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Getting Over Jack Wagner
Where are all the real rock stars?
Eliza is looking to date a rock star -- though she uses the term loosely. None of her boyfriends have been famous. Most have unbearable habits and overbearing mothers. A few only played show tunes. Still, they're intense. Pierced. Tragically stubbled. With a predilection for dressing in black. Eliza finds them deep -- in theory, anyway. But in reality, none comes close to the object of her original rock-star crush: actor/crooner Jack Wagner. When her latest catch turns out be another mama's boy, Eliza begins to realize love is nothing like her favorite '80s song.
Is she ready to face the music?
Just as Eliza is planning her next move, she's dealt an emotional triple-whammy involving her sister, her best friend, and a horrific blind date. That's when she realizes that only by taking a good look at her past -- and her tape collection -- will she ever be able to hear a different kind of song and live a different kind of life.
Eliza is looking to date a rock star -- though she uses the term loosely. None of her boyfriends have been famous. Most have unbearable habits and overbearing mothers. A few only played show tunes. Still, they're intense. Pierced. Tragically stubbled. With a predilection for dressing in black. Eliza finds them deep -- in theory, anyway. But in reality, none comes close to the object of her original rock-star crush: actor/crooner Jack Wagner. When her latest catch turns out be another mama's boy, Eliza begins to realize love is nothing like her favorite '80s song.
Is she ready to face the music?
Just as Eliza is planning her next move, she's dealt an emotional triple-whammy involving her sister, her best friend, and a horrific blind date. That's when she realizes that only by taking a good look at her past -- and her tape collection -- will she ever be able to hear a different kind of song and live a different kind of life.
286 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2003
12 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Elise Juska
12 books183 followersElise Juska's new novel, Reunion, was released by HarperCollins in May 2024 and named one of People Magazine's "Best New Books." Her previous novels include If We Had Known and The Blessings, which was selected for Barnes & Noble's Discover Great New Writers series, featured on Entertainment Weekly's "Must List," and named one of the Philadelphia Inquirer's Best Books of the Year.
Juska's short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ploughshares, The Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, Electric Literature, The Hudson Review and elsewhere. She was awarded the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction from Ploughshares and her work has been cited by the Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize anthologies. She teaches creative writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Juska's short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ploughshares, The Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, Electric Literature, The Hudson Review and elsewhere. She was awarded the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction from Ploughshares and her work has been cited by the Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize anthologies. She teaches creative writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 13, 2008
I liked this book just fine. Another chick-lit about a girl you're sure you know and friends you are sure would like. Alot of it was reminiscing about the 80's and I liked those parts the best.
March 30, 2007
chic lit for the independent smart single girl
I probably should have saved this for "summer" reading, but it was good enough that I couldn't put it down. I don't think I expanded my brain, per se- but she totally hits the "why do I keep dating the same kind of guy over and over" theme squarely on the head. Juska is a witty writer, and her book is as often touching as it is funny. I especially love her childhood memories complete with 80s pop culture references.
I picked up this book because I fell in love with her short story in The Subway Chronicles. Her writing there is tighter and left me wanting more.
I probably should have saved this for "summer" reading, but it was good enough that I couldn't put it down. I don't think I expanded my brain, per se- but she totally hits the "why do I keep dating the same kind of guy over and over" theme squarely on the head. Juska is a witty writer, and her book is as often touching as it is funny. I especially love her childhood memories complete with 80s pop culture references.
I picked up this book because I fell in love with her short story in The Subway Chronicles. Her writing there is tighter and left me wanting more.
June 17, 2007
I love this book, even just the title gets me. I grew up from a very young age loving Jack Wagner as Frisco on General Hospital. My mom watched the show. I was in awe of the character of Frisco, as was Liza in the story. The emotions of the story seem so real to me because of the personal connection. I didn't fall in love with wanna be Rock Stars, but I love the ideas portrayed in the book. It is a funny, almost Bridget Jones like, story telling.
September 26, 2007
I really liked this book- in fact I really liked her latest two books. Elisa Juska has to be around 30 b/c her main charachter in this book is very relatable to girls in their mid twenties- around the time I read this. Her main charachter struggles with her best friend getting married while she still considers herself still growing up. Really good read- would reccomend her other two books as well.
