Mike, Mike & Me

by Wendy Markham

Mike, Mike & Me by Wendy Markham released on Dec 28, 2004 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Literature, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2004

About the author

New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.

Wendy grew up in a large, close-knit family in rural southwestern New York State and decided she wanted to become an author while in third grade. She worked in two independent bookstores during college, then moved alone to New York City at 21 to pursue her dream. After stints as a book editor for a Manhattan publishing house and an account coordinator for a major advertising agency, she sold her first novel, the supernatural young adult thriller SUMMER LIGHTNING. Early in her writing career, she published in various genres including suspense, horror, historical and contemporary romance, television and movie tie-in, and biography. She also co-authored a mystery series with former New York City mayor Ed Koch and has ghost-written for a number of bestselling authors and celebrities.

Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be the first to admit that this started out a bit slow for me. At first, I didn't think I was going to get into it but I told myself to keep going. I am so glad that I did! I was honestly torn between which Mike I wanted Beau to be married to, but a huge part of me was rooting for the business-card Mike. With each chapter, I thought I had it figured out and then I would get to the next one and completely question everything all over again. That in itself might frustrate some people, but it only egged me on even more. I'm so happy that I kept reading, because now I want to read even more from the author. I am usually all about blood and guts as horror is my favorite genre, but I think my feminine side is starting to creep its way into my daily reading. Rest assured that me saying that is the epitome of a compliment!

[Bridget Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read. This is your classic chick lit book. I enjoyed this one more than usual because throughout the book you were not sure who she ended up with although the book takes place in the present with flashbacks to the past when she was making her choice. To be honest, I didn't pay enough attention as I just assumed it was the one Mike and never thought that I could be wrong until almost the end when I picked up a couple subtle hints and then it was revealed and I was shocked. I should have been able to pick this up but I guess I just didn't think about it and just let myself get lost in this book. I totally recommend this book.

[Tin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me guessing until the end which Mike Beau eventually married. Alternating each chapter between the past and the present provided the right amount of a cliffhanger-type of storytelling that kept me, the reader, guessing, at the same time, wanting more.

And, had the author chosen to end the story on a vague note (the author gave the ending away, with five more short chapters to go, when she mentioned 'dimples'), i would have still loved it. In fact, looking back, think i would have preferred it that way.

Still, a good book. :)

[Maru Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimate chic-lit. Cute, light, easy read about ex-lovers, choices, what ifs and TOTGAs.
Finished it one day. (while at work) The story jumps back from past to present. Kept me guessing which Mike she picks til the last few pages. I’m rooting for Mike, the Other Mike she didn’t choose. But I eventually learned and accepted why she chose him over the other. Sometimes, in life you gotta choose. And I’m glad she chose That Mike. Not The Other Mike I was expecting. It added a little extra thrill in a sense that I wasn’t able to predict which Mike is it.

[Athena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skip this one. I didn't even finish it- that's how bad it was. The main character dated 2 guys named Mike. She married one and is thinking back fondly on both. Honestly, I didn't care which one she married.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the fact that there was no "obvious" ending. Both Mikes have their downfalls, both Mikes have their greatness... and of course, I loved the 80s references sprinkled throughout the book.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I read it ages ago so I don’t remember all the details but it’s the book that got me started on Wendy Markham books and I think I’ve read every book she’s written since. Which Mike will she choose?!

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fast read. I've been very impressed with Markham. I will say that it is easy to figure out the ending with the clues left throughout the book.

[Diana Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

a girl named beau is in love with a man named Mike. in an airport bar she picks up a man named...Mike. Now she is married to Mike. And the other Mike sends her a flirty email. Who did she marry? Was it the right choice?
the story bounces from the past to present day. In the past the reader knows which Mike is which. In the present day..the reader doesn't
Beau is at that crossroads in marriage where there are the kids, the laundry, the body you don't recognize and a husband that you wonder if you even love anymore. The flirty email is enough to have her mind go into overdrive, questioning whether her life could be more fun, more entertaining.
It was a cute story. I was just annoyed by how difficult Beau made everything be. I know it was necessary for the story ..but it made me just want the book to be over

