Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read
Review: It's been about two years since I read Girlfriends but I was pretty good. I bought it at Wal-Mart desparate for a book to read and came across this one. I'm glad I read the book, thought I made a good choice. All I have to say is the bathroom incedent is hilarious.
Rating: 
Summary: How could anyone not have fun with this novel?
Review: It's hard to believe (and a little bit scary) that from reading the acknowledgments, Patrick Sanchez knocked on many agent's doors before getting this published. Yes, if you read the plot description and look at the cover, it does look like ' a typical book of women on the dating scene', but you'll be pleasantly surprised. I looked at it in the bookstore, read the author bio and saw how friendly, accessible, and happy he was to be published, and how hard he worked. That usually gets my attention (I definitely respect and admire such authors that appreciate their readers), so I flipped through, read a few random paragraphs, bit my lip to keep from laughing and making the clerk think I was a weirdo, and picked it up right away. I was into it from the first page, and would have read it in one sitting if I hadn't had to take a break to drive somewhere.The tagline compares the novel to Sex and the City, but as far as I'm concerned, that's not giving the book enough credit. Girlfriends is much more amusing, addictive, and has characters you can identify with. One has a dreary customer service job--oh boy, have some of us been there-- unlike characters in typical women-in-the-dating scene novels who seem to usually be making salaries in the mid-five figures, at the very least. The characters are hardly unoriginal, as the PW review says. I've read hundreds of books in this genre (I guess if you have to pigeonhole it, it's the mainstream, women's fiction, single women looking for and unlucky in love genre) and I don't think any of them were embarrassed at their class reunion when the man they introduce as their date is recognized by a classmate as her gay hairdresser. There's also not a lot of genre books with sympathetic, bisexual, African American women with a sense of humor. Not a whole lot of stereotypes here. It's not all fun and games, but includes a couple of realistic, close-to-home things that happen to single women on the dating scene, even if they're a little depressing; the central character cries after a one night stand, because she's so disgusted with herself for sleeping with a gross guy (who leaves his baseball cap on during sex, if you can believe that, which turns out to be a fun plot point later) she met in a singles bar the night before when drunk and desperate. But that's about as down as it gets; you'll have a blast reading about Gina's dog Gomez, and what she does to a group of thugs who try to get between her and her beloved (if messy) doggie after she's had the day from hell. You'll have a blast reading about the jaw dropping practical joke she plays on a bisexual friend from high school, and the friend's revenge, and when the two of them get together for some SERIOUS revenge on a (bad word rhyming with 'tick') who has been begging for it for 200 pages...well, I don't wont to spoil it, but it's one of many VERY satisfying payoff scenes in the novel. Sanchez has worked hard on his craft and making the book as fun, readable, and enjoyable as possible for readers, and believe me, it shows on every page. As another reviewer said, you'll not only laugh at and with but identify with the characters. if you're looking for a fun, entertaining, satisfying novel that will let you escape and that you'll find yourself reading passages to your friends out loud from because they're so hilarious, RUN, don't walk to the shopping cart and pick up Girlfriends. You'll get your money's worth, and more; I plan to pay HC price, if I have to, for Sanchez' next book. I'm happy to see this novel got a second printing... the book, and the author (do check out his website, if you liked the book) definitely deserve it.
Rating:
Summary: How could anyone not have fun with this novel?
Review: It�s hard to believe (and a little bit scary) that from reading the acknowledgments, Patrick Sanchez knocked on many agent�s doors before getting this published. Yes, if you read the plot description and look at the cover, it does look like � a typical book of women on the dating scene�, but you�ll be pleasantly surprised. I looked at it in the bookstore, read the author bio and saw how friendly, accessible, and happy he was to be published, and how hard he worked. That usually gets my attention (I definitely respect and admire such authors that appreciate their readers), so I flipped through, read a few random paragraphs, bit my lip to keep from laughing and making the clerk think I was a weirdo, and picked it up right away. I was into it from the first page, and would have read it in one sitting if I hadn�t had to take a break to drive somewhere. The tagline compares the novel to Sex and the City, but as far as I�m concerned, that�s not giving the book enough credit. Girlfriends is much more amusing, addictive, and has characters you can identify with. One has a dreary customer service job--oh boy, have some of us been there-- unlike characters in typical women-in-the-dating scene novels who seem to usually be making salaries in the mid-five figures, at the very least. The characters are hardly unoriginal, as the PW review says. I�ve read hundreds of books in this genre (I guess if you have to pigeonhole it, it�s the mainstream, women�s fiction, single women looking for and unlucky in love genre) and I don�t think any of them were embarrassed at their class reunion when the man they introduce as their date is recognized by a classmate as her gay hairdresser. There�s also not a lot of genre books with sympathetic, bisexual, African American women with a sense of humor. Not a whole lot of stereotypes here. It�s not all fun and games, but includes a couple of realistic, close-to-home things that happen to single women on the dating scene, even if they�re a little depressing; the central character cries after a one night stand, because she�s so disgusted with herself for sleeping with a gross guy (who leaves his baseball cap on during sex, if you can believe that, which turns out to be a fun plot point later) she met in a singles bar the night before when drunk and desperate. But that's about as down as it gets; you�ll have a blast reading about Gina's dog Gomez, and what she does to a group of thugs who try to get between her and her beloved (if messy) doggie after she�s had the day from hell. You�ll have a blast reading about the jaw dropping practical joke she plays on a bisexual friend from high school, and the friend's revenge, and when the two of them get together for some SERIOUS revenge on a (bad word rhyming with 'tick') who has been begging for it for 200 pages...well, I don't wont to spoil it, but it's one of many VERY satisfying payoff scenes in the novel. Sanchez has worked hard on his craft and making the book as fun, readable, and enjoyable as possible for readers, and believe me, it shows on every page. As another reviewer said, you'll not only laugh at and with but identify with the characters. if you're looking for a fun, entertaining, satisfying novel that will let you escape and that you'll find yourself reading passages to your friends out loud from because they're so hilarious, RUN, don't walk to the shopping cart and pick up Girlfriends. You'll get your money's worth, and more; I plan to pay HC price, if I have to, for Sanchez' next book. I'm happy to see this novel got a second printing... the book, and the author (do check out his website, if you liked the book) definitely deserve it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I thought it would be...
