Call Waiting

Rating:
Summary: Emma is Back!
Review: Emma is back!! Yep, Emma from 32AA.

In Call Waiting, Emma is just turning 31. A year older, a year wiser (perhaps), this time with a steady boyfriend in tow, Emma writes down what she's accomplished in the past year, and makes some goals for her next year of life. These goals include moving her relationship with boyfriend Jack into the next phase, purchasing more Manolo Blahniks, and moving on in her career. Emma is still the sweet, somewhat scatty, obsessive-compulsive person she was in the last book, but seems to have developed a little more of a backbone. Many of the characters from "32AA" are also in Call Waiting, and they are all going through different things. Rachel, Emma's outspoken, genius friend has just discovered she is pregnant, much to her chagrin. Tish is itching to drag Rufus down the aisle before his mother sets him up with someone else. Katy, married-but-not-necessarily-happy, has just gotten promoted while her husband can't seem to find a job to save his life. Many other familiar colorful characters also make appearances throughout the story.

This time around, Emma has some different issues to contend with. For instance, boyfriend Jack keeps taking off on business trips with his beautiful boss Clare and not calling Emma to let her know when he will return. Emma's eccentric Aunt Alice has passed away, leaving Emma an inheritance, but before she can get it, she has to fulfill certain unclear requirements. At the same time, Emma's job is going down the tubes. She is downgraded to a telemarketers, of all things. (Emma is known for despising telemarketers and in fact has many ingenious ways to get rid of them when they call her!) Last but not least, the beautiful Clare seems determined to not only steal Jack, but also all of Emma's friends.

Will Emma's next year of life be as difficult as her previous one was? Will Clare succeed at stealing Jack from Emma? Will Emma ever figure out what she has to do (and how) to get her inheritance? Find out these answers, and much more, by reading Call Waiting.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The characters are all interesting and quirky. Emma is funny and endearing, and seems a little like an American version of Becky Bloomwood, sans the shopping habit. Her friend Rachel, whose rather colorful language made me laugh a lot in the first book, is a little more subdued this time around, but still pretty feisty. The story moves along fairly rapidly and is definitely not predictable. Also, since Call Waiting is told in first-person narrative, kind of in a loose diary format, I felt as though I was right there with Emma, experiencing everything with her and her friends.

The only thing about Call Waiting that I didn't like was the many story lines that were taking place all at once. There are at least 4 sub-plots in this book, and a couple of them seem pointless. Emma herself is going through so many different things, and with all the side stories added in, the book seemed to pull in too many directions. It was a little hard for me to keep track of. You will definitely have to stay on your toes while reading Call Waiting.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and recommend it for fun and breezy summer reading. The novel doesn't have much substance, but all the same it is enjoyable and funny with a cast of original characters. Emma herself has grown up a little (but not too much, thankfully!), and many will be able to relate with her many dilemmas in this book.

I certainly hope there is a third book in the series!



Rating:
Summary: Wonderful sequel to 32AA
Review: Having just discovered Michelle Cunnah's fun, entertaining debut novel, 32AA, a few weeks ago, I was excited to discover that the sequel, Call Waiting, has just been released. Ms. Cunnah's second book did not disappoint; I found the lovely but insecure heroine, Emma, just as engaging this time around. The scrapes Emma gets herself into are hilarious, yet seem realistic too (unlike in so many other, lesser chick lit novels). And while she may say or do ditzy things, her underlying intelligence and sweet nature always shine through. The leading man, Jack, is to die for, and his shortcomings (like failing to see through his boss's manipulations) seem realistically human and appealing. The only thing I did not like about Call Waiting was Rachel, Emma's best friend, who seems increasingly strident, self-absorbed and obnoxious. The rest of Emma's circle of friends is lovely, though.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Novel, but slightly disappointed after 32AA
Review: Having just read 32AA Michelle Cunnah's first novel, I was anxious to read Call Waiting, the sequel to Ms. Cunnah's debut novel. Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed. Not a bad novel in itself, one really needs to read 32AA in order to fully appreciate Call Waiting. It is unfortunate that Call Waiting cannot stand on its own, without referring constantly to the 32AA.

Call Waiting contains the same loveable Emma Taylor and her friends and new lover Jack Brown. Emma is still just as insecure as she was in Ms. Cunnah's first novel, and maybe even more so. A new character, Claire Parker pushes Emma to the brink, and Emma endures more than most women would tolerate.

Call Waiting is not a bad novel, but just was not quite up to par with 32AA. The novel wraps up a little too quickly, as all the loose ends are tied up in one swift moving chapter, and a little too cleanly I felt, with everyone living "happily ever after," which was a little too qirky.

It is worth a read, especially if you have read 32AA. If you have not read 32AA, read it first and you will be able to better appreciate Call Waiting.

