Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and depressing
Review: As someone engaged myself, I was looking forward to reading about someone *else's* planning misery! Unfortunately, that's what this book was about: misery. I found this book to be more of a downer than anything else - not just the usual butterflies about marriage, more like a closet full of moths.
Rating: 
Summary: Reality Now!
Review: This is an honest account of an accomplished, anxiety prone-Everywoman's passionate mid-thirties journey through the special purgatory heaven/hell that is engagement. Real pearls of wit and wisdom abound. I cannot count the number of times I laughed out loud at this marvelous novel. Buy it for all your brides-to-be and newlyweds!!!!
Rating:
Summary: a true and decadent delight
Review: i loved OTHERWISE ENGAGED. it is a bit of a cult classic among my girlfriends...and i cannot recommend it highly enough. funny....shocking...poignant...well written..beautiful. do get it for all your unmarried bridesmaids or newlywed girlfriends...it is an absolute hoot.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it used
Review: I was entertained by the clever one-liners throughout. However, this book is not as described on the back cover. I feel very sorry for any bride-to-be, or woman-in-general for that matter, who can relate to the main character. Anyone who ever ponders the reason divorce rates are so high should read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun book for brides-to-be.
Review: Since my fiancé has taken to calling me "bridezilla," I thought I would check out this light-hearted novel. The first few pages had me laughing out loud, and I finished the entire short book (204 pp.) by the next day. The chapters are a month-by-month countdown to the wedding of the main charachter, Eve. When she gets engaged, Eve feels triumphant, especially given her age (she is 36 and has never been married; I'm 34 and in the same boat). Soon, however, she becomes overwhelmed by the entire wedding planning process as well as the "rest of my life" implication of marriage; she starts seeing a therapist and taking Valium (the way she saves each precious Valium for the especially bad moments of her life is hilarious). The story throws in a few unexpected twists involving Eve's assorted group of friends, but you can probably guess the ending. Overall, I found this to be a fun, amusing book, and I would highly recommended it as a great tension reliever for other brides-to-be.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fun & Quick Read
Review: This is a great novel for anyone who's engaged or recently married. Although I'm still single, I was able to appreciate some of the main character's struggles as several of my friends were married within the past few months. This is a very light, fast read and the writing will keep you interested. But mainly, I would say don't read this unless you're about to get married or just did because it's specifically geared toward that type of reader audience.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I thought the book would be funnier than it was. I wished that I would have bought it used at Amazon rather than new in the bookstore. There are a few LOL moments, but you wonder why Eve is even going to marry Michael? Right up until the end as she is walking down the ailse, she is comparing her experience to what death must feel like. The funny parts include what we women think and experience before tying the knot: "What if you get married and you hate it? What if you have an affair? Would he leave you, or would you stay together? What if he has an affair? What if he goes bald?" The story is a little jumpy and not focused at all.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly delightful
Review: Written in a wry, wonderful voice that vacillates between hysterically funny to amazingly insightful, OTHERWISE ENGAGED chronicles a woman's journey from singleton to married with a depth not always found in many books of this type. This isn't a long book, but that's because the prose is clean and spare, not because the author doesn't have a lot to say. The tone is more literary, say, than DIARY OF A MAD BRIDE (which I thought was a hoot), but that doesn't make OE any less readable. Some might find Eve's obsessiveness and neurosis a bit over the top, but I would imagine that taking this step for the first time at 36, especially for a woman well ensconced in her career, might be more anxiety-producing than for a younger woman. In any case, I had no trouble buying into those anxieties. . .but what I most loved was how she always, always came back to realizing just how terrific her husband-to-be was, and deeply in love with him she was. And the last page brought tears to my eyes. One of my favorite books of the year, for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant.
Review: Also very witty and realistic, for those of us who approach marriage with eyes wide open. I enjoyed the month-by-month chronicle of Eve's year long engagement and was disappointed to see it end. I have also read The Zygote Chronicles, this author's new book (which had great reviews) and if possible, Finnamore has topped herself. I recommend both of her books with great enthusiasm.
Rating:
Summary: Oh what a treat....
Review: I loved this novel. My maid of honor gave it to me months ago while I was still crazy (engaged) and it truly made merealize that I was not the only one with pre-wedding panic. But it is so much more...plenty of nuggets of wisdom and several poignant passages that made it an all-around hit. The critics are right -- this one is a classic hilarious romp. Enjoy!!!!!!
| 
