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Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead: A Witty Novel of Suburban Secrets, Motherhood, and Unlikely Friendship
In Mindy's yoga-obsessed, thirty-is-the-new-wife neighborhood, every day is a battle between Dunkin' Donuts, her jaws-of-life jeans, and Beth Diamond, the self-absorbed sancti-mommy next door who looks sixteen from the back. So much for sharing the chores, the stores, and the occasional mischief to rival Wisteria Lane. It's another day, another dilemma until Beth's marriage becomes fodder on Facebook. Suddenly the Ivy League blonde needs to be “friended,” and Mindy is the last mom standing. Together they take on hormones and hunger, family feuds and fidelity, and a harrowing journey that spills the truth about an unplanned pregnancy and a seventy-year-old miracle that altered their fates forever. Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a hilarious, stirring romp over fences and defenses that begs the question, what did you do to deserve living next door to a crazy woman? Sometimes it's worth finding out.
319 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2008
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515 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
July 8, 2012
Ugh. Gorgeous miserable trophy wife, fat dumpy wise woman with heart of gold, spoiled children, crazy in laws....could we find any more cliches? Well, I don't want to spoil the surprises for those who get through this sappy book, but there are lots lots more. Ugh.
March 29, 2009
I need to be more discerning in my mindless chick lit. This book was just all over the place, tried to be deep and meaningful but wasn't, and ultimately wasn't enjoyable.
October 12, 2008
What to say about this book? It isn't in my normal genres that I read. I suppose you could categorize it as chick-lit.
What I liked: I loved Beth, the neighbor from hell, right from the prologue. I can't imagine living next to someone like her because, man, she brings new meaning to the word "bitch". I liked that Mindy grew a backbone fairly early on in the book. I loved Mindy's relationship with her husband, Artie, because you could really believe that they loved each other even after all those years together. I liked little Ricky and I liked Aaron - especially that he would sing lyrics to songs when upset.
What was so-so: The happy ending for EVERYONE. It was a little unbelievable that everyone would end up so happy. That isn't really real-life and the rest of the book was fairly right on with real-life. I also had no sense of the time that was passing between chapters. There were times that it would have been nice to know if a day or a week had gone by.
What I didn't like: The book was preachy. Not in a religious way - the facts about the Jewish religion were fascinating. No, it was the preachiness about different things: how important it is to graduate from college - there is actually something that Mindy says that implies that if you don't graduate from college, you'll end up flipping burgers for a living (as a person who didn't go to college and has a great job, bite me!), it got preachy with you should keep stay together pretty much no matter what (really? If I was Beth, I'd never trust Richard EVER.), and a couple other things that I can't remember off hand. I got the feeling that these things that mainly Mindy would spout off were the author's own opinions.
Overall, I liked the book, but it was hard to understand the characters or connect with them. The story takes place in an upscale neighborhood on Long Island, have multiple kids, and the mothers don't work. I live on the West Coast, in a middle-income neighborhood, have no kids, and work.
What I liked: I loved Beth, the neighbor from hell, right from the prologue. I can't imagine living next to someone like her because, man, she brings new meaning to the word "bitch". I liked that Mindy grew a backbone fairly early on in the book. I loved Mindy's relationship with her husband, Artie, because you could really believe that they loved each other even after all those years together. I liked little Ricky and I liked Aaron - especially that he would sing lyrics to songs when upset.
What was so-so: The happy ending for EVERYONE. It was a little unbelievable that everyone would end up so happy. That isn't really real-life and the rest of the book was fairly right on with real-life. I also had no sense of the time that was passing between chapters. There were times that it would have been nice to know if a day or a week had gone by.
