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Thin, Rich, Pretty
From The New York Times bestselling author of Hope In a Jar, Secrets of a Shoe Addict, and Shoe Addicts Anonymous, comes a novel about old rivalries, deep secrets, and the three things all women wish they were,
Twenty years ago, when they were teenagers, Holly and Nicola were the outsiders at summer camp. Holly was the plump one, a dreamer who longed to be an artist. Nicola was the shy, plain one who wanted nothing more than to be beautiful. Their cabin nemesis was Lexi. Rich, spoiled, evil Lexi. One night, Holly and Nicola team up to pull one, daring act of vengeance. But they never dream that this one act will have repercussions that will reach into the future, even twenty years later. And they never realize the secret pain that Lexi holds very close, and how their need for revenge costs Lexi a great deal.
Today, Holly is a successful gallery owner, who has put her own artistic dreams on hold. She struggles with her weight and for approval from her constantly-criticizing boyfriend. Nicola, is an almost-famous actress who believes that one little plastic surgery fix is just what she needs to put her over the edge into fame. And Lexi…Lexi is down on her luck and totally broke.
Holly will do anything to be thin. Lexi will do anything to be rich. And Nicola will do anything to be pretty.
Twenty years ago, when they were teenagers, Holly and Nicola were the outsiders at summer camp. Holly was the plump one, a dreamer who longed to be an artist. Nicola was the shy, plain one who wanted nothing more than to be beautiful. Their cabin nemesis was Lexi. Rich, spoiled, evil Lexi. One night, Holly and Nicola team up to pull one, daring act of vengeance. But they never dream that this one act will have repercussions that will reach into the future, even twenty years later. And they never realize the secret pain that Lexi holds very close, and how their need for revenge costs Lexi a great deal.
Today, Holly is a successful gallery owner, who has put her own artistic dreams on hold. She struggles with her weight and for approval from her constantly-criticizing boyfriend. Nicola, is an almost-famous actress who believes that one little plastic surgery fix is just what she needs to put her over the edge into fame. And Lexi…Lexi is down on her luck and totally broke.
Holly will do anything to be thin. Lexi will do anything to be rich. And Nicola will do anything to be pretty.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2010
76 people are currently reading
6288 people want to read
About the author
Beth Harbison
25 books1,703 followersBeth Harbison grew up in Potomac, Maryland, in the shadow of Washington, D.C. Apart from the occasional irritation at being held up in traffic by a presidential motorcade, she has remained fairly uninvolved in the politics that define her home town. Her latest book is CONFESSIONS OF THE OTHER SISTER, William Morrow 10/11/22
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
August 26, 2016
Completely predictable. I keep searching for good quality chick lit, but this doesn't make the list.
I think the author got excited about using a "20 years later" theme because it was a good round number. But I had no idea how these girls became who they were at age 33 (all single and without kids, but barely any mention of past loves) because she just doesn't fill in the holes for us. The worst example of this was the rich girl who still lives in her parents' house at age 33 and who has never worked? What on earth has she been doing during her adult life, and why didn't she marry a rich guy if she's so pretty and wealthy herself? It barely mentions what she has been doing to fill her time other than a short stint in art school. Saying they were all 26 would have been much more believable.
I'm glad I only listened to this in the car and didn't take the time to read it in paper form. The story did keep moving, and was easily consumable in 10-15 minute chunks as I drove around town.
I think the author got excited about using a "20 years later" theme because it was a good round number. But I had no idea how these girls became who they were at age 33 (all single and without kids, but barely any mention of past loves) because she just doesn't fill in the holes for us. The worst example of this was the rich girl who still lives in her parents' house at age 33 and who has never worked? What on earth has she been doing during her adult life, and why didn't she marry a rich guy if she's so pretty and wealthy herself? It barely mentions what she has been doing to fill her time other than a short stint in art school. Saying they were all 26 would have been much more believable.
I'm glad I only listened to this in the car and didn't take the time to read it in paper form. The story did keep moving, and was easily consumable in 10-15 minute chunks as I drove around town.
