His Insignificant Other

by Karen V. Siplin

Satisfied with her life as an adjunct film professor, Casey Beck finds things unraveling when she discovers that her boyfriend is having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, which prompts Casey to face her insecurity and possessiveness. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

254 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2002

About the author

See Karen Siplin


KAREN SIPLIN was born in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York and raised in Coney Island. She attended John Dewey High School in Bensonhurst, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production from CUNY's Hunter College.

Her first novel, His Insignificant Other (Simon & Schuster 2002), was a Borders Original Voices selection and named one of Cosmopolitan Magazine's Sexy Summer Reads. It was published in Serbia in June 2004. Karen's second novel, Such a Girl (Simon & Schuster 2004), was a Main Selection of Black Expressions Book Club and chosen as South Carolina's The State newspaper's book club selection for May 2005. Her short story "Nice Jewish Boy" appears in the anthology, This is Chick-Lit (BenBella Books 2006).

Karen has worked as a telephone operator at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City and as a celebrity personal assistant. She has given readings and talks at Kingsborough Community College, New York University, the South Carolina Book Festival, BookExpo America and Makor - 92nd Street Y.

She lives in New York City with her husband.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this over the weekend while camping. Held my interest, but might have a hit a little too close to home in some areas. Not quite in the right mood for it when I read it. Story about a woman dealing with jealousy issues with her boyfriend and his ex, and how she deals with him cheating on her.

[Deja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. I can honestly see why some people are upset or uncomfortable saying it hit too close to home, but that doesn't make this book any less interesting than it is. Well written and kept me reading till the end

[Titilayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book gave me the feeling that some one had watched all my relationships and my friends' relationship & then transcribed our insecurities into the main character's thoughts. It was eerie. I have definitely been there and done that when it comes to trying to balance myself, my career, my friends, and my man against outside forces. In this case the outside forces was another woman, but sometimes in life you find yourself competing against sports, family, friends, drugs, alcohol, and a plethora of other things that make you doubt yourself while trying to hold it together for the sake of a relationship. I didn't really dig the ending, but i felt the characters on a real intimate level.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with prior reviews that this book did hit a little too close to home. I'm a little angry right now at the way it ended because I feel it was just a little bit too easy for her to run to LA. All the pieces just happened to come together - I don't buy it. It also bothers me to read/see women like her. Women who are so weak and stay in a friendship/relationship because that's all they know.

Like I said, I'm a little angry! But overall, quick and fun read.

[Shonell Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My FAVE book of Siplin's, and I love them all!

[C.C. Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this writer. She writes outside the box of what is typical for african american and tells a good cross cultural story.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too unrealistic. The story begins with the ex coming into the current girlfriend's apartment asking about the boyfriend and for a glass of water and a place to stay.

[Janet]

Chicklit. Professor of film studies agonizes over boyfriend and his ex.