January 8, 2023
I have to admit I picked this up from a little library in my neighborhood, based solely on the fact that the cover made reference to 80s songs… But for that, I would’ve passed right by it.
That said, I very much enjoyed this somewhat breezy romp through a young woman’s addiction to rock stars. If I could give it 3 1/2 stars I would, but given, on retrospect, the number of times I recall myself laughing out loud about turns of phrase in and the main characters, snarky quirkiness, I will err on the side of generosity, and say that it is worth four stars.
That said, I very much enjoyed this somewhat breezy romp through a young woman’s addiction to rock stars. If I could give it 3 1/2 stars I would, but given, on retrospect, the number of times I recall myself laughing out loud about turns of phrase in and the main characters, snarky quirkiness, I will err on the side of generosity, and say that it is worth four stars.
July 23, 2018
2.5 stars, cute, funny, enjoyable. More of a slice of life than a book with a real plot. There character goes through developments but there isn’t a real storyline. I expected more, and had hoped for a romantic ending, but it was still an entertaining and fun read. Relatable in many ways, I found Elise’s voice to feel quite authentic.
November 18, 2018
I suppose the big selling point of this book is the 80s music references, and to me it all came off as a weak advertisement than to create an alluring character and play upon nostalgia. It felt like randomly saying names of 80s music/bands and expecting applause. Others like it; I didn't. Two stars for effort.
March 24, 2020
I grew up in the 80, so this book brought back lots of Good Memories.
I was surprise when I start reading this this book, that the book took place
In an area I was from. I am from the Philadelphia Area, and this book noted some
Of the key places we are remember from back in the 80.
Interesting part of the book was the Songs Reference at the becoming of each chapter.
I was surprise when I start reading this this book, that the book took place
In an area I was from. I am from the Philadelphia Area, and this book noted some
Of the key places we are remember from back in the 80.
Interesting part of the book was the Songs Reference at the becoming of each chapter.
March 15, 2022
This book has been on my bookshelf for a very long time. I had a babysitter who watched General Hospital and got me hooked so I loved Jack Wagner too. I really liked the narrator even with all of her faults. I was also pleased with the unexpected turn not to have a "he was the one all along" ending.
February 3, 2018
Getting Over Jack Wagner
It was real... one could relate to the story. I would highly recommend this book. Hey even JW commented on this book in an interview!
It was real... one could relate to the story. I would highly recommend this book. Hey even JW commented on this book in an interview!
May 12, 2018
Jack Wagner
This book was amazing. Much like the one I want to write and have an outline. This is a must read!
This book was amazing. Much like the one I want to write and have an outline. This is a must read!
June 3, 2018
Actually really enjoy the way this author writes. First book I’ve read by her and will be looking for more!
Read
December 1, 2019I thought I was going to be frustrated by the 2003 of it all but instead I was just frustrated by the complete lack of a storyline.
September 10, 2024
After really enjoying Elise Juska's "Reunion," I went back to read Juska's first novel. "Getting Over Jack Wagner" had some very witty writing, e.g.,
"My sister has been a wife for almost three years, and still excels in her first-bornedness. She is always responsible, always helpful, always meticulous in the details."
As an eldest sister, this rings true to me! Unfortunately, I didn't find myself drawn in by the characters as much as "Reunion." Will certainly read more of Juska's works.
"My sister has been a wife for almost three years, and still excels in her first-bornedness. She is always responsible, always helpful, always meticulous in the details."
As an eldest sister, this rings true to me! Unfortunately, I didn't find myself drawn in by the characters as much as "Reunion." Will certainly read more of Juska's works.
September 3, 2008
A fine, smart, funny writer, Juska brings a bit of Bridget Jones, a touch of High Fidelity, a high pop-cultural IQ and a refreshing emotional take to her first novel.
