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Room For Improvement
Stacey Ballis tackles home improvement and reality TV--and reminds us that sometimes life and love are better left unscripted...
What do you get when you give two hopeful singles fashion consultants and interior designers, allow them four days to perk up each other's homes and get a total style overhaul, then let their single friends celebrate the results at a fabulous party? You get Swap/Meet, the newest reality show on the network block, where major changes are either embraced or embarrassing--and Lily Allen's dream job turned nightmare.
At first, Lily was thrilled to appear on Swap/Meet. What better way for a Chicago interior designer to promote her business and enjoy some pseudo-celebrity? She just didn't think she'd be doing take after take with the ditzy host, dodging sabotage attempts, and getting caught in the middle of the fashion czars' lovers' spat. Plus, the cute, curmudgeonly carpenter on her team knows just how to push her buttons. Episode by episode, through do-it-yourself disasters and matchmaking miracles, Lily discovers that a little bit of controlled chaos is the spice of life--and love...
What do you get when you give two hopeful singles fashion consultants and interior designers, allow them four days to perk up each other's homes and get a total style overhaul, then let their single friends celebrate the results at a fabulous party? You get Swap/Meet, the newest reality show on the network block, where major changes are either embraced or embarrassing--and Lily Allen's dream job turned nightmare.
At first, Lily was thrilled to appear on Swap/Meet. What better way for a Chicago interior designer to promote her business and enjoy some pseudo-celebrity? She just didn't think she'd be doing take after take with the ditzy host, dodging sabotage attempts, and getting caught in the middle of the fashion czars' lovers' spat. Plus, the cute, curmudgeonly carpenter on her team knows just how to push her buttons. Episode by episode, through do-it-yourself disasters and matchmaking miracles, Lily discovers that a little bit of controlled chaos is the spice of life--and love...
294 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2006
23 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
March 14, 2008
This book is based on a reality show concept, which is pretty cool. And of course, love is at the center of the plot. However, the plot doesn't seem to be as cohesive as it could be. And there was this one thing that the author did that drove me NUTS! She overused alliteration. At first I thought it was a one time thing, but she did it at least a dozen times. And it was so out of place. It usually was what the main character was thinking and who would think that way? Here's an example of the crazy alliteration: She's discreetly limping from the disappointing discomfort of the ankle disfigurement which occurred between the disgorging of ants from the floor and the disentanglement of the three of us atop the coffee table. But she'll heal; it's just slightly discolored. And here's another one: I'd hate to appear indecorous while inadequately intoning the insupportable invisibility of my best friends in my time of injustice just because I may have inadvertently been insensitive. At first I thought it was a fluke, but then they kept coming a lot more near the end of the book. Very annoying and not at all with the rest of the tone of the book.
January 2, 2020
Fun, flirty and flighty. Plenty of laugh out loud humour. This is a very entertaining read for those in need of a bit of serious fiction relief. I enjoyed the authenticity of the main characters and the wide range of personalities portrayed, as well as the basic plot premise for the story.
The casual descriptions of the sexual adventures of our main character were occasionally a little much for this home town girl, as were the frequency of the F word used....I’m always a fan of authors using a variety of descriptive words in their writing. Repetition can become more than a little bland and tedious. Aside from these hitches, I did enjoy the book and the escapism it allowed me when traveling in confined conditions with my very loved, mostly exuberant extroverted family during the Christmas/New Years’ period. For a mature audience.
The casual descriptions of the sexual adventures of our main character were occasionally a little much for this home town girl, as were the frequency of the F word used....I’m always a fan of authors using a variety of descriptive words in their writing. Repetition can become more than a little bland and tedious. Aside from these hitches, I did enjoy the book and the escapism it allowed me when traveling in confined conditions with my very loved, mostly exuberant extroverted family during the Christmas/New Years’ period. For a mature audience.
July 2, 2017
2.5 stars
I enjoyed this as a quick chicklit read but I didn't end up loving it. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. They all seemed like tropes. I also didn't particularly like any of the relationships; didn't dislike them either though. I did think the friendships were lacking. The plot was fun. A few of Lily's rules were fun and gave good insight to her character. I enjoyed the "trading spaces" meets dating show aspect; thought it was original despite these things existing relevantly in pop culture. Despite the grounded ideas, and normal people characters; none felt real. I enjoyed this for what it was, not as much as I would have liked but it was a good read.