What I didn't like: The book was preachy. Not in a religious way - the facts about the Jewish religion were fascinating. No, it was the preachiness about different things: how important it is to graduate from college - there is actually something that Mindy says that implies that if you don't graduate from college, you'll end up flipping burgers for a living (as a person who didn't go to college and has a great job, bite me!), it got preachy with you should keep stay together pretty much no matter what (really? If I was Beth, I'd never trust Richard EVER.), and a couple other things that I can't remember off hand. I got the feeling that these things that mainly Mindy would spout off were the author's own opinions.
Overall, I liked the book, but it was hard to understand the characters or connect with them. The story takes place in an upscale neighborhood on Long Island, have multiple kids, and the mothers don't work. I live on the West Coast, in a middle-income neighborhood, have no kids, and work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2008
L'Chayim
We all have funny friends who tell great stories. Friends to whom we sometimes say things like, "you should write a book." I'm so glad author, Saralee Rosenberg, either heard this enough or believed in herself enough to share her humor with us. There's a laugh on every page of Dear Neighbor Drop Dead. From page one, I felt I had to fasten my seatbelt, as the quick pace and over-the-top characters just cracked me up. It was quite a ride through this Long Island neighborhood full of twists and turns and page-turning gusto.
Although primarily Mindy's story, this is the tale of Mindy and Beth. Beth is THE neighbor from hell, a first-class beyotch, who puts on the perfect routine and is so mean to everyone--particularly the big-hearted Mindy--she's easy to loathe. Mindy and Beth are thrown together through a variety of circumstances and their relationship as frenemies develops in unexpected and amusing ways. Every secondary character no matter how important or trivial to the story is beautifully developed and makes this quick read highly enjoyable.
Be prepared to experience the culture of modern Jewish families. You'll hunger for a New York bagel and smile at the expressions: "It's never the stuff you worry about that happens, it's the stuff you don't see coming that incapacitates you like a Taser. And nothing like five-thousand volts of electricity to get your undivided attention."
I had to agree with Mindy's stepson, Aaron, when he proclaims: "I like being Jewish. You guys really know how to party." To which Mindy, ever the wit, replies: "Next to suffering, it's what we do best."
Very well done. I look forward to reading Saralee Rosenberg's other books--including one mentioned in this story, Claire Voyant--particularly when I feel the need to smile.
We all have funny friends who tell great stories. Friends to whom we sometimes say things like, "you should write a book." I'm so glad author, Saralee Rosenberg, either heard this enough or believed in herself enough to share her humor with us. There's a laugh on every page of Dear Neighbor Drop Dead. From page one, I felt I had to fasten my seatbelt, as the quick pace and over-the-top characters just cracked me up. It was quite a ride through this Long Island neighborhood full of twists and turns and page-turning gusto.
Although primarily Mindy's story, this is the tale of Mindy and Beth. Beth is THE neighbor from hell, a first-class beyotch, who puts on the perfect routine and is so mean to everyone--particularly the big-hearted Mindy--she's easy to loathe. Mindy and Beth are thrown together through a variety of circumstances and their relationship as frenemies develops in unexpected and amusing ways. Every secondary character no matter how important or trivial to the story is beautifully developed and makes this quick read highly enjoyable.
Be prepared to experience the culture of modern Jewish families. You'll hunger for a New York bagel and smile at the expressions: "It's never the stuff you worry about that happens, it's the stuff you don't see coming that incapacitates you like a Taser. And nothing like five-thousand volts of electricity to get your undivided attention."
I had to agree with Mindy's stepson, Aaron, when he proclaims: "I like being Jewish. You guys really know how to party." To which Mindy, ever the wit, replies: "Next to suffering, it's what we do best."
Very well done. I look forward to reading Saralee Rosenberg's other books--including one mentioned in this story, Claire Voyant--particularly when I feel the need to smile.
April 23, 2011
This book was not at all as it seemed. Sure, it was chick-mom-lit and sure it was pretty funny and sure it went fast. But it also had a more depth than I expected, and actually made me cry a couple of times. I'll admit I was as shocked as you are.