Eliza Simon's first crush, at age 10, was Jack Wagner, airbrushed pop heartthrob, to whom she devotes herself when her distant, jazz-buff father disappears from her life shortly thereafter. At 26, her tastes have changed, but not that much. There's been a string of "rock star" boyfriends, each one dumped as soon as Eliza spots his fatal flaw: he's human, not the romantic, uber-cool ideal she'd thought. A copywriter at a travel agency, Eliza hangs out at a local club picking up musicians, watches "Behind the Music" and 80s sitcoms, and brings tuna casserole and irony to monthly dinners with her family. She's also (not) working on her book, a guide to dating rock stars, each chapter of which starts with a mix tape and tells the story of one of her boyfriends--the dark, broody guitarist and the laid-back sax-player of high school; the organic, communard, jam-band singer in college--as does the novel in your hands. Her book is the only thing she doesn't share with best friends, fast, funny, Andrew (who, in a movie, she tells us, would turn out to be her true love, but this is real life) and sweet, understanding, hippie-ish Hannah. Sister Camilla's pregnancy and Hannah's engagement jars Eliza into doing things differently, and she goes on a date with a securities analyst--amusingly, even worse than she'd feared. When that doesn't change her life, Eliza plunges into crisis (and flails about for an ending for her book), nicely resolved in a moving, genuine, growing-up moment.
There's much here that's overly familiar--snack cakes as a food group; the "perfect" sister; Eliza is wacky because she talks to her cat--and a multiply pierced 26-year-old bemoaning spinsterhood gives pause at this late date, but clever structure, swift pacing, real emotional insight and a funny, ultimately charming, voice make this one a winning stand-out.
Eliza Simon's first crush, at age 10, was Jack Wagner, airbrushed pop heartthrob, to whom she devotes herself when her distant, jazz-buff father disappears from her life shortly thereafter. At 26, her tastes have changed, but not that much. There's been a string of "rock star" boyfriends, each one dumped as soon as Eliza spots his fatal flaw: he's human, not the romantic, uber-cool ideal she'd thought. A copywriter at a travel agency, Eliza hangs out at a local club picking up musicians, watches "Behind the Music" and 80s sitcoms, and brings tuna casserole and irony to monthly dinners with her family. She's also (not) working on her book, a guide to dating rock stars, each chapter of which starts with a mix tape and tells the story of one of her boyfriends--the dark, broody guitarist and the laid-back sax-player of high school; the organic, communard, jam-band singer in college--as does the novel in your hands. Her book is the only thing she doesn't share with best friends, fast, funny, Andrew (who, in a movie, she tells us, would turn out to be her true love, but this is real life) and sweet, understanding, hippie-ish Hannah. Sister Camilla's pregnancy and Hannah's engagement jars Eliza into doing things differently, and she goes on a date with a securities analyst--amusingly, even worse than she'd feared. When that doesn't change her life, Eliza plunges into crisis (and flails about for an ending for her book), nicely resolved in a moving, genuine, growing-up moment.
There's much here that's overly familiar--snack cakes as a food group; the "perfect" sister; Eliza is wacky because she talks to her cat--and a multiply pierced 26-year-old bemoaning spinsterhood gives pause at this late date, but clever structure, swift pacing, real emotional insight and a funny, ultimately charming, voice make this one a winning stand-out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2016
Almost agonizingly honest, Getting over Jack Wagner reads like an intimate diary of a woman’s foray from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. The silly crushes, the passionate misplaced love affairs, the embarrassing hairstyles, clothing, musical genres, etc.—they’re all here. It’s not juvenile (all right, maybe it is) but it’s juvenilia all women of a certain age can relate to and that makes it funny, moving, intimate and oh so delicious to read.
This is unabashed chick lit, with the male characters mainly relegated to be either earnest poseurs or stiff banker types. Most men readers may find Eliza’s romantic flailings to be either endearing or boring. But she’s a skilled writer. The dialogue is realistic, amusing, sharp and pointed and the book doesn’t end with a stereotypical finish. While women will find it more appealing than men, guys might enjoy a gander, too (especially if any of them ever entertained ideas about starting a rock band in their youth).
Ms. Juska’s semi-autobiographical novel has all the details of confidences between two besties holding sleepovers and whispering under the covers when they’re supposed to be asleep. At the end of the novel, you feel as if Elise could be your BFF or make you want to call up yours and talk about that summer when you had that weird crush on that rock star with the wild hair, piercings or tattoos. For anyone who wants to relive what it meant to grow up in the 60s to the early 90s (when cell phones were still something of a novelty), Getting over Jack Wagner may be either a hilarious journey or a shuddering reminder of that time we shared a crusty blanket with that Jon Bon Jovi-wannabe.
