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Ex and the Single Girl
Portia Fallon calls it PTE or the Penis Teflon Effect. Its the way all the women in her family deflect men like ping pong balls. No man has ever stuck with a Fallon woman for more than two years, and Portia has nearly surpassed that record. Until her live-in boyfriend dumps her. Now, everyone from her mother Mags to Auntie Vera and Grandma Bev is convinced that Portia must have sex with a temporary man. Enter Colin Beckett, a sexy, smart, and unsuspecting British novelist, who's visiting her small town of Truly, Georgia, for the summer. Then enter once again Portia's ex-beau, who's decided to fight to win her back. Now Portia faces a slippery decision: Which of these men has the right stuff to make a commitment stick?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 29, 2009
My first reaction to this book was to write a short, snarky review along the lines of "Read better writings on a bathroom wall" and call it a day. But then I decided to sleep on it. Tossed the pros and cons back and forth for a few days. Took a closer look at the things that bugged me and came to the realization it wasn't really all that bad. If I can still remember the heroine's name a week later (a true problem for me), and the author evoked certain strong emotions, then the book had to be a success of some sort.
Portia Fallon is living in Syracuse, working on her PhD when she is dumped by her live-in boyfriend. He moves out on Valentine's Day and leaves her a note. On the title page of his newly published book. Propped open by an itty bitty book light. On their bed.
Rat bastard!
Portia barricades herself in her apartment, wearing the classic "I've been dumped" uniform of fuzzy robe, slippers and cheetohs in her gnarly pony-tail. Her pity party continues for weeks until she is lured home to Truly, Georgia by Mags (her mother) and the Miz Fallons. The Miz Fallons are three generations of unmarried women - Portia's mother (Mags), her aunt (Vera) and her grandmother (Bev). Think Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. There are no familial titles in this family. They are all stubborn, strong women who suffer from what Portia calls the "Penis Teflon Effect". (Dumbest name ever!) These women are so bat sh** crazy they send men running in the opposite direction.
Turns out the Miz Fallons have lured Portia home because they have found a Flyer for her. Yes, they insist Portia has a one-night fling so she can be done/over her deadbeat ex-boyfriend. However, the Flyer is a sexy, British writer and Portia finds herself highly attracted to him. Because she is one of those girls obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, she can't resist Ian (said Flyer) who reminds her of Mr. Darcy. Unfortunately, Portia's D-bag ex-boyfriend shows up with an engagement ring just as things start to heat up with Ian.
Oh! And BIG bonus - the deadbeat ex-boyfriend is there because the meddling Miz Fallons have summoned him to fix things with Portia after her one-night stand. To ensure he hangs around, they give him a job as manager of their bookstore.
What did I say? Bat sh** crazy.
The Miz Fallons are funny, over-the-top characters who create unbelievable amounts of mayhem and chaos (ie. manuevering the mud in high heels to turn the neighbor's cows loose on the town). Their characters are definitely the reason why I stayed interested in this book!
I think the author attempted to build suspense by creating a family who will NOT talk about their pasts. Little tidbits about their pasts were dropped here and there - just enough to keep the reader wondering. And it has to be said - these people are dysfunctional with a capital "D". A good portion of the book is spent with Portia searching for the reason why her father left Mags because Mags refused to talk about it. The resolution was too rushed and not satisfactory to me.
Then there was Portia's best friend. A pregnant woman who could turn the air blue with her mouth. She could out-cuss a sailor on any given day and make him come back for rounds #2 and #3. She was funny at times and tenacious at other times. She proved to be the biggest meddler in Portia's life when she power-walked to Ian's front door (9-months-pregnant!) and demanded to know what his intentions were after raiding his kitchen and using his bathroom.
And herein lies my bigger issue with this book - Portia sleeps with the ex-boyfriend in a moment of horny weakness. The way things went down really irritated me, but in hindsight Ian did tell her he wanted to be friends and nothing more. He was finished writing his book and was headed back to London. Still, Portia knew she loved him and wanted to be with him. I'm not quite sure how I would handle the situation were I in the same position. Judge not lest ye be judged (and all that crap)!
Finally, the ending was a HFN (happy for now) ending. No declaration of love from the hero. Just a "let's try things out and see how it works" kind of ending with warm, fuzzy feelings.
The book had lots of potential. LOTS. But it fell short for me. The author's writing style is what drew me in (that and Victoria Dahl's comments on the Smart Bitches website). Her style is quirky and easy to read. Just wish she'd try a little harder with her endings!
Portia Fallon is living in Syracuse, working on her PhD when she is dumped by her live-in boyfriend. He moves out on Valentine's Day and leaves her a note. On the title page of his newly published book. Propped open by an itty bitty book light. On their bed.
Rat bastard!
Portia barricades herself in her apartment, wearing the classic "I've been dumped" uniform of fuzzy robe, slippers and cheetohs in her gnarly pony-tail. Her pity party continues for weeks until she is lured home to Truly, Georgia by Mags (her mother) and the Miz Fallons. The Miz Fallons are three generations of unmarried women - Portia's mother (Mags), her aunt (Vera) and her grandmother (Bev). Think Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. There are no familial titles in this family. They are all stubborn, strong women who suffer from what Portia calls the "Penis Teflon Effect". (Dumbest name ever!) These women are so bat sh** crazy they send men running in the opposite direction.
Turns out the Miz Fallons have lured Portia home because they have found a Flyer for her. Yes, they insist Portia has a one-night fling so she can be done/over her deadbeat ex-boyfriend. However, the Flyer is a sexy, British writer and Portia finds herself highly attracted to him. Because she is one of those girls obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, she can't resist Ian (said Flyer) who reminds her of Mr. Darcy. Unfortunately, Portia's D-bag ex-boyfriend shows up with an engagement ring just as things start to heat up with Ian.