February 5, 2011
Beth Harbison is one of my new favorite authors after having discovered her in fall of 2009 when I read Shoe Addicts Anonymous (2007). The events that transpired in Secrets of a Shoe Addict (2008) even inspired me to open a new business (ahem), although short-lived, was very lucrative for me. I highly encourage you to pick up a Beth Harbison novel if you haven't already; I promise you'll fall in love.
Thin, Rich, Pretty begins twenty years ago, when three teenage girls are all outsiders in their own way and spending time at a summer camp. Holly and Nicola are best friends, whereas Lexi is a rich, beautiful girl whom the chubby Holly and shy Nicola envy -- and hate. Twenty years later, Holly and Nicola are still friends striving to overcome the same insecurities they worried about years ago, while Lexi finds herself alone and struggling to make ends meet financially.
With a crude event that took place years ago at summer camp put behind them, the three women still find that the experience in question still overshadows their present-day lives. As Holly, Lexi, and Nicola work toward their goals of becoming thinner, richer, and prettier respectively, they eventually discover that the past can finally be put behind them as new, beautiful, and major life changes await.
I personally enjoy Beth Harbison's novels because 1) they are truly laugh-out-loud hilarious and 2) they are so nostalgic! I love Harbison's pop-culture references to the 80s and 90s being a product of those times myself, so the value of her novels is sky-high for me. Just as Sandra's character regaled us with funny, yet horrible dating stories in the Shoe Addict series, Holly's worthless relationship with boyfriend Randy cracks me up just as much, if not more!
Thin, Rich, Pretty demonstrates the greatest of camaraderie between female friends and pokes fun at insecurities we all encompass to some degree. Although some aspects of the plot are unrealistic and silly, that's exactly just the point -- and it makes the novel that much more fun and enjoyable. Every character in Thin, Rich, Pretty gets what he or she deserves!
Beth Harbison is just too fun, simply put. You've got to read all of her novels. In addition to the Shoe Addicts novels, Harbison released Hope in a Jar in 2009 and her newest novel, Always Something There to Remind Me, will be released later this summer in 2011.
Read more book reviews at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
Thin, Rich, Pretty begins twenty years ago, when three teenage girls are all outsiders in their own way and spending time at a summer camp. Holly and Nicola are best friends, whereas Lexi is a rich, beautiful girl whom the chubby Holly and shy Nicola envy -- and hate. Twenty years later, Holly and Nicola are still friends striving to overcome the same insecurities they worried about years ago, while Lexi finds herself alone and struggling to make ends meet financially.
With a crude event that took place years ago at summer camp put behind them, the three women still find that the experience in question still overshadows their present-day lives. As Holly, Lexi, and Nicola work toward their goals of becoming thinner, richer, and prettier respectively, they eventually discover that the past can finally be put behind them as new, beautiful, and major life changes await.
I personally enjoy Beth Harbison's novels because 1) they are truly laugh-out-loud hilarious and 2) they are so nostalgic! I love Harbison's pop-culture references to the 80s and 90s being a product of those times myself, so the value of her novels is sky-high for me. Just as Sandra's character regaled us with funny, yet horrible dating stories in the Shoe Addict series, Holly's worthless relationship with boyfriend Randy cracks me up just as much, if not more!
Thin, Rich, Pretty demonstrates the greatest of camaraderie between female friends and pokes fun at insecurities we all encompass to some degree. Although some aspects of the plot are unrealistic and silly, that's exactly just the point -- and it makes the novel that much more fun and enjoyable. Every character in Thin, Rich, Pretty gets what he or she deserves!
Beth Harbison is just too fun, simply put. You've got to read all of her novels. In addition to the Shoe Addicts novels, Harbison released Hope in a Jar in 2009 and her newest novel, Always Something There to Remind Me, will be released later this summer in 2011.
Read more book reviews at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
August 25, 2011
I loved this book. It was completely different than the books I usually read - it was not about women in relation to the men in their lives. Rather, it was about friendship, lives forged by events that are both in our control and beyond our control, and coming into what yo always wanted, to find it's not necessarily the dream you had held.
Thin, Rich, Pretty follows three woman in two different time periods - in sleep away camp when they were 13 and in the present. Holly and Nicola formed a life-long friendship at camp twenty years ago, and together they despised the "popular" girls, including Lexi, a girl they perceived to be a spoiled brat. Twenty years later, Holly and Nicola, while living on opposite coasts, are still close friends. Holly is still slightly overweight and she runs an art gallery. Nicola is an actress in Hollywood. Lexi, however, has lost it all when her father died and left everything to her wicked stepmother.
Each woman wants something - Holly wants to be thin, Nicola wants to be pretty, and Lexi wants her money back. Each woman is single, trying to make her way, and finding that sometimes you must be careful what you wish for. Unlike other "chick lit" books, this is a story of friendship, of life, and of correcting wrongs. It's also a story about not judging a book by it's cover. Each woman finds out something about another that changes her perceptions and gives the story so much to think about.
I highly recommend this book to every woman in the world. Seriously, I can't think of one reason to not like it, if not love it. Go read it now!!
Thin, Rich, Pretty follows three woman in two different time periods - in sleep away camp when they were 13 and in the present. Holly and Nicola formed a life-long friendship at camp twenty years ago, and together they despised the "popular" girls, including Lexi, a girl they perceived to be a spoiled brat. Twenty years later, Holly and Nicola, while living on opposite coasts, are still close friends. Holly is still slightly overweight and she runs an art gallery. Nicola is an actress in Hollywood. Lexi, however, has lost it all when her father died and left everything to her wicked stepmother.
Each woman wants something - Holly wants to be thin, Nicola wants to be pretty, and Lexi wants her money back. Each woman is single, trying to make her way, and finding that sometimes you must be careful what you wish for. Unlike other "chick lit" books, this is a story of friendship, of life, and of correcting wrongs. It's also a story about not judging a book by it's cover. Each woman finds out something about another that changes her perceptions and gives the story so much to think about.
I highly recommend this book to every woman in the world. Seriously, I can't think of one reason to not like it, if not love it. Go read it now!!
March 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brilliant! Delicious! Hands down a re-read. I will buy this as a gift!
This is my second Beth Harbison novel, and I enjoyed it far more than Hope in a Jar (which was a cute story in its own right). Thin, Rich, Pretty isn’t a book that will leave you breathless, but it delivers exactly what it promises—a fun, feel-good escape.
The dual timelines of past and present were a delight, especially the nostalgic flashbacks to snacks, makeup, and trends from 20 years ago. More than anything, it reminded me of the priceless value of friendships—whether they remain unbroken or find their way back together.
If you're looking for a quick, heartwarming read that will make you smile, this one is for you!
Brilliant! Delicious! Hands down a re-read. I will buy this as a gift!
This is my second Beth Harbison novel, and I enjoyed it far more than Hope in a Jar (which was a cute story in its own right). Thin, Rich, Pretty isn’t a book that will leave you breathless, but it delivers exactly what it promises—a fun, feel-good escape.
The dual timelines of past and present were a delight, especially the nostalgic flashbacks to snacks, makeup, and trends from 20 years ago. More than anything, it reminded me of the priceless value of friendships—whether they remain unbroken or find their way back together.
If you're looking for a quick, heartwarming read that will make you smile, this one is for you!
