Better Than Chocolate : A Novel

by Susan Waggoner

Be careful what you wish for. . . Food writer Annie Wilkins is on an express elevator to fame and fortune, thanks to research scientist/husband Tom's remarkable fat-free, carb-free, calorie-free chocolate that tastes better than the real thing! Once reduced to writing walleye-on-a-stick articles for Minnesota Menus, now she's living large in showcase houses and hobnobbing with the hoi polloi. Annie and "America's Sexiest Scientist" Tom happily accept their new status as the nation's most happening Fabulous Couple.But as a high-profile spokesperson, Annie's got a corporate responsibility to change her hair, her style, and lose twenty-five pounds. Her kids are becoming too worldly too fast and Tom's in demand for a lot more than just his candy. If this is the American Dream, Annie needs to wake up because all of a sudden her marriage and her sanity are in jeopardy. . . and she's about to bottom out on top!

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

overall ok. some highs and lows - loved the ending - in the middle I wanted to b-slap some people.

[Anne Gabrielle Cousineau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a lot of people who want more!!!!!! More money, more house, more furniture, more of everything but realize that the exchange for all that more is time spent with your family and loved ones!!! Written in a way that is funny but keeps you reading to see the ending.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book more. It's set in Minnesota, which is always a draw. Other than the occasional weather, mall reference, and allusions to General Mills, it was not uniquely Minnesota.
With fiction, one must suspend belief - it's always a question of how much and for what aspects of the story must the suspension occur. I can't put my finger on it, but something about the story did not ring true. I read the first chapter, gave up, picked it up again, made it half way through and then read the final chapter. Just not satisfying.
Basic premise is that the protagonist's husband invents a chocolate substitute. Tastes and acts like chocolate without the calories (that alone should have turned me off. Love chocolate but don't like fake foods). The company decides to market it by using the couple as a lifestyle marketing. They buy fancy new house, new clothes, get greedy, have fights, get tricked, come-uppance, fall back in love and move to the north woods. It just really felt like the story was trying to hard.
Someone had compared the author's writing to Jennifer Weiner, but I just don't see it. Good in Bed remains one of my three favorite "chick lit/modern female" novels. The main reason is that even though the character was different from me (I'm a midwesterner, I don't have a weight problem), so much of the emotions rang true. Not the same here. And it wasn't that entertaining.

I should point out that with chick lit - I usually give between 1 - 3 stars, so a 2 is still middle of the road for me.

[GoldenjoyBazyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine discovering a way to make chocolate that isn't fattening! How could I pass up a FUN read like this!

We all wish we could win the lottery and the characters in this novel think they did when the husband discovers (after years of research and development) a way to make chocolate that is not fattening but tastes as delicious as the real thing! However- they soon discover that instead of winning the lottery....what they really did was sell their souls to the devil. Nothing ever comes easy and this novel emphasizes that as well as how money can effect our decision making.

The book is FUNNY and has a GREAT story line. The writing is entertaining. Great beach read if you are looking for one.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I primarily liked this book because it takes place in Minnesota and since that's where I'm from, but not where I currently reside, I LOVE being able to recognize landmarks and such.
Anyway, this is a cautionary "Be careful what you wish for" book. The ending wrapped up a little to well and it was a bit predictable at times, but otherwise good. I can honestly say that I've never read anything about the synthetic food market and it was definately a major player in the book. EVERYTHING revolved around it. Now the other themes, yes, of course I've read about them MANY times, but this was an interesting and fairly fresh way of getting to them for me.

[Jonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of both chocolate and books, I thoroughly enjoyed every page of "Better Than Chocolate." I can't say I'd choose a synthetic chocolate, but I definitely won't pass up the next Susan Waggoner novel I spot on the library shelf! Well-written, fully-formed characters, a quick-moving story, and a happy ending. Fabulous. That last paragraph is wonderful, containing a line destined to become one of my all-time favorites.
"And this is what we smelled like: contentment."

[Barbara Burd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book at ALA for some light reading. And that's just what it was. At some times Waggoner demonstrated a knack for writing humorously, but it wasn't sustained throughout the book. It seemed a bit self-indulgent and, while I kept expecting some substance, it never really occurred. The plot was very predictable and at times I felt like I was just slogging through mud.

[HRS Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a quick vacation read, I really liked it. Likable main character made me laugh out loud and the writing never drivelled. I found it somewhat believable as the family is sucked into a luxury lifestyle and lives to regret it. But it never felt preachy. And the ending was fresh and not completely predictable, yet satisfying.

[Michelegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Chick Lit at it's finest. It was a little too happily ever after at the end, but the rest was so good. I loved the message, that having all the material stuff just isn't worth your families' happiness. Cute, enjoyable book.

[Shana Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book on clearance at B&N, hoping that it lived up to its dust jacket description. And I really liked it - mostly because there were parts that hit so close to home. Chick lit is usually too fluffy for me, but I enjoyed this fun read.

[lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay. A satiirical view of quick wealth and corporate greed in the silly scenario of the invention of a synthetic chocolate with no calories and the impact on the family of the man who developed the formula.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know those movies that you would never pay full price for but you'll watch on Netflix?....This is a Netflix book. I was entertained, but it was easy to put down and forget about. The premise was interesting, but I was not as engaged as I'd hoped to be.

[Dee Schwinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not my favorite book. Maybe this is how big business works, but it at times seemed far fetched. At the end it was like the author was trying to tie everything together no matter what. Settings changed very rapidly, foreign language was thrown at the reader. It became tedious.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful, witty book, set in the Twin Cities (always a draw for me), about a food researcher who comes up with a delicious substitute for chocolate.

[Linda]

Funny in parts. Goes to show, be careful what you wish for and the grass is always greener on the other side, etc.

[Maribel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just received this as a Valentine gift. We'll see how entertaining it is....It was entertaining enough but not worth spending more than a day reading it.

[Gwenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun tale and allegory of how getting rich quick and buying everything in sight doesn't last long and brings little satisfaction. A fun, easy read.

[Ann (Noumena12)]

I couldn't get into this book. Making available via Bookmooch.com

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, light,fluffy fun.

[Tina]

Read for the Friday Night Book Club (Feb selection).

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fairly fun, fluffy book. It did make me feel worried for the characters as they made some silly mistakes. Overall a good book.

[Rahulkrishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book. It was a little too happily ever after at the end, but the rest was so good. I loved the message, that having all the material stuff just isn't worth your families' happiness

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I made it through 2 chapters at lunch today & just forgot to update my review. It was that forgettable.

[Cat Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted a chic flick book,this is a good one.

[Gael · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I liked it more.... The ending was a bit off a redemption but I wanted to punch Annie in the face. But upon further inspection, who wouldn't that happen to?

[Shaindee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put the book down after 4-5 pages. Extremely boring. Don't think it was written well either.

[Denise M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept,but slowwwwww,and often repetitive.