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abenajanet's review against another edition
3.0
it was good enough that I would want to read the next book. You feel me.
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
3.0
Is it plausible that their family-run hotel was doing so poorly that at one point they had no guests? Isn't it supposed to be hard to get a hotel room in NYC? I just couldn't believe that a hotel so close to Central Park would suffer, even if it was run-down. Enjoyed the writing.
jerrica's review against another edition
5.0
Of course, I love Maureen Johnson and her books. And this boo was no exception. Wasn't as good as "13 Little Blue Envelopes", but it comes as a very close second or third, may or may not be behind "The Key to the Golden Firebord". I love Maureen Johnson's characters, especially witty and humurous Spencer, whip-smart Scarlett, busybody Mrs. Amberson, and productive Lola. I also loved the setting and the way Maureen described Scarlett's New York. Great storyline. Took me maybe twenty or thirty pages to get into, but still excellent.
resslesa's review against another edition
5.0
I love Maureen Johnson, and I love this book! Great for those who love theatre and NY and wacky families!
bookworm32's review against another edition
5.0
As teen fiction goes, Maureen Johnson is one of the best. Great book, engaging characters, and a fun romp through New York City.
pjewel's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
Maureen Johnson's novel Suite Scarlett (2008) focuses on Scarlett Martin and her family who live in the Hopewell Hotel in the heart of New York City. That might sound like a dream come true but just ask Scarlett about her fifteenth birthday and it's easy to see the sometimes harsh realities that owning and running a hotel can really entail.
The Hopewell hotel has been around since 1929 and has belonged to the Hopewell family for just as long. While the hotel can't compete with some of its ritzier neighbors in terms of luxuries on offer, the Hopewell does have some unique benefits including custom furnishings by a prestigious (fictional) Jazz Age designer, connections to the history of the city and its ever-glamorous theater life. In order to lower maintenance costs for the hotel, the Martins have come up with a unique tradition. On their fifteenth birthday every child receives a hotel suite thereby also inheriting the housekeeping duties and guest services connected to said suite.
Scarlett is pretty sure such duties will not do much to alleviate the dullness of her summer vacation since the Hopewell is always chronically under-booked. Unlike Scarlett, her siblings have a lot to manage this summer: Eighteen-year-old Lola is busy juggling family obligations, a job she loves, and a high maintenance boyfriend with an equally high balance in his bank account; eleven-year-old Marlene, the youngest Martin, does not share Scarlett's summer doldrums since her survivor's club keep her social calendar plenty full (have you been on a morning TV show yet?); meanwhile nineteen-year-old Spencer, a talented actor with a fondness for physical comedy is face with an ultimatum that could end his acting career before its even started.
Everything changes when the larger-than-life Mrs. Amberson checks into the Empire Suite (Scarlett's suite) and takes her on an assistant in everything from running errands to getting reacquainted with the City and writing the biography of her life. Already swept up in Mrs. Amberson's whirlwind, Scarlett also finds herself swept off her feet when she meets Eric the gorgeous fellow actor in a production of Hamlet that might just save Spencer's career--if the show ever opens.
Suite Scarlett holds a lot of appeal for a variety of readers. Being a book by Maureen Johnson it is, of course, very funny. It also has many tidbits about New York that will interest anyone who has a special place for that big apple in their hearts. Most of all, this book has a lot of appeal for theater lovers. Before becoming a published novelist Johnson worked as a dramaturg in the theater world (a dramaturg basically being the person who makes sure every single aspect of a show runs smoothly while directors and other theater types focus less on the big picture). Johnson brings all of that knowledge to this book to really bring the theatrical world that Spencer and, by extension, Scarlett come to inhabit as the plot progresses.
While this story has a bit of romance and humor and excitement, it is really a novel about family, specifically siblings. Each of the Martin children are vibrantly described on the page. Spencer in particular is a character that readers will love to love. In fact, the only problem with Suite Scarlett is that with such an awesome brother as Spencer, Scarlett's love interest Eric pales by comparison. All the same, this book has something for everyone and is sure to leave readers with a smile on their face.
The Hopewell hotel has been around since 1929 and has belonged to the Hopewell family for just as long. While the hotel can't compete with some of its ritzier neighbors in terms of luxuries on offer, the Hopewell does have some unique benefits including custom furnishings by a prestigious (fictional) Jazz Age designer, connections to the history of the city and its ever-glamorous theater life. In order to lower maintenance costs for the hotel, the Martins have come up with a unique tradition. On their fifteenth birthday every child receives a hotel suite thereby also inheriting the housekeeping duties and guest services connected to said suite.
Scarlett is pretty sure such duties will not do much to alleviate the dullness of her summer vacation since the Hopewell is always chronically under-booked. Unlike Scarlett, her siblings have a lot to manage this summer: Eighteen-year-old Lola is busy juggling family obligations, a job she loves, and a high maintenance boyfriend with an equally high balance in his bank account; eleven-year-old Marlene, the youngest Martin, does not share Scarlett's summer doldrums since her survivor's club keep her social calendar plenty full (have you been on a morning TV show yet?); meanwhile nineteen-year-old Spencer, a talented actor with a fondness for physical comedy is face with an ultimatum that could end his acting career before its even started.
