The Balance Thing: A Chick-Lit Novel About a Marketing Professional, a Terrible Boyfriend, and the Perfect Job

by Margaret Dumas

Rebecca "Becks" Mansfield has a boyfriend who sets her on the edge, a job catering to the whims of a cartoon vampire, and she's shortly to be a bridesmaid in the fairy-tale wedding from hell. How could this have happened to the brilliant, brash-talking, rising star of marketing? Her three best friends tell her she's "date lazy," settling for the men who require the least effort. Maybe Becks isn't trying hard enough, but the "one" she's looking for isn't the perfect man—it's the perfect job. Of course, you can't always get what you want—a fact that's about to become crystal clear to Becks Mansfield. But sometimes you get what you need.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Prachi Naik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book from a book sale maybe 6-8 years ago. I tried reading it multiple times but I couldn't go ahead with it and the book was lost in the house.

Yesterday I found it and remembered the dismayed past attempts at reading it and I still went ahead with it..
And I liked it.
It's about a woman named Becks who is unemployed, hangs out with her friends and discusses life over frequent drinks (Btw I feel the book is ripe to be made into a movie).

What I like about the book is that the protagonist is not just shown going behind love. She is very close to her friends and their conversations make up the bulk of this book that her conversations with the romantic interest.
The romantic interest is such a kind and lovable soul. He's your boy-next-door who is genuinely shown to care about Becks.

In 'The balance thing', Becks is trying to figure out a balance between her personal life and a professional life. After months of being unemployed, she gets a super well paying job but loses out on her sleep and health till she realises how important her personal life is to her.

I think I was able to continue and finish reading this book now as I've faced similar experiences with work- life balance.

P.S. I had read in a review that Becks' gay friend is shown to be typically gay best friend. I disagree. Max is shown to be a smart dermatologist who has more to offer than just dish over drinks. I really liked all of Becks' friends.

[HatGirl8]

3/13/2007 ; 6/9/2013

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read that is fast paced and engaging at times, however it is also frequently a bit cliched and hugely obvious what the ending will be.

[Kazen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book went from fun to disappointing very, very quickly.

The good:

- great banter
- fun friends
- a promising story (to start)

The not-so-good:

- loads of unneeded detail, especially later
- a Big Misunderstanding for the end conflict
- an overly clueless heroine whose first instinct is to run away
- a gay best friend that only exists to analyze the heroine's flaws to her face while being witty

Chick Lit to the core, in the not good way.

[Emma Kaufmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring book about a commitmentphobe who cannot commit to any man and guess what, the man of her dreams is standing right in front of her all the way along and produces a comic strip of a girl who looks just like her but she doesn't realize he's in love with her until the last page!! What a pile of nonsense.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becks has a habit of picking the wrong men. Is this intentional so she can pursue her career in marketing without unnecessary attachments? Her side job is the voice of Vladima, a web-based vampire. Along with her friends Vida, Connie, and Max (gay), Becks struggles along yet finally makes the right decision. I liked this one alot.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rebecca Mansfield has a boyfriend who sets her on the edge, a job catering to the whims of a cartoon vampire, and she's shortly to be a bridesmaid in the fairy-tale wedding from hell. How could this have happened to the brilliant, brash-talking, rising star of marketing? Trivial events in an uninteresting book.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine, I guess. It took me a while to get through, since it didn't hold my interest as much as the other books I've read this year - but, this could be because this genre isn't really my speed anymore. This book is perfectly adequate for some fluffy beach reading. Apart from some dated gay stereotyping, I don't have any particular complaints.

[Smita Beohar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovered the "Little Dress Series" at my bookstore who were giving this book free with certain purchase.

A total time pass read!!! Chick lit of sorts!!! Have bought 2 more now and looking forward to read them whilst I travel tonight!! :)

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for something brainless and easy to read and this delivered. It was so predictable though--nothin new. Just an easy romantic paperback.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in SF, it was a quick and witty read!

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad but not my favourite Little Black Dress book, seems to lag a bit in the middle and the ending is a touch rushed.

[Vidyasagar Santhanagopalan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really fast read.. The story is simple and to the point.. Very well written and will be a great book when you want to read something light-hearted !!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though it is more a romance than anything else. No mystery here! :-)

[Anidict13 IsTheName · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole book was adventurous and humorous and romantic, all at the same time!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than most books in this category. The final crisis just annoyed me (did it really need to go that far? had she really not learned anything?), but overall it was a nice little escape read.

[Angel Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fluff. Funny and engaging yet not at all mentally taxing ~ the perfect beach read.