Life on the Ramona Coaster

by Ramona Singer

A candid, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the emotional, dynamic and often entertaining life of Ramona Singer, the spunky, tell-it-like-it-is reality star whose unfiltered personality viewers have adored through seven seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City.In this alternately heart-wrenching and hilarious memoir, Ramona offers readers a look at her dysfunctional childhood, her parents’ abusive relationship, her inspiring journey of renewal, and opens up for the first time about the events surrounding the tragic collapse of her twenty-year marriage. Never before have her fans seen her so raw, introspective and honest.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography, Celebrity, Biography Memoir

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2015

Reviews

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and entertaining read but wow, what an unlikable woman. Writing this book did her character/image NO favors in my book! The way she put her daughter in the middle of the divorce while claiming she was trying to protect her was disgusting. And her daughter's letter to her father was disturbing and so inappropriate on a few levels. Sad.

Ramona is a very shallow, self-absorbed woman. It truly DOES go to show you that "money don't buy you class" as her declasse' royal friend likes to say.

I did feel compassion for her as far as her miserable childhood was concerned. It explains a lot about her.

I did wonder how with all her money, she couldn't have hired a better editor though. The book was very repetitive (padding going on I suspect) and had some glaring grammatical errors...too many late nights drinking Pinot with the editor perhaps?

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have to say I was surprised how much I loved it, since I find that the average amazon review is usually accurate. I honestly thought Ramona revealed A LOT of personal information about her parents, her marriage, the show, and her faith and religion. There are some spelling errors and the writing is elementary…but were not reading it for great writing, were reading it because we like Ramona and want to learn more about her. I believe she discloses a lot! She shares personal stories and anecdotes, and she weaves it into what feels like a cohesive sense of her childhood into her adult life. Now, its not a 400 page biography, but she doesn't owe us that. She lets us in to her world a lot, in my opinion. She talked about personal things that Mario has said to her, personal times they tried to work on their marriage, she gives us a lot of pictures…I give her a lot of credit! She did a great job. It's a short read, I read it in one night. Enjoy!

[Jamie Buckley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I expected more, but damn, this book was horrible.

[Tari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read Ramona Singer's book, which was not a difficult read but was not exactly well-written or deep either. Reading a book where I don't care for the person writing it is often an interesting personal journey. Ramona is a very self-absorbed, spoiled, rude, demanding, and insensitive woman that believes the world revolves around her. I was curious if her writing would expose another layer. It did not.

Things I thought would be in the book were not at all while other items were. It is difficult to separate the book from the show as Ramona was recanting and explaining her (poor) behavior from prior episodes in the book as if they are one in the same. One of my guilty pleasures is the Real Housewives franchise and I enjoyed this last season on RHONY as cast member Bethenny Frankel called Ramona on some of her antics and lies. Bethenny coined her "the Apologizer" as her superpower name for her infamous "in all sincerity" apologies and called her out for actually stealing dresses from Bethenny's talk show and then continually lying about it (dress fell out of the car, you gave it to me, etc - lol) yet turned up in later in Instagram pics worn by Ramona. Ramona laughed all this off acting coy and cute.

Ramona spent a fair amount of the book promoting herself, all HER multiple successful businesses and how successful SHE IS while her husband's one business was not successful but failing. She was very clear on where the money came from to buy her houses - I almost felt like she was presenting her case for splitting assets rather than writing a book. As for Mario...what the heck is his business? Was it the True Religion brand?? A bit confusing especially since I always felt she acted like True Religion was hers? I can see why he felt like a shadow next to Ramona as she sucks all the air out of the room. Ramona says she came on the Housewives to promote Mario's business yet hers thrived and his failed. Interesting.

Ramona had a difficult childhood that she spent most of her life not acknowledging or talking about. She wanted her dad's affection and love even though he was extremely abusive to her mother. He did loan her $75,000 money without question that started her successful solo career although she resented paying him interest.