I enjoyed this as a quick chicklit read but I didn't end up loving it. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. They all seemed like tropes. I also didn't particularly like any of the relationships; didn't dislike them either though. I did think the friendships were lacking. The plot was fun. A few of Lily's rules were fun and gave good insight to her character. I enjoyed the "trading spaces" meets dating show aspect; thought it was original despite these things existing relevantly in pop culture. Despite the grounded ideas, and normal people characters; none felt real. I enjoyed this for what it was, not as much as I would have liked but it was a good read.
not-going-to-finish
January 28, 2019Sounded promising but lacks a cohesive plot. Too boring and disjointed to bother finishing.
December 31, 2008
Very interesting, highly entertaining, and surprisingly graphic. I realized as I got into it that she was treating the reader like a new friend. In the beginning, it wasn't too specific, but as we got to know one another more and more, she felt freer to share more and increasingly graphic details. Odd, that.
This writer had me laughing out loud on the plane from DIA to ORD. She's really, really funny and I'll probably look for another book by her. . . .hoping it's not quite as trashy.
Some of the things that made me laugh:
"I drop my purse on the kitchen island, sit on the ottoman to pull off my boots, and shimmy out of my skirt and tights on my way to the bathroom. I pee for at least forty-six minutes, brush my teeth, pull off my sweater and bra, and get into my delicious bed."
regarding the assembly of a small bookshelf unit from IKEA:
"... the electric combination of Birdie's slightly below-par intelligence, Ken's general ineptness [shouldn't that be "ineptitude"?], and the fact that he is staring so intently at Birdie's chest that Bob the Director has to stop filming twice to get him to look up, it's an unmitigated disaster."
About the frequently-botoxed Ashleigh:
"... and much to the chagrin of Ashleigh, who was in the seat opposite glaring as best as she could without benefit of mobile eyebrows."
on Hillary's lecture:
"Let's recap, shall we? So far this 'adventure' has included some bonding with Mom, a guest appearance on a prank show, a fling with a movie star, a one-night stand with your producer, and now you'll be doing work with a former drunken booty-call boy! I'd say that was the kind of adventure usually reserved for the anorexic party children of the ancestrally wealthy."
("the anorexic party children of the ancestrally wealthy"?! seriously, is that brilliant writing or what?!)
Having lived in the Chicago area for 12 years, I loved all the familiar references, especially going to Schaumburg to the IKEA. I remember before it was there, and I miss it, now that I live in a land-locked area that doesn't have one.
Fun book, and perfect for a plane ride.
This writer had me laughing out loud on the plane from DIA to ORD. She's really, really funny and I'll probably look for another book by her. . . .hoping it's not quite as trashy.
Some of the things that made me laugh:
"I drop my purse on the kitchen island, sit on the ottoman to pull off my boots, and shimmy out of my skirt and tights on my way to the bathroom. I pee for at least forty-six minutes, brush my teeth, pull off my sweater and bra, and get into my delicious bed."
regarding the assembly of a small bookshelf unit from IKEA:
"... the electric combination of Birdie's slightly below-par intelligence, Ken's general ineptness [shouldn't that be "ineptitude"?], and the fact that he is staring so intently at Birdie's chest that Bob the Director has to stop filming twice to get him to look up, it's an unmitigated disaster."
About the frequently-botoxed Ashleigh:
"... and much to the chagrin of Ashleigh, who was in the seat opposite glaring as best as she could without benefit of mobile eyebrows."
on Hillary's lecture:
"Let's recap, shall we? So far this 'adventure' has included some bonding with Mom, a guest appearance on a prank show, a fling with a movie star, a one-night stand with your producer, and now you'll be doing work with a former drunken booty-call boy! I'd say that was the kind of adventure usually reserved for the anorexic party children of the ancestrally wealthy."
("the anorexic party children of the ancestrally wealthy"?! seriously, is that brilliant writing or what?!)
Having lived in the Chicago area for 12 years, I loved all the familiar references, especially going to Schaumburg to the IKEA. I remember before it was there, and I miss it, now that I live in a land-locked area that doesn't have one.
Fun book, and perfect for a plane ride.
