Scan barcode
gemrox's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, not a book I’d usually pick up but entertaining enough. It had a bit of everything in it which is not shown in the blurb.
I mainly liked the idea of the store she runs but the character seems to be single-mindedly looking for a relationship which makes her look weaker.
I mainly liked the idea of the store she runs but the character seems to be single-mindedly looking for a relationship which makes her look weaker.
inkwellofwords's review against another edition
5.0
This book was absolutely interesting! I loved it! It started out a bit lighthearted and slowly it turned pretty intense! Gosh! I loved Maggie's writing style, it was super easy to understand and it was so good, I literally felt like I was in Antonia's head! Finished it in 1 and a half days. James is SOOOO hot!
terri90's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My absolute favourite book! Love everything about it
narniaru's review against another edition
3.0
This chick lit is a little different to the usual. The character is more real and identifiable, which really drew me into the story. I really miss the characters now I finished the book.
deridere's review against another edition
3.0
Semi-bog standard chick lit book set in Sydney. Devastating break-up: check; Weight gain: check; Weight loss: check; Cheeky characters: check; Devilishly handsome man: check. A light and easy read.
indoorg1rl's review against another edition
3.0
I definitely liked this one more than [b:Pants On Fire|427822|Pants On Fire|Maggie Alderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174666549s/427822.jpg|416838]. This one has more actions, the storyline is deeper, and the characters are more multidimensional. Expecting somewhat similar tone to Pants on Fire, I was glad I got more satisfaction from Mad About The Boy. And the lovely Antony Maybury is back, which I think is a nice touch.
oneoflifeslollopers's review against another edition
5.0
I REALLY enjoyed this book. I loved How to Break Your Own Heart because even though it deals with some fairly heavy stuff, it's very uplifting, and so was Mad About the Boy.
Despite finding out her husband is gay on the first page, Antonia pulls herself together after a few months of wallowing and manages to make a good new life for herself, although going to the gym at 2am is not really a healthy activity. I really enjoyed her journey through opening up her own antiques store and the process she goes through to find all the bits and pieces she sells as well as her mental transformation in carving out her new life - finding new, less snobby friends, getting into a routine at the gym, balancing work and home life as a single mother and braving the dating world again.
Maggie Alderson's books are fairly formulaic, and it's not always a bad thing, but sometimes I find her characters and her world incredibly shallow. There's always far too much talk of fashion and an impressive attempt to see how many fashion labels she can squeeze into one novel. There's always glamourous rich folk and their glamourous rich parties, the main character always starts off with the wrong husband and there's usually an over the top, very charismatic gay man in the inner circle of friends.
But Antonia somehow manages to stay slightly more grounded despite marrying into a very prominent English family with titles, living in a very expensive neighbourhood in Sydney and surrounding herself with very wealthy people she charms on behalf of her husband's company. This made her MUCH more likable than the characters in Cents and Sensibility and Handbags and Glardrags and Uncle Percy has a lot more depth than Alderson usually gives her gay characters.
And further to my delight, and also suprise, I found that I really enjoyed the addition of a child in this book, which is the first of Alderson's I've read where the main character has a child, which would normally hinder the woman's ability to travel around the world attending fashion shows and working for fashion magazines and throwing fabulously expensive parties for her husband's clients. Tom is a great part of what keeps Antonia grounded and I really enjoyed their relationship - although she does appear to foist him off onto his friend's family for sleepovers without ever reciprocating so that THEY can go on dates and have crazy sex too.
James seemed like a much better developed love interest than even How to Break Your Own Heart. He was complex and had a very detailed character history which forced Antonia to challenge some of her snobbery and change her perspective on a lot of issues. I found him the most likeable out all the four books I've read and I REALLY REALLY enjoyed the plot involving him and the political/financial scandal he uncovers which I was not expecting when I picked up this book.
Despite finding out her husband is gay on the first page, Antonia pulls herself together after a few months of wallowing and manages to make a good new life for herself, although going to the gym at 2am is not really a healthy activity. I really enjoyed her journey through opening up her own antiques store and the process she goes through to find all the bits and pieces she sells as well as her mental transformation in carving out her new life - finding new, less snobby friends, getting into a routine at the gym, balancing work and home life as a single mother and braving the dating world again.
Maggie Alderson's books are fairly formulaic, and it's not always a bad thing, but sometimes I find her characters and her world incredibly shallow. There's always far too much talk of fashion and an impressive attempt to see how many fashion labels she can squeeze into one novel. There's always glamourous rich folk and their glamourous rich parties, the main character always starts off with the wrong husband and there's usually an over the top, very charismatic gay man in the inner circle of friends.
But Antonia somehow manages to stay slightly more grounded despite marrying into a very prominent English family with titles, living in a very expensive neighbourhood in Sydney and surrounding herself with very wealthy people she charms on behalf of her husband's company. This made her MUCH more likable than the characters in Cents and Sensibility and Handbags and Glardrags and Uncle Percy has a lot more depth than Alderson usually gives her gay characters.
And further to my delight, and also suprise, I found that I really enjoyed the addition of a child in this book, which is the first of Alderson's I've read where the main character has a child, which would normally hinder the woman's ability to travel around the world attending fashion shows and working for fashion magazines and throwing fabulously expensive parties for her husband's clients. Tom is a great part of what keeps Antonia grounded and I really enjoyed their relationship - although she does appear to foist him off onto his friend's family for sleepovers without ever reciprocating so that THEY can go on dates and have crazy sex too.
James seemed like a much better developed love interest than even How to Break Your Own Heart. He was complex and had a very detailed character history which forced Antonia to challenge some of her snobbery and change her perspective on a lot of issues. I found him the most likeable out all the four books I've read and I REALLY REALLY enjoyed the plot involving him and the political/financial scandal he uncovers which I was not expecting when I picked up this book.
leahmichelle_13's review against another edition
4.0
Mad About The Boy is Maggie Alderson’s second novel (her first being Pants on Fire). A year after Hugo and Antonia move to Sydney, Hugo announces he’s gay and also has a boyfriend (Greg). He leaves Antonia alone in her adopted city with only her son, Tom, and food for comfort. Not only that but all of her friends seem to have deserted her. Then along comes Hugo’s outrageous Uncle Percy who sends Antonia to the gym. There she meets the mysterious James but what on Earth is he hiding?
I loved Mad About The Boy. I enjoy reading books set in country’s I’ve never visited (but would like to!) as I usually get a great picture of said place. This book was set in Sydney and I liked the descriptions of Woollahra. It’s a really well written book and I loved Antonia.
It’s another book written in first person, which works for me! I enjoyed reading about Antonia’s thoughts after Hugo’s revelation. I felt her ups and her downs with her and I was thrilled when Uncle Percy showed up and whipped her into shape by sending her to the gym. I also enjoyed how drawn-out the relationship between Antonia and James was – it didn’t just happen, they got to know each other before getting into a relationship. We also didn’t have to wait until the last page either!
Uncle Percy was probably my favourite character. He was outrageous, outlandish and just plain fun. Everyone should have an Uncle like Percy. He didn’t care what anybody else thought of it, and he didn’t take himself too seriously either. He made the book for me!
I also loved James and couldn’t help trying to guess exactly why he was so mysterious. His revelation came as a surprise and also added a darker element to the book. Everything involving him was dark and mysterious and yet was still enjoyable.
Of the minor characters, I quite liked Dee, Antonia’s only friend after Suzy abandoned her. Of course that’s all to do with the darker element of the plot so we find out why she abandoned Antonia. I found Hugo both nice and irritating. His treatment of James wasn’t very nice. I hated Greg for a while but he seemed OK in the end. I thought Tom didn’t really feature much but I liked his scenes with kung-foo man (James) as Tom called him!
Another thing I loved was Anteeks (which by the way is a brilliant name), the shop Antonia opens. It sounds like a great idea for a shop and I loved all the needlepoint phrases Antonia thought up.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable novel and is well worth a read. I enjoyed the mysterious part of the plot as well, it all added to the enjoyment of the novel.
Rating: 5/5
I loved Mad About The Boy. I enjoy reading books set in country’s I’ve never visited (but would like to!) as I usually get a great picture of said place. This book was set in Sydney and I liked the descriptions of Woollahra. It’s a really well written book and I loved Antonia.
It’s another book written in first person, which works for me! I enjoyed reading about Antonia’s thoughts after Hugo’s revelation. I felt her ups and her downs with her and I was thrilled when Uncle Percy showed up and whipped her into shape by sending her to the gym. I also enjoyed how drawn-out the relationship between Antonia and James was – it didn’t just happen, they got to know each other before getting into a relationship. We also didn’t have to wait until the last page either!
Uncle Percy was probably my favourite character. He was outrageous, outlandish and just plain fun. Everyone should have an Uncle like Percy. He didn’t care what anybody else thought of it, and he didn’t take himself too seriously either. He made the book for me!
I also loved James and couldn’t help trying to guess exactly why he was so mysterious. His revelation came as a surprise and also added a darker element to the book. Everything involving him was dark and mysterious and yet was still enjoyable.
Of the minor characters, I quite liked Dee, Antonia’s only friend after Suzy abandoned her. Of course that’s all to do with the darker element of the plot so we find out why she abandoned Antonia. I found Hugo both nice and irritating. His treatment of James wasn’t very nice. I hated Greg for a while but he seemed OK in the end. I thought Tom didn’t really feature much but I liked his scenes with kung-foo man (James) as Tom called him!
Another thing I loved was Anteeks (which by the way is a brilliant name), the shop Antonia opens. It sounds like a great idea for a shop and I loved all the needlepoint phrases Antonia thought up.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable novel and is well worth a read. I enjoyed the mysterious part of the plot as well, it all added to the enjoyment of the novel.
Rating: 5/5