This is unabashed chick lit, with the male characters mainly relegated to be either earnest poseurs or stiff banker types. Most men readers may find Eliza’s romantic flailings to be either endearing or boring. But she’s a skilled writer. The dialogue is realistic, amusing, sharp and pointed and the book doesn’t end with a stereotypical finish. While women will find it more appealing than men, guys might enjoy a gander, too (especially if any of them ever entertained ideas about starting a rock band in their youth).
Ms. Juska’s semi-autobiographical novel has all the details of confidences between two besties holding sleepovers and whispering under the covers when they’re supposed to be asleep. At the end of the novel, you feel as if Elise could be your BFF or make you want to call up yours and talk about that summer when you had that weird crush on that rock star with the wild hair, piercings or tattoos. For anyone who wants to relive what it meant to grow up in the 60s to the early 90s (when cell phones were still something of a novelty), Getting over Jack Wagner may be either a hilarious journey or a shuddering reminder of that time we shared a crusty blanket with that Jon Bon Jovi-wannabe.
July 22, 2009
This was a disappointing book about a twenty something who gives twenty somethings a bad name. Self absorbed, rather grim and nasty Eliza has a penchant for dating rock stars or potential rock stars then dumping them when their humanity is revealed. i.e. one takes her home to meet mom who "grooms him" picking lint off of his person and his beard while he does nothing about it. This is a major offense. What?
I am tired of books that think it is clever to picture various characters as types, vaguely human mostly non human and then proceeds to pick at them like they ever had a chance.
There is a fascination with Jack Wagner, a one hit wonder and soap opera star from the 80's, the disappearance of an uncommunitive father and a mother who doesn't like me through out that the book that is supposed to excuse a lot of the bad behavior in this book.
And each chapter comes with an eighties play list. I've listened to Matthew Sweet, Chris Isaak, Alice in Chains, Weezer, U2 and Van Halen. The first two I did not rip but I am considering Alice In Chains. I could not find Jack Wagoner's work in the library.
Gee, I've written a lot about a book I didn't like.
I am tired of books that think it is clever to picture various characters as types, vaguely human mostly non human and then proceeds to pick at them like they ever had a chance.
There is a fascination with Jack Wagner, a one hit wonder and soap opera star from the 80's, the disappearance of an uncommunitive father and a mother who doesn't like me through out that the book that is supposed to excuse a lot of the bad behavior in this book.
And each chapter comes with an eighties play list. I've listened to Matthew Sweet, Chris Isaak, Alice in Chains, Weezer, U2 and Van Halen. The first two I did not rip but I am considering Alice In Chains. I could not find Jack Wagoner's work in the library.
Gee, I've written a lot about a book I didn't like.
April 3, 2012
Fluffy chick lit, nothing amazing, but enjoyable. Eliza is a 20-something single woman intent on dating rock stars and only rock stars. The title is what grabbed me since I was a Jack Wagner fan in high school (went to see him in concert not once but twice!). The first person story is "semi-autobiographical" the author says, "Like many things in fiction, they have their roots in real life and are then exaggerated, intensified, taken to the extreme." With her polar opposite best friends (Hannah, the earth mother psychoanalyst student) and Andrew (the pop culture loving, looks like he walked out of an L.L. Bean catalog college friend) and her typically dysfunctional family (father left them, perfect sister, neurotic mother), the book doesn't have a lot of surprises and the characters, while charming, aren't very deep, but it does have a lot of laughs and moments I could totally relate to as a child/teen of the 80's.
April 2, 2012
Eliza likes to date, but when it comes to choosing who she dates, there's only one criteria: that he be a rock star. When it comes down to it, Eliza finally realizes that maybe that's her problem.
Notes: While reading, I thought this was going to be an excellent book. I was slightly disappointed by the end, but nonetheless, it was still an interesting book. Elise, unlike most Chick Lit writers, didn't do the usual cop out ending by hooking the lead character with her best guy friend in the end. I liked how she suggested possible outcomes, because as the reader, you do tend to think about these things, but turned you to a different direction. My last concern is: who the heck is Jack Wagner?
Notes: While reading, I thought this was going to be an excellent book. I was slightly disappointed by the end, but nonetheless, it was still an interesting book. Elise, unlike most Chick Lit writers, didn't do the usual cop out ending by hooking the lead character with her best guy friend in the end. I liked how she suggested possible outcomes, because as the reader, you do tend to think about these things, but turned you to a different direction. My last concern is: who the heck is Jack Wagner?
April 20, 2009
I read this book that Karen passed on to me last Tuesday when I was being a shut-in. It's a damn riot. I always watched Jack Wagner as Frisco on General Hospital when I was a kid. In the book I love the main gal's obsession since childhood with Jack Wagner and his song "All I Need." She takes an intro college music class and notices everyone is madly scribbling in their notebooks. She assumes they're composing and so she starts writing down all the words to "All I Need" in her notebook. Too funny! The college commune scenes are great.
January 23, 2008
I loved this book! Eliza was realistic & really funny, parts made me laugh out loud. I especially liked all the 80s memories. There were a couple things that the author got wrong ("Full House" took place in San Francisco, not Seattle, & "The Search is Over" is by Survivor, not Foreigner) but it was a really good story. It didnt have much of an ending, so maybe there will be a sequel?
May 17, 2008
This was a cute get-ready-for-summer read. And a chick lit rarity: a non-predictable ending (I really thought I had it pegged!). The pop culture references will definitely hook any reader in the 28-38 demographic, but without this quirky nostalgia the book would not have fared that well. Gimmicky but fun!
March 16, 2016
A bit more thoughtful than
your average chick lit.
Eliza finds herself falling
for rock stars over and over
as her friend announces her
engagement and her sister
announces her pregnancy.
your average chick lit.
Eliza finds herself falling
for rock stars over and over
as her friend announces her
engagement and her sister
announces her pregnancy.
September 2, 2010
On January 27th 2006 I wrote:
I have tried twice to get into this book but I failed.Yesterday I read the first 120 pages and yes I did like some parts, the stuff where she talks about her youth) other parts just bored me. So I gave up. I have so many other TBR's, and 120 pages is a good try at least.Thank you for sharing Michelle. sorry about this. Hope alsgally likes it more :-)
I have tried twice to get into this book but I failed.Yesterday I read the first 120 pages and yes I did like some parts, the stuff where she talks about her youth) other parts just bored me. So I gave up. I have so many other TBR's, and 120 pages is a good try at least.Thank you for sharing Michelle. sorry about this. Hope alsgally likes it more :-)
February 2, 2015
I really liked this book! It's a light/funny read about a woman who only dates rockstars. The cool thing about it is in the book, the main character Eliza is writing a book about dating rockstars and her idea is to have a mixtape/playlist at the beginning of each chapter that goes along with what's happening in that chapter and the author, Elise Juska, does that in "getting over Jack Wagner".
November 21, 2015
Not a bad read. I did laugh out loud a couple of times, especially when Eliza locks herself up in her apartment for 2 weeks and invents a boyfriend. It was a quick easy book - the kind I like to call "candy". Not increasing my thoughts, mind or intelligence at all, but hey.......does every book have to be so serious? Read in one day.
January 15, 2016
Funny - one of the best parts for me was the reference to that MASH game we used to play (where you'd end up living in Paris with 14 kids married to Leif Garret and living in a shack). Lots of nostalgia and laughs. The book sort of fell apart about 3/4 through, as did the main character. However, I would still recommend the read, if for the memories alone.
March 23, 2008
Loved, loved, loved it. I think this book is loosely based on my life. If you grew up in the 80s, it's a must read. The only fault I could find with it is that Full House was shot in S.F. not Seattle.
June 28, 2011
I thought this would be s nice contemporary romance. Instead, it was drivel and whining. Not a great combination. I had read other reviews but never pay much heed to them. In this case I probably should have.
May 28, 2008
Total girl fluff chick lit. Super enjoyable and a nice reward for thinking too hard lately. Totally made me think back to that first real celebrity crush that has probably influenced dating choices to this day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews