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Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
A summer romance headed for heartbreak turns into a mother-daughter road trip in the name of true love in this story of love, loss, and redemption from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti.
It is summer in the northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and Ruby McQueen—ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl—finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. With Travis, Ruby can be someone she’s never been Fearless. Powerful. But Ruby is in over her head, risking more and more when she’s with him.
In an effort to keep Ruby occupied and mend her own broken heart, her mother, Ann, drags Ruby to the weekly book club she runs for seniors. At first, Ruby can’t imagine a more boring way to spend an afternoon, but she is soon charmed by the women she’s spending time with. And when the group discovers one of their own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading, Ann and Ruby ditch their respective obsessions to spearhead a reunion between the long-ago lovers. They’re in search of a happy ending…but for who?
This lyrical, multigenerational story of love, loss, and redemption speaks to everyone who has ever been in love—and lived to tell the tale.
It is summer in the northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and Ruby McQueen—ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl—finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. With Travis, Ruby can be someone she’s never been Fearless. Powerful. But Ruby is in over her head, risking more and more when she’s with him.
In an effort to keep Ruby occupied and mend her own broken heart, her mother, Ann, drags Ruby to the weekly book club she runs for seniors. At first, Ruby can’t imagine a more boring way to spend an afternoon, but she is soon charmed by the women she’s spending time with. And when the group discovers one of their own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading, Ann and Ruby ditch their respective obsessions to spearhead a reunion between the long-ago lovers. They’re in search of a happy ending…but for who?
This lyrical, multigenerational story of love, loss, and redemption speaks to everyone who has ever been in love—and lived to tell the tale.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2004
103 people are currently reading
8218 people want to read
About the author
Deb Caletti
37 books2,279 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
October 9, 2010
I don't often dislike books but this one I truly had a difficult time completing. I started skimming through this book towards the middle of the book when I realized it was not getting any better. I didn't want to just abandon it as I've never ever abandoned a book before so I skimmed it all the way to the end. It was just really sad that I found this book boring and insignificant. I didn't find any of the characters appealing or interesting enough to follow their stories. I just didn't connect with any of them and therefore made me very uninterested and unattached to the book.
I also didn't like the writing style for this book even in the very beginning. The way the author built the stories for each of the character was just disjointed. There was no flow in the story line. I found myself scratching my head and wondering why the author just won't continue the story of the female protagonist but instead starts a new story about the protagonist's mother in the next paragraph. She could have introduced new characters and their stories a little better and a lot less intrusive. It just didn't appeal to my personal tastes.
This is the very first book I've picked up from Deb Caletti's collection. Unfortunately it did not impress me and unfortunately this does not make me want to try any of her new books anytime soon.
I also didn't like the writing style for this book even in the very beginning. The way the author built the stories for each of the character was just disjointed. There was no flow in the story line. I found myself scratching my head and wondering why the author just won't continue the story of the female protagonist but instead starts a new story about the protagonist's mother in the next paragraph. She could have introduced new characters and their stories a little better and a lot less intrusive. It just didn't appeal to my personal tastes.
This is the very first book I've picked up from Deb Caletti's collection. Unfortunately it did not impress me and unfortunately this does not make me want to try any of her new books anytime soon.
January 29, 2009
This is one of the greatest YA fiction novels I have ever read. I went into it with skeptism because the person who recommended the book to me loves stories where one of the lovers in a relationship dies at the end and I hate those sorts of stories.
This was a lot more than a story about summer love. In fact, I guess it is nothing about that. It's about love in general-- between family, friends, and your soul-mate. It's about finding and completing yourself not by someone else, but in yourself. All too often we gravitate to the wrong sorts of friends and boyfriends/girlfriends because we think they give us something we desperately want-- adventure, a snappy attitude, coolness-- when, in reality, we find those things in ourselves. It's about letting go of people who aren't helping you.
The characters are vivacious and hilarious. The "Casserole Queens" are amazing! I envisioned the old ladies from Steel Magnolias... without a doubt Weezer would be Peach.
I loved this story and I will definitely read her other books.
This was a lot more than a story about summer love. In fact, I guess it is nothing about that. It's about love in general-- between family, friends, and your soul-mate. It's about finding and completing yourself not by someone else, but in yourself. All too often we gravitate to the wrong sorts of friends and boyfriends/girlfriends because we think they give us something we desperately want-- adventure, a snappy attitude, coolness-- when, in reality, we find those things in ourselves. It's about letting go of people who aren't helping you.
The characters are vivacious and hilarious. The "Casserole Queens" are amazing! I envisioned the old ladies from Steel Magnolias... without a doubt Weezer would be Peach.
I loved this story and I will definitely read her other books.
Read
February 17, 2012I was on the line about whether to add this book to the "enjoyably bad" shelf, since I couldn't decide if it was actually bad. Cheesy, fluffy, and overly quirky, sure, but bad? Well, I'm on disc 5 now, and I've decided. It is bad. Still enjoyable, though.
What's best about this book: dead-on portrayal of bad love. The teenage main character and her mother each have a dumbass bad boy in their life that they can't seem to quit. The magnetism and idiocy of the boys and the addictive results of that very special blend were done really well. The author must have been there, because she captured it perfectly.
What's also good about this book: it's entertaining. It's consistent. The main characters (daughter, mother, and teenage-bad-boy-love-interest) are interesting and you want to know more about them.
What's annoying:
Toooooo many similes and metaphors (at least two per page, I'm guessing), some of them very amusing, many awkward.
Too many irritating comedic-relief devices. The brother, the dog, the "casserole queens" (really.), the irreverent pastor guy, on and on and on and on.
One of the characters is named "Peach"!
Too many lines end with, "..., he said." and "..., she said." Probably less annoying in print. Sounds terrible when there are five of those in a row in an audio book.
What put this decisively on the "bad" shelf:
If you read the back of the book, it says that the mom drags the daughter to her old folks' book club to distract her from her toxic boyfriend type thing. This is true. This is where the story goes from being about characters to being about caricatures. And I'm just kinda like, did I pay $0 (all right, so I got it at the library) to go into this whole side trip with all these yammering old people? No, I did not. Take me back to the disaster-waiting-to-happen love story! That's what I came here for!
Spoiler: "I wasn't in love with him... I was in love with his motorcycle."
LMAO! Best epiphany ever.
What's best about this book: dead-on portrayal of bad love. The teenage main character and her mother each have a dumbass bad boy in their life that they can't seem to quit. The magnetism and idiocy of the boys and the addictive results of that very special blend were done really well. The author must have been there, because she captured it perfectly.
What's also good about this book: it's entertaining. It's consistent. The main characters (daughter, mother, and teenage-bad-boy-love-interest) are interesting and you want to know more about them.
What's annoying:
Toooooo many similes and metaphors (at least two per page, I'm guessing), some of them very amusing, many awkward.
Too many irritating comedic-relief devices. The brother, the dog, the "casserole queens" (really.), the irreverent pastor guy, on and on and on and on.
One of the characters is named "Peach"!
Too many lines end with, "..., he said." and "..., she said." Probably less annoying in print. Sounds terrible when there are five of those in a row in an audio book.
What put this decisively on the "bad" shelf:
If you read the back of the book, it says that the mom drags the daughter to her old folks' book club to distract her from her toxic boyfriend type thing. This is true. This is where the story goes from being about characters to being about caricatures. And I'm just kinda like, did I pay $0 (all right, so I got it at the library) to go into this whole side trip with all these yammering old people? No, I did not. Take me back to the disaster-waiting-to-happen love story! That's what I came here for!