October 5, 2012
Where to start....The concept for this story was so great and fun, having the lead character Lily get a job as a designer on a Trading Spaces type show. The book sparkled when it described the behind the scenes of the shoots, and had me waxing nostalgic for the early days of that show....To this day I give that show credit for inspiring my frequent home decorating endeavors. The tone of the book is light and happy, and clearly the author seems to be cheerful spirit. My problems with the book were the crass and vulgar personality of the lead character Lily. I'm no prude, I promise you, but the use of the c-word(!!!) was just too much. And the f-bomb? Conservative estimate of usage? At least 70 times....in a 295 page book! I also had to hear about her, well, flatulence for a whole chapter, and I can see getting carried away and sleeping with a hottie you hardly know once, but this was a way of life for this chick. I also couldn't quite find it realistic that all these McDreamies were so interested in her. The friendship between the 3 girls (Lily and her 2 childhood best friends) was somehow grating as well. Also who she ended up with at the end? Really? A super cute concept in need of some trash word editing, and a real romantic male lead that actually , ya know makes you kind of sigh....just a little.
January 22, 2014
Simply terrible. Annoying alliteration that distracts you from what the sentences are saying because you're trying to decipher the language, annoying characters that you can't imagine how they work together, and annoying language. Cursing at your "friends" all the time is not cool. And can the character Bob say anything that isn't bookended with "really, with the ..., really?" The narrator is crass and slutty, and honestly, I wasn't rooting for her. None of the characters seemed fully developed. I can't believe this was a published book,and not jut a free download in the iBooks store. Very disappointing.
Also, how can every guy she meets be the most gorgeous man she's ever seen? She keeps complaining how no one wants her, yet she's sleeping with all these gorgeous men. And, then, she has the audacity to say how she doesn't see how two (minor) characters can be together because the female is gorgeous and the male is "average," even though she constantly puts herself down...
Also, how can every guy she meets be the most gorgeous man she's ever seen? She keeps complaining how no one wants her, yet she's sleeping with all these gorgeous men. And, then, she has the audacity to say how she doesn't see how two (minor) characters can be together because the female is gorgeous and the male is "average," even though she constantly puts herself down...
May 19, 2024
A quirky, fun romp through the lens of Chicago interior designer Lily on her first TV DIY show- deadlines, producers, and coworker delights/challenges, while bringing to life her mad skills.
Sideshows of her personal life with her parents, mostly Mom; her 2 best friends since elementary school, and their very colorful adult conversations; along with their hilarious sexy dating escapades which feature running internal commentary and the de rigueur girlfriend feedback sessions, especially while working out together with their male personal trainer. Through this, Lily emotionally transitions from the supposed emotional safety of one-nighters and other inappropriate scenarios to what a grownup relationship not only looks like but feels like.
*****************
Yes, the alliteration was funny the first time, then distracting. I looked at it as an amusing way to boost my vocabulary. Quick, enjoyable read. Loved all of the interior design insights and the Chicago details!
Sideshows of her personal life with her parents, mostly Mom; her 2 best friends since elementary school, and their very colorful adult conversations; along with their hilarious sexy dating escapades which feature running internal commentary and the de rigueur girlfriend feedback sessions, especially while working out together with their male personal trainer. Through this, Lily emotionally transitions from the supposed emotional safety of one-nighters and other inappropriate scenarios to what a grownup relationship not only looks like but feels like.
*****************
Yes, the alliteration was funny the first time, then distracting. I looked at it as an amusing way to boost my vocabulary. Quick, enjoyable read. Loved all of the interior design insights and the Chicago details!
June 21, 2014
I had to finish this book in a day. And it was not a burden. I love (d) this book.
ok confession, I'm actually on page 400( which is really page 100) and then page 409 turns into 440.
Is there some kind of design/reality tv thing I'm missing here? Quick, get me Andy Cohen on line one, STAT!
I am throughly enjoying this juicy lil read in all of It's slutty, funny, gay friendly glory.
I do look forward to the ending, whatever page that may be on. And I definitely look forward to indulging in more Stacey Ballis.
highlight page 55,
Hillary doesn't make spontaneous decisions about sex. Ever. Her sex life is always thoughtfully calculated, always designed to provide maximum physical pleasure for minimum emotional involvement.
This thought originates from a 2am phone call from A lover's bathroom. A COS with a twist.
Hella funny.
ok confession, I'm actually on page 400( which is really page 100) and then page 409 turns into 440.
Is there some kind of design/reality tv thing I'm missing here? Quick, get me Andy Cohen on line one, STAT!
I am throughly enjoying this juicy lil read in all of It's slutty, funny, gay friendly glory.
I do look forward to the ending, whatever page that may be on. And I definitely look forward to indulging in more Stacey Ballis.
highlight page 55,
Hillary doesn't make spontaneous decisions about sex. Ever. Her sex life is always thoughtfully calculated, always designed to provide maximum physical pleasure for minimum emotional involvement.