Looking forward to Ms. Cunnah's next novel, and hopefully, we learn more about Emma Taylor.

Rating:
Summary: fun chick lit tale
Review: Having just turned thirty-one, Emma Taylor contentedly reflects back on her last year following the disasters just prior to her thirtieth birthday. Though not her first love (Led Zeppelin is first) she has been with Jack Brown for eight months and has reconciled with her underweight body accentuated by her 32AA boobs. She feels positive about her promotion to Junior Account Manager among the rest of achievements that her list includes. Emma draws up her list of goals for the upcoming year starting with tightening the covalently bonded relationship with Jack by moving in together and becoming engaged to marry perhaps next spring.

Jack fails to give Emma the engagement ring she finds in his drawer. She panics as her insecurities about being a skinny chick surface, worrying whether Jack has a commitment phobia or is in love with C-cup Claire. Unable to turn to her friend Rachel as she knows her advice would be ionic bonding, Emma decides to perform a social act to prove to her beloved that she is not just a bimbo he keeps on CALL WAITING. She joins HUSSI, Hoboken United Sisters Suffragette Institution, but will that send Jack on bended knee with a proposal or is he hanging up on her?

Though the constant lists can become irritating, chick lit fans will appreciate Emma's second lament following her 32AA woes. The story line focuses on the protagonist's doubts in her relationship with Jack, who seems oblivious to her fears and needs. Emma is a wonderful lead even if readers will wonder how Jack and her best friend Rachel remain relatively patient with this insecure soul, whose strategic lists help her overcome her self-bemoaning woes.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Great airplane book-easy to relate to character!
Review: I found myself saying "Why?!" and "punch her already!" This book had me into it. I got into the drama of her friends, interested in what was going on with their lives, waiting to see what relationship moves her boyfriend would (or wouldn't) make next, was jealous when Emma was...all in all the author did a good job of engaging me as a reader.
This is a great book for gals that sometimes feel out of the loop as far as dating and marriage or engagement, Emma is definitely the odd woman out in the group. But it doesn't consume her, and that is uplifting. I was able to relate to her phone calls with friends, the male friends were quite entertaining to say the least, and I was cheering for Emma to come out the winner in the end (in more ways than one).

The only drawback to this story, if you can call it that, is that there is no real depth or meaningful plot. It's a simple, quick, and light read. Perfect for the beach or at night to unwind after a day at work.

I'm definitely going to have to read her first book to see how it all started (although I enjoyed this book without having read the first).

Rating:
Summary: Highly entertaining, very well-written chick book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to 32AA, featuring the adventures of the insecure Emma Taylor and her circle of friends in Hoboken. In response to a previous reviewer who denigrated this book as a Bridget-Jones wannabe, I find Michelle Cunnah's writing to be much better than Helen Fielding's, and her characters to be much more appealing. If you're missing a sense of fun and humor, better skip this book. Otherwise, treat yourself to this perfect, frothy summer read.

Rating:
Summary: Wish Emma were my best friend
Review: I was lucky enough to be given Michele Cunnah's two books, 32AA and this one, as a present last week. I devoured them in two days, and then had to read them both again, cover to cover! The main character can be a bit neurotic and ditzy, but she's a sweetie. I love those lists she's always making about her goals in life. Her adventures with the gorgeous Jack, and her amusing friends, make me want to visit Hoboken right this minute. I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of Emma Taylor!

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Once again, Michelle Cunah has succeeded in bringing her main character Emma, alive on the page.

This is definitely a chick lit book, but the author manages to make her story interesting and gives her main character some personality and finally (a tad) more guts.

The writing is fun and breezy and although this is certainly not the most literate of reads, this book is a great beach read and I hope that Cunah is working on a third book in this charming series.

Rating:
Summary: Can people please stop trying to copy Bridget Jones' Diary?
Review: Publishers have often told me that chick lit is designed to appeal to the 20-something crowd. WE'RE IN TROUBLE IF THIS IS THE MENTALLY OF THE 20-SOMETHING CROWD!! Shallow, Vain, Insecure. Why would someone promote this virtues for the future generation by creating a character with these qualities? Not to mention the lists are TERRIBLY ANNOYING.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, but rips off BJ
Review: This book could have been so much better. The writing is terrific, the dialogue is great and the main character seems nice. The problem? It's a huge Bridget Jones clone! The book relies waaaay too much on the tired, "single girl in the city" routine. It also borrows too much from 32AA (this book is the sequel to that one). 32AA was a lot of fun, even though it was still very Bridget Jones-ish. However, Call Waiting recycles both Bridget and 32AA. Nothing new or fresh here. But if you loved Bridget Jones and you aren't tired of that plotline, then definitely check it out.