Spoiler: "I wasn't in love with him... I was in love with his motorcycle."
LMAO! Best epiphany ever.
March 31, 2011
Rating: A 3.5 stars
This is a realistic and tender coming of age story. I love Caletti writing style. So thoughtful and beautiful. I highlighted so many quotes from this book. Enjoyed the plot at the beginning but about two thirds of the way in I got a little bored. If it had a strong plot it could have been a brilliant read. All the characters were interesting and well rounded. Overall another good book from Caletti but not quite as strong Stay (which I read recently also).
Sorry for the lack of review but I just left it too long and my thoughts are gone about it!
Bookers Challenge #5. Thank you Crystal
This is a realistic and tender coming of age story. I love Caletti writing style. So thoughtful and beautiful. I highlighted so many quotes from this book. Enjoyed the plot at the beginning but about two thirds of the way in I got a little bored. If it had a strong plot it could have been a brilliant read. All the characters were interesting and well rounded. Overall another good book from Caletti but not quite as strong Stay (which I read recently also).
Sorry for the lack of review but I just left it too long and my thoughts are gone about it!
Bookers Challenge #5. Thank you Crystal
April 10, 2011
I have mixed feelings about my first Deb Caletti read.
I loved the idea of this book ~ the Quiet Girl and the rich, wild boy and one summer where everything goes a little crazy.
I also loved portions of the prose. Every now and then a sentence/paragraph/sentiment would just be perfectly captured ~ you could highlight this little book like crazy with all those hidden gems.
Unfortunately, those gems do get hidden ~ drowning in often over-written passages. If I were to edit this book I would pare it right back because at it's core it's a thrilling story that teenagers could easily connect too.
However I found myself feeling all too often like I was trudging through so many words without the plot moving along. Caletti is obviously the fan of the extended metaphor and similes, which, while cute/meaningful, bogged the story right down.
I also found the structure of this book confusing in parts. The story would often be reminiscing about a certain event and then it would swing to a past event for a few pages then hop back to the initial scene and then move on to another time and place altogether. In places I was confused as to whether I was reading back story or present (especially with family scenes). I wish the story had been more linear as I would have connected more to what was going on (or maybe I just needed to be concentrating harder ~ you could blame some of my confusion on *occasionally* skimming a passage to find where the plot was going to pop up again)
Despite my mini rant, I did (mostly) enjoy this book and in particular I liked the little snippets of gorgeous writing. I also think she captured the teenage protag and internal struggles/feelings really well and has a great ear for dialogue. It's a shame I lost my way in this story (by confusion and boredom in parts) as I think that made me feel less connected to Ruby, you know? Still, bring on more Deb Caletti! I am keen to try out more of her work.
Thanks Nic :D
I loved the idea of this book ~ the Quiet Girl and the rich, wild boy and one summer where everything goes a little crazy.
I also loved portions of the prose. Every now and then a sentence/paragraph/sentiment would just be perfectly captured ~ you could highlight this little book like crazy with all those hidden gems.
Unfortunately, those gems do get hidden ~ drowning in often over-written passages. If I were to edit this book I would pare it right back because at it's core it's a thrilling story that teenagers could easily connect too.
However I found myself feeling all too often like I was trudging through so many words without the plot moving along. Caletti is obviously the fan of the extended metaphor and similes, which, while cute/meaningful, bogged the story right down.
I also found the structure of this book confusing in parts. The story would often be reminiscing about a certain event and then it would swing to a past event for a few pages then hop back to the initial scene and then move on to another time and place altogether. In places I was confused as to whether I was reading back story or present (especially with family scenes). I wish the story had been more linear as I would have connected more to what was going on (or maybe I just needed to be concentrating harder ~ you could blame some of my confusion on *occasionally* skimming a passage to find where the plot was going to pop up again)
Despite my mini rant, I did (mostly) enjoy this book and in particular I liked the little snippets of gorgeous writing. I also think she captured the teenage protag and internal struggles/feelings really well and has a great ear for dialogue. It's a shame I lost my way in this story (by confusion and boredom in parts) as I think that made me feel less connected to Ruby, you know? Still, bring on more Deb Caletti! I am keen to try out more of her work.
Thanks Nic :D
October 8, 2010
The unavoidable factor that underlies all of Deb Calleti's books is their uniqueness. Sometimes, the uniqueness is good - streamlined writing, interesting characters that are not too quirky, and a well-defined plot. Other times, it is bad. This was one of the bad ones.
This being my third book by Deb Calleti, I was not quite sure what to expect. One of her other books I had given two stars, while her most recent novel I had given five. On the other hand, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is a National Book Award Finalist. In the end, I was disappointed, but not staggeringly.
I had a lot of issues with this book. None of the characters were particularly amiable, so I did not really care to see what happened as the plot progressed. The plot itself was pretty mundane. A girl named Ruby McQueen (who points out the ridiculousness of her name herself) dates the resident bad boy and precedes to get her heart broken. Throw in some over-stated life lessons, a pretty strong feminist viewpoint, and a couple of elderly people, and there you go. Suffice to say, something went awry here.
If you liked Calleti's other books, I would give this one a shot. If not, skip it.
This being my third book by Deb Calleti, I was not quite sure what to expect. One of her other books I had given two stars, while her most recent novel I had given five. On the other hand, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is a National Book Award Finalist. In the end, I was disappointed, but not staggeringly.
I had a lot of issues with this book. None of the characters were particularly amiable, so I did not really care to see what happened as the plot progressed. The plot itself was pretty mundane. A girl named Ruby McQueen (who points out the ridiculousness of her name herself) dates the resident bad boy and precedes to get her heart broken. Throw in some over-stated life lessons, a pretty strong feminist viewpoint, and a couple of elderly people, and there you go. Suffice to say, something went awry here.
If you liked Calleti's other books, I would give this one a shot. If not, skip it.
May 11, 2012
Once again Caletti has created a vividly adventurous (and humorous) home-spun coming of age story. My first Caletti novel was The Secret Life of Prince Charming and oh the characters! It's the same with Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. The characters are jewels...and the story is so familiar yet so enjoyable.
Ruby McQueen doesn't hang out with boys. She's a good girl, has one girlfriend, a love-sick insecure librarian mother, a little brother, and a chewing machine of a dog. Typical family, typical girl falls for the bad boy next door. Or is it?
I love how Caletti takes a stereotype plot like this and whips it around into a heartwarming story about something completely different–something that makes you sad when the last page turns. Ruby was naturally a keep-to-yourself type. When she suddenly catches the eye of the motorcyle-ridin' bad boy, Travis, Ruby unleashes her alter-ego that has been hiding inside her. Suddenly things starts turning upside-down. Does Ruby really like Travis or does she just like the thrill of the wind rushing against her skin as they zoom down the highway. When Ruby and her family become invovled in a complicated mission to help Lillian, an elderly woman and fellow book-club member, unite with her true love, Ruby gets a lesson in more than just love. Sometimes, adventure is way more exciting.