This thought originates from a 2am phone call from A lover's bathroom. A COS with a twist.
Hella funny.
September 23, 2008
This book was a typical, melodramatic modern love-story with reality TV and some cute guys and pop culture references all thrown together. I probably wouldn't recommend it specifically to anyone because it's kind of a waste of time, but there's nothing wrong with it and it's fun enough to read. It's just not a great book either.
I have decided to come back and revise my review. For some reason this book stuck with me. I love to watch HGTV and this book has managed to improve that for me. It talks about a lot of behind-the-scenes happenings in the filming of improvement shows. I would love to read a book that did more of that, minus the silly love-story.
I have decided to come back and revise my review. For some reason this book stuck with me. I love to watch HGTV and this book has managed to improve that for me. It talks about a lot of behind-the-scenes happenings in the filming of improvement shows. I would love to read a book that did more of that, minus the silly love-story.
September 16, 2007
When the shows Trading Spaces and While You were Out began to aire on the TLC channel, I became obessed. The book is a fun look at a fictional behind the scenes DIY show. The main character is very lovable and enjoyable to read.
June 20, 2008
I would have to say this book is kinda hard to get into at first... it does get better, I promise! It's funny and a good read. And I think that Spinster Sisters (same author) was better, but this is still worth the read.
July 11, 2007
made me think of "trading spaces" the whole time i was reading this book. a good quick read.
February 9, 2008
Not my favorite of hers, but kept me entertained riding the bus home from work.
January 19, 2008
Great brainless reading. This book got me addicted to chick-let books. Stacey Ballis is a great writer! I enjoyed every page!
January 9, 2008
I love this book! I just couldn't put it down until I saw how it ended. Great read!
March 26, 2018
Pro: A look a a woman's life as a Television designer and her interactions with her friends.
Pro/con: This woman goes from guy to guy like mashed together episodes of Sex and the City. The guys don't really have much personality. They all wanted her. She enjoyed sex. Not sure why it's bad.
Con: The guy she ends up with was a one night stand that her friends kept telling her was the guy. I didn't really remember him from the first part of the book. Not exactly sure why he was here except to be: The guy.
There was a gay couple in the beginning that was highlighted. They started to see a couples therapist and we never heard from them again.
I saw her going out with her friends and then they complained that they weren't getting enough attention when she was making a career move. Friends?
Pro/con: This woman goes from guy to guy like mashed together episodes of Sex and the City. The guys don't really have much personality. They all wanted her. She enjoyed sex. Not sure why it's bad.
Con: The guy she ends up with was a one night stand that her friends kept telling her was the guy. I didn't really remember him from the first part of the book. Not exactly sure why he was here except to be: The guy.
There was a gay couple in the beginning that was highlighted. They started to see a couples therapist and we never heard from them again.
I saw her going out with her friends and then they complained that they weren't getting enough attention when she was making a career move. Friends?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2020
This wasn't my favorite Stacey Ballis, but this novel still made me snicker. What I DID like was the snark and wit and "genuine"-ness of the character. What I DIDN'T like was all the casual, casual sex on the part of the main character, Lily -- masturbation I don't mind reading about, but I thought the scene with drug use was unnecessary and un-classy.
The Stacey Ballis novels I prefer are about food and cooking... and while the setting of a home improvement/interior decorating reality TV show was fun to read about (at certain parts), the ending left me feeling a little let down and thinking that things were too neatly wrapped up. Not a HORRIBLE book, but not Stacey's best.
The Stacey Ballis novels I prefer are about food and cooking... and while the setting of a home improvement/interior decorating reality TV show was fun to read about (at certain parts), the ending left me feeling a little let down and thinking that things were too neatly wrapped up. Not a HORRIBLE book, but not Stacey's best.
July 11, 2021
ALRIGHT!
I was expecting more from this book. I did like getting it for half the original price. It was an alright read and the author does have more books so maybe I'll have better luck with another story.
I was expecting more from this book. I did like getting it for half the original price. It was an alright read and the author does have more books so maybe I'll have better luck with another story.
September 27, 2017
This book was ok, but I didn’t find it as enjoyable as Stacey Ballis’s other books. The character of Lily Allen was a little unbelievable. She had a charmed life with perfect friends and a dream job, yet she treats the people around her poorly. I enjoy interior design and HGTV enough that the descriptions of rooms were fun, but I think Ballis does a better job with her descriptions of food!
November 20, 2018
Entertaining and I'll have to check out other Ballis books based on the way this story unfolded. Really enjoyed.