You don't usually see a lot of depth of character in a book like this, nor real personal growth. Usually the main character just loses weight and gets the guy. In this case, you get crazy, hateful neighbor antics. But also some things you'd never expect (at least I didn't), a lot of twists and turns, and two relationships that were ... rather deep and heartwarming. Without giving away too much, I loved the relationship between Mindy and Aaron - that was probably the best part of the book to watch unfold.
It did seem like some of the Aaron stuff was glossed over pretty easily -- the clown thing, especially -- it didn't need to be in there if it wasn't going to be "handled" better. But overall, this was both hilarious and surprisingly deeper than I ever would have expected.
Last, I need to note that this was not edited well - I don't blame the author for it - I fully blame the editor, and in fact I went to the author's website and volunteered to edit her next book myself. I noted some of the most egregious problems here on Typoze.com. My personal favorite? "dog and Sony show". LOL!
You don't usually see a lot of depth of character in a book like this, nor real personal growth. Usually the main character just loses weight and gets the guy. In this case, you get crazy, hateful neighbor antics. But also some things you'd never expect (at least I didn't), a lot of twists and turns, and two relationships that were ... rather deep and heartwarming. Without giving away too much, I loved the relationship between Mindy and Aaron - that was probably the best part of the book to watch unfold.
It did seem like some of the Aaron stuff was glossed over pretty easily -- the clown thing, especially -- it didn't need to be in there if it wasn't going to be "handled" better. But overall, this was both hilarious and surprisingly deeper than I ever would have expected.
Last, I need to note that this was not edited well - I don't blame the author for it - I fully blame the editor, and in fact I went to the author's website and volunteered to edit her next book myself. I noted some of the most egregious problems here on Typoze.com. My personal favorite? "dog and Sony show". LOL!
November 24, 2008
This book is very funny and a little over the top. I thought that it was becoming a repetitive joke in the middle, but then the plot picked up and redeem itself. Good escape for a few hours.
February 6, 2009
Occasionally funny, but mostly overambitious in how many different plots the author tried to weave into one novel.
August 15, 2008
I may be one of the few people who did NOT pick up DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD because of the title! I picked it because of the A+ at the bottom right corner of the book, thinking it was like the Oprah stamp of approval... As I started reading, I felt like a ring-side spectator at a boxing match and couldn’t relate. I get along with my neighbors and it was hard to imagine why Mindy would take so much abuse from Beth. But soon fiction and real life intersected for me in the scene where Mindy is lost on a highway and thinks about her late father. When we are lost in life, there is no GPS. We have to dig down and find our own inner direction and notice things we have ignored. Mindy realized she had to get lost in order for her to find a better road and direction for her life. Saralee Rosenberg is a beautiful weaver of words, threading so many strands with humor and pain; love and hate, life and death; indulgence and sacrifice, creating a beautiful tapestry of what real life, blemishes and all, needs to truly reflect. Tears of sadness and joy are shed in the reading of this book, and in the end one realizes in life you need both. Ok.. so this book wasn't on Oprah’s list (yet), but it gets my 5-star rating. Buckle up and enjoy the ride… it is LIFE!
July 31, 2008
DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD is Saralee Rosenberg’s best book yet. The title of this book is what immediately drew me in, and the characters are what kept me reading. Even though I’m not a mother, and I don’t have any insane neighbors, I felt like I could really relate to Mindy, Beth, and their troubled families. The rivalry between the two neighbors is hilarious, and filled with vicious insults that I can’t wait to try out in real life (just kidding!). On a deeper level, a lot of the sentiments expressed by Saralee are really heartfelt, including a subplot about the Holocaust that really put the petty problems we complain about everyday into perspective. When I wasn’t laughing, I was crying, and when I wasn’t crying, I was frantically turning pages to find out what was going to happen next. This is book has everything, and it was pure entertainment from beginning to end. Anyone who is looking for an amazing book to read should run to their nearest bookstore and buy this book immediately!