I love the characters–Miz June, Ann Bee, Harold (he's a hoot), Peach, Lillian, Chip Jr., Ruby, Ann, and even the guy in the whale van. They're so normal, they're people you know...but yet throw them together and you get an unforgettable journey of strength, love, friendship, and breaking away. The humorous yet serious advice the seniors give Ruby is uplifting and inspiring. Highly, highly recommend. If you're a Deb Caletti fan already–what are you waiting for!? Ages 13+
Ruby McQueen doesn't hang out with boys. She's a good girl, has one girlfriend, a love-sick insecure librarian mother, a little brother, and a chewing machine of a dog. Typical family, typical girl falls for the bad boy next door. Or is it?
I love how Caletti takes a stereotype plot like this and whips it around into a heartwarming story about something completely different–something that makes you sad when the last page turns. Ruby was naturally a keep-to-yourself type. When she suddenly catches the eye of the motorcyle-ridin' bad boy, Travis, Ruby unleashes her alter-ego that has been hiding inside her. Suddenly things starts turning upside-down. Does Ruby really like Travis or does she just like the thrill of the wind rushing against her skin as they zoom down the highway. When Ruby and her family become invovled in a complicated mission to help Lillian, an elderly woman and fellow book-club member, unite with her true love, Ruby gets a lesson in more than just love. Sometimes, adventure is way more exciting.
I love the characters–Miz June, Ann Bee, Harold (he's a hoot), Peach, Lillian, Chip Jr., Ruby, Ann, and even the guy in the whale van. They're so normal, they're people you know...but yet throw them together and you get an unforgettable journey of strength, love, friendship, and breaking away. The humorous yet serious advice the seniors give Ruby is uplifting and inspiring. Highly, highly recommend. If you're a Deb Caletti fan already–what are you waiting for!? Ages 13+
February 9, 2015
For the most part, I liked this. When it wasn't focused on the bad boy subplot. But I liked how it got resolved at least.
I found myself more interested in the mom's book club members and helping out a fellow member. That also includes a road trip. And Ruby and her family bonding along the way, etc.
Other than that, this was an okay but good in moments kind of read.
I found myself more interested in the mom's book club members and helping out a fellow member. That also includes a road trip. And Ruby and her family bonding along the way, etc.
Other than that, this was an okay but good in moments kind of read.
August 2, 2018
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti
3.25 stars
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.25
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3
Swoon Worthy Scale: 1
Character Scale: 5
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s so summery and fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2011 Review
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart was a good read and the characters were likeable. I liked how Ruby learned to a lesson and became a stronger character.
3.25 stars
Ruby McQueen is sixteen-years-old and finds herself hanging out with Travis Becker, a bad boy with a motorcycle and an obscene amount of money. Ruby finds herself on a road trip with her mother’s book club and reuniting one of the members with the man who got away. The writing drags a little at times. It’s not always the most immersive and at times I found myself struggling to care. However, the humor in this novel makes up for the rocky writing. It’s absolutely hilarious and it’s one of the best things about Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. There is a lot of slut shaming and girl-on-girl hate, which is distasteful. This novel was written in 2005 and a lot of this was prevalent in YA contemporaries, but that doesn’t excuse how often it pops up.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.25
I really like Ruby. She’s relatable and quirky. Ruby has a lot of growth and it is awesome to see a character actually change and see the world from a different perspective as opposed to staying the same. However, as much as I like Ruby, she is incredibly judgmental towards her mother. It becomes grating and I really liked her mom and it seemed like Ruby was being a brat because it’s easy to pretend like life is so hard and tragic as opposed to living in gratitude.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3
Travis is a complete douchecanoe. I don’t see the appeal of him at all or why Ruby wanted anything to do with him in the first place.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 1
The Caserole Queens are hands down the best thing about this novel. They are funny and make the story much more entertaining. I loved the plot that surrounded them and Lillian and the writer. It’s the strongest aspect of this novel and a delight. I was a huge fan of Ruby’s family. I loved her mom, Chip, and her grandmother. They were so funny and it was nice to see a strong family dynamic as opposed to a family that never sees each other and just says they are family.
Character Scale: 5
I should also state that I’ve read Honey, Baby, Sweetheart twice. The first time I really liked it, but didn’t love it and the second time, I had the same reaction. I think this is a strong contemporary novel, but it has a lot of faults and it can be a bit frustrating at times, but the progression of characters and the Casserole Queens made this novel awesome. I do recommend it!
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s so summery and fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2011 Review
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart was a good read and the characters were likeable. I liked how Ruby learned to a lesson and became a stronger character.
October 19, 2010
Originally posted here.
Based on the summary above, you'd think that this is just a contemporary YA novel with a love story. While the romance is a huge aspect of the novel, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart contains much more. This is a story about a teenage girl finding herself. She believes she's in love with a bad boy when in fact, she's more in love with the idea of falling in love. I could totally relate to Ruby even though she's known as The Quiet Girl and I've never been the shy type. In fact, I'm the opposite because I'm outgoing and really talkative. But Ruby's experiences in this book are universal. I also enjoyed reading about the secondary characters. Ruby's relationship with her librarian mother is pretty interesting and I like her closeness to her offbeat brother. The Casserole Queens, the book club for old people that Ruby's mother handles, also has a fascinating set of members. Each geriatric person has a unique personality and they're all so quirky. From time to time, they also spout out some sort of wisdom, probably the kind that comes with old age. The road trip orchestrated by the Casserole Queens is one of the highlights of the book. Old people rock!
There are so many good lines in this book, I wanted to pause every time I found one so I could mark it. Good thing Goodreads has a feature where you can add your favorite quotes in a book. Here's one of my favorites:
This quote goes out to all my single girl friends out there! I know I keep saying this about well-written YA books that I discover nowadays but I really wish I could have read this when I was a teenager. It's a beautiful book that tackles a topic that probably every teenager has experienced - how you try to change yourself because of other people. I know I went through that phase. This doesn't mean that the book doesn't have its share of humor because it does. Ruby is pretty funny and I found myself chuckling in certain scenes of the book. Plus like I mentioned earlier, the book has a great set of characters. I even liked the guy who owns the whale van even though he had such a small role in the book! I highly recommend this one and I hope more people get to read it. This is the first Deb Caletti book that I've read but if her other books are as good as this, then I'm excited to read the rest of them.
Based on the summary above, you'd think that this is just a contemporary YA novel with a love story. While the romance is a huge aspect of the novel, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart contains much more. This is a story about a teenage girl finding herself. She believes she's in love with a bad boy when in fact, she's more in love with the idea of falling in love. I could totally relate to Ruby even though she's known as The Quiet Girl and I've never been the shy type. In fact, I'm the opposite because I'm outgoing and really talkative. But Ruby's experiences in this book are universal. I also enjoyed reading about the secondary characters. Ruby's relationship with her librarian mother is pretty interesting and I like her closeness to her offbeat brother. The Casserole Queens, the book club for old people that Ruby's mother handles, also has a fascinating set of members. Each geriatric person has a unique personality and they're all so quirky. From time to time, they also spout out some sort of wisdom, probably the kind that comes with old age. The road trip orchestrated by the Casserole Queens is one of the highlights of the book. Old people rock!
There are so many good lines in this book, I wanted to pause every time I found one so I could mark it. Good thing Goodreads has a feature where you can add your favorite quotes in a book. Here's one of my favorites:
"A man's identity is complete through action, a woman's, when she has a man. Through him. We fall off our high heels into the narrow crevasse of what it means to be female. Let me tell you. You fall in love and you think you're finding yourself. But too often you're looking inside him for you, and that's a fact. There's only one place you can find yourself." She patted her chest.