January 12, 2020
3.5 rom-com chick lit. An easy enjoyable read for a pseudo snow day.
June 27, 2023
Cute, funny, light; an easy read.
Anyone else notice the alliterative paragraph that appeared every now and then? Don’t know what that was about. Felt out of place.
Anyone else notice the alliterative paragraph that appeared every now and then? Don’t know what that was about. Felt out of place.
August 30, 2008
DIY Television and Romance Together in One Great Book!
I enjoyed this book very much. It was unique to pair television interior decorating with a storyline human enough to keep the reader interested – job well done!
This is a fun tale of Lily Allen, thirty-something, single and size 14 with no shortage of love-interests – just as it should be! She has just gotten a great new job as a designer on a TV reality show called Swap/Meet, where two people get their rooms re-done and a personal makeover and then are paired up after the show to see if any romantic sparks develop.
Unfortunately, Lily’s love life is sketchy, at best. When the story begins, she’s making a hasty exit after having a-sex-on-the-first-date night with a guy that she doesn’t know very well – she’s embarrassed and ashamed and leaves, determined to never see him again, besides she knows she’s going to be very busy with the brand new show and her personal decorating business.
Before you know it, she’s discovering intimate details with her co-workers, but still not finding a relationship. Although casual sex is dangerous and not to be taken lightly, it was nice to see that this “bigger” girl was obviously very attractive and basically comfortable with her size. I also agree with another reviewer that the girl on the cover of the book could have matched Lily better, as the author mentions more than once that Lily has curly hair!
As the story continues, not only is the TV show a success, but Lily begins to really know herself and figures out why she’s been settling for those brief encounters. This was good chick lit and a fast read and definitely a unique look at “love and the single girl”.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was unique to pair television interior decorating with a storyline human enough to keep the reader interested – job well done!
This is a fun tale of Lily Allen, thirty-something, single and size 14 with no shortage of love-interests – just as it should be! She has just gotten a great new job as a designer on a TV reality show called Swap/Meet, where two people get their rooms re-done and a personal makeover and then are paired up after the show to see if any romantic sparks develop.
Unfortunately, Lily’s love life is sketchy, at best. When the story begins, she’s making a hasty exit after having a-sex-on-the-first-date night with a guy that she doesn’t know very well – she’s embarrassed and ashamed and leaves, determined to never see him again, besides she knows she’s going to be very busy with the brand new show and her personal decorating business.
Before you know it, she’s discovering intimate details with her co-workers, but still not finding a relationship. Although casual sex is dangerous and not to be taken lightly, it was nice to see that this “bigger” girl was obviously very attractive and basically comfortable with her size. I also agree with another reviewer that the girl on the cover of the book could have matched Lily better, as the author mentions more than once that Lily has curly hair!
As the story continues, not only is the TV show a success, but Lily begins to really know herself and figures out why she’s been settling for those brief encounters. This was good chick lit and a fast read and definitely a unique look at “love and the single girl”.
August 10, 2015
What I thought of this book:
I really liked this book. It has one of my favorite things a house/room remodel show and a fashion makeover. Let's talk about the characters: Lily - I really liked her and felt bad for her for not being able to find a "boyfriend", Naomi and Hillary - they were great friends to Lily and helped her to see what she was doing wrong. I liked that the three of these ladies had been friends since they were little. Curt - I thought he was a good work friend for Lily and I liked how they played off each other. Jake and Gary - I did not like as they were trying to much to be players. Ashleigh - I also did not like her as she just was not nice. The two fashion designers Bryan and Jou were good guys just going through a touch time in their relationship. Another thing I liked was how at the beginning of some of the chapters we got a synopsis of that week's episode of the tv show. This book really read quickly and smoothly for me. It was the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
What did I think of the cover:
I thought the cover was very fitting for this book. You see a room designer looking over her plans in a blank slate of a room. I also like the cover choices.
I really liked this book. It has one of my favorite things a house/room remodel show and a fashion makeover. Let's talk about the characters: Lily - I really liked her and felt bad for her for not being able to find a "boyfriend", Naomi and Hillary - they were great friends to Lily and helped her to see what she was doing wrong. I liked that the three of these ladies had been friends since they were little. Curt - I thought he was a good work friend for Lily and I liked how they played off each other. Jake and Gary - I did not like as they were trying to much to be players. Ashleigh - I also did not like her as she just was not nice. The two fashion designers Bryan and Jou were good guys just going through a touch time in their relationship. Another thing I liked was how at the beginning of some of the chapters we got a synopsis of that week's episode of the tv show. This book really read quickly and smoothly for me. It was the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
What did I think of the cover:
I thought the cover was very fitting for this book. You see a room designer looking over her plans in a blank slate of a room. I also like the cover choices.
July 31, 2017
Lily Allen is an interior designer who gets an awesome job as a designer on Swap/Meet, a makeover TV show with a twist--not only do the participants get a new look for their apartments, they also get a makeover for themselves and the chance to meet some other singles. Lily is thrilled with the opportunity but finds herself hit with a hard dose of reality--the home makeovers don't go as smoothly as intended, her lifelong best friends accuse of her letting work consume her life, and her life is sadly lacking in romance. Although she has a series of flings, she can't get herself to face the one guy who was interested in a relationship.
This book had a fun premise; the makeover TV show is what made me decide to read it. This is good example of true chick-lit, with Lily living the single life, bouncing between relationships, and having some great friends to support her on her journey to self-realization and growth. However, the sex, alcohol, swearing, and even pot-smoking made the book a little tough to stomach. Toned down a little, I would like this book a lot; however, as it is, I think it has room for improvement.
This book had a fun premise; the makeover TV show is what made me decide to read it. This is good example of true chick-lit, with Lily living the single life, bouncing between relationships, and having some great friends to support her on her journey to self-realization and growth. However, the sex, alcohol, swearing, and even pot-smoking made the book a little tough to stomach. Toned down a little, I would like this book a lot; however, as it is, I think it has room for improvement.
July 13, 2015
I have enjoyed reading several of Stacey Ballis' books and "Room For Improvement" is no exception. I enjoyed the dialogue between the main character, Lily Allen, and her best friends - Hillary and Naomi.
All three women are having relationship problems. Basically committing to a serious relationship scares the heck out of them. Lily is one of the interior designer who has been chosen to work on a home improvement show called "Swap/Meet". She meets several good looking men, but one way or another they are not marriage material.
Her friends fix her up on a blind date with Ron, who after a drunken run sleeps with him. She is mortified that she did such a thing. Ron tries several ways to get Lily to go on another date, but Lily finds excuse after excuse until Ron finally gives up.
The story has a lot of funny side characters with their own relationship problems. It is light and fun and the show has a lot of crazy homeowners that make Lily's life full of interesting situations.
All three women are having relationship problems. Basically committing to a serious relationship scares the heck out of them. Lily is one of the interior designer who has been chosen to work on a home improvement show called "Swap/Meet". She meets several good looking men, but one way or another they are not marriage material.
Her friends fix her up on a blind date with Ron, who after a drunken run sleeps with him. She is mortified that she did such a thing. Ron tries several ways to get Lily to go on another date, but Lily finds excuse after excuse until Ron finally gives up.
The story has a lot of funny side characters with their own relationship problems. It is light and fun and the show has a lot of crazy homeowners that make Lily's life full of interesting situations.
October 25, 2009
I wanted to love this book - I really did! When the book focused on the behind the scenes of the "Trading Spaces" meets "What Not to Wear" DIY show, the book was great! I loved reading the chapters with the crazy tenants, the crazier rooms, and the craziest designs. This book would have easily received 4 stars from me if not for 2 things: (1) there were these sections in the book where the author tried a bit too hard to be funny by using alliteration. Enough with that already! Once was cute, but more than that? It is only in one section of the book, which makes me think the author thought it was funny for the 2 days she wrote it, then came to and it stopped. (2) I didn't really feel a connection between the friendship of the 3 girls. I felt the connections with all of the love stories intertwined, but when the 3 girls would be in the same scene, it just felt too generic. I would still recommend this to those who enjoy Trading Spaces just for the behind the scenes fun!
February 20, 2010
This is quite possibly the worst chick lit book I have ever read. Why would anyone publish this novel? This book is a perfect example of the belief that the publishing industry has become like Hollywood and that you must be related to someone in order to get published. This book was the worst possible combination of cliches, along with a lot of obscenity, the obligatory gay best friend, more Yiddish words and phrases that you could shake a stick at, etc. Utter, complete garbage. Wake up publishing execs! If you want to sell more books, you need to publish something appealing.......stop the mental masturbation and find some actual talent. I'm tired of reading what your husband's cousin's niece decided to write on her latest break. Start publishing women from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds, not just people named Berg or Stein or some variation thereof. Maybe you'll make some money and not have so many books hitting the remainder racks.
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