August 15, 2010
This is a very funny, yet poignant book about family and neighborhood relationships. The setting is Long Island, and the families are suburban Jewish middle class people similar to those with whom I grew up, which is the main reason that I was attracted to this book. The main plot deals with the love/hate relationship between 2 women, Beth Diamond and Mindy Sherman. Mindy always feels that she is struggling to keep up with her seemingly perfect neighbor in terms of household abilities, raising children, appearances..Beth is outwardly perfect with perfect husband, children, house and body! Yet as the reader gets to know the two women, it is apparent that no one is perfect, and that they are more alike than different. At first, the book seemed very superficial and it was difficult to really get to know the characters. Soon, however, I was pulled into the story of each family, and realized that not only was it the story of the relationship between the two women, but also concerned the dynamics within each family. Great read with just enough humor and emotion to make it satisfying!
November 16, 2010
Within the first few pages (clicks) of this book, my initial impression was that Mindy and Beth were far too mean to each other for this to be realistic fiction. But I have neighbors who have said worse and done worse. In fact, I began to wonder if Rosenberg has somehow been able to observe the decade long feud between two of my neighbors who live next door to each and have daughters the same age.
My neighbors' feud began over an incident on a playset when the girls were two years old and has slowly but surely progressed into something very ugly -- making block parties or even an afternoon at our pool an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. Like Beth, my neighbor women have said horrible things about (and to!) each other's daughters.
Which brings me to my main problem with this boook -- I just don't see how any mother could come back from that. Beth was far too hurtful toward Mindy's daughers for them to become friends.
The way Rosenberg allowed characters to sweep stuff under the carpet (Aaron and the clowns, for one example) just didn't work for me.
My neighbors' feud began over an incident on a playset when the girls were two years old and has slowly but surely progressed into something very ugly -- making block parties or even an afternoon at our pool an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. Like Beth, my neighbor women have said horrible things about (and to!) each other's daughters.
Which brings me to my main problem with this boook -- I just don't see how any mother could come back from that. Beth was far too hurtful toward Mindy's daughers for them to become friends.
The way Rosenberg allowed characters to sweep stuff under the carpet (Aaron and the clowns, for one example) just didn't work for me.
January 9, 2014
We've all experienced that neighbor that just gets under the skin and annoys the crap out of you. Mindy Sherman has one of those, the seemingly perfect Beth. While Mindy runs around trying desperately to balance home, family, job, etc., Beth glides through life in her perfect world. But when that world begins to collapse, Mindy realizes how much she really does have.
At first, the idea of reading about Long Island housewives seemed like something I would have little interest in. But Mindy was so real, so funny, I wanted to meet her for coffee so that we could complain about our lives together.
I had never read anything by Saralee Rosenberg before, but as soon as I finished, I sought out another book by her.
A funny and extemely enjoyable read.
At first, the idea of reading about Long Island housewives seemed like something I would have little interest in. But Mindy was so real, so funny, I wanted to meet her for coffee so that we could complain about our lives together.
I had never read anything by Saralee Rosenberg before, but as soon as I finished, I sought out another book by her.
A funny and extemely enjoyable read.
August 29, 2008
After saying " I am taking a break from Chick Lit books", I picked this one up at the library. So it was not the best literature on the market, but it was a very funny book that I could relate to. There were several important lessons in the story including the ways in which we see the people around us. (I will say no more incase somebody else wants to read it!!) It was a very fast read. Overall, I liked the book.
September 15, 2008
I picked up this book in an effort to cure my boredom. While it was a fast, cute read it felt as if there were several books that had been smashed into one. If you're looking for a brainess chit-lit read: go for it. However, if you're looking for something mind-turning: this is not the book for you.
December 21, 2010
I found this in the $1 book bin at the library and bought it just to have something to read while waiting at the airport. It was worth what I paid for it. Parts of the book were really funny. But nothing in it really touched me. I think with a little more precision this could have been an amazing story.
