Bad Boy (Nova Audio Books)

Rating:
Summary: Too predictable
Review: I love Olivia Goldsmith's books ~~ she has a saucy way of writing that just draws the reader into the world she has created ... but I am sad to say that this book isn't one of them. It's a big disappointment because I really was looking forward to reading this book!! However, if you're looking for a fun twist on romantic comedy ~~ this book isn't it.

Tracie always go for the bad boy ~~ the tough guy who treats his women like dirt ~~ and they keep coming back for more. Jon, her best friend, is desperate to get a date ~~ so he asked Tracie for a makeover into a bad boy ~~ only to discover women were falling for him or is it for his bad boy image?

Goldsmith explores the phenomenon on why women are attracted to the "bad boy" and not the nice boys, like Jon. But she didn't go into depth ~~ it's almost as if she wrote this book in a hurry as it's not typical of her writing style at all.

It's still a good read ~~ but save it for the afternoon at the beach.

4-5-02

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: I read this book in less than a day and found it very funny. I was deeply impressed by Goldsmith's writing talent and I hope to read many more of her books. I recommend this book especially to single women and men under thirty-five who are still dating and who might very well see themselves reflected in one of this book's characters. I was able to see my "bad boy" boyfriend more clearly.

Rating:
Summary: Uggh
Review: I really dislike this book and I am only 1/2 through it! There are so many inaccuracies. The main one, as it is pointed out:
You CANNOT fly from Tacoma to Seattle! Especially in a DC10. Besides the fact that it is not a likely situation, there is no airport in Tacoma, Washington that can have a DC10 fly out of it! The fact checker majorly failed.
Another glaring error is Goldsmith's lack of research on the Seattle area. One main reason I bought this book is that I love reading books about my home area. But 1, you can not get to downtown Seattle from Bainbridge, the Bainbridge ferry goes to West Seattle, a long way from downtown. and 2, it would take WAY over an hour to eat breakfast, ride to the ferry terminal, and get to Seattle.
I am appalled by the lack of research that went into this book. Not to mention the quivering lack of originallity that Goldsmith put into the plot. I found this book in the "Fiction/Literature" section of Barnes and Noble, it should be in Romance, or even the bargin bin.

Rating:
Summary: surprising! a nice twist on the romantic comedy
Review: I was intrigued by the this book because, frankly, I love makeovers. The fact that I've read a thousand cinderella stories and seen nearly as many romantic comedies in the same vein never stop me from indulging in one more. Usually the outcome is predictable and the route, although sometimes varied, usually progresses on autopilot. "Bad Boy" was right on target for the first half of the book; Goldsmith created a likeable heroine, an even more likeable hero, the loyal heroine sidekick, a smart-mouthed fairy godmother/waitress, and lots of fun minor characters. In the second half of the book, she starts scrambling emotions and motivations and people get scared and startled and even, gasp, gain weight in response to emotional deprivation. (Question: Why do you never see Meg Ryan polish off a pint of Ben & Jerry's whenever Tom Hanks/Billy Crystal/etc does something obnoxious?)

The book's premise is that Jon and Tracie have been friends for seven years and meet once a week so that Jon can moan about being a social pariah (but a very successful professional computer genius) and Tracie can moan about falling for jerks and hating her job (no "but very successful" for her). Because Tracie is an expert on bad boys and bad boys always get laid, Jon enlists Tracie's help to become a bad boy. He succeeds, of course, but in the process Tracie realizes that she's completely missed the sexual aspect of Jon's personality and can't understand the source of her insane jealousy after every woman in Seattle suddenly wants him (I was waiting for a fountain to light up and erupt as in "Clueless").

However, the second half of the book, although it does progress somewhat along the expected track, is riveting. I was fascinated by Jon's transformation and also with Tracie's. I really liked both characters, but emphathized more with Jon's and was thrilled that Goldsmith let him question every step and conquest rather than just be led blindly by Tracie. We hear some of his inner monologue and it isn't telepathically injected into Tracie's thoughts in the next paragraph. The writing is quick and well-tempoed, and Goldsmith's romantic suspense lends just the right amount of reader agony. "Bad Boy" won't be up for a Pulitzer, but it is a fun book with some substance beneath the fluff.

Rating:
Summary: trash to the trash
Review: If you want to find out what this book is about read the other reviews, they are fine for that. I'll just give you my opinion as a male reader who hasn't read a chick book since Wuthering Heights.

This book is fantastic! The fairest review is the one by "A reader from Fort Worth, TX United States" - the book isn't deep and the characters are annoying, yes, but it's funny and sharp and flows well but most importantly, it accurately reflects reality! Reality has annoying people in it who make lots of big mistakes in their lives!

If you want to read about perfect people stick to Disney children's books. If you want to read an interesting critique on female courting behaviour that isn't keeping up with the modern age, then read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Made me want to read again!
Review: In a sentence "Bad Boy" is the journey of Tracie and her best guy friend Jon, her "bad" boyfriend Phil, and the lesson she learns the hardway.
I happened upon "Bad Boy" by accident and found a wonderful surprise. I loved everything about the novel from Tracie's relationships with her girlfriends to her attraction to the wrong kinds of men. The witty banter between the characters and the realness of the characters' emotions at any given time was dead on. Though some would classify this a "chick book" I recommend this book to men and women, "I even gave it to a guy friend at work."

Rating:
Summary: Turn About Is Fair Play...
Review: This book was horrible! The main character is self absorbed and one dimensional. Her nerdy best friend is in love with her, for reasons that are unknown to me, because she treats him like...and takes him for granted. She doesn't seem to mind that her "boyfriend" Phil uses her and is interested in other girls.

The editing was horrible, just like the plot line. Just because Tracie and her friends are stupid enough to stay with "bad boys" doesn't mean every other girl in the world is. And it does seem kind of shallow of Tracie to realize she was in love with her friend Jon after she made him look hot. GOD THIS BOOK ANNOYED ME. I only finished because I have a pact with myself to finish any book I pick up and begin to read. Oh and the only reason I bought it was because it was 75% off.God it was definitley a waste of...I would not wish this book upon anyone.

If you still want to read it, even after I warned you about it, you are in for lots of boredom and pain.

Rating:
Summary: I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!
Review: This was the first book I read by Olivia Goldsmith. I was in love with it from the first page to the last. It is a perfect book for a rainy day or at the beach relaxing. The book had everything to make you smile. When I finished the book I couldnt wait to get more of her books. Right now Im reading Pen Pals. Its quite interesting I recommend it to anyone who loves novels about hardships, and getting through tough times. I have to agree with Nelson DeMille Bad Boy is "Olivia Goldsmith at her best- funny, sexy, hip, and very clever."

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: Yes...it's predictable...and perhaps Olivia Goldsmith hasn't researched Seattle that well. It is chick lit...and not feminist literature. But it's hilarious...There are some chick lits that are on autopilot, and it's a chore to finish this book. And then there's this book -- which I stayed up all night to finish. It is simply hilarious -- the way she describes nerdy tech guys. Yes the premise of the book relies on heavy steryotypes, but it's still very fun and interesting. It's definitely up there with my favorite chick lit books.