Review: Just like the other reader from Louisville, I was not impressed with this book at all. This book was in the African-American section at Books-A-Million and I don't know why. Maybe because there was one black character. I kept expecting something along the lines of the "real" African-American authors to no avail. I'm really ticked that I paid full price for this book. I try not to post negative reviews but I felt compelled to do so on this book. Don't waste your money and if you feel that you just have to read this book, buy it used. I know you'll thank me later.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh and Amusing!
Review: Patrick is really in touch with the current youth culture in Washington, D.C. -- this book is amusing and sarcastic - a fast paced and funny slice of life...definitely worthwhile! I am going out today to buy a copy for my best girlfriend - who can use a good laugh right now.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Patrick Sanchez debut novel "Girlfriends" is a good read. Girlfriends tells the story of Gina, Cheryl, & Linda and their life situations. Gina is looking for Mr. Right, but is always finding Mr. Wrong, has a job she despises, and a mother (Shirley) who will have you laughing through the whole book. Cheryl is dating Gina's ex...a guy who is not ready to make a committment, yet wants to keep Cheryl hangin' on. She turns to the personals for a little attention. She meets a fine specimen of a man.....but does he really want her? Linda is Gina's co-worker and she is also....of course looking for love. Has she found Ms. Right in her customer at the bank where she works? Patrick Sanchez tells a very funny and witty story about these three women and their search for happiness. I look forward to more from Mr. Sanchez in the future. Continued success & blessings.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Patrick Sanchez debut novel "Girlfriends" is a good read. Girlfriends tells the story of Gina, Cheryl, & Linda and their life situations. Gina is looking for Mr. Right, but is always finding Mr. Wrong, has a job she despises, and a mother (Shirley) who will have you laughing through the whole book. Cheryl is dating Gina's ex...a guy who is not ready to make a committment, yet wants to keep Cheryl hangin' on. She turns to the personals for a little attention. She meets a fine specimen of a man.....but does he really want her? Linda is Gina's co-worker and she is also....of course looking for love. Has she found Ms. Right in her customer at the bank where she works? Patrick Sanchez tells a very funny and witty story about these three women and their search for happiness. I look forward to more from Mr. Sanchez in the future. Continued success & blessings.
Rating:
Summary: HILARIOUS!!!!
Review: This book is a must read I could not put it down. It was so funny. Totally worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Sarcastic and Scandalous
Review: This book is funny, fast moving, and just what everyone needs to feel normal. I have read this book 4 times and it still makes me laugh - read this book and you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: This is the worst book about young single women ever
Review: This book is just so horrible, I wanted to return it after I read about 30 pages. I do not know who the author is, but it sounds to me like the book is written by a gay men, who just wrote about his gay friends, changed Scott, Chris and Bill to Cheryl Gina and Linda and thought he had a book about women. Obviously, the author wants to cash in on the recent popularity of books about young, single women, but the women in his book are devoid of any sensitivity or charm. I was not convinced that they were looking for anything else but meaningless sex, they do not seem capable of any deeper feelings. And when they do have their meaningless sex, they do not even have any fun, because they either do it with fat obnoxious guys or they just go down on a guy. Hello???? No wonder they are all miserable and on antidepressants; they are not getting any but they are surely putting out a lot. Plus they all seemed so annoying, self-absorbed, vindictive and petty that I was just hoping that they would all get herpes and their contrive adventures would come to a swift end. You may wonder why I bothered to finish the book, I wonder myself.
|
