A New Lu

by Laura Castoro

“I’m about to turn 50. I’m recently divorced. Now I’m going to be an unwed mother. And you thought you had issues!”

Lu Nichols is a columnist and the lifestyle columnist for FIVE-O, the magazine for women of a certain age. When her husband suddenly announced that he wanted a divorce, it wasn’t the earth-shattering experience she might have thought it would be.

“The truth is Jacob’s leaving hurt, but it didn’t shatter me. I had drifted out of range.”

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

AKA Laura Parker

Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, Laura Castoro grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and lived for many years with her husband and three children in the Dallas, Texas, area. Recently, she moved back to her hometown. She enjoys reading, traveling (she's been to Australia, several European countries, Canada and Mexico), theater, movies and listening to R&B and classical music.

Reviews

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tallulah Nichols is turning 50. Instead of winding-down, her life is full of drama. She is divorcing, then her magazine is infiltrated by a youth-obsessed boss who wants her to be the plastic surgery guinea pig. She becomes pregnant from a last fling with her ex and decides to keep the baby. She then has to deal with her lifetime student son, her soon to be wed daughter, Dallas, her old neighbor Cy, who proposes, a gynecologist who is mad for her, and her job - where Tai (the boss) decides to exploit the pregnant for increases in circulation. Lu makes it through it all and even marries the doctor in the end- with her new daughter safe and healthy on her arm!

I thought that I'd never be able to relate to a story about a 50 year old pregnant woman, but the story was well-handled and developed. The slow progression between Lu and the doctor was believable, as were the reactions of family, friends, and her boss. My only criticisms would be having too many characters and the stereotypical Spanglish of her friend, Andrea, who lent nothing to the story.

[Chanta Rand · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked best about this book was the biting sense of humor the character Lu displays. She's funny, smart, and realistic about life. She's older and she doesn't make the same stupid mistakes as the "predictable" younger heroines of most romances. She's not jaded, even though she's knocked up by her ex. I think she has an admirable spirit and a hopeful attitude that makes the reader want to find out how her journey ends. The other characters in this book are well developed and each person has a very believable reaction upon learning of Lu's pregnancy. When it comes to family members, even your own kids - you can expect anything from fear and anger to pity and acceptance. I did think William was a little too accommodating, but I guess he saw what he wanted and he wasn't willing to let anything deter him from his prize. Ms. Castoro has mastered the art of writing about older heroines, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. And guess what? You don't have to be 50 to appreciate it. I recommend it for women of all ages.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with wit and wisdom, "A New Lu" makes a grand entrance into the Chick Lit genre with a cast of delightful, well-developed characters and laugh out loud humorand is a delight to read. Shortly before her fiftieth birthday Lu thinks the only difficulty in her life will be adjusting to being divorced, she never dreams she will have to do that while carrying an 'oops' child.

Lu's new boss at "Five-O" magazine has just suggested that Lu do a complete makeover and chronicle it in her monthly column to show readers that you don't have to look fifty even if you are. Lu can't believe it. The vision at "Five-O" has always been about accepting the aging process. She reminds her boss of what Gloria Steinem once said, "This is what fifty looks like."

The insight that the reader gets about this acceptance of who and what we are is an added bonus to a great story populated with delightful characters.

[Sherri Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and uplifting story. I had a lot of admiration for Lu's character as she not only faces a pregnancy at 50 but also coming to terms with being single again and how her family (grown children) and friends and new love interest handle this major event.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun, fun read! found on summer reading table in library (which had light and heavy stuff)... is light and well paced and full of funny quips (I thought) and neat to see adversity managed well... uplifting!

[Lu]

Cute; pregnant at 50

[Patricia Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the characters and storyline. To me this was a very funny book. The cast of characters mesh together well. I like the main character taking control of her life.

[SandraE · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that shows that age is just a number and you should never let it define you.

[Sandra Kitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my 'to be read' list for a long time, and I finally had an opportunity to read it, uninterrupted, over the weekend. The first thing I enjoyed about A NEW LU was the heroine's first person POV and her sense of humor. No one could have navigated her story but her, in her own voice. It was at times biting, sharp, self-deprecating, and was comfortable with the vagaries of her life. Old enough not to get hysterical at her grown children's disapproval, and mature enough to keep a secret the identity of her baby's Daddy. That was the second thing I liked. Lu was confident enough (mostly) in herself not to make excuses to anyone for the fact that she found herself pregnant at 50. She accepted responsibility and was prepared (mostly) for the absolute changes that were taking place in her body and her life. But life is nothing if not filled, also, with surprises, and twists and turns. Don't count her out, yet! There are other surprises in store for Lu that will have readers cheering for her.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read, but just for fun, nothing deep or serious in this book. I found two spelling errors while reading and who knows how many I missed. I'm sorry, but any good book should not have spelling errors!

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

More hen lit than chick lit. About becoming a mother again when you are almost 50. Pretty good, but not great.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

predictable but a nice popcorn read

[Jessica Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good juicy girlie read

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Lu, but some of the people in this book behaved too crazily to be believable.