Oh! And BIG bonus - the deadbeat ex-boyfriend is there because the meddling Miz Fallons have summoned him to fix things with Portia after her one-night stand. To ensure he hangs around, they give him a job as manager of their bookstore.
What did I say? Bat sh** crazy.
The Miz Fallons are funny, over-the-top characters who create unbelievable amounts of mayhem and chaos (ie. manuevering the mud in high heels to turn the neighbor's cows loose on the town). Their characters are definitely the reason why I stayed interested in this book!
I think the author attempted to build suspense by creating a family who will NOT talk about their pasts. Little tidbits about their pasts were dropped here and there - just enough to keep the reader wondering. And it has to be said - these people are dysfunctional with a capital "D". A good portion of the book is spent with Portia searching for the reason why her father left Mags because Mags refused to talk about it. The resolution was too rushed and not satisfactory to me.
Then there was Portia's best friend. A pregnant woman who could turn the air blue with her mouth. She could out-cuss a sailor on any given day and make him come back for rounds #2 and #3. She was funny at times and tenacious at other times. She proved to be the biggest meddler in Portia's life when she power-walked to Ian's front door (9-months-pregnant!) and demanded to know what his intentions were after raiding his kitchen and using his bathroom.
And herein lies my bigger issue with this book - Portia sleeps with the ex-boyfriend in a moment of horny weakness. The way things went down really irritated me, but in hindsight Ian did tell her he wanted to be friends and nothing more. He was finished writing his book and was headed back to London. Still, Portia knew she loved him and wanted to be with him. I'm not quite sure how I would handle the situation were I in the same position. Judge not lest ye be judged (and all that crap)!
Finally, the ending was a HFN (happy for now) ending. No declaration of love from the hero. Just a "let's try things out and see how it works" kind of ending with warm, fuzzy feelings.
The book had lots of potential. LOTS. But it fell short for me. The author's writing style is what drew me in (that and Victoria Dahl's comments on the Smart Bitches website). Her style is quirky and easy to read. Just wish she'd try a little harder with her endings!
May 10, 2022
Se supone que esto es divertido pero… no. Pensé que era comedia romántica y más bien es chick lit con una protagonista aburrida y su antipática familia. La madre de Portia Fallon la engaña para conseguir que vaya a Truly, Georgia. Llegó un momento en que la lectura languideció tanto que opté por leer someramente, excepto cuando aparecía el chico de la película, un escritor británico llamado Ian Beckett. Portia es una de esas heroínas con la cabeza tan confusa que no sabe si va o viene, ni qué hacer con su vida, salvo maltratarla con unos hábitos totalmente insanos. Claro que, con una familia tan fastidiosa, igual a mí también me daba por el drinking. Ian resulta muchísimo más atractivo, guapo y sensato, pero al final es como un actor bueno al que no dan mucho papel, y no puede lucirse. Resumiendo: esperaba ver una peli de Sandra Bullock y me quedé con una decepcionante imitación de Bridget Jones.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
December 20, 2014
The whole thing disappointed me.
The grandmother Bev and two adult daughters Mags and Vera supposedly have bad luck with men. They live together in Georgia and run a book store. Mags’ daughter Portia lives in New York. Her boyfriend Peter left her. She thinks the women in her family are cursed. She goes to Georgia for the summer. She asks the three women for details about why there are no men in their lives. No one will tell her anything. All three women act like it’s a major secret. They get angry and stomp away when Portia asks questions.
So the main plot is why are there no men? It gets answered at the end. The answers are dumb. Also dumb is that when Portia visits her father, he tells her part of what happened, but not all. A normal person would have asked him the rest, but Portia didn’t. This was the main mystery, so I was angry that Portia did not ask. Instead the mystery continued.
I was also annoyed with other contrived conflicts. Mags does several curious things. Each time Portia asks Mags why she did something, Mags will not answer. There was no reason for Mags to be silent. One example was “why did you set the cows free?” The reason had nothing to do with Portia. It was a minor thing. It seemed like the author was making things up to add mystery.
Another plot question is will Portia end up with Peter or the new guy. This is a “romance” which means she ends up with someone, but there was no relationship development. It was like I’m done writing but I’ll add one more page so I can put them together.
FORMAT ERRORS IN KINDLE:
I counted more than a dozen errors. A line return was needed to clarify who was talking. When the second person talks, their statement should be on a new line. I was confused so many times.
For example: “I’ve never gotten the whole story,” I said after a minute. “I’m sorry, baby.” “I have to go.” I paused, realizing I didn’t even know her name.
“I’m sorry, baby” was said by the second person and should have been on a new line. I thought the first person was still talking.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Portia. Kindle count length: 4,392 (257 pages). Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: one brief scene. Setting: current day Georgia and New York. Copyright: 2005 and 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Lani Diane Rich books.
5 stars. Time Off for Good Behavior (you must do the audiobook, the narrator Hillary Hawkins really makes it)
4 ½ stars. Wish You Were Here
4 ½ stars. The Fortune Quilt
3 stars. Crazy in Love
3 stars. Maybe Baby
2 ½ stars. The Comeback Kiss
2 stars. A Little Ray of Sunshine (too sad, teary moments, womens fiction)
2 stars. Ex And The Single Girl
The grandmother Bev and two adult daughters Mags and Vera supposedly have bad luck with men. They live together in Georgia and run a book store. Mags’ daughter Portia lives in New York. Her boyfriend Peter left her. She thinks the women in her family are cursed. She goes to Georgia for the summer. She asks the three women for details about why there are no men in their lives. No one will tell her anything. All three women act like it’s a major secret. They get angry and stomp away when Portia asks questions.
