Rating: 
Summary: i havent read it so dont really judge by me
Review: i havent read it yet, but half way through the blurb, i could have sworn that i did. so its just another one of the same...
Rating: 
Summary: Is it predictable? Slightly, but such fun!
Review: Meet Tracey Spadolini. She's an average girl with average insecurities. She hates her body, she hates her job, she hates her tiny, grungy studio with no air-conditioning, and most of all she hates that her boyfriend Will, an aspiring actor, is leaving her to sizzle during NYC's hottest time of year to do summer stock upstate. What is a girl to do? Well, Tracy is determined to make the most of her summer. She's going to totally re-vitalize herself so that when Will returns, he will recognize the relationship he has and be willing to take the next step. She's going to lose weight, save money, brush up on her scholarly classics, and generally become the girl she's always wanted to be. Along the course of self-improvement, Tracey meets Buckley. After a somewhat embarrassing incident, the two move on to become friends. Buckley is everything Will is not. He's considerate, attentive, and steady. Tracey begins to realize that maybe she doesn't have to settle and begins a road to self-discovery that goes beyond weight, money, and finishing "Gulliver's Travels."
Markham has created a believable character in Tracey Spadolini. Through the author's easy-going and familiar style, the reader is able to sympathize in Tracey's downfalls and delight in her triumphs. This book is an easy read and is a great way to spend an afternoon. Watch out, this book may surprise you, slightly!
Rating: 
Summary: Unoriginal and unimaginative
Review: Have you read Bridget Jones's Diary? What about Good in Bed? If you have, Slightly Single is going to seem very familiar. If you haven't, I suggest you skip Slightly Single and read either of those books, instead. Why? Slightly Single isn't a bad book, it's just not the best book of its kind. It has all the elements of the late-90's (and beyond) novel that publishers market to women: Struggles with body image, the search for true love, eccentric friends/family, romantic mishaps, excruciatingly embarrassing situations, city living, etc. Slightly Single is not even a new take on a familiar formula. There's nothing here that some author hasn't done somewhere else, and better. The way I see it, if you're going to read something that's derivative, you might as well read something more interesting than this book. It seems that a good number (all?) of the books published by Red Dress Ink follow this formula, so you have a good number of such books from which to choose. I would recommend Diary of an Ex-Girlfriend over Slightly Single. It's funnier, and the heroine is less pathetic.
Rating:
Summary: Brittle story and underdeveloped character
Review: I wanted to like Slightly Single, really. However, Markham has not created a novel worth recommending, and Slightly Single adds nothing to the already deluged chick-lit genre -- and I really enjoy this genre. The main character, Tracey, spends the whole novel mooning over her absentee 'boyfriend', and basically engages in a 280 page whine-fest. Yes, I understand it's hard being away from the person you care about, but come on -- this genre is meant to offer escape and hope, not a detailing of a single girl's worst qualities. In addition, you don't receive any depth of detail about anything other than Tracey's broken heart. Character development through her job? Character development through her personal motivations on her self-improvement kick? Character development through her family? Character development in general? Sadly, no no no and no. Is Tracey really meant to be this superficial, in that her whole life revolves around an arrogant, unworthy guy? Perhaps. However, if that's the case, then even that angle is not properly developed.There are so many chick-lit books out there, and nearly all of them are better than this. Read this if you must, but you'd be better off reading a book like Good in Bed or Milkrun. Those are both good examples of how chick-lit should be written.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't the author get how sad this is?
Review: First of all, I'd like to mention that I normally love the "chick lit" genre. I think a lot of us do. I don't expect it to be deep or anything; mostly light and fun. But, when I started this book, after about 10 pages, I realized: "I don't have to finish it! I know exactly how it's going to end!" But, I did finish it. I was hoping it would turn around and prove me wrong. So, it starts out with Tracey. The insecure, slightly overweight woman who is obsessed with her boyfriend for half of the book and obsessed with her weight for the other half. Her boyfriend is an actor who leaves to do summer stock, in another part of New York. They have been together three years, but strangely enough, he has never really treated her right, but she has always stayed with him. She is constantly fretting over girls that he knows who have "Pamela Anderson bodies and Catherine Zeta Jones faces." She thinks that if she loses weight, gets rid of clutter, makes some money, and reads classics, her boyfriend Will, will see how wonderful she is, after having reinvented herself. Enter Buckley. The boy next door, handsome, but not too handsome sweetheart of a guy. She met him at her friend Raphael's party and assumes he's gay, as does Raphael, because he wants Buckley. She continues to think he's gay, until they go on a pseudo-date, and Buckley kisses her. She exclaims, "OH! We are on a date???" Hello, Tracey!! When the character was introduced even I saw that he would like you, because things like this happen in books like this. So, that was pretty cheesy. He stays her friend, through everything and is supportive and wonderful. I just dislike this book. I wish the main character was stronger and not pathetic. She says, "I'd gladly swap everything between my ribs and clavicle for a flat chest if it came with the ten year old boy body I so covet." Everything seems to be about appearances. Even her boyfriend Will looks like a cross between "Ben and Noel on Felicity." PLEASE!!! The saddest part is when she starts to lose weight, then feels sorry for her sister for being overweight, and her family for being so tacky. "Don't overdo it," my sister warns, sounding just like my mother. I look at my sister, standing there in her sweatpants and sweatshirt that do little to conceal her belly and hips and thighs, and I feel sorry for her. Basically, she lives on 1,000 calories a day, she skips breakfast and lunch to fit into some little dress, and is surprised when her boyfriend still doesn't want her. Maybe because he sees her like she sees herself: Not good enough for him and concentrating on things that aren't as important as she thinks they are. Like her self obsessed appearance. I did give one extra star because the author is able to grasp the pain of break-ups, and you actually start to feel sorry for the character, at least for a little while.
