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2.78 AVERAGE
2.78 AVERAGE
When I think of classic chick lit novels, three things come to mind: men, career, and materialism. Bridie Clark's first novel Because She Can gives us at least two of those in a quick, entertaining, and, at times, stressful read. The story revolves around Claire Truman, your average New York editor trying to make it in the publishing world. After her beloved boss and mentor retires and her less-than-mediocre boyfriend dumps her, Claire's life takes a dramatic turn when she runs into non other than Pabst Blue Ribbon Randall Cox, her college crush and an absolute heartthrob. Not only do they hit it off right away, but Randall gets her an appointment with Vivian Grant, one of the best publishers in the business. While a certifiable lunatic, Grant gives Claire an offer she simply can't refuse. This nerve-racking and demanding job takes a toll on Claire's weight, sleep, and social life as the boss from hell gives her outrageous tasks and impossible deadlines, all leading up to a delightful yet predictable ending.
Those that have read this novel may thing, "Wait! Haven't I seen this plot before?" I agree at times the plot seems to be taken directly from Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. Both have romance, comedy, and the crazy boss no one wants to work for. Yet, found that the surface plot was all that these two novels shared. Bridie Clark has taken a well-known story and shaped it into a creation all her own.
One refreshing aspect of Because She Can is the non-materialistic protagonist. So many chick lit novels deal with shopping and spending exorbitant amounts of money on things the heroine not only doesn't need but can't afford. Claire Truman is the least materialistic character I have seen in the genre to date. She prefers small, personalized gifts rather than flashy expensive ones. Her clothes, bearing labels from more affordable designers, was plain, black, boring, and often wrinkled from a night spent in the office. While shopping related money troubles can be entertaining, Claire's absent fashion obsessions makes her a more relatable and likable character.
While only a minor aspect of this novel, I found Clark's use of classic novel titles as headings to her chapters a fun little additional to a novel set in the literary world. Love in the Time of Cholera, The Awakening, And The Sound and the Fury set the reader up for what to expect in each chapter while also reiterating the importance of books to the heroine.
As a whole, I would say that Bridie Clark's first novel was a success. There were some minor problems such as editing errors and characters too closely related to famous ones. However, Clark's style and her ability to tell a story more than make up for the novel's downfalls. Working as a former book and magazine editor herself, Clark writes about what she knows. If Clark develops a more unique story but keeps her wit and style, she is sure to have an amazing novel to follow her pleasant debut.
Those that have read this novel may thing, "Wait! Haven't I seen this plot before?" I agree at times the plot seems to be taken directly from Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. Both have romance, comedy, and the crazy boss no one wants to work for. Yet, found that the surface plot was all that these two novels shared. Bridie Clark has taken a well-known story and shaped it into a creation all her own.
One refreshing aspect of Because She Can is the non-materialistic protagonist. So many chick lit novels deal with shopping and spending exorbitant amounts of money on things the heroine not only doesn't need but can't afford. Claire Truman is the least materialistic character I have seen in the genre to date. She prefers small, personalized gifts rather than flashy expensive ones. Her clothes, bearing labels from more affordable designers, was plain, black, boring, and often wrinkled from a night spent in the office. While shopping related money troubles can be entertaining, Claire's absent fashion obsessions makes her a more relatable and likable character.
While only a minor aspect of this novel, I found Clark's use of classic novel titles as headings to her chapters a fun little additional to a novel set in the literary world. Love in the Time of Cholera, The Awakening, And The Sound and the Fury set the reader up for what to expect in each chapter while also reiterating the importance of books to the heroine.
As a whole, I would say that Bridie Clark's first novel was a success. There were some minor problems such as editing errors and characters too closely related to famous ones. However, Clark's style and her ability to tell a story more than make up for the novel's downfalls. Working as a former book and magazine editor herself, Clark writes about what she knows. If Clark develops a more unique story but keeps her wit and style, she is sure to have an amazing novel to follow her pleasant debut.
Devil Wears Prada meets the publishing world. A bit weak, no real surprises.
I've never had much patience for formulaic chick lit, but the ones that lure me in are always about naïve women who go to work for unreasonable, sadistic bosses despite their misgivings: Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries. It's like the opposite of escapist fantasy; it makes you feel enormously glad you aren't living their lives, even with the weekend trips to Paris and Louboutin heels. This book is exactly along those lines, and while it is undeniably cliché and unsurprising (you can guess the ending after reading the book jacket blurb), I still found it a quick, moderately enjoyable read, maybe a little more so after digging up details on the "real life" Vivian and learning that some of her exploits were just as outrageous.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a Devil Wears Prada knockoff, down to the evil boss and the main character who wants to stick it out for one year. I still enjoyed the story and look forward to reading her other stories.
More like 2 and a half stars.
Like almost every other review that I have read, this is a rip of [b:The Nanny Diaries|228333|The Nanny Diaries (Nanny, #1)|Emma McLaughlin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390018191s/228333.jpg|221139] and [b:The Devil Wears Prada|5139|The Devil Wears Prada (The Devil Wears Prada, #1)|Lauren Weisberger|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179604s/5139.jpg|38765]. So there really isn't anything new about this book. You get the super mean/evil boss who is horrible to the young, naive employee. And because she is in over her head professionally, she doesn't have time to figure out her personal life.
By the time the prologue ended, which was 12 pages long, I knew exactly how this book was going to end. That always disappoints me.
But even with the predictability, I did enjoy the book. I wanted to pick it up and keep reading it. I wanted to know what the next evil thing the boss was going to do. I quite enjoyed the editor aspect of the story and I would like to read other books about the book publishing business.
Like almost every other review that I have read, this is a rip of [b:The Nanny Diaries|228333|The Nanny Diaries (Nanny, #1)|Emma McLaughlin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390018191s/228333.jpg|221139] and [b:The Devil Wears Prada|5139|The Devil Wears Prada (The Devil Wears Prada, #1)|Lauren Weisberger|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179604s/5139.jpg|38765]. So there really isn't anything new about this book. You get the super mean/evil boss who is horrible to the young, naive employee. And because she is in over her head professionally, she doesn't have time to figure out her personal life.
By the time the prologue ended, which was 12 pages long, I knew exactly how this book was going to end. That always disappoints me.
But even with the predictability, I did enjoy the book. I wanted to pick it up and keep reading it. I wanted to know what the next evil thing the boss was going to do. I quite enjoyed the editor aspect of the story and I would like to read other books about the book publishing business.
It's not that this was a bad book -- not at all. Perhaps I've just grown away from the bad-boss-chicklit genre, because reading about *this* particular bad boss just struck me as more sad and stressful than funny.
Loved it! Easy read, and WE ALL know a boss like this, right?? Highly recommended for mindless entertainment.
Think The Devil Wears Prada, set in the world of books. Back when I worked in book publishing, I had several fabulous bosses. Except for one boss who was an absolute nightmare (doesn't everyone have one of those at some point?). So needless to say, I could relate to this story.
I listened to the audiobook version, which I recommend. Mary Birdsong (how fitting) is an excellent narrator, and she brings a host of disparate characters to life. I especially loved her take on the tyrannical, vindictive boss Vivian, whom I actually found as hilarious as she was terrible/insane. Fun stuff.
I listened to the audiobook version, which I recommend. Mary Birdsong (how fitting) is an excellent narrator, and she brings a host of disparate characters to life. I especially loved her take on the tyrannical, vindictive boss Vivian, whom I actually found as hilarious as she was terrible/insane. Fun stuff.