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it had a different spin from the usual chick lit. I thought the struggle of Beau between the life she was living and the man she was living it with vs the man and life left behind was realistic. I think many Moms get overwhelmed with the Mom life and so looking back at one's younger, freer self is very attractive. While the book maintains the usual happy chick lit ending, it also felt right and true. A book that is easy to identify with. My only complaint is that I think the story stretched out a bit longer than necessary. I found myself skimming through the last quarter of the book.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it had a different spin from the usual chick lit. I thought the struggle of Beau between the life she was living and the man she was living it with vs the man and life left behind was realistic. I think many Moms get overwhelmed with the Mom life and so looking back at one's younger, freer self is very attractive. While the book maintains the usual happy chick lit ending, it also felt right and true. A book that is easy to identify with. My only complaint is that I think the story stretched out a bit longer than necessary. I found myself skimming through the last quarter of the book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read which is why I picked it up. I was left guessing which Mike she ended up with right until the end. I still don't know which one I think she should have ended up with, but the cheating aspect does make one choice less desirable than the other for me. I know Beau mentions often that she's spoiled, but the level of her spoiled-ness really bothered me. How selfish can one person be, not just as a young adult, but as a 40 something wife and mother? Geez. She kind of didn't deserve either Mike.

[Melinda May]

This was a fun book! I loved Beau's honest, self deprecating humor. And it really did keep me guessing which Mike she ended up with... And which Mike she would choose now if she had a second chance! If you've ever wondered "what might have been", this gives you a chance to explore it, vicariously, of course!

[Andree Sears · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this writer’s ability to craft inner dialogue, though the main characters flaws and inability to stop being a brat is what kept it from getting a five, even though I know it was probably an intentional choice on the authors part haha. Good book!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute read and a lighthearted book. After a lot of guessing I was surprised at the end by which Mike she chose. This book does involve cheating and is not for everyone.

[Alexa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Olino and I's rating

[Barbara Cryer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. Not a favorite, not a total waste of time. Good dialogue. A bit too plot twisty

[Elusive · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Mike, Mike & Me’ is about a woman who once knew two guys named Mike and dumped one for the other. Years later, she’s married with kids and feels unhappy about her life. Therefore, when the Mike she left behind contacts her, she finds herself questioning (again) who she wants to be with.

Besides the fact that the two guys share the same name, there was nothing remotely interesting about the story. The main character goes by the nickname Beau which I personally found to be ridiculous. Her name aside, it was her personality that I really couldn’t tolerate. Basically she’s the type of person who’s never happy with what she has. In the past when she was with her boyfriend Mike, she was miserable because they didn’t agree on living in the same location. At present, she’s miserable because her husband is always working and she’s tired of taking care of three kids and bored of being a stay-at-home mother. Instead of looking at the bright side (such as not having to work), she wallows in sorrow.

She’s also a cheater. In the past, she cheated on her boyfriend by sleeping with a guy she only knew for a short while. To make things worse, both of them still love her anyway even though she’s unfaithful and is boring and / or annoying. Then she also cheats on her husband by meeting up with the other Mike and kissing him. Plus, she never told him and everything is supposed to be okay because she decided for sure who she wants to be with. Ridiculous.. As stated, she’s spoiled and always gets her way. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the least bit likeable to make me feel that she deserved to be happy.

Overall, the book was filled with unlikeable characters (especially Beau) who lacked personality (Mike and Mike) and it’s not worth the time though it’s a pretty quick read.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on amazon.com January 17, 2009

I really enjoyed this book. The premise is simple chick lit, a woman early forties examines her life and the choices she made over the years. The twist is that the reader doesn't know until the last few pages who she chose to marry.

Beau was in love with two men, her college sweet heart and a man she met later in an airport lounge, both of whom are coincidentally named Mike. We know that Beau is now married to Mike and has children with Mike and a beautiful house in New Jersey with Mike. But is it the Mike she knew inside and out and wanted to spend her life with or Mike who swept her off her feet and refused to put her down?

Alternating chapters from the 1980's to present day 'MIKE, MIKE & ME' keeps the reader on their toes. I could not put this book down until the mystery of the Mike's was solved. Also the 80's pop culture references were hilarious! I could recommend this book for that reason alone, but luckily there are a million other reasons to pick up this book by Markham. Happy reading!

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. As the book title states, throughout the story protagonist talks about her two great loves (both named Mike). She talks about her life now--with the Mike she married--and flashes back to the past, when she talks about her summer love affair with both Mikes. Throughout the book, she agonizes about her decision to marry the Mike she did, and wonders if she made the right choice when she hears from the Mike who got away. As she tells her story, you don't know until the last ten pages or so which Mike she chose. The story is told in such away that you are left guessing the whole time. You seem to think you've got it figured out as you read through the story, but don't be so sure. I certainly thought it was one Mike and it turned out to be the other. It was a quick read--I read it in less than 24 hours--but, it was a good read. Totally chick lit, totally a beach book, but it totally speaks to any woman who wonders about those who got away...a very enjoyable book.

[Marisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used book store this weekend and thought I'd give it a try since I was looking for a light read. This book was cute and very fast. It's about a woman named Beau who is a stay-at-home mom who is feeling bored with her life and is feeling distant from her husband. It alternates between the past and the present as she reflects on the two "mikes" in her life. The Mike she married and the Mike that she broke up with. She loved them both and dated them back in the 80's. She had to make a choice back then on who to be with. So you don't know until the end of the book which Mike she actually ends up with. I liked how it ended and the different format as it kept you wondering as it told the story of her past and then the present. A light, fluffy read...

[Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is set in present time as well as in the past. The heroine, Beau, reflects on meeting the "other" Mike in the 80's when waiting to meet her boyfriend Mike at the airport and its subsequent effects when in present time she's having another battle between the two Mikes as the one not chosen contacts her via email.

This novel was OK and up to the wit and fun of her other novels but for me, it was just OK. I don't like the constant flopping between the Mikes and I really don't like the cheating aspect of this novel. It is still a fun, light read but it wasn't for me.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an unusual premise - the now 40-ish suburban mom is looking back at a crucial time period in her life - when she decided between the two Mikes that she was dating. I loved the look back at the late 80's time period, especially since that was my dating era too. Where I thought Markham didn't succeed was in maintaining the "mystery" of which Mike she wound up with. I thought it was obvious the moment she told you about the Mikes' jobs in the past. So, while the book was definitely flawed, I did enjoy the plot line of a woman from my era comparing the husband and the ex.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! Although each chapter jumped from past to present, it was easy to follow and progressed the story nicely. I liked the main character, and felt for her through the book as she got involved with Mike and Mike. I was wrong about the Mike she ended up with, but was glad to find out it was the Mike I wanted her to be with. :)

I also got a kick out of all the pop culture references. The part about making the tea to soothe the throats of Milli Vanilli, and about the TV show Cops and Madonna not being around very long - well, I just had to laugh! :)

[Hanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pure chick lit - a fast read, predictable ending. This book tells the story of a woman who dated two Mikes during the '80's and 15 years of marriage and three children later, she wonders if she made the right choice. The book alternates from past to present; the author did an excellent job describing the hairstyles and clothing of the past. I enjoyed her humorous observations of what was then and what is now.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked how each chapter of this book went back and forth from past to present and how you don't find out which Mike she married until the end. Anyone with half a brain could have guessed correctly though since this is predictable chick lit. Only 3 stars because the main character was spoiled, selfish and shallow, at least more so than I am able to tolerate for a fun and quick read like this.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read.

[Heather75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book where she dates 2 Mike's in the 80's and she is married to one of them and you don't know which one till the end. Each chapter flips from past to present. I also liked the ending to know what happened to the Mike she didn't end up with - kind of makes you wonder what your life would have been like if you went down a different path.

[Carol Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book last night (3/13/2009). I enjoyed it. I liked out it alternated between the past and the present. I was tempted to skip to the end to see which Mike she ended up with, but I didn't. Wendy Markham writes about relationships in a way which keeps my attention, which is notoriously short nowadays.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mindless summer read. I liked the way the book read & how it was set up. However, I hated this character. I believe the author has done a series of books about one character and I'm hoping this book isn't a part of it as I'd like to read more of her books (perfect for the beach) but I don't want to spend any more time with this character.