Rating: 
Summary: Tis The Season...
Review: The thing that struck me about this book as I finished it wasn't the character development (for I found most of the characters too closed off), or the 'gripping' plot (it isn't particularly chaotic despite the books premise)...but what I took away from it. I found as I read the story that it really gives you some perspective on the institutions and conventions in our society, particularly (and obviously) surrounding Marriage and Weddings. I was drawn into the ideas of why some people cherish 'til death do us part' and why others, such as the main character, are so opposed (or maybe not) to weddings.The story has the general premise of Joy Silverman, a 29-going on-30 year old woman with a perfect live-in boyfriend, who is faced with the dilemma of attending 17 weddings in 6 months, including her 5 nearest and dearest pals, both of her parents, friends of friends and friends of the family...you might assume, judging by the cover (a big no no) and the intial outline of hte story on the back and the catch phrase at the beginning, that you will be catapaulted into detailed accounts of the most important of these weddings... Instead, Cosper uses the events that take place at the weddings to bring her anti-marriage heroine Joy to question her morals and beliefs in terms of why she is so against marraige, when all of these other people in her life are committing to one another. I think the story concept is original in itself as you are reading about someone who goes against hte conventions of both what we expect in society (marriage!) and what we expect from a 'romantic comedy-bridget jones-esque' type book that dominates the market these days for women (this book is hardly a romantic comedy...whatsoever). The only thing I found discouraging about the story was that there was a large number of characters and sub-plots introduced that never really went anywhere or contributed to the main messages of the novel, and serve mainly as confusing backdrop storylines that don't contribute to a more cohesive and concise book. Regardless of the criticisms and congratulations I have to offer to Miss Cosper, I have to say that this book, while not the most enthralling of the ones I have read lately, was definiately one of the most unique and promising in terms of what you have to gain from reading it. Single and married women alike should not go into this story and expect a super dramatic romance and climax and all that jazz that you find in most books on the market, but should rather read this book for the experience and the values you will pick up when you are done.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful
Review: This book is garbage. I agree with one of the other reviewers on this one: I'm glad I didn't buy it. I was intrigued by the premise of the book (17 weddings in 6 months) and was interested in what the main character (a successful career woman who is anti-marriage) would learn or what opinions she would develop after going through that many weddings. The author did not even scratch the surface on the character's introspection. What does the main character learn out of this whole fiasco? Heck if I know. And the ending was a complete disappointment.
The diversity of the characters are interesting but the author doesn't spend any time on making them real or to help the reader get to know the characters. They're just scattered all over the place. The dialogue is atrocious. The author tries to be too witty, dramatic and "funny" by making her characters speak English in a way that no one does. It's so fake. Who actually speaks and acts like that?
All in all, an awful book and I would not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Ugh.
Review: This book was terrible. I wanted a silly, chikc-lit escape novel. While the premise is as such--Manhattan girl, weddings, blah blah blah--the author tries SO hard to write, like, an INTELLECTUAL chick lit novel, replete with " smart", "quirky" characters who converse AT ALL TIMES in witty, irreverent dialogue and name-drop, like, 18th Century theater. but the author is obviously not that funny, so her characters aren't funny, either. And the ENDLESS philosophizing on the sociopolitical meaning of marriage? Interjected with way predictable musings on Joy's unhappy upbringing by (shocker!) DIVORCED parents? ACK. I'd rather gouge out my chick-lit lovin ovaries with a spork than ever pick up this boring piece of garbage ever again.
Rating: 
Summary: Overly wordy and not at all amusing
Review: This book was terrible. What appears to be a lighthearted book is in fact completely a chore to finish. The main character was hard to like, confusing and overall extremely wordy. The only reedeeming quality was the best friend of the protagonist, Henry, was refreshing and frank and the only honest person in the entire book.
Rating:
Summary: Nice premise, poor execution
Review: This should have been a much better book than it turned out to be. The premise - modern gal with live-in boyfriend and anti-marriage philosophy attends many weddings - seems intriguing enough. There's quite a lot of room there for social commentary on the nature of marriage and why we remain optimistic about it despite the cautionary statistics. Darcy Cosper fails to explore this premise, and her characters, fully. The dialogue borders on painful: Cosper attempts to make her characters smart, witty, and over-educated. It ends up sounding... lame. The main character's boyfriend asks her to dance: "Foxtrot?" Joy's reply: "Gesundheit." And it's downhill from that opening gambit. The poor dialogue would be forgiveable if not for the rest of the text. The torturous sentences drag on too long and wind back on themselves. This sort of storytelling is amusing when done in person. In print, it's a pain in the nether regions. Throughout the 'summer of discontent' Joy manages to remain unsympathetic. The author reiterates Joy's anti-marriage stance early and often, but fails to explore the topic in any depth until the very end, when two characters magically explain its origin to her. But not to the reader: somehow Joy picks up the gist of what her best friend and brother have told her, though I couldn't reach the same conclusion based on those conversations. The book ends on a rather baffling note. While I'm glad the end is more complex than "happily ever after", Joy's choices still hang suspended from extremely thin plot points. In the end, I felt like the book needed to go back to the author a few more times for revisions.
Rating: 
Summary: Is it?
Review: Two of the reviews on this page, one date May 6 and one dated April 26, both written in a similar style, seem to be stating what the intention is of the book-- a sparkling social satire-- which is hoped to be a film-- which takes cues from Dawn Powell and Oscar Wilde-- (Etcetera), but the book doesn't completely deliver on what it probably Meant to Be. And the question is-- why? .Most likely those two reviews were written by someone very, very close to the book; partly because of what they say, and partly because they are written in the style of the book. But perhaps the book did not actually achieve all these things-- and this brings up a question-- if imitation was the goal of the author-- well then, should the book be looked at in those terms only?-- and taken as an experiment in conjuring the ghosts of Dorothy Parker, Wilde, Austen, Powell, etc.?-- and wrapping them around a particular group of people in the contemporary world world? Or is the style of those writers better left to the past? Do readers find the world of the priveledged, urban set to be offensive when presented in that particular style and voice?
Rating: 
Summary: Wedding Season
Review: Wedding Season is the first Romantic Comedy Novel I have read that truly portrays what I feel is the 'real happy ending for my generation'.
Rating:
Summary: This season is over
Review: What can I say about this book? Nice cover? After seeing this book for months, I finally decided to break down and buy it, curious why it was a "best seller" when everyone seems to hate it. Again, after reading it, I can only guess that people bought it becuase of the pretty cover. With subplot after subplot, it was almost as if the main plot wasn't enough for a whole book so several alternative stories had to be inserted to keep it going. The main story would have been enough - if the main character was even remotely likeable. I think the real problem with this book was that it tried to be something it wasn't cut out to be, the social commentary with deep meaning. A modern day Jane Austen, I don't think so. What could have been a fun, funny look at realationships and friendships ends up taking itself too seriously. I don't know why some chick lit authors can't be content to write an engaging story that makes you laugh, instead trying too hard to be something more. I wish this book was as cute as its cover.
Rating:
Summary: Wedding Season
Review: With tight, honest dialogue and a swift pace, Cosper's novel is one to savor. The story's success is a balancing act between true reflection upon the rites of passage of engagement and marriage and sheer hilarity. Joy Silverman is a 21st century Jane Austen character with a bite! Wedding Season is a terrific summertime read.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps they all protest too much
Review: Yes, a few too many characters and gal-pals, but I think this book touches some nerves because the heroine doesn't want to get married. Really. Seriously. She means it. I thought THE WEDDING SEASON was smart, funny and crisp. And different. Give this book a chance if you want something different.
| 
