Rating: 
Summary: Funny and Moving
Review: Nineteen-year-old Virginia is unhappily married to a man who seems to have forgotten she exists, and has a baby girl she adores. When the three of them go to spend the summer in her husband's hometown, things are worse than ever, as her husband, Buddy, spends most of his free time with his high school sweetheart, Irene. Although Virginia puts on a brave face, she knows all too well that whatever had been good in her marriage is no longer.It may be hard to believe, but this is a funny book. Virginia has a unique way of looking at her life and the world, and while she is honest with herself about her situation, she has an amusing, endearing outlook. Virginia is the kind of person who would not understand why people think she's funny--in my view, the funniest kind of person there is. This is a quick, fun read, and well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Breezy novel - a pleasure to read
Review: Reading this book, I got to know the narrator well through her words and outlook on the world. She was endearing in her naivete but also exasperating at times. In any case, I was definitely in her corner. The only disappointment was in the all too convenient "happy ending". Rarely does life tie up loose ends so tidily.
Rating: 
Summary: A basiclly so-so book.
Review: This book was just so-so. I finished it without a sour note on it, but it was just hard to keep reading. At times it was boring which took me so long to read it. But I eventually finished it. It is a good description of some people's actual lives; not in love, pregnancy before marriage, and has wonderful descriptions.
Rating:
Summary: An Actual
Review: This is the first work by Abigail Thomas I've encountered. It is how I ended up here, in fact. I was looking for more! That in itself is probably indicative of her ability to draw the reader in & keep them connected, even after the last page is read. Especially impressive is her talent in creating such a believable story-line. Reading "real life" is sort of a reward for having made it through your own up to this point! Most effective, Ms. Thomas refrained from "over-developing" Buddy's character, leaving him rather vague and aloof. I found this rather clever, being narrated by Virginia, who admits she doesn't really know her husband that well. Theirs was was an impulsive union forged solely by circumstance & consequence. God, how many times does that actually happen in life!? While reading, you find yourself confused & even rejected by Buddy's furtive behavior & his 'easy' detachment. Irene, [his former love interest] gets under your skin as well. It keeps the pages turning, to find out if she is to be trusted... or busted! The biggest issue to address: Is Virginia going to STAND for this?! You keep taking steps back, asking yourself "what would I say right now" & you are ready at moment's notice to step in & babysit little Madeline so your "new friend" can get it in gear & go deal with both of them! LOL
I'm awaiting delivery of more examples of Ms. Thomas' work, which I expect to be just as good. This is worth reading; but as with any good book, you're left wanting more when it comes to an end!
Rating:
Summary: An Actual
Review: This is the first work by Abigail Thomas I've encountered. It is how I ended up here, in fact. I was looking for more! That in itself is probably indicative of her ability to draw the reader in & keep them connected, even after the last page is read. Especially impressive is her talent in creating such a believable story-line. Reading "real life" is sort of a reward for having made it through your own up to this point! Most effective, Ms. Thomas refrained from "over-developing" Buddy's character, leaving him rather vague and aloof. I found this rather clever, being narrated by Virginia, who admits she doesn't really know her husband that well. Theirs was was an impulsive union forged solely by circumstance & consequence. God, how many times does that actually happen in life!? While reading, you find yourself confused & even rejected by Buddy's furtive behavior & his 'easy' detachment. Irene, [his former love interest] gets under your skin as well. It keeps the pages turning, to find out if she is to be trusted... or busted! The biggest issue to address: Is Virginia going to STAND for this?! You keep taking steps back, asking yourself "what would I say right now" & you are ready at moment's notice to step in & babysit little Madeline so your "new friend" can get it in gear & go deal with both of them! LOL
I'm awaiting delivery of more examples of Ms. Thomas' work, which I expect to be just as good. This is worth reading; but as with any good book, you're left wanting more when it comes to an end!
Rating:
Summary: Another great book by Abigail Thomas.
Review: This is the second book I've read by Abigail Thomas and I loved it as much as I loved her first book, "Getting Over Tom". If you've read "Getting Over Tom" you would agree with me. I was happy to see that one of the stories in the book was a continuation of one of the stories from her first book. You get so involved with the characters lives, you feel as though you are one of Thomas' characters. The book draws you in. You'll wish it wouldn't end. It's great!
Rating:
Summary: A Sad but Insightful Novel
Review: This should be compulsory reading for all young girls/women who live by the belief that marriage is the be-all and end-all of what a woman can achieve and that, once married, life will be a fairy tale. This book is the tragic tale of two young people in 1960 who marry because of an unplanned pregnancy and the inevitably bad marriage that follows. These two barely know each other, have nothing in common, come from different backgrounds and are basically doomed. My heart bled for both of them. I am glad that times have changed and that shotgun weddings are largely a thing of the past. This book is a charming story of innocence in a different time and I can highly recommend it to women of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: Virginia and Buddy are a very young married couple with a baby. Buddy doesn't like Virginia very much. He still has a thing for his ex, Irene. Thomas writes a wonderful novel that enabled me to love Virginia despite wanting to shake her. Doesn't she see how much Buddy loves Irene? If so, why does she stay? Aunt Dot enraged me. She knows Buddy doesn't love Virginia but ignores how painful and wrong the marriage is. I couldn't help thinking one word from Aunt Dot would "save" Virginia and the fact that Aunt Dot chose not to say that word made me hate her. Chick is Irene's husband. His scenes with Virginia are enjoyable but too brief. Without giving away the ending, I will note that it was abrupt. I was in no way disappointed by the ending, but I wished the book continued for ten more pages.
Rating:
Summary: A heartfelt look at a doomed marriage
Review: Virginia and Buddy's shotgun marriage produces a daughter, Madeline, and not much else. The story is set in the 1950's and told through the eyes of 19-year-old Virginia, whose character is believably naive and hopeful. The story here is a strong one, and the characters interesting. This one is definitely worth a look!
Rating:
Summary: Funny, bittersweet, & hard to stop reading
Review: Virginia is a lovable, passive, 50s good girl who "had to get married" to the uncommunicative Buddy. She loves her baby daughter, but marriage seems lonely and disappointing. Her awakening into the complexities of love and life--and to her own freedom--is revealed by the author with great subtlety through Virginia's own very entertaining observations and experiences. Funny and ultimately moving, this is a "period piece" that anyone from any time period who's ever found themselves "trapped" in the wrong relationship will identify with. I missed Virginia when the book was over, and would love to know what happened to her next.
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