So the main plot is why are there no men? It gets answered at the end. The answers are dumb. Also dumb is that when Portia visits her father, he tells her part of what happened, but not all. A normal person would have asked him the rest, but Portia didn’t. This was the main mystery, so I was angry that Portia did not ask. Instead the mystery continued.
I was also annoyed with other contrived conflicts. Mags does several curious things. Each time Portia asks Mags why she did something, Mags will not answer. There was no reason for Mags to be silent. One example was “why did you set the cows free?” The reason had nothing to do with Portia. It was a minor thing. It seemed like the author was making things up to add mystery.
Another plot question is will Portia end up with Peter or the new guy. This is a “romance” which means she ends up with someone, but there was no relationship development. It was like I’m done writing but I’ll add one more page so I can put them together.
FORMAT ERRORS IN KINDLE:
I counted more than a dozen errors. A line return was needed to clarify who was talking. When the second person talks, their statement should be on a new line. I was confused so many times.
For example: “I’ve never gotten the whole story,” I said after a minute. “I’m sorry, baby.” “I have to go.” I paused, realizing I didn’t even know her name.
“I’m sorry, baby” was said by the second person and should have been on a new line. I thought the first person was still talking.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Portia. Kindle count length: 4,392 (257 pages). Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: one brief scene. Setting: current day Georgia and New York. Copyright: 2005 and 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Lani Diane Rich books.
5 stars. Time Off for Good Behavior (you must do the audiobook, the narrator Hillary Hawkins really makes it)
4 ½ stars. Wish You Were Here
4 ½ stars. The Fortune Quilt
3 stars. Crazy in Love
3 stars. Maybe Baby
2 ½ stars. The Comeback Kiss
2 stars. A Little Ray of Sunshine (too sad, teary moments, womens fiction)
2 stars. Ex And The Single Girl
June 25, 2011
Want a quick summer read? One that has to engrossed in it till you actually finish the book? Then grab yourself a copy because you sure won't be disappointed!
I had a blast reading about the Miz Fallons and their meddling ways. They had been laughing out loud like a crazy person at their idiocy and pulling at my hair when they wouldn't just come right out with the answers. Really, if you don't know how to play around the bush and avaid a topic, then i suggest you stay with these lovelies and learn something. Its Miz Fallon 101!
Portia was a great character. I loved reading the story from her point of view and it was her voice that truly made the whole book so enjoyable. This girl has the wackiest family in the world but she handles everything so well (with a lot of guidance, of course) you have no choice but to admire her.
Ian was just as yummy as he was portrayed to be. I mean, who doesn't love a British, mystery novel writer who misses his flight, looks like he's been through shit, comes on your doorstep and kisses the life out of you. Swoon worthy he was.
Peter was the perfect ex-boyfriend, who you hated at moments in the book and loved (not so much, actually). He was shown as the victim/good guy but when you asked Ian to describe him based on what he had heard from Portia you would see him under a totally different light. Jealousy, i think YES!
All in all, i think all of those who are looking for a light, summer read you better pick yourself a copy of this book.
I had a blast reading about the Miz Fallons and their meddling ways. They had been laughing out loud like a crazy person at their idiocy and pulling at my hair when they wouldn't just come right out with the answers. Really, if you don't know how to play around the bush and avaid a topic, then i suggest you stay with these lovelies and learn something. Its Miz Fallon 101!
Portia was a great character. I loved reading the story from her point of view and it was her voice that truly made the whole book so enjoyable. This girl has the wackiest family in the world but she handles everything so well (with a lot of guidance, of course) you have no choice but to admire her.
Ian was just as yummy as he was portrayed to be. I mean, who doesn't love a British, mystery novel writer who misses his flight, looks like he's been through shit, comes on your doorstep and kisses the life out of you. Swoon worthy he was.
Peter was the perfect ex-boyfriend, who you hated at moments in the book and loved (not so much, actually). He was shown as the victim/good guy but when you asked Ian to describe him based on what he had heard from Portia you would see him under a totally different light. Jealousy, i think YES!
All in all, i think all of those who are looking for a light, summer read you better pick yourself a copy of this book.
December 6, 2012
I love the communities Lani Diane Rich creates in her books. I want to live in Truly and be a Miz Fallon who drinks gin and tonics, too! And her dudes are great. I wasn't sure about the whole Peter thing because, weird? But he turned out all right enough for me to understand why he was even an option. I got this book for free, too, but I liked both the books I read by her enough that I'll probably buy the next one ;)
There were some problems with the Kindle edition, though. Some breaks were missing and it was disorienting to suddenly find yourself in a new scene with no indications.
There were some problems with the Kindle edition, though. Some breaks were missing and it was disorienting to suddenly find yourself in a new scene with no indications.
September 6, 2016
Weird romance novel. Didn't care for the writing style.
May 13, 2018
This week I read Rich's "Time Off for Good Behaviour" and enjoyed it so much that I decided to look up her other books only to discover I already had one of them languishing on my "To Read" shelf, so naturally I decided to read it.
I enjoyed Ex, but if it had been the first of Rich's books that I'd read I wouldn't have gone looking for what else she'd written. I definitely didn't fall for Portia like I did for Wanda (Good Behaviour), ironically I found Portia much more unlikable as a whole. I kept waiting for her to say no, exert her boundaries, act like an adult and I felt like she just never did. The book tells us she's 30, but the way she dealt with all this she might as well have been 21. Where I felt like Wanda had personal realizations and then grew up into herself, I feel like Portia had personal realizations and then kinda settled into a comfort zone.
That said, I did enjoy the book itself enough to read it all in a 24 hour time span and I definitely cried along a few times (maybe I should make a "Hormonal Books" shelf because this would definitely be a great read for that monthly visitor). All in all Ex and the Single Girl was good, it was fine, I liked it (and all that that wishy washy summary entails).
I enjoyed Ex, but if it had been the first of Rich's books that I'd read I wouldn't have gone looking for what else she'd written. I definitely didn't fall for Portia like I did for Wanda (Good Behaviour), ironically I found Portia much more unlikable as a whole. I kept waiting for her to say no, exert her boundaries, act like an adult and I felt like she just never did. The book tells us she's 30, but the way she dealt with all this she might as well have been 21. Where I felt like Wanda had personal realizations and then grew up into herself, I feel like Portia had personal realizations and then kinda settled into a comfort zone.
That said, I did enjoy the book itself enough to read it all in a 24 hour time span and I definitely cried along a few times (maybe I should make a "Hormonal Books" shelf because this would definitely be a great read for that monthly visitor). All in all Ex and the Single Girl was good, it was fine, I liked it (and all that that wishy washy summary entails).
March 19, 2018
This book reminded me so much of Joshilyn Jackson’s work, and she is one of my favorite authors. I loved the idea of an academic coming back home to the South and having to recalibrate their life. This book was so fun and so light but so fascinating since I’m in a place of change right now. I love Lani Diane Rich’s writing style and story ideas!
February 12, 2021
Some of the best dialogue I have read in a long time
Lots of great one liners. I think I highlighted most of the book. Slow burn romance with some unpredictability. Was she going to pick the comfortable and sweet or the one that made her feel safe and cherished. I was ready to give it five stars but the ending felt rushed.
Lots of great one liners. I think I highlighted most of the book. Slow burn romance with some unpredictability. Was she going to pick the comfortable and sweet or the one that made her feel safe and cherished. I was ready to give it five stars but the ending felt rushed.
April 14, 2022
I've been trying to go back and read all of the books on my kindle that I downloaded for some reason, and this romance novel fit the bill for exhausted vacation mode. Cute enough, but some major plot holes and nothing to write home about. Would definitely have preferred the two people who are supposed to end up together spent more time together in a non-dysfunctional capacity.
February 4, 2019
This was a cute, easy story. Portia needs to choose between her ex, the new guy, or no one. She also needs to decide where she wants to live and if she wants to continue with her current doctorate program. She also needs to make peace with the past and her current relationships with her family.
December 10, 2020
It was a cute little story, at some points I kept confusing the aunt and grandma because they all go by their first names but over all I enjoyed the book.
April 23, 2023
First time reading this author. I enjoyed the book immensely. Very likable characters with a fun story. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
August 20, 2024
The perfect example of don’t judge a book by its cover. This was surprisingly good! Such a fun easy read - a hallmark movie in book form!
June 4, 2013
2013: I had no recollection of having read this book, let alone having written a review, in 2009. None. Not a sentence of the story came back to me as I read. Not one. So I'm treating this like a brand-new read, because it certainly felt like one, and my spoiler-free (or perhaps "vague") review below doesn't actually say much about the book itself, though I do seem to have prophesied this "second first-time" reading experience!
It's interesting reading this book now, having listened to nearly every podcast Lani has ever done (I'm still catching up on the old Popcorn Dialogues, but am up to date on everything else); it's given the book a different context than I had on first reading. I had heard Lani talk about this book with a variety of people - C.J. Barry, Jennifer Crusie, Alastair Stephens - and had more of sense of Lani as a person and an author than I did the first time I read it. I knew, going in, that Colin Firth (as Mr. Darcy) was the model for the love interest, Ian Beckett, and I could easily see Colin delivering Ian's lines. I have a better understanding of the craft of writing, and that undefinable but essential thing called "magic". And this book has both, in spades. I still (or do I mean "again"?) love Portia, and her barmy family. And once again, I laughed and cried and rejoiced and ached alongside them all.
A very satisfying second first read.
***
2009: I met Lani Rich in October 2004, at a book signing in Bellingham, WA, when she was touring with Chris Baty to promote his No Plot No Problem, about how to write a novel in 30 days, and her Time off For Good Behaviour, whose first draft she had written for Nanowrimo a year or two before. I bought both books, got them signed, and read and enjoyed them. Lani's was pretty much the first book on my 'Authors I Have Met' shelf, along with Chris's.
Four and a bit years later, with a bookstore gift card burning a hole in my pocket, I stumbled across this book, and snatched it up. (No signs of Maybe Baby in that same store, though, unfortunately.) I read it before bed a couple of nights, but impatient to finish, I brought it downstairs with me today and finished it off over morning coffee.
What a great read! It's one of those rare books that you enjoy so much that you wish you could read it again for the first time, you know? The first-person protagonist is wonderful, and I liked and identified with her immediately. I shared her emotions and her concerns, experienced her triumphs and her setbacks, and I blubbed along with her when things all got to be too much. I cheered when she finally figured out her own baggage, sorted out her priorities, and ended up with the right man (with whom, I confess, I was a little in love myself).
Much as I enjoyed Time Off, this is a better book (as it should be; every author should improve on her debut). I need to read more of Lani's books. There are plenty of them to choose from. Hmm. I wonder if any are available in e-book format!
It's interesting reading this book now, having listened to nearly every podcast Lani has ever done (I'm still catching up on the old Popcorn Dialogues, but am up to date on everything else); it's given the book a different context than I had on first reading. I had heard Lani talk about this book with a variety of people - C.J. Barry, Jennifer Crusie, Alastair Stephens - and had more of sense of Lani as a person and an author than I did the first time I read it. I knew, going in, that Colin Firth (as Mr. Darcy) was the model for the love interest, Ian Beckett, and I could easily see Colin delivering Ian's lines. I have a better understanding of the craft of writing, and that undefinable but essential thing called "magic". And this book has both, in spades. I still (or do I mean "again"?) love Portia, and her barmy family. And once again, I laughed and cried and rejoiced and ached alongside them all.
A very satisfying second first read.
***
2009: I met Lani Rich in October 2004, at a book signing in Bellingham, WA, when she was touring with Chris Baty to promote his No Plot No Problem, about how to write a novel in 30 days, and her Time off For Good Behaviour, whose first draft she had written for Nanowrimo a year or two before. I bought both books, got them signed, and read and enjoyed them. Lani's was pretty much the first book on my 'Authors I Have Met' shelf, along with Chris's.
Four and a bit years later, with a bookstore gift card burning a hole in my pocket, I stumbled across this book, and snatched it up. (No signs of Maybe Baby in that same store, though, unfortunately.) I read it before bed a couple of nights, but impatient to finish, I brought it downstairs with me today and finished it off over morning coffee.
What a great read! It's one of those rare books that you enjoy so much that you wish you could read it again for the first time, you know? The first-person protagonist is wonderful, and I liked and identified with her immediately. I shared her emotions and her concerns, experienced her triumphs and her setbacks, and I blubbed along with her when things all got to be too much. I cheered when she finally figured out her own baggage, sorted out her priorities, and ended up with the right man (with whom, I confess, I was a little in love myself).
Much as I enjoyed Time Off, this is a better book (as it should be; every author should improve on her debut). I need to read more of Lani's books. There are plenty of them to choose from. Hmm. I wonder if any are available in e-book format!
December 15, 2016
I'd give this book about a 3.5.
I really enjoyed this book. I have not been reading as much Chick Lit lately, I was worried I was starting to lose my interest in it. But this book hit the spot and has brought me back to a genre I now see I still love. I just think my horizons have spread a bit more, but Chick Lit is still one of my favorites.
Portia comes from a family of single women who have all lost their men to TPT (The Penis Teflon Syndrome). They can't seem to hold on to a man and even seem to repel them. And Portia in no different. After several years of living with her boyfriend Peter, Portia found herself in an empty apartment with his parting letter I'm Sorry. I wish you all the best. Love, Peter written in a book written by him. Talk about self importance!
And after getting a desperate phone call from her mother Mags to come home for the summer to help run The Page, their family bookstore, because of a bad back that has her bedridden, Portia goes to live temporarily in her family home in Georgia along with her Aunt Vera, Grandmother Bev as well as her mother. All the quirky Mizzes in one house, heaven help Portia!
Once in Georgia Portia finds out she was tricked, Mags is fine. They just wanted to make sure she was OK after her breakup with Peter and to hook her up with a one night stand with famous author Ian. This is within the family tradition where all The Mizzes get over their breakups by "flying". And since Ian is from England and will be going back after the summer he will make a perfect "flier". Things get even more complicated when Peter comes into town to win Portia back and give her a permanent commitment. Now who will Portia end up with, or will the Penis Teflon Stick?
This book had me cracking up at times at the Mizzes interesting antics and then downright sad because it also dealt with the emotional part of digging deep into why these women are single and can't keep a relationship. I fell in love with most of the characters except for the main character herself and Bev. I felt like Portia acted like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum when they couldn't get their way would at times. She just really irked me with her attitude half the time. And Bev was the same way. Instead of coming out and telling Portia what was bothering her she acted again like a spoiled child not getting their way as well. It was frustrating at times. And I really wanted to get more into Bev's past. I learned a bit about Vera and Mags, even though more would have been nice, but really nothing about Bev.
But overall it was a pretty decent read, kept me interested and definitely willing to give another book by Lani Diane Rich another try.
I really enjoyed this book. I have not been reading as much Chick Lit lately, I was worried I was starting to lose my interest in it. But this book hit the spot and has brought me back to a genre I now see I still love. I just think my horizons have spread a bit more, but Chick Lit is still one of my favorites.
Portia comes from a family of single women who have all lost their men to TPT (The Penis Teflon Syndrome). They can't seem to hold on to a man and even seem to repel them. And Portia in no different. After several years of living with her boyfriend Peter, Portia found herself in an empty apartment with his parting letter I'm Sorry. I wish you all the best. Love, Peter written in a book written by him. Talk about self importance!
And after getting a desperate phone call from her mother Mags to come home for the summer to help run The Page, their family bookstore, because of a bad back that has her bedridden, Portia goes to live temporarily in her family home in Georgia along with her Aunt Vera, Grandmother Bev as well as her mother. All the quirky Mizzes in one house, heaven help Portia!
Once in Georgia Portia finds out she was tricked, Mags is fine. They just wanted to make sure she was OK after her breakup with Peter and to hook her up with a one night stand with famous author Ian. This is within the family tradition where all The Mizzes get over their breakups by "flying". And since Ian is from England and will be going back after the summer he will make a perfect "flier". Things get even more complicated when Peter comes into town to win Portia back and give her a permanent commitment. Now who will Portia end up with, or will the Penis Teflon Stick?
This book had me cracking up at times at the Mizzes interesting antics and then downright sad because it also dealt with the emotional part of digging deep into why these women are single and can't keep a relationship. I fell in love with most of the characters except for the main character herself and Bev. I felt like Portia acted like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum when they couldn't get their way would at times. She just really irked me with her attitude half the time. And Bev was the same way. Instead of coming out and telling Portia what was bothering her she acted again like a spoiled child not getting their way as well. It was frustrating at times. And I really wanted to get more into Bev's past. I learned a bit about Vera and Mags, even though more would have been nice, but really nothing about Bev.
But overall it was a pretty decent read, kept me interested and definitely willing to give another book by Lani Diane Rich another try.
February 7, 2010
Lani Diane Rich's "Ex and the Single Girl" is a quick and fluffy read to take you from afternoon to evening or late night to early morning. It is short, shallow, and easily addicting; it kept me up well past 1 a.m. reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
The novel's heroine, Portia Fallon, is a PhD candidate at (what I'm assuming is) Syracuse University. Her dissertation came to a halt after her live-in boyfriend of two years, Peter, left her. She came home to find the breakup scrawled on the title page of his debut novel, propped open on their once shared bed. After weeks of wallowing in her unwashed clothes eating cheetos and chugging chardonney while watching the British version of Pride and Prejudice over and over again, her mother, Mags, calls her and asks her to come home to Truly, Georgia for the summer to help out with the family bookstore. Portia comes home at the end of the semester, believing that she must help out her aunt and grandmother at the store because of her mother's back injury, but quickly discovers that there is no back injury, but a attractive British author staying in town for the summer to work on his next novel and her mother, aunt, and grandmother (aka The Mizz Fallons) think she should sleep with him to help get over Peter.
The book spirals into the inner workings of a female family, a small southern town, and the mind of a 30 year old woman who doesn't have a clue. The storyline is fast paced, allowing the reader to get sucked in and addicted to Portia, her "barmy" family, the cast of interesting characters in a small town, and Ian, the British author. This book is hard to put down.
I'll say it again: This book was hard for me to put down, but I would have enjoyed it even more of the author had taken the time to develop the characters more. Approximately 250 pages is not enough time to delve into the bonds between the Mizz Fallons or the changes going on in Portia's life as she comes to terms with realizing that she is a Mizz Fallon with a father who does love her with a self-fulfilling prophesy regarding penis teflon. I think the book could have maintained its humorous charm and still given the characters and events more depth and meaning. Because of the lack of depth, this book will probably fade into my memory as another cheese read that kept me company late one night and early the next.
Truthfully, the book only merits two stars from this reader, but the fact that Portia shopped at Wegmans while she was in Syracuse at the beginning of the book is totally worth awarding that third star.
The novel's heroine, Portia Fallon, is a PhD candidate at (what I'm assuming is) Syracuse University. Her dissertation came to a halt after her live-in boyfriend of two years, Peter, left her. She came home to find the breakup scrawled on the title page of his debut novel, propped open on their once shared bed. After weeks of wallowing in her unwashed clothes eating cheetos and chugging chardonney while watching the British version of Pride and Prejudice over and over again, her mother, Mags, calls her and asks her to come home to Truly, Georgia for the summer to help out with the family bookstore. Portia comes home at the end of the semester, believing that she must help out her aunt and grandmother at the store because of her mother's back injury, but quickly discovers that there is no back injury, but a attractive British author staying in town for the summer to work on his next novel and her mother, aunt, and grandmother (aka The Mizz Fallons) think she should sleep with him to help get over Peter.
The book spirals into the inner workings of a female family, a small southern town, and the mind of a 30 year old woman who doesn't have a clue. The storyline is fast paced, allowing the reader to get sucked in and addicted to Portia, her "barmy" family, the cast of interesting characters in a small town, and Ian, the British author. This book is hard to put down.
I'll say it again: This book was hard for me to put down, but I would have enjoyed it even more of the author had taken the time to develop the characters more. Approximately 250 pages is not enough time to delve into the bonds between the Mizz Fallons or the changes going on in Portia's life as she comes to terms with realizing that she is a Mizz Fallon with a father who does love her with a self-fulfilling prophesy regarding penis teflon. I think the book could have maintained its humorous charm and still given the characters and events more depth and meaning. Because of the lack of depth, this book will probably fade into my memory as another cheese read that kept me company late one night and early the next.
Truthfully, the book only merits two stars from this reader, but the fact that Portia shopped at Wegmans while she was in Syracuse at the beginning of the book is totally worth awarding that third star.
December 1, 2012
This was not the best of Rich’s books. The writing was disjointed. Quotations marks were missing in speech, and apostrophes were missing in conjunctions, so I had to guess what ‘shed’ or ‘Id’ meant. In some places, in seemed the entire sentences disappeared, or maybe scene breaks were lost somewhere in cyber space (I own a Kindle version of the novel), although it was easy to surmise what could’ve occurred during those missing chunks of time and text.
Judging by the book info on Amazon, this novel might be (I'm guessing) the author’s first self-published effort and it was sloppy. The absence of a professional editor and a proofreader felt strongly.
Despite the faults of this book mentioned above, I read it till the end – because the story was… intriguing. The protagonist Portia got dumped by her boyfriend, proving once again that men don’t stick to the women in her family. When her mom called her home for the summer, she decided to go. After all, what worse could happen to her in the small town Truly, Georgia?
She arrived at home to find out: her mom and aunt and grandma found her a Flier – a temporary man for the summer, Ian. The trio of old women cheered, while Portia and Ian pretended to f&*#. Then Portia was caught between her new interest Ian and her former boyfriend, who came to win her back. Confused by her seething, contradictory emotions and by all the people who manipulate her so easily, Portia didn’t really understand what was going on – and neither did I.
The novel felt like the first draft: lots of good ideas, great story potential, and a very bad execution. I expected much better from this writer.
Judging by the book info on Amazon, this novel might be (I'm guessing) the author’s first self-published effort and it was sloppy. The absence of a professional editor and a proofreader felt strongly.
Despite the faults of this book mentioned above, I read it till the end – because the story was… intriguing. The protagonist Portia got dumped by her boyfriend, proving once again that men don’t stick to the women in her family. When her mom called her home for the summer, she decided to go. After all, what worse could happen to her in the small town Truly, Georgia?
She arrived at home to find out: her mom and aunt and grandma found her a Flier – a temporary man for the summer, Ian. The trio of old women cheered, while Portia and Ian pretended to f&*#. Then Portia was caught between her new interest Ian and her former boyfriend, who came to win her back. Confused by her seething, contradictory emotions and by all the people who manipulate her so easily, Portia didn’t really understand what was going on – and neither did I.
The novel felt like the first draft: lots of good ideas, great story potential, and a very bad execution. I expected much better from this writer.
January 25, 2011
3.5 stars
Well, I'm not going to say that I loved the book because I honestly didn't... But I guess it'd be safe to say that I liked it well enough.
Ex and the Single Girl is a pleasant story about a girl who learns about true love, past mistakes, and the importance of family... Overcoming insecurities and seeing beyond the murky haze to the future lying ahead- its a story, funnily woven with dry humor, giving the plot an intriguing twist. Portia Fallon calls it PTE or the Penis Teflon Effect. It's the way all the women in her family deflect everlasting relationships like a bouncy flooze. Having just been dumped, she's insecure and unhappy but a phone call from her mom, Mag, to come home for the summer, changes the carefully plotted schedule of hers into a haphazard whirlwind full of drama, British writers, ex-boyfriends, fondues and oh, of course- fun.
I was surprised at how the writer kept the lines light and funny even while dealing with heavy emotions. Some parts of the story disappointed me...even exasperated me and I was ready to bang the wall, but still I should say that it was a fun read.
In the end, I should mention that I read "About the Author" which is rare for me, since I rarely do it. And boy, was I surprised. I loved the way Ms.Rich wrote about herself and sneaked some laughs out of me. A suggestion to anyone reading this book- Don't forget to check out the section about the author, I'm sure it'll crack you up,lol.
Well, I'm not going to say that I loved the book because I honestly didn't... But I guess it'd be safe to say that I liked it well enough.
Ex and the Single Girl is a pleasant story about a girl who learns about true love, past mistakes, and the importance of family... Overcoming insecurities and seeing beyond the murky haze to the future lying ahead- its a story, funnily woven with dry humor, giving the plot an intriguing twist. Portia Fallon calls it PTE or the Penis Teflon Effect. It's the way all the women in her family deflect everlasting relationships like a bouncy flooze. Having just been dumped, she's insecure and unhappy but a phone call from her mom, Mag, to come home for the summer, changes the carefully plotted schedule of hers into a haphazard whirlwind full of drama, British writers, ex-boyfriends, fondues and oh, of course- fun.
I was surprised at how the writer kept the lines light and funny even while dealing with heavy emotions. Some parts of the story disappointed me...even exasperated me and I was ready to bang the wall, but still I should say that it was a fun read.
In the end, I should mention that I read "About the Author" which is rare for me, since I rarely do it. And boy, was I surprised. I loved the way Ms.Rich wrote about herself and sneaked some laughs out of me. A suggestion to anyone reading this book- Don't forget to check out the section about the author, I'm sure it'll crack you up,lol.
March 17, 2009
I'm not exactly sure what it was about this one, but I really loved it. Portia has just been dumped by her live-in boyfriend, Peter. By way of a short note written in the title page of his own novel. After watching entirely too much "Pride & Prejudice" and avoiding work on her dissertation, she gets frantic calls from her mother insisting that Portia come home to their tiny Georgia town for the summer and help the family out. Although it's the last thing she wants to do, she rationalizes that it's only a few months. But when she arrives, Portia finds that she's been set up and not only that, her family, the Miz Fallons, have decided to set her up with the hot British writer that has set up temporary residence in the town. It's going to be a long summer...
Maybe it was the fact that it was set in a small Southern town that reminded me not only of my tiny VA town but also the larger GA town I lived in; or maybe it's that the writing was better than average for the chick-lit I've been reading lately. Maybe it's because I saw a lot of myself in Portia. Whatever the case, I devoured this one. It always hepls that I learned a thing or two from it as well. I am under no illusions that my future will wrap up as nicely as Portia's, but it did give me a tiny bit of hope.
Maybe it was the fact that it was set in a small Southern town that reminded me not only of my tiny VA town but also the larger GA town I lived in; or maybe it's that the writing was better than average for the chick-lit I've been reading lately. Maybe it's because I saw a lot of myself in Portia. Whatever the case, I devoured this one. It always hepls that I learned a thing or two from it as well. I am under no illusions that my future will wrap up as nicely as Portia's, but it did give me a tiny bit of hope.
July 22, 2011
Ohmigod, I need to stop reading books I don't care about. Now that I am working, my time is more valuable and I just can't keep adding books to my list that I don't care about anymore. I don't even know where I got this title, but I would like to kill my past self for picking it up. I think I have read a story from this author before that I hated, but who care keep anything straight anymore. Anyway, I totally read a book just like this one when I was in Australia. Girl is in a family with all women and she is convinced there is some sort of lame curse on them that they can never keep a man. She of course, realizes that she is too "scared" to get close to someone and she blames herself for dudes leaving all the time because of this so-called curse. SO LAME! She leaves her old life behind and comes down south to be back with her mom, aunt and grandmother. The dude that left her a million years ago follows her and tries to convince her that he really loves her and that he'll live in her small hick town just to prove it. SO LAME. The women in her life want her to "fly" with some sort of mysterious stranger who is a writer and British. They go back and forth on each other and of course end up together even though it's sort of like why? Whatever.
Grade: C-
Grade: C-
January 18, 2012
Portia is tricked into going back to her small hometown for the summer after a bad breakup. Her family drives her crazy (as they would any normal person) and she starts to fall for a visiting author then has to deal with her ex showing up.
What I enjoyed:
* Portia finally owned up to her issues and got the courage to put herself out there.