This quote goes out to all my single girl friends out there! I know I keep saying this about well-written YA books that I discover nowadays but I really wish I could have read this when I was a teenager. It's a beautiful book that tackles a topic that probably every teenager has experienced - how you try to change yourself because of other people. I know I went through that phase. This doesn't mean that the book doesn't have its share of humor because it does. Ruby is pretty funny and I found myself chuckling in certain scenes of the book. Plus like I mentioned earlier, the book has a great set of characters. I even liked the guy who owns the whale van even though he had such a small role in the book! I highly recommend this one and I hope more people get to read it. This is the first Deb Caletti book that I've read but if her other books are as good as this, then I'm excited to read the rest of them.
November 30, 2008
I heard that she was a great author but I honestly hated this book. Was really boring and nothing important or interesting happened. It's not worth it reading this book.
February 26, 2012
My sister reviewed this book and made it sound so delicious, I had to get it. By the time it arrived, I had forgotten any of the details of her review--just a halo of "Dani" over the book--so I was expecting it to be really good.
I started reading, and it was kind of horrible. I kept going, getting more and more appalled, thinking, "She thought this was good?! What on earth am I going to say to her?" It was only when I interrupted my reading for a BBQ potato chip quest that I remembered: she shelved it "enjoyably-bad". Phew!
The book isn't bad bad. There was a lot I liked. I cared about the main character, her mom, her brother, her boss, the minister, and several of the oldsters. I wanted them all to do well and be happy. Hell, I even liked the bad boy, Travis... kind of.
I also liked the story, even though there were some mildly implausible/slapstick parts that almost broke credibility. The author also did a great job of building suspense. Even though in a way it's obvious what the main character will do, and it wouldn't be a story if she didn't, I still spent most of the book screaming to her, "No! Don't do it!!!" to no avail. The suffering and induced stupidity of obsessive love is portrayed extremely well here.
Really the bad part is the writing. Normally when I say that, I would mean it was poorly written, which this book is not. Instead, it reads like the product of reading too many books about how to be a good writer. Every time I start to read one of those books, I put it down again because I get afraid my writing is going to turn out exactly like this. Too self-conscious, too many details added for color, too many eccentricities, WAY too many similes. If this author didn't read the page in Stephen King's _On Writing_ where he rails against cliches and urges writers to develop their own original encapsulating phrases, I will eat my hat (ha!).
Just be yourself, Deb Caletti, and your next book will be awesome.
I started reading, and it was kind of horrible. I kept going, getting more and more appalled, thinking, "She thought this was good?! What on earth am I going to say to her?" It was only when I interrupted my reading for a BBQ potato chip quest that I remembered: she shelved it "enjoyably-bad". Phew!
The book isn't bad bad. There was a lot I liked. I cared about the main character, her mom, her brother, her boss, the minister, and several of the oldsters. I wanted them all to do well and be happy. Hell, I even liked the bad boy, Travis... kind of.
I also liked the story, even though there were some mildly implausible/slapstick parts that almost broke credibility. The author also did a great job of building suspense. Even though in a way it's obvious what the main character will do, and it wouldn't be a story if she didn't, I still spent most of the book screaming to her, "No! Don't do it!!!" to no avail. The suffering and induced stupidity of obsessive love is portrayed extremely well here.
Really the bad part is the writing. Normally when I say that, I would mean it was poorly written, which this book is not. Instead, it reads like the product of reading too many books about how to be a good writer. Every time I start to read one of those books, I put it down again because I get afraid my writing is going to turn out exactly like this. Too self-conscious, too many details added for color, too many eccentricities, WAY too many similes. If this author didn't read the page in Stephen King's _On Writing_ where he rails against cliches and urges writers to develop their own original encapsulating phrases, I will eat my hat (ha!).
Just be yourself, Deb Caletti, and your next book will be awesome.
February 22, 2011
What I liked most was the love and self discovery in this book. Have you ever fallen in love with a boy who is just all wrong for you. He gets you to lie, do bad things and even almost gets you seriously hurt?
The MC discover who she really is and not who the boy defines her as. Ruby meets a boy who not only make her fall fast but he knows it as well. Ruby thinks that because age loves him she can't be who she is. Her mother is a great role. She has been through a lot and shows Ruby what love really is, but uniting a a friend with her long lost love. On this road trip I loved how string Ruby became. She learned that she was not in love with but was in love his motorcycle. She was looking for something greater in life and found that in the adventure he took her on. Even if it was at the cost of getting hurt or in trouble.
In the end, Ruby learns a valuable lessen in live and life. I loved the plot and the characters. All were greatly written and someone you could relate too. The plot was so food it grab you and would not let go. If you like a book about self-discovery, adventure and love read this book!!
The MC discover who she really is and not who the boy defines her as. Ruby meets a boy who not only make her fall fast but he knows it as well. Ruby thinks that because age loves him she can't be who she is. Her mother is a great role. She has been through a lot and shows Ruby what love really is, but uniting a a friend with her long lost love. On this road trip I loved how string Ruby became. She learned that she was not in love with but was in love his motorcycle. She was looking for something greater in life and found that in the adventure he took her on. Even if it was at the cost of getting hurt or in trouble.
In the end, Ruby learns a valuable lessen in live and life. I loved the plot and the characters. All were greatly written and someone you could relate too. The plot was so food it grab you and would not let go. If you like a book about self-discovery, adventure and love read this book!!
February 3, 2013
Based on the cover and the title (and a little bit of the flap copy), I thought this was going to be your typical YA chicklit book. (I won't name any names here, but there were a few authors I was thinking of as I picked this up.) Boy, was I ever wrong! Okay, okay. There was the quiet, "good" girl who fell for the "bad" boy. And yes, you knew he was trouble from the first moment Ruby spied his motorcycle parked on the front lawn of his house. What I didn't expect when I picked up this book were the Casserole Queens. These senior ladies (and one gentleman) help Ruby find herself and realize there is more to life than being called, "Honey, Baby or Sweetheart." I love this book. I love the Casserole Queens. What a fabulous and unexpected read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2018
Rating: 2.5/5
Review to come!
Review to come!
May 30, 2010
I've read this book several months ago and I didn't particularly enjoy it. The writing style is pretty good, but I had a problem with the characters and the way the author tells her story - like it's a cautionary tale and it should teach teenagers what to avoid in life and how to behave. I absolutely hate it when the author tries to teach the readers a lesson! The moral of this tale is simple : you shouldn't let other people influence you in a bad way, you shouldn't value your boyfriend's opinions more than your family's,love is not always the answer, you should be an honest person, a good daughter, yadda yadda yadda.
My second big problem with this book was all the members of the Book Club and the storyline with Charles and Rose. I mean, it was just plain boring to read about them because I dislike reading about old people and the author wrote like a 100 pages revolving around them!!! What's so interesting about a couple of old geezers who have been in love for 50 years and finally get to meet each other again?
I also felt that the author simply used the characters Ruby and Travis (and her Mom's and Dad's too) to prove several points - i.e. you can't let love take over you completely, some relationships are just not meant to work, you shouldn't be dependent on the person you love or be passive in a relationship, being single is nice too etc.
This is definitely not the worst book I read, the writer has a way with words, but the story was too long and moralizing.
My second big problem with this book was all the members of the Book Club and the storyline with Charles and Rose. I mean, it was just plain boring to read about them because I dislike reading about old people and the author wrote like a 100 pages revolving around them!!! What's so interesting about a couple of old geezers who have been in love for 50 years and finally get to meet each other again?