If one has not watched the show (or has a poor memory) the chapters in the book where she refers to incident after incident that occurred on the Real Housewives of New York will make no sense as there is no context. I (watched the show and) found it to be odd that she was AGAIN defending her behavior about things most likely forgotten by the audience (or do we care?). It seemed misplaced and as if she went down a list of things she wanted to go over again to make sure we "got it" her way. One gets the sense Ramona likes to be right!

Further, she left out glaring incidents where her temper and behavior was totally inappropriate such as throwing a glass (hard plastic, yes) at castmate Kristin Taekman and cutting her lip open (second incident at Kristin). Interesting that she never mentioned her outbursts of anger in the book? Or how this started to define her perhaps? Leaving these incidents out is telling of what matters to Ramona.

While Ramona's explained the collapse of her marriage it just seemed devoid of true feelings. There were huge blanks as if she threw together the last part of the book and needed to add the marriage part to submit it to her publisher. I thought how she involved her daughter Avery in her marriage problems was not Ramona's best parenting moment. Perhaps her own childhood damage is showing up in this area.

This book did not enhance my opinion of Ramona instead I feel that she is as she wrote. A shallow woman who has managed to push and shove her way around. Some of the Housewives I would enjoy having a cup of tea with and getting to know - Ramona would not be on that list.

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find Romana to be one of the more unlikeable characters in the Housewives franchise. Her book did nothing to change my opinion. The vapid superficial role she plays on RHNY seems to actually be an accurate portrayal of who she is. This book is full of thinly veiled advertisements for her plastic surgeon and her own products. There is no depth to her retelling of traumatic experiences like the abuse she witnessed in her childhood home or her husband's infidelity. Worse yet she frames her atrocious behavior in a way that you know she actually believes the delusions she tries to sell us. Making your daughter beg your husband to promise he hasn't cheated on "them" when you know he has... And then actually believing that she didn't put her in the middle of her marital problems. Aaah! This woman should've invested her time in a therapist who would have slapped some sense into her and told her she's an entitled brat.

And get a real editor. This thing is full of errors.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are women who touch a nerve in the cultural zeitgeist....Oprah, Princess Di, Hillary, Madonna...and, with this title, Ramona Singer joins them. In this memoir she exposes her past, her present, and most importantly, her future. She is a fashion icon (her start was buying fashion remainders), a sexagenarian beauty (wear SPF and yes, if you must know, she did get her boobs done!), a philanthropist (she went on a safari for 14 days in Africa to tour schools for a charity), and a RHONY. And I haven't mentioned her being a businesswoman--of course I knew about True Faith jewelry and the Ramona Pinot Grigio, but there is also a PINOT NOIR...what?? All I can say is that I bought a ticket to ride the Ramona Coaster and I ain't getting off.

[Chenice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very disappointed with the quality and content of this book. As a fan of Ramona's, and the RHONY franchise, I expected this book to be rife with quality and class. It isn't.

The book is poorly written, extremely repetitive, and is constantly "recommending" favourite restaurants, designers etc.

While I sympathize with Ramona for her abusive childhood, unfaithful husband, and the difficult crossroads her life has become- this book appears to be a rushed attempt at having her say before the press does.

[Karen Giroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I’ll settle for is MORE!

[michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of thoughts on Housewives memoirs as a genre but I’m too tired to get into it all right now… this book is very much classic Ramona though. A few wildly offensive anecdotes, surprising moments of vulnerability, several typos the editors somehow missed. Kudos to the ghostwriter for trying to capture her truly inimitable voice

[Gyinndolyn Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.

I was never a fan of hers...but this side and her being raw and humble. Also learning about her life, education, business sense. I have respect for you Ramona...OWN IT BABY!!!

[Cassandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. Remember the letters we would write in middle and high school?. It feels like one long letter and not an interesting one.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, mindless reading!

[my.bookshelf.87]

Ramona Singer (Real Housewives Of New York City) is someone I couldn't bear to watch at the beginning of the series but she ended up being one of my favourite housewives. Why? She tells it like it is, speaks her mind and is funny too.