Rating:
Summary: Breaking up is hard!
Review: This was a fantastic, quick read. Tracy is like so many of us -- her life isn't fully put together -- she's poor, she hates her job, she thinks she's fat ..... the thing she likes in her life seems to be her self absorbed boyfriend, Will. Only she doesn't quite realize how worthless he is. Have you ever been so into a guy that you've built up a dream world around him and been desperate at the thought of living without him? Tracy loves this guy to death... and makes excuses for his bad behavior. I found myself wanting to scream at her at times -- "Wake up! You can do so much better!!" The book takes you on her journey of self discovery. She gains self confidence, sets goals, learns to accept herself, and most of all discovers that she can survive without Will.... maybe even be happy without him. And there just might be a better guy around the corner. This is the perfect book for anyone going through a break up or someone who just needs a reminder that being single has it's good points. Also, this was a nice departure from the usual "girl meets guy/girl gets guy" kind of book.
Rating:
Summary: Women Power!
Review: I loved this book! It reminded me how strong women can be and made me want to be as well! The book was really entertaining and uplifting. You feel like flicking off all the jerks that ever treated you bad after reading this book!
Rating:
Summary: This is absolutely pedestrian...
Review: If you're looking for an admirable, intelligent, witty, and emotionally strong protagonist, put this book down immediately and run. I am a fan of "chick books." I LOVED "Bridget Jones' Diary" and even "4 Blondes." Granted, every women is insecure and enjoys reading about other women being insecure so that it all feels normal. But, Tracy is very unknowing and not endearing in a "Mary Jo Buttafuco" way. Any woman who dates a man (Will) for 6 years and allows him to treat her like a homeless man Will would walk over at the West 4th subway station, is just plain infuriating. Also, I wouldn't waste my time reading about a character who doesn't realize her boyfriend is cheating on her even after Will's friends meet Tracy and are SHOCKED that Will has a girlfriend. It goes on and on....
Rating:
Summary: An amusing Bridget Jones type story of single life
Review: Courtesy of Love Romances Tracey Spadolini is a young Italian woman who recently moved to New York City, is stuck there for the summer. Her boyfriend, Will, an aspiring actor, is off to Summer Stock without her. She is absolutely crazy about him (maybe even a little bit obsessive) and can't stand the thought of being separated for three long months. Will sure doesn't seem to mind though, and this disturbs her. When all of her suggestions for ways to remain close during that time - going with him, regular visits, phone calls, e-mail, letters - are oh so "logically" shot down by Will, Tracey decides to grin and bear it, convinced he will miss her as much as she will him, and he will keep in touch as often as he can. After all, he loves her as much as she loves him, doesn't he? Tracey decides to put their three-month separation to good use, so as to surprise him when he returns. She will lose weight, start an exercise program, read classic literature, and save money. When Will comes back he'll be so blown away by the new her that he will never want to be apart again. Or so she believes... With the help of her well-meaning friends and co-workers, and one guy who would be perfect if only he were Will, her quest for the new and improved Tracey takes off with a bang! In the meantime she learns a very valuable lesson...how to love herself. This is a delightfully humorous read, full of belly laughs and groans. Tracey is obsessive about Will, to the point it would be irritatingly pathetic, if not for her quirky sense of humor and her sarcasm. Her friends are a riot, with every one of them having a different idea for how Tracey can reach her summer goals. Her boss is a jerk, but who hasn't had a boss like Jake at some point in their life? Will is the stereotypical self-absorbed bad actor who thinks he is better then he is and feels the whole world should revolve around him. This reviewer, who has had her own share of Wills throughout her own SLIGHTLY SINGLE life, sometimes finds herself praying for Tracey to wake up and smell the cappuccino, and other times cheering for her in her decisions. This book will remind every woman of the string of Mr. Wrongs encountered as they search for their own personal Mr. Rights. It is almost scary how honest and true to life this book is. It is a fun read for a beach day, or a steamy evening in one's own un-air conditioned abode like Tracey's.
Rating:
Summary: Major Disappointment
Review: Buying this book, I knew that it would have no literary value but I wanted something to read during my beach vacation. Something that would not make me think and relax, just have fun.. But I realized while reading this book that it got boring (maybe because this was my 5th chick book). It was the same story over and over. Only I totally disliked Wendy Markham's main character. I mean, my God! Please all single females out there.. Please have some spine. Do not, and I beg you, please do not associate yourselves with this pitiful character. Women need to read better novels with some stronger female characters. Even during a beach vacation. I disliked this book. I disliked the way she portrayed the single woman and it is even more disappointing to come here and read some reviews "All single women should read this book.." I did not relate to this character at all. I was hurt too during relationships. But thank God, I do not think I ever let myself get this low.
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