I also felt that the author simply used the characters Ruby and Travis (and her Mom's and Dad's too) to prove several points - i.e. you can't let love take over you completely, some relationships are just not meant to work, you shouldn't be dependent on the person you love or be passive in a relationship, being single is nice too etc.
This is definitely not the worst book I read, the writer has a way with words, but the story was too long and moralizing.
April 10, 2012
Ruby McQueen's summer is not turning out at all like she'd thought it would - this "Quiet Girl" is managing to be loud in all sorts of unexpected ways. There so much about this book, and these characters that I loved - Ruby was as real to me as a fictional character can be: Sixteen year old NTE was right there with her while she did all sorts of stupid things, not knowing how to make herself stop. There was the relationship between Ruby and her mother, Ann, which felt so true that it almost hurt; or the elderly members of Ann's Book Club, who were so funny, so honest, and so realistic that you almost feel you could run into them at your own library. Anyways, there were a million good things about this book, and I have at least 6 sticky notes sticking out of it (in three different colors, because I never am reading in the same place), so that's a real sign to me that it was pretty awesome. Must pick up some more Deb Caletti books - if you're a Sarah Dessen fan, then this is your kind of writer too.
June 8, 2020
Wow this book was awesome, I'm surprised it has such a low score here on Goodreads like truly don't understand the negativity, honestly the writing was actually PHENOMENAL there were times when it legitimately left me breathless. As to the plot it was quite amazing, sure it's not the most action packed book in history but it was so poetic and deep and I was able to personally relate to the main character. I love all the secondary characters they were so real and well created I'm quite sure this is one of my favorite books ever.
April 7, 2010
Brilliant book. Brilliant!!! Made me laugh and it made me cry - my favorite kind!
May 24, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS
I picked this book up on a whim. It was a free read on Riveted and since I had yet to read a book by Deb Caletti, I decided to give it a read.
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is about a teenage girl, Ruby McQueen's, summer. There are two main storylines. First, while walking home from work she passes the new Becker house and one day meets Travis Becker. This sets off a fast and spiraling relationship. She rides on his motorcycle, walks along train tracks, skips out on work, and jumps out the way of a car at the last second. Being with Travis is dangerous and Ruby knows this, but she wants to be around him. Until Travis asks her to do something that she regrets and hurts someone she cares for. The second storyline is after this event, when Ruby's mother drags Ruby to the Casserole Queens book club, a book club of old ladies (and Harold). When they find out that the book they are reading is connected to one of the Queen's lost loves, the book club turns into a kidnapping (from a senior home) and a road trip.
The writing in this book was wonderful. Every small detail was described and every character gets careful attention. I really loved the narration in this sense and it really made me feel like I was within the setting. The observations from Ruby as she tells us these small details did not feel at all like an interruption or unnecessary, they felt natural. They made me feel like I was really seeing these places through her eyes and hearing her tell me the story. That said, her narration did bother at some points when she would step aside and hint that there were darker things to come, they had no idea what was about to happen, etc. I'm not really a fan of narration that vaguely hints at what is to come in an unhelpful manner. I don't mind past tense, but there is no reason for these vague hints as they don't really do anything for the story.
As I mention in my run-down of the plot, there are two main storylines: The Travis Plot and the Book Club Plot. Unlike other books with multiple storylines, these did not weave very well with each other. The Travis Plot ended and then the Book Club Plot began, but we were still reading the same book. The Travis Plot focuses on Ruby as she starts up a relationship with a rich, bad boy. This did explore unhealthy relationships a little, along with first love, but it was very quick. We did not see very many in the moment interactions with Ruby and Travis, but we are told enough to know that he does not have respect for the rules and that he has no regards for Ruby's safety. This was fine because it showed that a "bad boy" isn't always who you want and you should not change yourself for that, but once we get into the Book Club Plot, Travis is barely mentioned. I will mention that the Travis Plot also had a lot of scenes involving Ruby's dad, who left her mother, but still comes home every once and a while and that her mother always remains hopeful that Ruby's dad will stay this time. There were moments in this that made me sad/upset for their family, but there was such a realness to how their family interactions were described. I do like how the family struggles and the Travis Plot went together. They were described similarly at points.
I liked the Book Club Plot the best out of the two storylines. After getting in trouble with Travis, Ruby's mom makes her join the Casserole Queens Book Club with her. I just liked the interactions between the Casserole Queens. The Casserole Queens find out that one of their newest members (who has just suffered a stroke) may have been romantically involved with a famous author they are reading a memoir from. They want to reunite them on a road trip and since I love road trips in books, I loved the inclusion of this, as well as the bookish moments. There are some oddly humorous moments in this part, but it is a bit bittersweet. There is a lot of healing with this part, with Ruby kind of dealing with what happened with Travis (not much though because he is barely mentioned), but also Ruby's mother healing from what happened with Ruby's father, and Ruby and her mother getting back on soild ground together. Of course, love is involved in this part to, but it was a sweeter love than what Ruby had with Travis and I liked how these two types of love were shown, with very different age groups. I also liked that there was not a major romantic focus for Ruby because it felt more realistic.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I did like this book. While the storylines felt a bit separate for me and some parts went by too quickly, I loved the writing in this book. I will likely be reading more from Deb Caletti in the future.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS
I picked this book up on a whim. It was a free read on Riveted and since I had yet to read a book by Deb Caletti, I decided to give it a read.
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is about a teenage girl, Ruby McQueen's, summer. There are two main storylines. First, while walking home from work she passes the new Becker house and one day meets Travis Becker. This sets off a fast and spiraling relationship. She rides on his motorcycle, walks along train tracks, skips out on work, and jumps out the way of a car at the last second. Being with Travis is dangerous and Ruby knows this, but she wants to be around him. Until Travis asks her to do something that she regrets and hurts someone she cares for. The second storyline is after this event, when Ruby's mother drags Ruby to the Casserole Queens book club, a book club of old ladies (and Harold). When they find out that the book they are reading is connected to one of the Queen's lost loves, the book club turns into a kidnapping (from a senior home) and a road trip.
The writing in this book was wonderful. Every small detail was described and every character gets careful attention. I really loved the narration in this sense and it really made me feel like I was within the setting. The observations from Ruby as she tells us these small details did not feel at all like an interruption or unnecessary, they felt natural. They made me feel like I was really seeing these places through her eyes and hearing her tell me the story. That said, her narration did bother at some points when she would step aside and hint that there were darker things to come, they had no idea what was about to happen, etc. I'm not really a fan of narration that vaguely hints at what is to come in an unhelpful manner. I don't mind past tense, but there is no reason for these vague hints as they don't really do anything for the story.
As I mention in my run-down of the plot, there are two main storylines: The Travis Plot and the Book Club Plot. Unlike other books with multiple storylines, these did not weave very well with each other. The Travis Plot ended and then the Book Club Plot began, but we were still reading the same book. The Travis Plot focuses on Ruby as she starts up a relationship with a rich, bad boy. This did explore unhealthy relationships a little, along with first love, but it was very quick. We did not see very many in the moment interactions with Ruby and Travis, but we are told enough to know that he does not have respect for the rules and that he has no regards for Ruby's safety. This was fine because it showed that a "bad boy" isn't always who you want and you should not change yourself for that, but once we get into the Book Club Plot, Travis is barely mentioned. I will mention that the Travis Plot also had a lot of scenes involving Ruby's dad, who left her mother, but still comes home every once and a while and that her mother always remains hopeful that Ruby's dad will stay this time. There were moments in this that made me sad/upset for their family, but there was such a realness to how their family interactions were described. I do like how the family struggles and the Travis Plot went together. They were described similarly at points.
I liked the Book Club Plot the best out of the two storylines. After getting in trouble with Travis, Ruby's mom makes her join the Casserole Queens Book Club with her. I just liked the interactions between the Casserole Queens. The Casserole Queens find out that one of their newest members (who has just suffered a stroke) may have been romantically involved with a famous author they are reading a memoir from. They want to reunite them on a road trip and since I love road trips in books, I loved the inclusion of this, as well as the bookish moments. There are some oddly humorous moments in this part, but it is a bit bittersweet. There is a lot of healing with this part, with Ruby kind of dealing with what happened with Travis (not much though because he is barely mentioned), but also Ruby's mother healing from what happened with Ruby's father, and Ruby and her mother getting back on soild ground together. Of course, love is involved in this part to, but it was a sweeter love than what Ruby had with Travis and I liked how these two types of love were shown, with very different age groups. I also liked that there was not a major romantic focus for Ruby because it felt more realistic.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I did like this book. While the storylines felt a bit separate for me and some parts went by too quickly, I loved the writing in this book. I will likely be reading more from Deb Caletti in the future.
November 10, 2020
Love, love, love. Everything was just perfect. So tender and heartfelt.
January 26, 2015
Originally posted here.
To say that I was utterly conflicted about this book would be an understatement. I was incredulous at some of the characters, I had difficulty digesting what the author really wanted to convey, and I had trouble joining together the two seemingly disjointed sub-stories involved.
Sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen is dubbed The Quiet Girl until she no longer is – quiet, that is – all thanks to filthy rich, motorcycle-riding “bad boy” Travis Becker. Suddenly, all she ever thought she was went flying out the window – she finds herself doing things she never would have done as The Quiet Girl, and justifies her actions by invoking love.
However, when something tragic happens with Travis that compromised even Ruby’s personal relationships, her mother Ann takes positive action. Ruby is practically dragged into joining Ann’s book club, the Casserole Queens, composed of relatively older people. When the Queens discover that one of their members is actually the love interest of a writer whose memoirs they were currently discussing, they go on a mission/road trip miles away, all in the name of love.
*
So, is this book about Ruby’s coming-of-age, or is it about the bittersweet reunion of two people, both in the twilight of their years, who were tragically separated by time and distance?
The first half of the book was all about Ruby and her shenanigans with Travis. Yes, shenanigans. I initially failed to grasp the entire point of her risky and intrepid actions; she annoyed me all the way to my fingertips. She allowed herself to be wrapped around Travis' rich little finger, who wheedled and charmed shamelessly. Perhaps it’s because I was never one who was interested in or intrigued by the “bad boys,” who, in my opinion, still elude proper characterization. (Who is a “bad boy,” really??) In any case, Travis was depicted that way – as someone who has the effect of transforming The Quiet Girl into The Unthinking Girl in, oh, just five minutes? Yes, Ruby does a complete turnaround in the first fewseconds minutes that Travis enters her life – or rather, she enters their front gate and presto! They were making out before she was out the door. For reals, yo.
There is a reason for Ruby’s insipid actions, I am aware. But at the time I was reading them, I was simply irked. All I could think of was, Hey girl, where’s your sense of self? Think! But of course, she had to do all those in order for the author to stress on a valid point. All I had to do was to figure them out.
Meanwhile, the second half deals with the Casserole Queens, of which Ruby’s mother, Ann, was a member. The story segues neatly from the height of Ruby’s escapades into her role as an initially-reluctant, newly-inducted Queen. Quite honestly, this part was for me the highlight of the book. Not the road trip, no, or the part where some risky plan was involved (which was a tad unrealistic, to be candid), but the part where love finds a way to become.
*
My annoyance with Ruby was eclipsed by the realization in the end that yes, love will make you go through lengths you never imagined you can until you’ve actually done it. This is especially true in the case of the old people, Charlie and Lillian (albeit with a little outside help, yes). But in Ruby’s and Travis’ case, I beg to disagree; Ruby wasn’t in love with him, absolutely not. Neither do I think that she was merely proving something to herself when she momentarily “forgot” who she truly was to have risked so much for him. For me, it was pure and simple stupidity, to which we all succumb once in our lives. Perhaps, when we were sixteen?
*
When it comes down to it, though, I did appreciate the relevance of Ruby's story. My own childhood was very quiet and uneventful, as far as I can recall, as life was more simple way back. Ruby's errant behavior made me contemplate about how I would raise my own daughter to become more responsible, how to act accordingly when faced with a particular situation, how to weigh her options before deciding on anything. More important, however, I realized how much I would have to prepare for the eventual heartaches that she will inevitably suffer as she adds more teen years to her age.
When my daughter becomes sixteen, I will do absolutely everything in my power for her not to become Ruby. :)
In parting, here's my favorite passage from the book. Is it any surprise that it is lifted from the story of the older people, not Ruby's? :)
To say that I was utterly conflicted about this book would be an understatement. I was incredulous at some of the characters, I had difficulty digesting what the author really wanted to convey, and I had trouble joining together the two seemingly disjointed sub-stories involved.
Sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen is dubbed The Quiet Girl until she no longer is – quiet, that is – all thanks to filthy rich, motorcycle-riding “bad boy” Travis Becker. Suddenly, all she ever thought she was went flying out the window – she finds herself doing things she never would have done as The Quiet Girl, and justifies her actions by invoking love.
However, when something tragic happens with Travis that compromised even Ruby’s personal relationships, her mother Ann takes positive action. Ruby is practically dragged into joining Ann’s book club, the Casserole Queens, composed of relatively older people. When the Queens discover that one of their members is actually the love interest of a writer whose memoirs they were currently discussing, they go on a mission/road trip miles away, all in the name of love.
*
So, is this book about Ruby’s coming-of-age, or is it about the bittersweet reunion of two people, both in the twilight of their years, who were tragically separated by time and distance?
The first half of the book was all about Ruby and her shenanigans with Travis. Yes, shenanigans. I initially failed to grasp the entire point of her risky and intrepid actions; she annoyed me all the way to my fingertips. She allowed herself to be wrapped around Travis' rich little finger, who wheedled and charmed shamelessly. Perhaps it’s because I was never one who was interested in or intrigued by the “bad boys,” who, in my opinion, still elude proper characterization. (Who is a “bad boy,” really??) In any case, Travis was depicted that way – as someone who has the effect of transforming The Quiet Girl into The Unthinking Girl in, oh, just five minutes? Yes, Ruby does a complete turnaround in the first few
There is a reason for Ruby’s insipid actions, I am aware. But at the time I was reading them, I was simply irked. All I could think of was, Hey girl, where’s your sense of self? Think! But of course, she had to do all those in order for the author to stress on a valid point. All I had to do was to figure them out.
Meanwhile, the second half deals with the Casserole Queens, of which Ruby’s mother, Ann, was a member. The story segues neatly from the height of Ruby’s escapades into her role as an initially-reluctant, newly-inducted Queen. Quite honestly, this part was for me the highlight of the book. Not the road trip, no, or the part where some risky plan was involved (which was a tad unrealistic, to be candid), but the part where love finds a way to become.
*
My annoyance with Ruby was eclipsed by the realization in the end that yes, love will make you go through lengths you never imagined you can until you’ve actually done it. This is especially true in the case of the old people, Charlie and Lillian (albeit with a little outside help, yes). But in Ruby’s and Travis’ case, I beg to disagree; Ruby wasn’t in love with him, absolutely not. Neither do I think that she was merely proving something to herself when she momentarily “forgot” who she truly was to have risked so much for him. For me, it was pure and simple stupidity, to which we all succumb once in our lives. Perhaps, when we were sixteen?
*
When it comes down to it, though, I did appreciate the relevance of Ruby's story. My own childhood was very quiet and uneventful, as far as I can recall, as life was more simple way back. Ruby's errant behavior made me contemplate about how I would raise my own daughter to become more responsible, how to act accordingly when faced with a particular situation, how to weigh her options before deciding on anything. More important, however, I realized how much I would have to prepare for the eventual heartaches that she will inevitably suffer as she adds more teen years to her age.
When my daughter becomes sixteen, I will do absolutely everything in my power for her not to become Ruby. :)
In parting, here's my favorite passage from the book. Is it any surprise that it is lifted from the story of the older people, not Ruby's? :)
October 7, 2010
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti- 308 pages
In the book Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, by Deb Caletti, Ruby Mc Queen, the protagonist, is 16 years old and lives in the small town of Nine Mile Falls, Texas with her mom, Ann and her brother, Chip Jr. Her dad, Chip had left her family a little after Chip Jr. was born hoping for luck in the music business. Ann still loved Chip and so whenever he came to visit, she would be in a great mood and buy expensive food for them, even though it was hard because she was only a librarian. After Chip left, Ann wouldn’t act normal for a week or two. Ruby and her mom learned to protect each other. Ruby falls in love with the rich, stunning, daredevil, Travis Becker. As soon as she meets him, Travis takes her on his motorcycle. Around him, she becomes the opposite of her normal self- the quiet one. She becomes more risky and does immoral things she would never dreamed of doing herself. Travis pulls her into situations that she hates. With him, she loses more than she gains. While she knows she shouldn’t stay with Travis, his love makes her keep coming back for more. But once he ends up taking away many important things, including her friends and her heart, Ruby decides she can’t see him anymore. Ruby’s mom tries to fix Ruby’s heartache by taking her to the elderly book club called the “Casserole Queens” to get her mind off Travis. At the club they find out that one of the members used to be dating the writer, Charles Whitney, and was part of this love story. They decided that they should bring her back to her long lost lover for the rest of her life. They go on a crazy road trip with a “stolen” nursing home woman to bring her to her long lost lover. Being involved in the Casserole Queens, Ruby and her mom are able to let go of their heartaches, and Ruby was able to let go of her former lover.
I think that one of the main morals of this book is that sometime you might love a person for what they look like or something they own or what they do. If you don’t love everything about the person, it can get in the way and tear people apart when they thought they were in love. Maybe you love something they do that changes you. In this book, Ruby thought she was in love with Travis, but she ended up not liking the things he made her do. Ruby found out that she didn’t really know Travis well enough when she started dating him, and was surprised by his wrong actions. She liked the person she became around him- confident, outgoing, and fearless, but once he made her do terrible things, she realized she couldn’t love him anymore. He tore her apart with his actions. She finds out that maybe, she was just in love with his motorcycle.
I rate this book 5 stars because I think the story is well told. I like how Ruby’s thoughts of Travis change when he’s unlawful. Ruby ends up following her conscious and does the right thing. The story has many lessons and I really love the way it teaches them. It teaches about love and also moral values. I like the way the story is told and the foreshadowing that builds suspense. It definitely made me want to keep reading! I think lots of girls will enjoy this book and some may be able to relate to the story.
In the book Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, by Deb Caletti, Ruby Mc Queen, the protagonist, is 16 years old and lives in the small town of Nine Mile Falls, Texas with her mom, Ann and her brother, Chip Jr. Her dad, Chip had left her family a little after Chip Jr. was born hoping for luck in the music business. Ann still loved Chip and so whenever he came to visit, she would be in a great mood and buy expensive food for them, even though it was hard because she was only a librarian. After Chip left, Ann wouldn’t act normal for a week or two. Ruby and her mom learned to protect each other. Ruby falls in love with the rich, stunning, daredevil, Travis Becker. As soon as she meets him, Travis takes her on his motorcycle. Around him, she becomes the opposite of her normal self- the quiet one. She becomes more risky and does immoral things she would never dreamed of doing herself. Travis pulls her into situations that she hates. With him, she loses more than she gains. While she knows she shouldn’t stay with Travis, his love makes her keep coming back for more. But once he ends up taking away many important things, including her friends and her heart, Ruby decides she can’t see him anymore. Ruby’s mom tries to fix Ruby’s heartache by taking her to the elderly book club called the “Casserole Queens” to get her mind off Travis. At the club they find out that one of the members used to be dating the writer, Charles Whitney, and was part of this love story. They decided that they should bring her back to her long lost lover for the rest of her life. They go on a crazy road trip with a “stolen” nursing home woman to bring her to her long lost lover. Being involved in the Casserole Queens, Ruby and her mom are able to let go of their heartaches, and Ruby was able to let go of her former lover.
I think that one of the main morals of this book is that sometime you might love a person for what they look like or something they own or what they do. If you don’t love everything about the person, it can get in the way and tear people apart when they thought they were in love. Maybe you love something they do that changes you. In this book, Ruby thought she was in love with Travis, but she ended up not liking the things he made her do. Ruby found out that she didn’t really know Travis well enough when she started dating him, and was surprised by his wrong actions. She liked the person she became around him- confident, outgoing, and fearless, but once he made her do terrible things, she realized she couldn’t love him anymore. He tore her apart with his actions. She finds out that maybe, she was just in love with his motorcycle.
I rate this book 5 stars because I think the story is well told. I like how Ruby’s thoughts of Travis change when he’s unlawful. Ruby ends up following her conscious and does the right thing. The story has many lessons and I really love the way it teaches them. It teaches about love and also moral values. I like the way the story is told and the foreshadowing that builds suspense. It definitely made me want to keep reading! I think lots of girls will enjoy this book and some may be able to relate to the story.
February 4, 2013
Deb Caletti é, oficialmente, uma das minhas autoras favoritas! Quero ler tudo o que esta mulher escreve o que não é assim tão pouco, para minha alegria! O que eu mais gosto nestes livro é que, apesar de serem rotulados de YA (e são, na realidade) e de terem como protagonistas de história adolescentes, são livros profundos, complexos e acima de tudo inspiradores.
"Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" traz-nos uma quiet girl, aquele menina que faz tudo para que o mundo passe por ela e não a reconheça, que lhe permita ficar no canto dela! Desde aí me prendi ao livro (rima interna): eu sempre tentei ser uma quiet girl! Ruby é uma adolescente quieta até que se apaixona pelo bad boy (como seria de esperar) e ela passa por uma série de transformações e de vivências que a vão mudar por completo. Mas, como em todos os livros da Deb, não há uma centralidade total no adolescente. Durante o livro conhecemos também os adultos e acompanhamos a história deles e são eles que fazem com que a Ruby cresça como pessoa! Não é apenas uma história de banalidade, é uma história de sentimentos, de recomeços, de perdão e de dar os passos para a frente!
A escrita desta autora é aquilo que mais me cativa quando leio as histórias dela. É de uma beleza incomparável e algumas frases são como uma chapada na cara! E agora, perguntam-se, porque só lhe dei 4 estrelas e não a totalidade delas! Simplesmente porque não me fez chorar! No goodreads leva 4, na minha mente leva 10!
"Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" traz-nos uma quiet girl, aquele menina que faz tudo para que o mundo passe por ela e não a reconheça, que lhe permita ficar no canto dela! Desde aí me prendi ao livro (rima interna): eu sempre tentei ser uma quiet girl! Ruby é uma adolescente quieta até que se apaixona pelo bad boy (como seria de esperar) e ela passa por uma série de transformações e de vivências que a vão mudar por completo. Mas, como em todos os livros da Deb, não há uma centralidade total no adolescente. Durante o livro conhecemos também os adultos e acompanhamos a história deles e são eles que fazem com que a Ruby cresça como pessoa! Não é apenas uma história de banalidade, é uma história de sentimentos, de recomeços, de perdão e de dar os passos para a frente!
A escrita desta autora é aquilo que mais me cativa quando leio as histórias dela. É de uma beleza incomparável e algumas frases são como uma chapada na cara! E agora, perguntam-se, porque só lhe dei 4 estrelas e não a totalidade delas! Simplesmente porque não me fez chorar! No goodreads leva 4, na minha mente leva 10!
April 8, 2008
If you are looking for a typical teen love story,look elsewhere. Yes, it's true that a portion of the book is taken up with the story of how Ruby falls for Travis. But from the beginning,we know things will not work out. Travis is a "bad boy," and not just because he rides his motorcycle too fast. He makes Ruby do things that cause pain for herself and those she cares about.
Once she figures this out, or more accurately, acknowledges what she has always known, she throws herself into the adventure of reuniting the REAL lovers in the story, two people in the final years of their lives, who missed out on a lifetime of happiness together.
There is also the side story of Ruby's mom, still pining for the dad who left for greener pastures, but keeps her dangling on the end of a long line...
The book is really about the comlexities of love. How it can act as an enlightening or destructive force in someone's life. How it can be used to emotionally trap someone who feels it, or to set someone free. How it can make us do things we would never do, against our better judgement.
Funny characters (The Casserole Queens) and great dialogue, along with a pretty good message, make this a must-read for teen girls, especially those who might be tempted to sacrafice a part of who they are for some boy... Real love does not require that.
Once she figures this out, or more accurately, acknowledges what she has always known, she throws herself into the adventure of reuniting the REAL lovers in the story, two people in the final years of their lives, who missed out on a lifetime of happiness together.
There is also the side story of Ruby's mom, still pining for the dad who left for greener pastures, but keeps her dangling on the end of a long line...
The book is really about the comlexities of love. How it can act as an enlightening or destructive force in someone's life. How it can be used to emotionally trap someone who feels it, or to set someone free. How it can make us do things we would never do, against our better judgement.
Funny characters (The Casserole Queens) and great dialogue, along with a pretty good message, make this a must-read for teen girls, especially those who might be tempted to sacrafice a part of who they are for some boy... Real love does not require that.
January 26, 2011
This book was highlighted in the textbook I use to teach my YA lit class (college level). One of my students had given it a good review, so I gave it a try. I was very frustrated with the main character, who is attracted to a rich, good-looking bad boy w/ a motorcycle and a penchant for stealing. (Though his motivation remains elusive; why would he steal when he's already so rich?) I can see why a shy girl like Ruby would be attracted to this boy, but when she helps him rob her employer, who also is an old family friend who has been very kind to her, I wanted to throw the book across the room. Her decision didn't ring true to me at all. However, after that, the book takes a very different turn. The plot shifts to a set of elderly people, which I can't imagine would engage teens all that much, though I thought they were cute. It gets very zany, and Ruby learns lessons from these people. But I felt like her involvement w/ Travis the bad boy in the early part of the story was contrived--set up so she'd learn lessons later on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2011
This book has a misleading title and cover. I never would have read it if I hadn't read this review written by my friend Chachic. This is a book about breaking out of destructive cycles, learning from your mistakes, and second chances. It is not just Ruby's story but also her mother's story and the story of the Casserole Queens. I liked the multi-generational relationships portrayed in the novel. The commentary on women and their motivations for seeking love is spot on, if a little didactic. This is actually acknowledged by the characters themselves in a joking way which made it easier to swallow. The boy in this is a dangerous one and I appreciated how Caletti showed why he was alluring, but also why it was necessary to fight the allure of such a boy.
January 24, 2012
First of all I would normally not be particularly interested in a book called "Honey, Baby, sweetheart" because it sounds like your run of the mill revoltingly cutesy romance, but alas this was not the case. I have read other novels by Deb Caletti and I have found them not only intensely satisfying but also very emotionally riveting. I would certainly not label this book the pinnacle point in her writing career but the story did contain some, dare I say, beautiful qualities. The complexity of the relationship of Ruby's mother with the father of her children was what truly humanized the pages, along with the charming cast of elderly folk (which I could relate to even though I am a mere sixteen). I wasn't completely convinced with the rich/bad boy concept since I've seen it before and I will see it again, but I think it was the little things that made this novel worth finishing.
November 26, 2008
I was surprised by how great this book was. I couldn't put it down... It was meaningful but also funny. I loved her and her brother's little games and the old people! They were hilarious!
"'If you ever, and I mean EVER use anything you learned in chemistry in your real adult life, I want you to call me. From wherever you are. Even if you're eighty, I want that call. 'Sydney, I actually used something I learned in chemistry class.' Promise me." My feelings exactly.
"We are thickly layered, page lying upon page, behind simple covers. And love- it is not the book itself, but the binding. It can rip us apart or hold us together. A book is worthy of a strong embrace, but, too, you must be gentle with one. Careful whose hands you put it in. Layers, by their nature, are fragile things."
"'If you ever, and I mean EVER use anything you learned in chemistry in your real adult life, I want you to call me. From wherever you are. Even if you're eighty, I want that call. 'Sydney, I actually used something I learned in chemistry class.' Promise me." My feelings exactly.
"We are thickly layered, page lying upon page, behind simple covers. And love- it is not the book itself, but the binding. It can rip us apart or hold us together. A book is worthy of a strong embrace, but, too, you must be gentle with one. Careful whose hands you put it in. Layers, by their nature, are fragile things."
June 13, 2021
The fact that this book was a National Book Award finalist makes me question the value of the National Book Award. Ruby is a sap who falls for a jerk, following on the footsteps of her mother who is also a sap who fell for a jerk (Ruby’s father). In her stupidity of “love,” Ruby makes a series of terrible choices that get continually worse. I actually yelled out loud at her at one point because of her idiocy.
The adventure and road trip aren’t very believable or even very exciting. The character I found the most interesting(Chip Jr.) was not a big enough part of the story, and I just hated Ruby all the way through. Yes, she does change in the story, but not enough to redeem her unlikeable nature.
Terrible. I do not recommend this book.
The adventure and road trip aren’t very believable or even very exciting. The character I found the most interesting(Chip Jr.) was not a big enough part of the story, and I just hated Ruby all the way through. Yes, she does change in the story, but not enough to redeem her unlikeable nature.
Terrible. I do not recommend this book.
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