This was a quick and easy read about Ramona's life, with details of the relationship with her abusive father and other experiences, which accounts for why she is who she is today. I could hear it being read in her New York accent throughout! Lots of photographs, too.

[Leonel · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://leonelescota.wordpress.com/20...

I like Ramona Singer on "The Real Housewives Of New York." She is crass and insufferable, but boy you cannot deny she is entertaining. So I was curious to read her book "Life On the Ramona Coaster," and it's such a flat read that I am thankful it is so short that I did not feel like I wasted a lot of time on reading it. She repeatedly says - I use the verb "say" as I know she didn't really "write" this - that she joined the reality show to promote her business ventures, and no doubt she feels the same way about writing this book. There isn't an authentic emotion here - all brand dropping and manufactured anecdotes. Even when she gets serious - like talking about her father's abusive episodes or the breakup of her marriage - I felt like she was holding back. To write more would be to waste more time on this book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. It is a small book with no substance, much like Ramona Singer, herself.

I watch the show all the time and thought it would be an interesting read, but it wasn't. Ramona was as self absorbed in the book as she is in real life.... So I guess in this case.... It really is Reality.

Lots of poor me stories... Lots of bragging... Lots of bratty comments about other Housewives.... But really nothing more than what you already know about Ramona. She is a narcissist. A very big one.

I actually had to buy this book from a second hand book seller just to find a copy. I see why now. I am just hoping I can sell it and get some of my money back.

Love the RHWNY..... Don't love Ramona Singer as a writer.... It is like the Countess as a singer..... Auto Tuned to the max to make her look and sound better than she really is.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is by Ramona Singer, one of the original Real Housewives of New York. I have to say I was impressed reading about her life. She is a very good business woman. She had earned over a million dollars before she was married. She adores her only child, Avery. She often opens her mouth and inserts her foot but she is quick to apologize and doesn't hold a grudge. After reading about the breakup of her marriage and how much she loved and still loves her ex-husband, Mario, I admire her determination to go on. This is a very quick read. I've read some of the other "housewives" books too. I would say this was one of the best.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love her or Hate her, Ramona pulls no punches. But as she says, she's "a work in progress" and "life is about learning." I was impressed that Ramona seemed to be insightful and forthcoming about her weaknesses-not blame shifting like so many people tend to do when recounting life tales. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a "deep read" but you do meet a more sharp and intelligent Ramona, not the wishy-washy one of TV. It's a fun ride on the RamonaCoaster!

[Lily OnTheLam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will thoroughly admit that Ramona Singer is not my favorite on Real Housewives of New York but when she wrote a book I was curious as to how open she would be about her life story and the sad dissolution of her marriage. The book was a very fast read, but seemed open and genuine without sugar-coating the sad parts. I have more respect for her after reading her book.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was like walking in the shoes of a delusional individual. It was poorly written and came across really fake. Not to mention every 2 pages there were at least 3 typos/missing words. One of the worst bios I've read in a while

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well.. she is not my favorite, but I did want to read what she had to say.. pretty well written, short... interesting.. very sad childhood, which seems to explain much of her behavior with the emotional abuse she witnessed by her father..

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow she is vain, vapid, materialistic and just plain annoying!

[Vannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can someone claim to have an income in the top 1%, but still can't pay someone to proofread your book? The mistakes were obvious and annoying!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very amazing autobiography. Ramona is a very amazing and ambitious woman of our times.

[Elizabeth Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read it. I love Ramona so likely that’s why I enjoyed the book.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a newborn and have been seeking things to read that don’t require a lot of mental energy. I swung too far in the other direction here.

[Isabella M · Rating 1 out of 5]

“ Sometimes, in life and in business, you just have to go for it.”

“Alex opens her mouth to speak and I hear a grating, Australian accent. Although I may have had one too many cocktails, I know that voice doesn’t belong to Alex. Suddenly, Simon is standing up and talking to me. He drones on, and on, and on. I’m not even listening to the words coming out of his mouth.”

“That was my first experience of how being on a reality show can bite you in the ass and get you into trouble. ”

“Inviting Jill meant I had to expand my guest list to the point that it wasn’t going to be an intimate gathering any more, so I ended up having two parties just so I wouldn’t hurt her feelings.”

“Now I can see that a big part of why I reacted so negatively to them was in part because they were from Brooklyn.”

“What is a friend? A friend is someone who is there for you through the good, the bad, and the ugly, someone who allows you to express yourself, and someone who forgives you for your mistakes. No one is perfect. I know I still have a lot of growing to do, but I am trying. I am a very emotional person. I’m Ramotional. There is nothing wishy-washy about me. I am very passionate. There are no grey areas with me. I am an extremist. I argue hard and I make up harder. I ignite quickly, but when a disagreement is over, it’s over. I do not hold grudges because life is too short.”

“ Meanwhile, my name was becoming synonymous with Pinot Grigio. Like Popeye with spinach.”

“You rarely see Jill drinking on the show and I’ve heard that the reason for this is that she has had problems with substance abuse in the past. I have always respected her privacy, so for her to publicly accuse of me of having a drinking problem, which is not true, was very upsetting to me.”

“I think she just couldn’t be supportive. I call it Jillousy.”

“ I was in the huge walk-in closet and when I walked back into the room, one of Aviva’s prosthetic legs was on the side table. I freaked out for a second because I thought someone had been murdered and dismembered. It was a very jarring experience.”

“On top of all that I was raising my daughter, helping her get into college, running two homes, doing charitable work, and being social.”

What a Ramonacoaster.

[CHERYL A. CATANZANO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sounds like Ramona is talking directly to the reader

I started binge watching RHONY during quarantine and I loved the show. Ramona is THE nucleus of that franchise, in my opinion. I admire the success she has become on her own and also see she is a complicated character.

It was a quick read and written in her own unique tone and from the heart. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to any RHONY fans. The reason for 4 stars is I think the end when she discusses her marriage and ultimate divorce from Mario, there was a lot of repetition in her reasoning and I found myself skipping a little.

All in all an enjoyable read!

[Danielle Dalessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all of the RHONY fans out there, this is a must read! Let’s face it, Ramona is an OG, and a Bravo TV icon! When reading this book, I admired how much she shared about her troubled childhood and divorce. It made me feel so sorry for her, and I must say…she is a true fighter with lots of faith. Her strength is just beyond inspiring. It goes to show you that we are ALL human; famous or not famous. Yes, she may be wealthy, but she went through hell AND she worked her butt off to get where she is today. People may say she’s rude or too outspoken, but I find her real…and that’s why I loved her book! She was her authentic, true self! Well done, Ramona Singer!👏🏼

[Ben Cela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramona Singer's memoir is a mixed bag. On on hand, you get juicy details about pivotal RHONY scenes and sly remarks from Ramona about her castmates. Sometimes, she doesn't realize she's being shady, much like how she is on the show, and that's where RHONY fans will realize that she isn't putting on a character for TV. There are also a few times Ramona gives insight into her personal life that better explains who she is as a person. On the other hand, Ramona is a pretty self-involved person and it shows in this book. For a 200 page memoir, she has a tendency to ramble and be redundant, often oversharing on stories that aren't that memorable, making the memoir feel longer than it is.

[meejieweegie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ramona is a vile housewife but this book is brilliant because i am genuinely convinced that ramona just sat down, typed this out on word in one go, and called it a day - and that is how memoirs SHOULD be. what use do i have for perfectly polished ghost written recollections, i want memoirs that sound like they've been dictated into the void after three glasses of pinot grigio!!

ramona if you record an audiobook for this i will take back every unkind thing i've ever said about you, ramona, im begging u PLEASE

9/10

it is literally diabolical to publish a letter your daughter wrote to her father about cheating on you - INSANE and i am eating it up thank u ramona