Rating: Summary: revenge fantasies for betrayed women Review: If you're looking for a thoughtful, intelligent, uplifting book, this isn't it. If you're just looking for some light, mindless reading about women getting revenge on worthless husbands, then you might enjoy this book. In the right frame of mind, it could be funny to read about women doing cruel and illegal things to humiliate and defraud the men they once loved. It could even be therapeutic for women who feel powerless and betrayed. Just check your brains at the door before digging into this one.Young Wives insults our intelligence with a ridiculous and convoluted revenge plot. The author unsuccessfully tries to portray all men as bad, and women as good (except for bimbos who date married men of course). The bitter ex-wife revenge theme from First Wives Club is reworked here without the wit and humor of the earlier book. Despite the obvious efforts of the author, it was hard to sympathize with the wives. The women were just as bad (maybe worse) than the men. The book is insulting to both women and men, showing the worst stereotypes about bitter wives, scheming women, lazy black men, cheating husbands, and mobsters. Young Wives was the last Olivia Goldsmith book I read, and it will remain the last one I will ever read. I started with Bestseller, which was smart and witty, even though many of the characters were one-dimensional. I had fun trying to guess which real-life authors were being lampooned by the author. After that, the quality of the books went steadily downhill. Marrying Mom was light and fun. Fashionably late was pretty good, even though the characters (especially the mother) didn't ring true. Switcheroo was absurdly implausible and silly, but it was a fun read on the beach. I should have stopped there. I actually felt angry after reading this one. After reading several of Goldsmith's books, I can't help but wonder what inspired the author to create some of these characters. If I were a friend or colleague of the author's (or heaven forbid her husband), I would live in fear of disappointing her, lest she play out one of her revenge fantasies on me or write a character in her next book based on my worst traits.
Rating: Summary: For Man-Hater's Everywhere Review: I like Olivia Goldsmith. I have read several of her books and enjoyed them. They're not literature, but they're usually funny and diverting. She did the revenge thing in the "First Wives Club" book. That book was funny in a wickedly, cartoonish way. This one is not. This one resurrects the same plot and then adds a cynical, hard-edged extra-dose of unfettered hatred against men. The irony, of course, is that each of her characters neatly lines up a newer man to share her life at the same time she is revenging and dumping the first man who done her wrong in the first place. What drivel...can't live with 'em, obviously Olivia can't live without 'em either. Oh, except if one becomes a lesbian. Silly. I might have forgiven the plot if the women were more accountable for the choices they made in the first place. They're all innocent victims. Baloney. I note there are 7 copies of this available used in the dollar range. Don't waste your money.
Rating: Summary: Can't go wrong Review: Olivia Goldsmith is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and love them because she mixes a little drama, everyday life and lots of hilarious moments that anyone can relate too. If you want to try one of her books, I would recommend you start with Marrying Mom. I literally had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. It was wonderful as are all her books. Try them - I am sure you will like them as much as I have.
Rating: Summary: Ridiculous Review: Having read and enjoyed "The Bestseller" a few months back I was very disappointed with "Young Wives." It should have been entitled "First Wives Club Part II" because it has the same plot. I don't know how the author could have come up with ridiculous shemes for revenge. I will never again buy a book by Olivia Goldsmith.
Rating: Summary: In the end, they all get what they deserve.... Review: Starts off as a slow read (which is the only reason why I gave it 4 stars), laying out three lives that for the most part seem norm. As layer after layer is told, the three women in this book lives start to unravel. The story unfolded to the point of where I found myself not being able to put the book down. The paybacks on their former men go from simply funny, to extreme revenge. In the end, their former men get exactly what they deserve. Sorry for not giving too much away, however I thing this is a fantastic chick read!
Rating: Summary: An Enjoyable Escape Review: This is an enjoyable read. It allowed me to pretend what I could do if I were pushed to the extreme. I could also pretend that the male characters were past beaux who were facing just rewards. I could afford to go over the top (Crazy Glue!!Ouch!)since the events exist in fiction and my imagination. I am curious to know why Ms. Goldsmith did not use the names from First Wives Club, when there are such clear references to them. In other books (Bestseller) she has referred to characters from her books. Why not here? For those of you expecting reality, go somewhere else. For those of you looking for fun, stick through the first few chapters and enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Howlingly Funny! Review: This is the first Goldsmith book I've read, though I did see and enjoy "The First Wives Club" movie. It has interesting and believeable female characters, slimeball husbands, and a fabulous revenge plot, all of which make it entirely enjoyable in the hands of a very accomplished writer. While I personally like my hiss! boo! villians a little more nuanced, watching them receive their comeuppance was extremely satisfying. Goldsmith understands real female bonding. Her sub-theme of what happens when women's idealistic dreams are shattered, and how they must become independent to achieve lasting happiness, adds a certian poignancy to the book. Highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: Wickedly Funny Female Bonding Review: Call it First Wives-The Prequel. Having already demonstrated the pleasure of watching three middle-aged divorcées wreak vengeance on their slimeball exes, "First Wives Club" author Goldsmith now turns her delightfully wry eye on three more youthful brides, each wrestling with her own attempt at happily-ever-after. Half-Italian, half-Jewish lawyer Angela Rachel Goldfarb Romazzano Wakefield is celebrating the first anniversary of her marriage to a dashing Boston WASP. Michelle Russo is a perky blonde homemaker who married her childhood sweetheart and adores her kids and her plush suburban lifestyle. Bank manager Jada Jacksonhas three children and a hunk she describes as DDG (drop-dead gorgeous). But one by one, each of the women's love boats springs a leak. Disillusioned with lying, scheming and cheating by their mates, the girlfriends band together to find themselves, their dignity and a little bit of justice along the way. Yes, the plot is awfully similar to the author's other tale of wronged wives getting even. And naturally a film version of Young Wives is already in the works. But with irresistibly likable heroines limned by Goldsmith's laugh-out-loud prose, you won't mind a second showing.
Rating: Summary: revenge ok, setup phony Review: The revenge part of this book is fun, but the setup for it is totally phony, especially the courtroom scenes. This book had the greatest number of typographical and other errors I have ever encountered in a novel, especially by a well-known author.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable read about true Friendship Review: Thanks to Amazon.com that I'm able to do book reviews before investing my hard earned money into books that I won't enjoy. Reading the reviews have saved me alot of money. This was a good read, not because of the revenge plots, but it showed how so many things can go wrong in your life and who true your friends really are when things get tough. I liked the characters, they each had their own personalities and problems, and they didn't judge each other. It's really hard to find friends like that. We naturally assume that our spouses are our friends and sometimes that's just not the case. They are only "Spouses". It's a perfect example that we should keep some friends when you marry. You need them to lean on for hard times as well as good, and these ladies certainly had their share of embarassing moments. They were even too ashamed to turn to family. I liked all 3 characters and hope there's a part 2 coming.
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