March 2, 2009
A very easy, quick read. At first it seemed to start a bit slow, but then picked up. I enjoyed it, and made me laugh often. A book that many people can relate to because there is always at least one neighbor that you despise.
If you want an easy no-nonsense book....this is a must.
If you want an easy no-nonsense book....this is a must.
November 24, 2008
This is not typical chick lit, and I enjoyed it. It’s deeper than a fluffy neighbor feud. Mindy was real feisty character, who saw that appearances didn’t matter and are often decieving. Also, there’s a neat family connection between Beth and Mindy. And a few surprises along the way.
January 13, 2009
This was really inspiring chick lit about two families, how their lives intersect, how they learn from each other and become better people in the process. A seriously cute fantasy but well worth reading!
Read
September 10, 2010I thought this would be Desperate Housewives in a novel form. I was way off. I couldn't relate or connect to anything, the plot needed much more focus, and there were an astonishing number of typos.
December 12, 2008
good metro read!
Read
December 30, 2008okay, very fun, very silly at times, but just an enjoyable light read..especially if you live in Merrick
Read
February 15, 2009I love this author!
March 24, 2009
A fun, fast-paced read about sparring neighbors and a whole lot more.
March 10, 2010
My husband saw this book at the library and thought I might like it. Sorry sweetie just was not for me. It is sorta a mix between desperate housewives and an after school special.
January 7, 2014
This book was all over the place. The plot and character dialogue was very choppy, left a lot to be desired.
August 26, 2017
Though my kids are now grown, I'm a Long Island suburban mom like Mindy, the protagonist in this book. Here's my real life advice to Mindy:
Set some limits on your in-laws, neighbors, and your bratty kids. Don't carpool--just drive your own kids to school every day (BTW, teenagers CAN walk a mile, and they CAN learn to use a Metrocard.) Texting from school? Are you serious??? Your kids don't have to go to everybody's Bat Mitzvah, and they don't get to dictate the unaffordable details of their own Bat Mitzvahs. Let your phone calls go to voicemail, and return calls to people you actually want to speak to. Continue to work--but not for your father-in-law. Get some real friends, instead of annoying leeches you refer to as "friends." Learn to say "No," and stop acting like a doormat. How's that?
Well, now you don't have to read this book. I read 176 tedious pages, and I'm not willing to invest in another 143. Why? As Bruce Lee said, "If you love life, don't waste time, because time is what life is made of."
Set some limits on your in-laws, neighbors, and your bratty kids. Don't carpool--just drive your own kids to school every day (BTW, teenagers CAN walk a mile, and they CAN learn to use a Metrocard.) Texting from school? Are you serious??? Your kids don't have to go to everybody's Bat Mitzvah, and they don't get to dictate the unaffordable details of their own Bat Mitzvahs. Let your phone calls go to voicemail, and return calls to people you actually want to speak to. Continue to work--but not for your father-in-law. Get some real friends, instead of annoying leeches you refer to as "friends." Learn to say "No," and stop acting like a doormat. How's that?
Well, now you don't have to read this book. I read 176 tedious pages, and I'm not willing to invest in another 143. Why? As Bruce Lee said, "If you love life, don't waste time, because time is what life is made of."
April 6, 2020
2 1/2 stars. This started out very disjointed and not making a lot of sense. I almost put it down and forgot it but, since we’re in a pandemic and my pile of unread books is shrinking, I kept going. It eventually made more sense and I knew what was happening to who and turned out to be an okay book. Nothing I’ll remember or recommend but it passed a little time.
July 3, 2021
Very entertaining quick beach read! Also gives the lesson we all know but don't follow... knowledge changes perception. The grass is not always greener on someone else's lawn and don't compare your everyday to someone else's highlight reel.
November 21, 2017
a good read. it was funny in parts
March 12, 2018
Beach book in Aruba. No substance, total satire but fine for the beach.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews