The Dairy Queen

by Allison Rushby

Forced to return to the cow-obsessed town of her childhood with her sister, best friend, and a rather large Irish wolfhound, divorced and penniless Dicey is welcomed back with open arms and discovers that returning home doesn't equal giving up.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Australia

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Allison Rushby adores cities with long, winding histories; wild, overgrown cemeteries; redbrick Victorian museums; foxes; tea; and ivy. She lives in Queensland, Australia.

http://www.allisonrushby.com.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven’t read a good chick lit novel in years, and I was excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately, it just didn’t do it for me. I found the characters over-the-top, and not in a fun way. I also couldn’t relate to Dicey at all (and I couldn’t get past her name; which isn’t even her real name, but I digress.)

The plot wasn’t terribly exciting either and it was rather predictable. Women’s lives go to shit, women eat and cry and comfort each other, women go on a journey to find themselves, women figure out all their problems and magically life is perfect again. And through all that, everything just sort of meandered along, with various revelations about Dicey, her sister, and their friend, Sally, sprinkled in at random intervals for good measure. I just didn’t engage with any of it: not the characters, not the plot, not even with Australia, which I usually love reading about.

I felt as though the entire novel was tepid. Like it was trying too hard and not really hitting any of the marks it aimed for. Overall, a disappointment.

[Hope]

This is one of the Red Dress Ink books that is not about a woman in her twenties who works in New York and wants a boyfriend. The narrator is a woman in her thirties in Australia who has an estranged husband. I enjoyed it. It was an easy read that was entertaining - no philosophical treasure, but a nice read. This publisher is a division of Harlequin, I am almost embarrassed to say, but I decided I need some light reading this year and it has been provided by my sister and Red Dress Ink.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am actually in the middle of this and I'm really enjoying it. I love this idea of being able to escape from your problems for a bit, even though the character's quickly prove that no matter where you go...there you are. The humor in this book is fantastic and the personality of the dog is just as sharp as the three women. My favorite character is Sally, and her ability to be sharply blunt (definitely a friend I'd want!). So, this book is worth the read, especially if you are needing an escape as well!

[Jadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was very sweet and I appreciated the relationship between the sisters and the relationship of best friends. The descriptions of the small Australian town and it's inhabitants didn't seem that far off from any small town in America. The only issue I had was the length of time between alluding topics to the explanation.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally read this book instead of dairy queen for my book club. Lol. It was tough to get through the first few chapters but as I read along I did become a fan of dicey and her sister. Her friend with a broken ankle was a little annoying at times but as a read along I enjoyed it. An easy read simple plot line a great beach read as they say.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went in to this wanting to hate it. It's quirky, and probably firmly fits into what people like to call "chick-lit' - about 3 women in a moment of crisis. Its not my thing really, I only picked it up because my daughter said I should try it.
And its ok - its diverting, its pretty enjoyable - and I read the whole thing. I wish I didn't feel so ambivalent about it because there is actually nothing wrong with it at all. Its a perfectly pleasant little story about love and life and business and family history and I should have loved it.
I think that because I read so fast that I will sometimes just put up with a book because I know its only about 2 or 3 hours of my time - about what I would spend on an ok movie.... so I am actually a terrible judge.

[Gena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm definitely not the target demographic so I feel bad even rating the book. This book ended up on my shelf and I'm trying to read all my owned books.
I will now donate this and perhaps someone who typically reads red dress ink books will pick it up and love it and balance out my low review.

For what it was, it was classic fluffy romance content. If that is your thing. You will like it. A quick read, nothing too deep.

[Kathy Gilliland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off a little slow but enjoyed it once I got into the story. I think most of us were happiest when our lives were a little simpler. Don’t take the small things for granted.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sisters and their childhood friend return to their small hometown in Australia after experiencing life that suddenly turned difficult and threw all three of them individually for a loop. This is typical chick lit where the characters have to "find themselves" in order to move on with their lives.

I did find it a bit rambling and going nowhere and the ending was a little too pat but I guess to be expected after all.

My favorite character was Fergus, the Irish wolfhound who was always funny and ready to play.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Halfway through and it's still not doin' much for me. Fergus the dog seems to be the only truly interesting character. I think this premise and these characters had a lot of potential, but I found it to be alot of rambling with no direction. Every time I thought it was going to get interesting...nope, just more rambling. The setting was nice, but a little too familiar. To quote Jeanne, "Life's too short".

[Daneen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I've read this before....unfortunately, I had already started the book and was into a bit when I realized I had read previously read it. However, I could not recall the story so I continued. I don't think it was any better the second time around.

It is a good, easy-read story. A story of two sisters and a friend who go through some bad, work through the bad, and get to the good on the other side--and that doesn't always mean a man...it is about the women.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very light reading, (its published by a subsidiary of Harlequin, i am embarrassed to say)and its not one of those books you just cant put down. It is about 3 women in their 30's who for various reasons return home (to a small town in Australia) and work out some of their problems. An additional "character" is Fergus the wolfhound who i found to be delightful.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just like sisters & friends books. We all have hidden problems or things that scare us, but if we just learn to bring it out and talk to someone we love maybe it won't seem so bad or maybe they can even help us resolve it.

[Tiah]

I picked this up expecting an easy light romance read. Instead it was a rather sombre women's comic lit, heavier than anticipated. I'm not sure I did enjoy reading it. But the overall read left me ponderous. Which is why I decided to add it to the goodreads list.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading, although it was a bit hard to get into at first. There are some good lessons to be learned from reading it.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, funny, quick read. I pretty much devoured this one in one sitting. Couldln't put it down!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takes you out of the normal chick-lit setting of Manhattan or London, and out to the farm. Very cute and quick read!

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um, OK, the cover gave it too much justice. Not bad while I was reading it but when it was over I felt I had wasted my time.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. Easy to read!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in September and I don't know what it was about it but it was amazing!

[Erika Boncz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of my favorite chick lit books, seemed like there were some great issues but they kind of got lost.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the wit, the unconditional love and a happy ending.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. Only thing I would like to say is that I think the characters made a big deal about the answers to the smallest problems.

[Perkimom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little beach and airplane read!

[Sherri Bryant]

Absolutely LOVE the cover, but unfortunately the book wasn't as interesting.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read; a book to take your mind of your own troubles and escape into someone elses.

[Mel]

good