotional ups and downs of not only dating but “online” dating and having her BFFs providing her with pointers, advice and hilarious suggestions. I believe we can all relate to this to one extend or another.
The synopsis provides us with a glimpse of the relationship dynamic between Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley. As you read through their emails (yeah, you sort of feel like a voyeur, intruding in their world. But, you quickly begin to feel more like one of the fiends and that they are now sharing the emails and including you in the thread) you get the chance to see their true colors and like with any group of friends, there’s always a little bit of tension, a little bit of judging and even some jealousy.
For those that may not know how online dating services work, you select a service provider, create a profile (all about you) and its posted on a database that only member of the service provider have access to. If someone is interested in getting to know you based on your profile, they send you an email. I laughed out loud and giggled several times as I read. The emails sent to Renee by some of the guys were either funny, far fetch, so not her type (based off of what she was looking for in a relationship) and she even got a “Crazy” one! However, this book wasn’t just about emails, but it was about Renee putting herself out there and taking a chance. Some of the guys that wanted to get to know Renee were so much better on paper, while others lead to a 2nd and even a 3rd date.
Here’s a glimpse: Renee emails Shelley asking if she should go through with Mark’s idea of using an online dating service. Below is part of Shelley’s email reply:
“At the very least, you’ll have eligible men taking you to swank restaurants. Hmmm. A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking busy.”
Yes, my BFF and I have done the above. From the dating, to the chatting to the judging (don’t judge us, you know we all do it!) and yes, all awhile, looking busy at the office.
For those of us who are about to turn 30 or in our 30s will understand the following. Renee to Shelley:
“But you have to promise – I mean promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream – that you won’t tell anyone.”
I just laughed out loud. Never have I had someone promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream!! Hahahah. I so will now!!!
This is a quick read and with such a different format/perspective it’s definitely a “palate cleanser” if you’ve been sucked in by a particular genre and want a break for it.
Note: For this and other book reviews please visit Reading Between the Wines Book Club
January 5, 2013
Click by Lisa Becker invites the reader to examine pre-conceived notions on what online-dating is really like and whether you can find your soul-mate through a computer. And it’s f****** funny.
Having spent more than a year grieving and eating ice cream over the loss of her last relationship, Renee Greene makes a pact with her long-time friend Mark to get online and try a dating website. What starts as an experiment to get over one man by figuratively getting under another (okay, maybe not quite like that) ends up with hijinks, sexual escapades and innuendos, and hilarious puns that might make someone unappreciative of puns cringe a tiny bit.
I love puns.
I was initially put off by the format of the story. It is told entirely in emails to and from all the characters, but mainly Renee and Shelley, one of her best friends. There are others in there: Ashley, Mark, and the many men Renee corresponds with on the dating site, and while I grew used to the format, I think it comes as a detriment to the story a tiny bit, because it felt like I, as the reader, was in a bubble while reading it, like I didn’t know what else was going on besides what had been emailed. And since a lot of the emails happen after the action has taken place, it feels like a story about a story, something else I found off-putting as well. There were also some loose-ends with secondary characters I would like to have seen tightened up a bit…namely Ashley and Mark, like more on Mark’s dating, as well as what happened after Renee found out about Ashley. There is a reference in there to dressing West Hollywood Chic….what is that? I think more clarification was needed for those who don’t live in L.A. or aren’t fashionistas (definitely not a fashionista here, ha!), although I suppose I could have googled it.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. Because I did, it was hysterical. It took me about 30 pages to really get into it, right around the time she had her first brush with someone very questionable online, and I began howling with laughter. In fact, I laughed so hard and often through Click, I had to pause my reading and reread portions to my boyfriend (whom I met through work, in case you were wondering – my last online relationship was disastrous – oh yeah, been there), who only shook his head. Maybe he just needs to read it. (He doesn’t read).
The repartee between the characters in the emails is engaging and LULZY. Guffaws ripped from my throat as Shelley and Ashley casually insulted each other and Renee had to play the go-between. Shelley is a character I found particularly endearing and annoying at the same time. I loved her sense of humor, but damn girl, have some self-respect. She reminded me of the guys who talk so much about sex you know they aren’t actually getting any (although I think she actually was). But I really liked her snark as well as her devotion to Renee as a supportive friend.
I think my favorite part of the novel was all the emails from potential dates. SO FUNNY! And so very spot on. Online dating is like a wild jungle, and Becker managed to capture the element of it perfectly in this email format. I highlighted so many portions of the book on my iPad that were just emails from potential dates…from the insecure doctor to the belligerent guy to the guy who likes to have a lot of sex (often). That’s why I also liked the format. It may have been hard to do any other way.
The ending didn’t surprise me, and I wish it had, but I saw it coming long before it actually did. I can’t knock for that though, I’ve become discerning at that sort of thing.
Overall, I enjoyed Click and I think anyone who likes funny and romance….and lives in the 21st century and owns a computer… should read this.
Having spent more than a year grieving and eating ice cream over the loss of her last relationship, Renee Greene makes a pact with her long-time friend Mark to get online and try a dating website. What starts as an experiment to get over one man by figuratively getting under another (okay, maybe not quite like that) ends up with hijinks, sexual escapades and innuendos, and hilarious puns that might make someone unappreciative of puns cringe a tiny bit.
I love puns.
I was initially put off by the format of the story. It is told entirely in emails to and from all the characters, but mainly Renee and Shelley, one of her best friends. There are others in there: Ashley, Mark, and the many men Renee corresponds with on the dating site, and while I grew used to the format, I think it comes as a detriment to the story a tiny bit, because it felt like I, as the reader, was in a bubble while reading it, like I didn’t know what else was going on besides what had been emailed. And since a lot of the emails happen after the action has taken place, it feels like a story about a story, something else I found off-putting as well. There were also some loose-ends with secondary characters I would like to have seen tightened up a bit…namely Ashley and Mark, like more on Mark’s dating, as well as what happened after Renee found out about Ashley. There is a reference in there to dressing West Hollywood Chic….what is that? I think more clarification was needed for those who don’t live in L.A. or aren’t fashionistas (definitely not a fashionista here, ha!), although I suppose I could have googled it.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. Because I did, it was hysterical. It took me about 30 pages to really get into it, right around the time she had her first brush with someone very questionable online, and I began howling with laughter. In fact, I laughed so hard and often through Click, I had to pause my reading and reread portions to my boyfriend (whom I met through work, in case you were wondering – my last online relationship was disastrous – oh yeah, been there), who only shook his head. Maybe he just needs to read it. (He doesn’t read).
The repartee between the characters in the emails is engaging and LULZY. Guffaws ripped from my throat as Shelley and Ashley casually insulted each other and Renee had to play the go-between. Shelley is a character I found particularly endearing and annoying at the same time. I loved her sense of humor, but damn girl, have some self-respect. She reminded me of the guys who talk so much about sex you know they aren’t actually getting any (although I think she actually was). But I really liked her snark as well as her devotion to Renee as a supportive friend.
I think my favorite part of the novel was all the emails from potential dates. SO FUNNY! And so very spot on. Online dating is like a wild jungle, and Becker managed to capture the element of it perfectly in this email format. I highlighted so many portions of the book on my iPad that were just emails from potential dates…from the insecure doctor to the belligerent guy to the guy who likes to have a lot of sex (often). That’s why I also liked the format. It may have been hard to do any other way.
The ending didn’t surprise me, and I wish it had, but I saw it coming long before it actually did. I can’t knock for that though, I’ve become discerning at that sort of thing.
Overall, I enjoyed Click and I think anyone who likes funny and romance….and lives in the 21st century and owns a computer… should read this.
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