Behaving Like Adults : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Right on the Money!
Review: I have read Anna Maxted's other books so I looked forward to her new novel. I waited patiently for it to come out in paperback; however, had I known it would be so helpful, so validating to a similar experience I had in college, I would have ordered it the minute it was released into print! Without being either morbid or gloomy, Maxted deals with the confusing emotions surrounding a date rape with clear cut behaviorial outbursts like no other. Holly's guilt, her confusion as to if she gave out inappropriate signals that brought on Stuart's behavior as well as her ensuing illnesses, memory lapses and erratic moods are all typical and symptomatic of such a trauma. But the most encouraging words of the book come upon Holly's acceptance and her resolve to move on and not wallow in the bitterness that could have paralyzed her. "I don't need Stuart punsihed in order to lead a happy life. I don't forgive him, I don't think that's necessary. But I have to give myself permission to live well, not to take my cue from him. It happened, and there's nothing I can do to unhappen it. But I can try to accept it, file it, and go forward. I won't say I'm trying to learn lessons from the thing itself--I don't think being a victim of a crime teaches you anything of value, I don't think suffering teaches you anything that you couldn't have learned in a pleasant, civilized alternative way. But my reaction to the whole experience and afterward have taught me a lot about me....I hope to be happier as a result of the knowledge." If I had heard that advice and wisdom long ago, it would have saved me a hundred missteps along the way.

Rating:
Summary: Leaves a lot to be desired ...
Review: I have read Ms. Maxted's 2 other novels and must say that this one -in comparison- was just awful. I did not feel that the story flowed at all. The main character aggrevated me to no end and the subject matter (heavy at times) did not lend itself to the chick lit genre. Chick lit is meant to be light and breezy. Some of teh material showed great promise but got bogged down with excessive detail (in particular the plane ride and it's aftermath -- very funny but took too long to tell the tale) I read several novels a week and rarely do I "jump book" but in this case I had to.

Rating:
Summary: It should have been more serious
Review: I like each book Maxted writes a little less than the previous one. But I was looking for a light read on a recent trip to Britain and thought the new Maxted would be just the thing. Unfortunately, this book is anything but light. After the rape at the beginning of the book I just got so mad that the main character, Holly, seemed to be dismissing that it was, indeed, a rape. Maxted really leaves the reader hanging for most of the book thinking that Holly isn't going to face this and the guy is just going to get away with it. I was about to stop reading halfway through, but I continued and was satisfied by the ending. If you're looking for some light Brit-chick-lit, skip this one and head for someone who handles the serious issues much better like Maggie O'Farrell. Otherwise, I'd recommend reading a different Maxted title, like 'Getting Over It'.

Rating:
Summary: I love Anna Maxted, but I couldn't finish this one...
Review: I loved Anna's other two books, especially "Getting Over It." I love her writing. I love her humor, and I love the fact that she gives substance to chick lit. I gave up on this book after 130 pages though. I tried, I really tried, but nothing grabbed me. I found 'Behaving LiIke Adults' too slow paced, too rambling, too long. Nothing clicked for me from the first page. There were a few golden moments; I loved the image of Holly farting all the way to her date with Stuart! I just didn't want to see her as a victim, even though she was. When she deliberately mis-matched her clients for date night I just thought "no" I can't take 350 more pages of this! I'm sorry Anna. I remain a fan. Honest.

Rating:
Summary: And Therefore Should Not Be Read By One
Review: I read Anna Maxtead's first two novels and couldn't wait for her next effort. In retrospect, I would have waited longer for a novel that kept me entertained. Her first two books were page turners, quirky and witty. This book meanders through some of the most implausible scenarios with some of the most inexcusable human behavior. Did she do ANY research into the emotional impact on a rape victim? It is criminal how almost lightly she treats this subject. And adoption? Does she have any idea how ridiculous her treatment of this issue became? Every woman in the book is a victim in some respect. Yes, dysfunction pervades our lives today, but she took it to the extreme. Ms. Maxtead's heroine is the owner of a dating/mating service, but it is clear that the author has no business sense, no human behavior sense and clearly no idea how such a service would work. The book rambles for almost 400 pages. On page 305 I finally found a light, witty note. That I was still reading that far into the book is a credit to my discipline, not Ms. Maxtead's writing.

Rating:
Summary: What a BORING book...
Review: I read reviews of Anna Maxted novels and was really excited to read this book .I expected something very funny and witty, I wanted to get a good laugh and also wanted to read a book that had a good plot that could hold my interest.I was dissapointed, BLA does have its funny parts mostly because of the character Nige, and I didnt get enough of him.Overall I found the characters to be bland and unoriginal,usually you should feel empathetic to the main character Holly, I didnt at all, she was too ditzy.Another reviewer said this book seems like an episode of 90210 I agree its one of those really bad episodes when they were in their 30's.

Rating:
Summary: Not Anna's best work
Review: I read Running in Heels and Getting Over It and was looking forward to reading Behaving Like Adults. The first few chapters or so were pretty good, then it all went downhill. I found myself skimming through at least the last 100 pgs, I just wanted to find out what happened at the end. I agree with other reviewers that there was no warning that the book is almost entirely about Holly's rape and how it messes up her life -- even looking at the cover and the description on the back it seems like a breezy chick lit book. It's def not! The book isn't horrible, but I am glad it was a gift and I didn't pay the 15 bucks for it.

Rating:
Summary: Better Luck Next Time Anna!!!
Review: I really enjoyed to first two books. I thought they were great stories that I could relate too. Plus I've been on an English Lit kick lately so I figured why not get the third book too? Well I gave it my best shot and it just didn't come off good at all. I tried to get into the story I really did, but no matter how much I tried it just wasn't going to happen. I gave up about a quarter into the book and started a different one. Oh well. Better luck next time Anna....

Rating:
Summary: Such high hopes...and such lows
Review: I was excited to see that Anna Maxted had written a new book. I am a big fan of her previous novels "Running in Heels" and "Getting Over It". I am not, however, a fan of this one. I could barely finish it and found myself just skimming through to the ridiculously stupid ending. I felt no empathy for the characters. It was contrived and at times, seemed like storylines taken out of "Beverly Hills 90210". I wish I could say more but I don't want to ruin it for those who may have the courage to want to read it. All I can say is, that while I was reading it, I kept thinking of what the publishers thought when they read the book. Did they honestly think it was quality work or were they just cashing in on the success of Anna Maxted from her previous books?

Rating:
Summary: Shocking Revelations
Review: Like "Running in Heels" and "Getting Over It", I wanted to throw this book out the window when I hit the middle chapters. At first I enjoyed the book. I could identify with Holly as a rape victim and some of her feelings. However, in the middle of the book when she realizes she hasn't had her period since the rape and she blames it on the stress FROM the rape...that's when it got a little silly. In Running in Heels it was anorexia, in Getting Over It Jasper moved back in...and now a pregnancy. From experience, I know that you actually DO worry about pregnancy and STDs and such...not just completely forget about it. And she had a rape exam and seeing as how it was a month later, I think they would have given her a test. Which would have made it a little hard for her to invent this baby. And the police officers did not seem realistic at all.

I enjoyed the first half of the book. It showed the emotional consequences of rape in a realistic way. But in the middle, the cops came in and catered to her every need, which is not realistic. The plush setting and sympathy were not realistic at all. And suddenly she's back with Nick and the world is wonderful.

Maxted's books always have a promising beginning, but somewhere in the middle it seems as though she got bored with the story and decided to throw something random in but didn't go back and try to blend it in with the story.