Rating: 
Summary: A Total Delight
Review: Once again, Elinor Lipman has created a novel that is delightful, hilarious, and utterly compelling. Even the thoroughly revolting Nash is irresistably slimy. The three sisters are so acutely drawn -- each one has her own clear and definitive personality, yet the tie that binds them together--and brother Richard--is strong and touching. I was moved as often as I laughed out loud at the struggles of the sisters to make connections in their lonely world. My main complaint--as with all Lipman's books--was that the story had to end. In every one of her books -- all of which I've read and loved -- I feel that her characters have become my friends, and I'm always sorry to lose them.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute and charming!
Review: The characters in The Ladies' Man are quite enchanting. The story has the kind of charm that should sweeten up the toughest reader out there. Having failed as a jingle composer, Nash Harvey, a heartbreaking womanizer, reappears in the lives of the Dobbin sisters. This wouldn't be so hard if he hadn't disappeared on the night he was celebrating his engagement to Adele Dobbin. Why is he back after thirty years? Does it have anything to do with the fact that he is now a middle-aged lonely man? One thing is certain though: the Dobbin sisters will never be the same. This is a very cute and charming romantic comedy that should be saved for those times in which you are in the mood for something light and breezy. Let's face it, every reader should indulge in something pleasantly light from time to time. And you can never go wrong with Elinor Lipman.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Read
Review: The Ladies Man is an interesting book about relationships. In this title one man comes back almost 30 years later to apologize to the woman he jilted at the alter. His return leads to some comical and touching situations. As I read I thought this poor guy... he really can't help himself. The three Dobbin Sisters live together. They still line up old milk and soda bottles at their front door for an alarm system. But don't let the old habit fool you because when it comes to relationships these ladies are as modern as they come. Adele is the jilted bride of long ago. She works to raise money for the Public Broadcasting Station. Nash is the outlaw groom returning to make amends. He is a man with a weakness beyond his control. The reader will meet Adele's sisters: Kathleen who owns a lingerie shop and Lois who works for the Commonwealth and there is her brother Richard who has yet to marry either. The author has written a mature novel about love, sex, romance and learning the difference.
Rating:
Summary: A fun and readable book...
Review: This is only the 2nd book I've read by Elinor Lipman, but it certainly won't be the last. This one is even better than the other one I read, The Inn at Lake Devine. It is definitely funnier and kept me turning pages. The Ladies' Man is set in Boston and tells the story of the three Dobbins sisters, Adele, Lois and Kathleen, all set in spinsterhood, and Nash Harvey, the man who dumped Adele on the night of their engagement party 30 years before. It seems Nash can't move forward in his life (relationship or otherwise) without first mending ways with Adele. So he leaves his girlfriend in California, flies to Boston (and of course, makes a date with Cynthia, his plane-mate), and shows up on Adele's doorstop out of the clear blue. Thing is, Adele is not willing to forgive him. Regardless, Nash's stay in Boston has an effect on her as well as her sisters and brother, Richard, in different and funny ways. And of course, Nash's "Ladies' Man" ways are evident from the very first page. I really enjoyed this book. It was a simple story, but very interesting and fun to see what would happen next. I recommend The Ladies' Man as a quick, light read and one that will no doubt entertain readers 100 percent. Will be reading more by Elinor, guaranteed!
Rating:
Summary: A fun and readable book...
Review: This is only the 2nd book I've read by Elinor Lipman, but it certainly won't be the last. This one is even better than the other one I read, The Inn at Lake Devine. It is definitely funnier and kept me turning pages. The Ladies' Man is set in Boston and tells the story of the three Dobbins sisters, Adele, Lois and Kathleen, all set in spinsterhood, and Nash Harvey, the man who dumped Adele on the night of their engagement party 30 years before. It seems Nash can't move forward in his life (relationship or otherwise) without first mending ways with Adele. So he leaves his girlfriend in California, flies to Boston (and of course, makes a date with Cynthia, his plane-mate), and shows up on Adele's doorstop out of the clear blue. Thing is, Adele is not willing to forgive him. Regardless, Nash's stay in Boston has an effect on her as well as her sisters and brother, Richard, in different and funny ways. And of course, Nash's "Ladies' Man" ways are evident from the very first page. I really enjoyed this book. It was a simple story, but very interesting and fun to see what would happen next. I recommend The Ladies' Man as a quick, light read and one that will no doubt entertain readers 100 percent. Will be reading more by Elinor, guaranteed!
Rating: 
Summary: Ultimately disappointing.
Review: This novel is amusing enough but ultimately unsatisfying. The characters, who are all in great need of making fundamental life changes, do not change at all, or else they change so slowly that the novel ends before their fates become clear. I ended up wanting more of some characters, particularly the three sisters that form the centerpiece of the novel, and less of others, particularly the "ladies' man's" girlfriend stranded back in California. The whole book felt a little askew, trying to say something but not quite succeeding. Disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: nice read, but not my favorite Lipman
Review: This was an enjoyable read. The characters are funny, engaging and familiar. The story is primarily about 3 sisters who have all settled into spinsterhood and live together. Then this guy, Harvey Nash, a true ladies man, comes back into their lives, supposedly seeking forgiveness from Adele, the sister he'd left at the alter many many years ago. His presence ripples into their supposed contentment, with intriguing results. Nothing truly sensational happens, just a series of related events that kind of fold into eachother. This isn't my favorite Lipman, but it's not because it's written any worse or the characters less engaging than those in "The Inn at Lake Divine" or "Isabel's Bed" (my two favorites). It's because the characters were simply older, and their story less familiar. Therefore, it was more a glimpse into the lives of others only, rather than something I felt I could immediately relate to. Nevertheless, I definately recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: nice read, but not my favorite Lipman
Review: This was an enjoyable read. The characters are funny, engaging and familiar. The story is primarily about 3 sisters who have all settled into spinsterhood and live together. Then this guy, Harvey Nash, a true ladies man, comes back into their lives, supposedly seeking forgiveness from Adele, the sister he'd left at the alter many many years ago. His presence ripples into their supposed contentment, with intriguing results. Nothing truly sensational happens, just a series of related events that kind of fold into eachother. This isn't my favorite Lipman, but it's not because it's written any worse or the characters less engaging than those in "The Inn at Lake Divine" or "Isabel's Bed" (my two favorites). It's because the characters were simply older, and their story less familiar. Therefore, it was more a glimpse into the lives of others only, rather than something I felt I could immediately relate to. Nevertheless, I definately recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A great light-hearted read!
Review: This was the second book I read by Elinor Lipman. The first--"Isabel's Bed" had something missing. Nonetheless, "Isabel's Bed" prompted me to try Lipman for a second time when I picked up "Ladies' Man." This book had me hooked from the very first sentence, and it didn't let go. It's not easy to find a "funny" book--many make that promise, but few seems to actually come through. This book was extremely witty. It's the story of the three Dobbin sisters, Adele, Lois, and Kathleen. Suddenly, out-of-the-blue, Harvey Nash appears on the Dobbin sisters' doorstep in the wee hours--thirty years after he jilted Adele. Harvey Nash's story is that he has come to apologize, but what does he REALLY want? For 260 glorious pages, I giggled at Harvey's selfishness, and I couldn't wait for him to finally get the comeuppance he so deserved. All the characters were well-developed, and this was an utterly delightful book. I sent several copies to friends as presents. If you want a good read--one that involves you with the characters--I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: not much substance
Review: This was the third Elinor Lipman book that I have read this summer and this was the least interesting of the three. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Inn at Lake Devine' and 'The Way Men Act' but was bored with this one. I find it hard to believe that the Dobbin sisters waited until Harvey Nash came back into their lives to find any sort of excitment or romance. Since Harvey Nash had no redeeming qualities I found it difficult to care about his character.
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