Everything changes when the larger-than-life Mrs. Amberson checks into the Empire Suite (Scarlett's suite) and takes her on an assistant in everything from running errands to getting reacquainted with the City and writing the biography of her life. Already swept up in Mrs. Amberson's whirlwind, Scarlett also finds herself swept off her feet when she meets Eric the gorgeous fellow actor in a production of Hamlet that might just save Spencer's career--if the show ever opens.
Suite Scarlett holds a lot of appeal for a variety of readers. Being a book by Maureen Johnson it is, of course, very funny. It also has many tidbits about New York that will interest anyone who has a special place for that big apple in their hearts. Most of all, this book has a lot of appeal for theater lovers. Before becoming a published novelist Johnson worked as a dramaturg in the theater world (a dramaturg basically being the person who makes sure every single aspect of a show runs smoothly while directors and other theater types focus less on the big picture). Johnson brings all of that knowledge to this book to really bring the theatrical world that Spencer and, by extension, Scarlett come to inhabit as the plot progresses.
While this story has a bit of romance and humor and excitement, it is really a novel about family, specifically siblings. Each of the Martin children are vibrantly described on the page. Spencer in particular is a character that readers will love to love. In fact, the only problem with Suite Scarlett is that with such an awesome brother as Spencer, Scarlett's love interest Eric pales by comparison. All the same, this book has something for everyone and is sure to leave readers with a smile on their face.
guerrillabooks's review against another edition
4.0
1. This is my first [a:Maureen Johnson|10317|Maureen Johnson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1197703391p2/10317.jpg].
2. Between January (when I added this title to my TBR) and now I've learned that MJ has a blog which I've read periodically (especially this month since she's been doing BEDA: Blog-Every-Day-April) and on which I've seen her oft times post pictures and/or video clips of old B/W movies with Jimmy Stewart and such.
3. I've also learned that she runs in the same circles as [a:John Green|1655|Mark Twain|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1170645482p2/1655.jpg] whom I just discovered and read a few weeks ago ([b:Paper Towns|2914097|Paper Towns|John Green|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51p5a9jLF8L._SL75_.jpg|3364505]), AND whom I found to be quite the whit. I am personally convinced that whits like to run with other whits so the connection between JG and MJ boded well for MJ.
What I don't know is whether MJ had the penchant for B/W flicks before writing Suite Scarlett or as a result of SS. I wonder if the two are connected. Something about SS smelled of obsessive song and dance (Danny Kay) movie marathons. I think Spencer was quite possibly the literary embodiment of Danny Kay - physical comedian (I didn't know this was a genre of comedy until I read this book either) extraordinare.
I'm itchin' to watch some song/dance movie - what's the one where he dances on the ceiling?
Another character I enjoyed was the eccentric Mrs. Anberson. A suprising part of me wants to totally BE her. To be in that crazy/careless place in life where you have both the means to follow your every whim and the audacity to expect others to do the same.
She is this past-her-prime, whole-foods-organic-is-good-for-you, the-world-revolves-around-me-but-i-kinda-mean-well-by-it biddy.
Adventure (read:disaster?) follows her around like a puppy.
Idk. It just seems like she fn lives.her.life. and I like.
There was a sense of "Cosby-ness" or "Full House-ness" to the book as a whole. BUT it wasn't overdone or annoying, and I was totally obsessed with FH when it was fresh on TGIF, so there is definately a place for it in the world. There was conflict is SS - but not trauma. In the [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1208460253p2/2987.jpg] that I have read, ([b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170382294s/51738.jpg|1032901] and [b:The Truth about Forever|51737|The Truth About Forever|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170382294s/51737.jpg|1032900]) there is trauma. In [b:Speak|439288|Speak|Laurie Halse Anderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174777996s/439288.jpg|118521] by [a:Laurie Halse Anderson|10003|Laurie Halse Anderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1236694913p2/10003.jpg] there is trauma.
The Cosby/Full House element is when the people who are suposed to care about you DO, and they help you through your conflict - the trauma may have happened (Scarlett's little sister had Leukemia) but it's in the background and not part of the plot. In other words: we're not stupid enough to pretend that trauma doesn't exist, but we're just not going to focus on it for now.
I'm totally thinking "outloud" here, but, I feel like I'm on to something with this train of thought. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why I LOVED John Greens book Paper Towns. There was lol-humor and at the same time an experience of intense emotional trauma (depending on how you read it I s'pose). I easily connected with the emotional turmoil in PT and I loved the padding of it with funny-ness.
In Dessen's books I can also connect with the character's turmoil but (in the two that I've read) there was not the "funny" padding.
Hmm.
Anywho. Those are my thoughts on MJ's SS.
I would have no hesitation to recommend the book to YOU.
P.S.
When I first started listening to this audiobook I was at my computer (where I can't figure out how to choose the faster playback option)rather than buddin' the iPod (where I CAN listen at a faster playback rate) and this is the first time I've felt totally turned OFF by the narration!
YIKES, the poor chick reading this book sounds like an overachieving radio announcer.
Can we say... trying too hard?
Once I was able to switch it over to the 'Pod, and listen faster, it wasn't as annoying. But, ugh.
2. Between January (when I added this title to my TBR) and now I've learned that MJ has a blog which I've read periodically (especially this month since she's been doing BEDA: Blog-Every-Day-April) and on which I've seen her oft times post pictures and/or video clips of old B/W movies with Jimmy Stewart and such.
3. I've also learned that she runs in the same circles as [a:John Green|1655|Mark Twain|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1170645482p2/1655.jpg] whom I just discovered and read a few weeks ago ([b:Paper Towns|2914097|Paper Towns|John Green|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51p5a9jLF8L._SL75_.jpg|3364505]), AND whom I found to be quite the whit. I am personally convinced that whits like to run with other whits so the connection between JG and MJ boded well for MJ.
What I don't know is whether MJ had the penchant for B/W flicks before writing Suite Scarlett or as a result of SS. I wonder if the two are connected. Something about SS smelled of obsessive song and dance (Danny Kay) movie marathons. I think Spencer was quite possibly the literary embodiment of Danny Kay - physical comedian (I didn't know this was a genre of comedy until I read this book either) extraordinare.
I'm itchin' to watch some song/dance movie - what's the one where he dances on the ceiling?
Another character I enjoyed was the eccentric Mrs. Anberson. A suprising part of me wants to totally BE her. To be in that crazy/careless place in life where you have both the means to follow your every whim and the audacity to expect others to do the same.
She is this past-her-prime, whole-foods-organic-is-good-for-you, the-world-revolves-around-me-but-i-kinda-mean-well-by-it biddy.
Adventure (read:disaster?) follows her around like a puppy.
Idk. It just seems like she fn lives.her.life. and I like.
There was a sense of "Cosby-ness" or "Full House-ness" to the book as a whole. BUT it wasn't overdone or annoying, and I was totally obsessed with FH when it was fresh on TGIF, so there is definately a place for it in the world. There was conflict is SS - but not trauma. In the [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1208460253p2/2987.jpg] that I have read, ([b:Just Listen|51738|Just Listen|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170382294s/51738.jpg|1032901] and [b:The Truth about Forever|51737|The Truth About Forever|Sarah Dessen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170382294s/51737.jpg|1032900]) there is trauma. In [b:Speak|439288|Speak|Laurie Halse Anderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174777996s/439288.jpg|118521] by [a:Laurie Halse Anderson|10003|Laurie Halse Anderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1236694913p2/10003.jpg] there is trauma.
The Cosby/Full House element is when the people who are suposed to care about you DO, and they help you through your conflict - the trauma may have happened (Scarlett's little sister had Leukemia) but it's in the background and not part of the plot. In other words: we're not stupid enough to pretend that trauma doesn't exist, but we're just not going to focus on it for now.
I'm totally thinking "outloud" here, but, I feel like I'm on to something with this train of thought. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why I LOVED John Greens book Paper Towns. There was lol-humor and at the same time an experience of intense emotional trauma (depending on how you read it I s'pose). I easily connected with the emotional turmoil in PT and I loved the padding of it with funny-ness.
In Dessen's books I can also connect with the character's turmoil but (in the two that I've read) there was not the "funny" padding.
Hmm.
Anywho. Those are my thoughts on MJ's SS.
I would have no hesitation to recommend the book to YOU.
P.S.
When I first started listening to this audiobook I was at my computer (where I can't figure out how to choose the faster playback option)rather than buddin' the iPod (where I CAN listen at a faster playback rate) and this is the first time I've felt totally turned OFF by the narration!
YIKES, the poor chick reading this book sounds like an overachieving radio announcer.
Can we say... trying too hard?
Once I was able to switch it over to the 'Pod, and listen faster, it wasn't as annoying. But, ugh.
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
So I know it's not 100% fair to judge an author based on their backlog but I was wondering the entire time if really was the same author who wrote the Truly Devious YA mystery series... because this wasn't what I assumed it would be. I'm familiar with her YA slice of life contemporary bibliography but I never read this when it was first published when I was in high school.
First, why would the parents give all this responsibility to their children when they each turn fifteen? Also, where are the parents when it involves discipline and parenting Marlene? It was sad when you find out she had cancer and is currently in remission but that doesn't give her an excuse to act like a brat. Do they really expect their oldest children to just parent each other and they basically are nonexistent? Ms. Amberson was the only character I actually found interesting/intriguing but again, all that responsibility on Scarlett, a fifteen-year-old felt hard to suspend my disbelief with.
First, why would the parents give all this responsibility to their children when they each turn fifteen? Also, where are the parents when it involves discipline and parenting Marlene? It was sad when you find out she had cancer and is currently in remission but that doesn't give her an excuse to act like a brat. Do they really expect their oldest children to just parent each other and they basically are nonexistent? Ms. Amberson was the only character I actually found interesting/intriguing but again, all that responsibility on Scarlett, a fifteen-year-old felt hard to suspend my disbelief with.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer