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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Overall enjoyable with some unexpected characters.
I do find that the scenes with the women wearing burka incorrect and tone-dull. Most women I have enjoyed being in community with who also wear burka - also in France- would have a different lived experience of their personal and provate fashion
I do find that the scenes with the women wearing burka incorrect and tone-dull. Most women I have enjoyed being in community with who also wear burka - also in France- would have a different lived experience of their personal and provate fashion
Okay. So. I am an ardent fan of romantic comedies, especially ones with multiple, intersecting plotlines, and this read like one of those. Therefore, I would like to just giddily recommend it. However, it was a little bit...problematic...to say the least. For one thing, it was set in New York City but the majority of the characters were white. Then again, the author's only real attempt at exploring a different culture than her own was pretty cringe-worthy and involved a Muslim women realizing the freedom of the "western world," and the oppression of her own, by putting on a dress. This storyline was given two short chapters and felt pretty cavalier and judgemental. Had the author left them out, I probably would be gushing about this book right now. Instead, I'm feeling a little like somebody told me there was a little bit of dog poop baked into that cake I just ate. And, like, yeah it's just a little bit. But it's still dog poop, so I'd rather have not eaten it.
I was really struggling with Arundhati Roy's new novel which was about to send me into a reading slump, so I needed a quick light hearted palate cleanser, and this little chick lit novel (a series of intertwined stories about some fun / likeable characters in NYC) was just right for that.
The outcome of the stories is about as predictable as the book's future adaptation for a TV movie, but I enjoyed this a lot as a holiday read. Hopefully now I can return to something a bit "meatier".
The outcome of the stories is about as predictable as the book's future adaptation for a TV movie, but I enjoyed this a lot as a holiday read. Hopefully now I can return to something a bit "meatier".
Yikes. I went in liking the idea behind following nine women who are all tied to the same small Little Black Dress (LBD) but after a few chapters there were way too many people to track. The book included following some men as well which made things doubly confusing. And after a while it just felt like we got a few short paragraphs per chapter and would skip ahead to someone else.
I was hoping more for a book set up like the [b:The Secret Lives of Dresses|9555250|The Secret Lives of Dresses|Erin McKean|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1288889454s/9555250.jpg|13640167].
I wish that I could pick out one character that I liked the most, but honestly I can't even recall someone that is standing out in my mind right now. The model turned actress character was interesting, but honestly I found her whole rise to stardom to be implausible in this day and age with so many insta-models becoming the new hot thing. And the Hollywood leading men character was not believable at all. Maybe because I had some friends who dated actors/actresses and they all had some stories to tell.
What could have worked better for me is if we followed the elderly (male) dress designer as he worked on designing a dress and each chapter would show a different woman coming to Bloomingdale's finding THE DRESS and wearing it a pivotal part in their lives. I think that is where Rosen was going, but it just got lost with the shifting perspectives.
And I am going to say it seemed like to me she got bored towards the end since the chapters were so choppy. And then everyone got a happy ending (well except for one character who I could not figure out who it was).
I was hoping more for a book set up like the [b:The Secret Lives of Dresses|9555250|The Secret Lives of Dresses|Erin McKean|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1288889454s/9555250.jpg|13640167].
I wish that I could pick out one character that I liked the most, but honestly I can't even recall someone that is standing out in my mind right now. The model turned actress character was interesting, but honestly I found her whole rise to stardom to be implausible in this day and age with so many insta-models becoming the new hot thing. And the Hollywood leading men character was not believable at all. Maybe because I had some friends who dated actors/actresses and they all had some stories to tell.
What could have worked better for me is if we followed the elderly (male) dress designer as he worked on designing a dress and each chapter would show a different woman coming to Bloomingdale's finding THE DRESS and wearing it a pivotal part in their lives. I think that is where Rosen was going, but it just got lost with the shifting perspectives.
And I am going to say it seemed like to me she got bored towards the end since the chapters were so choppy. And then everyone got a happy ending (well except for one character who I could not figure out who it was).
I enjoyed the overall story, found the ending a little bit lacking and rushed. I wished there would have been a little bit more of a true ending considering that it was a stand alone book and the ending felt like one more story was missing. Still an enjoyable book.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was such a sweet mash up of stories. It was a very quick read. All the characters start out separate and then their worlds are all brought together by one dress. It was a great feel good story.