* The phrase "penis teflon"
*
What could have been better:
* I can't understand the family relationship and how Portia put up with it all this time. I'm fine with quirky, but the Miz Fallons take it to a ridiculous level.
What I enjoyed:
* Portia finally owned up to her issues and got the courage to put herself out there.
* The phrase "penis teflon"
*
What could have been better:
* I can't understand the family relationship and how Portia put up with it all this time. I'm fine with quirky, but the Miz Fallons take it to a ridiculous level.
November 23, 2012
Got this for free to read on the Kindle.
Good story. Portia is depressed after her boyfriend of two years leaves her on Valentine's Day with just a note written in the front of his recently published but unsuccessful book. Her Mom calls and asks her to come home to their small town and help with the family bookstore.
When she arrives, she finds that her Mom, Aunt and Grandmother have set her up to have a fling with a visiting British author. Lots of family drama as Portia tries to discover what the women in her family do to chase men away and there's an added element when her ex-boyfriend shows back up.
This was a nice, light read. However, I gave it two stars instead of three because of the formatting and typographical errors. They drove me nuts.
Good story. Portia is depressed after her boyfriend of two years leaves her on Valentine's Day with just a note written in the front of his recently published but unsuccessful book. Her Mom calls and asks her to come home to their small town and help with the family bookstore.
When she arrives, she finds that her Mom, Aunt and Grandmother have set her up to have a fling with a visiting British author. Lots of family drama as Portia tries to discover what the women in her family do to chase men away and there's an added element when her ex-boyfriend shows back up.
This was a nice, light read. However, I gave it two stars instead of three because of the formatting and typographical errors. They drove me nuts.
December 25, 2013
Cute, very Southern book about a young woman who goes back home to Georgia to help out in her family's bookstore. They are a close family of single women who are trying to find love and happiness, but their pride and stubbornness always seems to get in the way, even without them being aware of it. Main character Portia is torn between her ex (Peter) who seems to have changed from the self-absorbed guy he was in Syracuse and Ian, a successful British thriller writer who is staying in town for the summer. I had to laugh at her diagnosis of "Penis Teflon" to explain why none of them could find men who would "stick." Loved the secondary characters of irreverent mom Mags, tough old grandmother Bev, and fun but firm friend Beauji.
July 11, 2016
For the most part, I liked this. Portia was an interesting character with more than her share of family strife. Unfortunately, I hated almost every other character in the book. Except Ian, I liked him. The rest of them can take a long walk off a short pier. Her mother, grandmother, and aunt were a bunch of horrid, selfish bitches. It’s no wonder that Portia thinks she’s messed up. What kind of mother pushes her daughter to sleep with a stranger within hours (if not minutes) of her meeting him? Ridiculous. Not to mention her detestable ex.
If Portia’s family had been more likeable, I could have easily given this 4 or 4.5 stars.
If Portia’s family had been more likeable, I could have easily given this 4 or 4.5 stars.
July 24, 2012
I'd give it 3.5 starts but Goodreads won't let me because they want to stifle my ability to express myself!! Or because full stars are easier to code. One or the other.
The beginning was a bit slow and I'm sick to death of chick lit protagonists all obsessed/swoony over Elizabeth and Darcy. Find a new cliche that illustrates how literate and romantic your lead is.
But I liked the portrayal of the Mizzes Fallons. I also liked that she's torn between two guys for believable reasons and one isn't really a horrible guy she's been fooling herself about, just not the right guy for her.
The beginning was a bit slow and I'm sick to death of chick lit protagonists all obsessed/swoony over Elizabeth and Darcy. Find a new cliche that illustrates how literate and romantic your lead is.
But I liked the portrayal of the Mizzes Fallons. I also liked that she's torn between two guys for believable reasons and one isn't really a horrible guy she's been fooling herself about, just not the right guy for her.
May 17, 2013
When "Ex" is in the title, you know that romance will be a big component of the plot.
And it was. But what I loved is that this wasn't the main component.
There was fascinating exploration of the relationships between the main character and her mother, her aunt and her grandmother.
It was kind of interesting that the four "Mizzes" were perceived in a certain way. And the reality may or may not line up with the perceptions.
This is what kept me reading. I have another Lani Diane Rich book on my kindle and am looking forward to reading it.
And it was. But what I loved is that this wasn't the main component.
There was fascinating exploration of the relationships between the main character and her mother, her aunt and her grandmother.
It was kind of interesting that the four "Mizzes" were perceived in a certain way. And the reality may or may not line up with the perceptions.
This is what kept me reading. I have another Lani Diane Rich book on my kindle and am looking forward to reading it.
January 26, 2017
I think I got this book because I read one of Lani Rich's short stories in an anthology. I had absolutely no idea what the book was about. And I was a bit puzzled for about 50 pages or so. But it was a interesting story that grew on me. Southern small town story with several possible romances that finally resolved in the last chapter - with a few twists. Worth reading another of her books. Good characterizations that are true to the world. And that resonate with some people we all know.
May 16, 2016
I liked the hero and the heroine, but was driven mad by the meddling, wacky family and friends trope. I thought it was going to be subverted at the end, when the heroine told her relatives off for their behaviour, but then the heroine did something meddling herself, as if she was accepting the process, and that bugged me.
For those who aren't as sensitive to characters who let themselves be pushed around and manipulated? It would probably be a fun, fluffy read.
For those who aren't as sensitive to characters who let themselves be pushed around and manipulated? It would probably be a fun, fluffy read.
August 9, 2009
There is just something about this one that was really appealing. I absolutely adored the heroine of this novel as well as the many colorful characters in her life. I found myself wanting more...because it was that good. =] An unexpectedly enjoyable read for me...it was bargain priced and I thought, what the heck? I'm glad I picked it up and will recommend it to many.
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