August 23, 2011
This is the first novel from Beth Harbison that I've read and I enjoyed it. It was funny, moving and unpredictable! Thin, Rich Pretty is about three women Holly, Nicola, and Lexi who go through drama and tribulations to find true happiness in life. The first several chapters alternate between their present lives (20s to 30s) and past lives when they were 13-15 year olds. Back at camp when they were young, Holly and Nicola despised Lexi who they thought was a snob so they stole her jewelery and hid it in a bird's nest high up on a tree. In the present, Holly loses weight to become skinnier, Nicola does plastic surgery to make herself look prettier and Lexi tries to become rich after her stepmother steals her property after her father dies. In the end, Holly and Nicola learn that being self-conscious about their looks is what's stopping them from being happy and Lexi learns that money isn't everything and she finds someone who loves her which makes her happy. One thing I didn't like is how the women reunite in the latter parts of the novel which I think is a bit too late in the novel. Also, I would have liked it if the women did other things to become closer friends and to better understand one another. For example, the only thing which they did which 'reunited' the three women was that Holly and Nicola found Lexi's jewelery in the nest and gave it back to Lexi hoping that it would help Lexi moneywise. However, overall, I thought it was a great read!
August 20, 2012
I checked out this book from the library on a whim since it's the last of my summer holidays before college starts and I have to say, I really like this! :) The first few chapters are a lil disconcerting to me because it flips from the present to 20 years ago where the girls were in camp, and back to the present. But it wasn't that big an issue when it gets to the middle.
What I really dig about this book is the relationships between the characters that Beth Harbison had so nicely weaved. Holly and Nicola are still firm friends 2 decades on; Lexi has a few surprises herself. While yes the ending is predictable, you'd find yourself rooting for them especially Lexi becase they all have personas that one can relate to- be it wanting more money, or staying thin because of societal pressures, or down on your luck after years of being cocooned in one's luxury nest.
The character whom I like the most is Lexi. Her wanting to fit in with the cool crowd hence the snarky remarks toward Holly and Nicola when they were kids, and her desire to be an artist put her at odds with herself. When she was a grown-up and seriously down on her luck, she was mature enough to forgive what Holly and Nicola did to her two decades ago. It makes it a nice touch. :)
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I foresee myself shelling out some dollars to get a physical copy myself because it is a book that I will want to read and re-read again. :)
What I really dig about this book is the relationships between the characters that Beth Harbison had so nicely weaved. Holly and Nicola are still firm friends 2 decades on; Lexi has a few surprises herself. While yes the ending is predictable, you'd find yourself rooting for them especially Lexi becase they all have personas that one can relate to- be it wanting more money, or staying thin because of societal pressures, or down on your luck after years of being cocooned in one's luxury nest.
The character whom I like the most is Lexi. Her wanting to fit in with the cool crowd hence the snarky remarks toward Holly and Nicola when they were kids, and her desire to be an artist put her at odds with herself. When she was a grown-up and seriously down on her luck, she was mature enough to forgive what Holly and Nicola did to her two decades ago. It makes it a nice touch. :)
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I foresee myself shelling out some dollars to get a physical copy myself because it is a book that I will want to read and re-read again. :)
September 5, 2010
Lexie, Holly, and Nicola first met twenty years ago at Summer camp where a life long friendship was made between Holly and Nicola, and something very special is taken from Lexie. Twenty years later, their paths cross once again. Holly is tired of being "the fat girl" and starves herself into losing 20 pounds thinking it will buy her love. Nicola is tired of being ugly and gets a nose job hoping it'll boost her acting career, but the change is so dirastic she is no longer marketable. Lexie, who grew up with everything she ever wanted, loses her fortune and has to make it on her own with no life skills. Each learn that the one thing they thought was standing in the way of their happiness is actually the thing that makes them special, and they fight to get it back.
This was a fun read if you're looking for something airy you can take to the beach, but it doesn't go any further than that. The plot was predicatble, the characters stereotypical, and the lessons learned were shallow.
This was a fun read if you're looking for something airy you can take to the beach, but it doesn't go any further than that. The plot was predicatble, the characters stereotypical, and the lessons learned were shallow.
August 25, 2010
I had a hard time relating to the characters of the book. At times it felt like there was no real character development and halfway through, when I figured out the plot of the story I was disappointed. I don't want to include spoilers but it just didn't seem "real". The overall message of the book was good and well received, and it was believable based on the limited amount of character development. However, at the end I realized that I just didn't care enough about any of the women to care about their epiphany.
February 8, 2011
This book was suggested to me by a good friend and now I'm not sure that good friend is truly good...kidding! This book was awful. Complete torture to finish. This friend of mine suggested it only because she'd read other books by the author which were awesome and figured this would be about the same. The idea behind the book is great but its been done and the characters were very dry. I developed zero emotional connection to any part of this book even though I thought for sure I would based on the book description. I would not recommend this book, not even as a beach/pool read.
July 29, 2010
This was a referral from mom. She said it was a fast breezy read and it was...it just wasn't as good as it could have been. The book alternates chapters between the present and 20 years ago and then is divided among three characters. I didn't really care about the characters because I didn't really get a chance to know them. The book had potential, but the author should've picked one character and focused on that.
October 10, 2014
This was an easy read, mostly conversational - happy ending. Not a great literary work but good story. Easy summer mindless read.
November 15, 2015
Cute concept. I liked the back and forth from summer camp to present day. It's a nice message -- learning to love ourselves as is.
September 1, 2023
Good story, easy read…coming of age type of book..just not my favorite genre.
May 24, 2021
This book was quite predictable but enjoyable. I liked the 20 year jumps in the chapters. The storyline was easy to follow though somewhat simple.
March 20, 2025
I found this book to be very relatable because of the young age storyline where kids can be mean to each other and also the things that all three of the main characters wanted in life are all things that are literally what people look for every day. And then for them to come around full circleand be totally different people as they got older is just like your every day person.
June 21, 2018
Light, fluffy, easy read. A very long buildup, no real character developments, several impossible-to-the-point-of-absurdity coincidences and of course everything works out perfectly for everybody in the end. This is normally the kind of book I like to read as a palate cleanser after a serious, real book.
October 27, 2017
This was fun, fluffy, very light chick lit, good for an easy escapist read.
July 21, 2021
I am tempted to downgrade my score based on the “type” of book this is, but I won’t do it.
First of all, I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the abuse of fat people that happens even in “empowering” books. It never came. Though the fat character, Holly, isn’t exactly a paragon of fat representation, the book still realistically addresses that:
-losing weight is hard, miserable, and not worth it for most people
-being fat was never the problem, the treatment of Holly by those who preyed on her insecurities was
-you can be fat and still be a successful business owner and good friend
While there is quite a bit of negative talk aimed at Holly for her size, both from others and her own mind, it was far less triggering than other (again, “empowering”) books with fat protagonists. Harbison did not opine at length about her “fleshy thighs” or otherwise dwell on her body to a sadistic extent. Now, Holly was clearly wearing straight sizes and only lost 20 pounds, which means she isn’t a true representation of the experience of many fat people, but for a non-activist book that’s over a decade old, it’s pretty impressive.
I also thought Harrison did a pretty good job in explaining Lexi’s motivations without making you feel so sorry for her as to be saccharine. She kept Lexi in the complex grey on area of having truly hurt both Nicola and Holly, and being kind of a jerk to those around her, but having it come from a place of genuine pain and fear. Needing change, but worthy of redemption.
Finally, I was kind of disappointed to see a whole storyline about an actress getting a nose job without ONE mention of Jennifer Grey!!! Or maybe Nicola was supposed to *be* Jennifer Grey? Nicola’s story wrapped up a bit fancifully, but it was enjoyable to read nonetheless.
There are elements of the book that stretched reality enough to notice the light coming through, like the 4 month engagement, and the somewhat lame build up denouement (which was ultimately more interesting). Overall, more sensitive and nuanced than many of the books in this particular sub-category of “women’s” literature.
First of all, I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the abuse of fat people that happens even in “empowering” books. It never came. Though the fat character, Holly, isn’t exactly a paragon of fat representation, the book still realistically addresses that:
-losing weight is hard, miserable, and not worth it for most people
-being fat was never the problem, the treatment of Holly by those who preyed on her insecurities was
-you can be fat and still be a successful business owner and good friend
While there is quite a bit of negative talk aimed at Holly for her size, both from others and her own mind, it was far less triggering than other (again, “empowering”) books with fat protagonists. Harbison did not opine at length about her “fleshy thighs” or otherwise dwell on her body to a sadistic extent. Now, Holly was clearly wearing straight sizes and only lost 20 pounds, which means she isn’t a true representation of the experience of many fat people, but for a non-activist book that’s over a decade old, it’s pretty impressive.
I also thought Harrison did a pretty good job in explaining Lexi’s motivations without making you feel so sorry for her as to be saccharine. She kept Lexi in the complex grey on area of having truly hurt both Nicola and Holly, and being kind of a jerk to those around her, but having it come from a place of genuine pain and fear. Needing change, but worthy of redemption.
Finally, I was kind of disappointed to see a whole storyline about an actress getting a nose job without ONE mention of Jennifer Grey!!! Or maybe Nicola was supposed to *be* Jennifer Grey? Nicola’s story wrapped up a bit fancifully, but it was enjoyable to read nonetheless.
There are elements of the book that stretched reality enough to notice the light coming through, like the 4 month engagement, and the somewhat lame build up denouement (which was ultimately more interesting). Overall, more sensitive and nuanced than many of the books in this particular sub-category of “women’s” literature.
October 31, 2010
Holly, Nicola and Lexi first meet at summer camp. Lexi was the mean girl who hung out with even meaner girls. Holly was overweight and very self-conscious. Nicola was painfully shy and never felt pretty thanks to her perception of her nose.
Holly and Nicola became fast friends. They often found themselves enduring the wrath of Lexi and her friends. Until one they, both decide to get their revenge.
Fast forward twenty years later. Holly is now dating Randy and they’ve just gotten engaged. Well, pre-engaged. Randy claims he wants to marry her, however she only needs to lose a few pounds first. Nicola is an actress living in LA. She’s had success with one major movie, and is still trying to make it big. Unfortunately she still doesn’t feel pretty enough, so she decides to have plastic surgery. After the bandages are off, she no longer recognizes herself. And Lexi… Well, Lexi just recently lost her father. He changed his will and left everything to her step-mother. Lexi has just a month to move out of her family home and find a job. This will be the first time she will be employed.
While each woman continues to struggle with issues of her past, Holly accidentally bumps into Lexi while shopping. Thoughts race back to their time at summer camp and Holly feels compels to make things right with Lexi. She solicits the help of Nicola and to two set out to make amends.
Thin, Rich, Pretty is a book that deals with common issues that haunt girls and can carryover into adulthood. It also speaks to people are more than what we see at first glance. Alternating between the time spent at summer camp and the present, the reader gets a feel for the relationship between the three women.
Thin, Rich, Pretty is recommended for chick lit fans looking for a quick read.
Holly and Nicola became fast friends. They often found themselves enduring the wrath of Lexi and her friends. Until one they, both decide to get their revenge.
Fast forward twenty years later. Holly is now dating Randy and they’ve just gotten engaged. Well, pre-engaged. Randy claims he wants to marry her, however she only needs to lose a few pounds first. Nicola is an actress living in LA. She’s had success with one major movie, and is still trying to make it big. Unfortunately she still doesn’t feel pretty enough, so she decides to have plastic surgery. After the bandages are off, she no longer recognizes herself. And Lexi… Well, Lexi just recently lost her father. He changed his will and left everything to her step-mother. Lexi has just a month to move out of her family home and find a job. This will be the first time she will be employed.
While each woman continues to struggle with issues of her past, Holly accidentally bumps into Lexi while shopping. Thoughts race back to their time at summer camp and Holly feels compels to make things right with Lexi. She solicits the help of Nicola and to two set out to make amends.
Thin, Rich, Pretty is a book that deals with common issues that haunt girls and can carryover into adulthood. It also speaks to people are more than what we see at first glance. Alternating between the time spent at summer camp and the present, the reader gets a feel for the relationship between the three women.
Thin, Rich, Pretty is recommended for chick lit fans looking for a quick read.
May 8, 2012
When I chose this book, it's because I had just finished "Lolita" and I was looking for a light, easy read without a lot of garbled nonsense to weed through. You know, "chick lit." However, unlike most books in the genre, this story had really good messages to it. The characters were relatable both when told from the 12-year-old camper point of view to the 33-year-old professional viewpoint. The main characters dealt with real issues like body image, disliking a particular facial feature, money troubles, men who made them worthless and other very real issues many women face today. Of course it had a happy ending for everyone, but there was great stuff along the way. One major theme I particularly enjoyed that was also out of the ordinary for this type of book was the concept of going back and making amends. Along with the idea of righting past wrongs came the realization that A) not everyone is their 13-year-old self forever; people grow up. B) People may act a certain way, but it might not be for the reasons you'd think. C) Give everyone a chance. By having preconceived notions about others, you could be losing out on the opportunity for a truly great friend.
Overall, very good book. Interesting, fast-paced, easy read with more of a message than most chick-lit stories.
Overall, very good book. Interesting, fast-paced, easy read with more of a message than most chick-lit stories.
April 17, 2018
Another good book from Harbison! I liked the friendships and the flashbacks. It was neat how she developed this story. Throwing a love relationship in the book is always a high point for me as well!
November 21, 2014
I liked this book. It was fun and easygoing. I especially liked how the book showed the viewpoint of a "mean girl", and what that revealed.
The message of the book is that you don't have to be traditionally beautiful, thin, or rich to be happy. Sometimes I felt it took things a bit far...aiming for the message that you will be actually be happier if people see you as ugly, you're overweight, and you're financially struggling.
The message of the book is that you don't have to be traditionally beautiful, thin, or rich to be happy. Sometimes I felt it took things a bit far...aiming for the message that you will be actually be happier if people see you as ugly, you're overweight, and you're financially struggling.
April 21, 2018
This book was a fun read. Light-hearted and reminiscent of a familiar time and familiar places. This delivered on what it purports to be — a book from the pink and purple covers row of books, as my sister would say. I could relate to the struggle of Lexi, Nicola and Holly — blessed with so much, but focused on something that threatens to rob them of the joy of those blessings. I will read more Beth Harbison’s books.
January 17, 2014
I should have trusted the reviews. The last forty or so pages were just a blur of this and then this and then this and then oh, look happy endings for all. It's like her editor called and said she had one more day left before the manuscript was due and she just dumped it all on the page and called it a day.
Very disappointing. I've enjoyed other books of hers but this was a let-down.
Very disappointing. I've enjoyed other books of hers but this was a let-down.
August 16, 2014
I wish I could give this book a zero. It was vapid and cookie-cutter. I love reading chic-lit, but all of the characters in this novel (I hate to even use the word novel for this book) are shallow and hollow. I enjoyed Harbison's other novels, but this novel was lacking any sort of development and plot.
September 18, 2018
I loved this book. What a great read. A solid storyline and I just didn’t want it to end! I think a lot of women can relate to all the characters....Nicola - thinking she’s not pretty enough; Holly - thinking she’s too fat; Lexi - rich girl, following the bullies in the crowd. It’s a good coming of age read...reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future. And living your best life.
July 28, 2010
Beth Harbison has most certainly made my list of favorite authors. I could totally relate to each of the story's three main characters in some form or another. This was a definate "couldn't put down!"
July 10, 2016
A fast, frothy, formulaic bit of chick-lit. THIS is what one should be reading after a head injury. I felt I could totally relate to Holly & Nicola as camp misfits - story of my life, man. Fun and easy to read, did not require any mental energy.
May 1, 2018
Ugh, this book started out bad and just kept getting worse. I understand the point the author was trying to make...everyone is beautiful just the way they are...but it couldn’t have been more cliche than this.
February 10, 2013
I could not stay engaged in this book whatsoever. It took me a very long time to finish it and I was never able to feel connected to the characters.
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