Rating: 
Summary: Mystified in Manhattan
Review: Mystified as to how this book can be considered a good mystery. I was hoping for a fun romp through the world of women's magazines. However, Ms. White barely dips into this arena which is unfortunate given that those rare moments are the most fun in the entire book. The characters are two-dimensional bordering on the cliche... We never even get a good description of the office or Cat's domain -- her private office. There were two or three chapters when the pacing was right on, but for the most part the plot drags. Ms. White does a great job in the first chapter setting up this mystery but takes an over long 350 pages to meander through possible solutions (a chapter for each character as possible suspect -- boring!)before rushing to finish. Ultimately, she never even wraps up one of the key incidents/story lines in the book: who was responsible for attacking her at Landon's home in Buck's county? This is just plain sloppy. The worst news of all is that the last line of the book leaves the door open for another installment.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining? Yes. Groundbreaking? No.
Review: I, too, was expecting to do backflips over this book, based on the reviews I had heard. While I can't say it was a waste of my time (especially since it took only a day-and-a-half to read), and it was entertaining, I was left scratching my head as to what the fuss was all about.
This book would have been a lot better had Kate White spent less time describing the various breakfasts, lunches, and dinners Bailey consumed, and more time on character development. Also, for someone in the magazine world, White's description of what goes on behind the making of a fashion magazine was rather bland. I must admit the cracking the case alongside Bailey was fun, even though the plot twists were easy to spot. The ending was way too quick. White spent more time describing Bailey's public transportation woes than she did explaining the motives of the killer.
There is potential in this book, and I would be interested in seeing how this series develops. However, reading it made me wonder whether or not it would have been published to such rave reviews had Jane Noname submitted it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Job Kate...
Review: First of all I'd like to give a few of these mean-spirited and hateful BAD REVIEWERS a piece of my mind... I think Elana Ayalon from New York and Sherman 7 also from New York are the very same person -- Maybe even a few of the other bad reviewer as well... That being said, even if they aren't these so-called book reviewers are jackasses plain and simple. No doubt failed authors that are only posting hateful comments out of spite and jealousy of this writer. Jealous that Ms. Rippa selected her book over theirs! Maybe all you green-eyed monsters should do something more constructive with all that spare time on your hands...why not change vocations in life and become nicer human beings for starters??? Now that's a nice idea! I will say a prayer for each and every one of you jerks! Now for my review... If Looks Could Kill by Kate White is a wonderful story. The characters are entertaining, the dialogue sharp, and the plot is full of suspense and intrigue! I look forward to Ms. White's next literary BESTSELLER!!!
Rating:
Summary: Bright and breezy debut (with reservations)
Review: This is an easy, slight, amusing, thoroughly enjoyable read, marred by a clumsily executed denouement. It lacks the literary merits of P.D. James at her best, or the outright hilarity and juice of anything by Janet Evanovich. But for a mass market disposable mystery, it ain't bad. Impressive as a debut, actually. I would certainly check in again with Bailey Weggins should there be a sequel. (By the way, I took this out of the library and might suggest you do the same. That way, you won't feel cheated if you hate it.)
Rating: 
Summary: It's a Mystery Why It's Selling: Bad Writing, Worse Plot
Review: Stop NOW and do not add this to your cart. While this book has been plugged by celebs who may hope a kind word will do them good with it's author, who's the editor of Cosmo, there's not a mystery book on the racks that isn't better-written than this one. A totally haphazard solution, leaden, interchangeable characters, prose with the rhythm and style of a sickly pigeon -- a terrible disappointment, given the build-up.
Rating:
Summary: Good Summer Read!
Review: If Looks Could Kill is a good summer read - moves quickly with interesting characters and some laughs, but does tend to drag a bit.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing read
Review: If you want a funny book that deals with magazine publishing, check out Marian Keyes "Sushi for Beginners". It's not out in the US yet but can be ordered through Amazon.uk. It's a much funnier book with heroines who actually qualify as "gutsy". I thought "If looks could kill" was very [bad] and the main characters were a pretty unappealing lot. Must the women in this books be obsessed with men that treat them like they're disposable? Do most of the men have to come across as jerks? The mystery itself was not terribly clever, the characters were cardboard and there wasn't enough magazine publishing details to really make it fun. Personally I would have much preferred a version where the detective was the deposed editor in chief (i.e. the Helen Gurley Brown character. At least it would have been a little more imaginative.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to take to the beach!
Review: I thought this book was great. It's an easy read that keeps you guessing all the way till the end. It's a book that let's you escape into a world of glamour and dysfunction.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Kate...
Review: So folks are ticked at Kelly Ripa on a personal level for recommending this book? Give her a break, it was a personal preference, she's still cute as could be and sooooo much better than Kreepie Lee Gifford any day of the week. Oprah tanked on many a book club book. MANY. On to the book... so, it's marketed as Bridget Jones meets Nancy Drew... the flap of the book even touts its comparisons to Sex and the City. BIG FAT LIE. It has none of Bridget's achingly real self deprecation or hilarity. It has none of Nancy Drew's even eighth grade level of suspense. It has not an ounce of Sex and the City's heat. This book is at best a knock off of anything written by Mary Higgins Clark with a slightly (SLIGHTLY!!) hipper heroine. It's awful. The characters are totally one dimensional. If Kate White can't be bothered to invest in Bailey (her main character) why the heck should I? Bailey is cute and smart and sexy but only because she says so. There is not a written word in the whole book to suggest that it is true. Her boss Cat is the shallowest of them all. Everyone in this story is typecast. Leslie=Witch. Cat=Shallow. KC=Commitmentphobe (*note to Kate- borrowing a one word phrase from Bridget is not enough to qualify as Bridgetesque book). This book is strictly PG and if Kate White has any sense she'll pull the sheet off her ghostwriter immediately. Wait for the paperback, but if you can't wait, at least save your money and take it out of the library. ...
Rating:
Summary: Great Job by Kelly Ripa
Review: I purchased this book after hearing it was the first selection by Kelly Ripa for her book club. I really enjoyed this book - there were plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting and fun. The book is a pretty quick read and I found it hard to put down. A friend of mine borrowed my copy and enjoyed it also. Hope all of Kelly's picks are as good as this one.
| 
