Customer Reviews

Be Careful What You Wish for

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Cheryl Faye's fifth literary offering, Be Careful What You Wish For, introduces the reader to two unlikely friends and the conflict that ensues over a man. At first glance, roommates Jamilah Parsons and Sabrina Richardson appear to have nothing in common except the same address. Jamilah is a thick, brown-skinned, confident sista, while Sabrina is a light-skinned, model thin, insecure woman. Yet the two have been best friends since they were young. Their friendship is put to the test when Sabrina brings home Darius Thornton, a handsome, upwardly mobile attorney. Sabrina sees Darius as just another man that she can take advantage of until she can hit the real jackpot, a millionaire to take care of her, while Jamilah sees him as a loving, caring man who is a fool for putting up with Sabrina's antics. Jamilah feels as if Darius would be better off with someone who could appreciate him...someone like her. However, her friendship with Sabrina prevents her from pursuing him. Everything changes when Sabrina meets Quentin Blanchard. She believes all of her wishes have come true. Not only is he handsome and suave, but he is extremely wealthy. She soon learns that all that glitters may not be gold, and in the process she may have lost everything and everyone that cared about her.

Be Careful What You Wish For is an endearing novel that drew me in immediately and had me up late into the night turning pages to find out the characters' fate. Faye's writing is clear and concise and her characters were so rich and well developed, by the time I had completed the novel, they felt like old friends. I especially enjoyed how the author smoothly combined several genres in this novel. At times the book felt like a romance novel, other times chick lit, and it even had a bit of suspense. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it. Although this is my first time reading Cheryl Faye's work, it will definitely not be my last.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
APOOO BookClub

Be Careful What You Wish For is the story of two very different friends who must discover what friendship really is.

Jamilah Parsons is a "five-foot, ten and a half inch, dark brown, full figured woman." Always on the "heavy" side, growing up Jamilah didn't have many friends. Not one to wallow in self pity, she spent those formative years focusing on her education, building herself inside and out and not worrying about what other people thought. As a result, she grew up to be a confident and well rounded woman proud of her voluptuous frame.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is model thin Sabrina Richardson. She's always used her good looks and shape to play on the emotions of men, milking them dry before moving onto a bigger fish with more money. Even with her beauty, Sabrina is riddled with insecurities.

Despite their differences, this unlikely duo has remained best friends for several years vowing to never let anything or anyone stand in the way of their friendship. That is until Denzel Washington look alike Darius Thornton enters the picture as Sabrina's latest meal ticket. Unlike any of Sabrina's previous suitors, Jamilah finds herself attracted to this one and despising Sabrina for her treatment of him. Unknowingly, Darius turns their world and friendship upside down. Jamilah is forced to face her hidden insecurities regarding her weight and complexion. And Sabrina must realize that beauty is only skin deep. Can the duo recover or will their friendship be forever damaged?

Cheryl Faye does a wonderful job with exploring each woman's internal conflicts on their separate paths of self discovery, love and friendship.

Reviewed by Toni Mac
For BBW Reviews

Well had to force myself to go to bed, this is such a good read! You find yourself rooting for Jamilah who does not fit the stereotype of so called beautiful black woman - she is voluptous, dark with natural locked hair but is beautiful in her own right. Sabrina her friend is slim, fair with long 'silky' hair from a monied family. One finds that all is not what it seems with the friends it is partly based on Jamilah kowtowing to Sabrina's whims until she opens her eyes. One roots for Jamilah to have a successful love life and for Sabrina to see the error of her ways. Darius to me came across as a bit of a wimp at first but we all know men who are nice but seem to be so dazzled by the bad girls and can't see what is right in front of them. This deserves 5 stars but I give it 4.5 stars cos it seemed a bit too long in the middle it kind of started to drag but on the other hand it added to the suspense I found myself shouting at the characters - especially Darius telling him to 'just tell her' read and see who 'her' is. Great story

Reading this book was like watching a movie. The words flowed in such a way that I didn't have to even think while I was reading; I just relaxed and enjoyed! Cheryl... when can we expect your next novel??

Be Careful What You Wish For by Cheryl Faye is a thought-provoking novel based on the lives of two best friends.

Jamilah Parsons and Sabrina Richardson are an unlikely pair of friends. Sabrina is the light skinned glamorous diva, where Jamilah is the dark skinned "plain Jane".

This story discusses a variety of issues from same race discrimination to abuse and murder. The story sets out with two childhood friends who live different lifestyles and have very different philosophies on what a relationship should be. Sabrina is after a man to take care of her, while Jamilah is out to find a true partner and soul mate.

The ladies friendship is put to the test when all hell breaks loose after Sabrina accuses Jamilah of being in love with her then boyfriend Darius. Darius Thornton is a wealthy attorney that is head over heals in love with Sabrina mainly because she is a pretty piece of eye candy that will look good on his arm and will help him secure his position of partner within his firm.

Darius discovers with Sabrina that everything that looks sweet is not always that. While by chance he gets to know Jamilah and finds that a true friend is the key to any good relationship.

I find that Ms. Faye did a superb job of showing the depths that a "sister-friend" would go through to protect that special bond of a "best friend", while still maintaining a special bond with the love of her life. Hail to Ms. Faye for a story well told.

Eleanor Shields, Reviewer
Literary Essence

I started this book on a Sunday afternoon, thinking that I would just read a few chapters that day. It was so easy to get in to, and the pace moved right along.I liked the characters so much, that when it was over (the next day...lol)I found myself still thinking about them. I sent the author an email and told her so.
Try this book. I think that you will be pleased.

Boy Was This Book Great!The Author Did A Wondeful Job With All Of Her Characters & Her Storyline....Without Giving Too Much Away, I Loved The Ending, The Character Sabrina Learned A Hard Lesson Because Of The Way She Treated Men..Am Glad That Her & J, Still Remained Friends & Both Moved On With Happy Lives. This Was A Book Well Worth Reading, I Wasnt Disappointed At All.

Nice and compassionate Jamilah Parsons will be content when she can find a man who truly loves her. However, her best friend and roommate, Sabrina Richardson, has all the luck when it comes to men. Because of this fact, Jamilah doesn't understand why Sabrina treats her boyfriends as if they were dogs on a leash. Finally, Sabrina meets attorney Darius Thornton, a man she feels is able to give in to the desires of her heart. Although Darius is at her beck and call, she wants someone who's willing to give just a little bit more, so she strings him along while she searches for such a man.

After years of having to endure all the lies and deceit, Jamilah who finds herself attracted to Darius, is fed up. In so many terms she tells Sabrina that her treatment of Darius is wrong and she needs to stop. Sabrina, on
the other hand, feels Jamilah is just jealous because she cannot find a man. After several arguments on the subject, a rift ensues between the two. Will Jamilah and Sabrina allow this man to be the cause of a lost friendship or will Sabrina take heed to Jamilah's advice?

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a very intriguing novel about friendship, trust and most importantly love. The characters were well-developed and the storyline flowed from one chapter to the next without missing a beat. Although, this was my first Cheryl Faye novel, I can assure you it will not be the last.

Reviewed by Pamela Bolden
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

This book will keep you in awe from the first page to the last. There are some deep issues brought out in this story and it will leave you wanting to know more about why some of characters had the attitudes that they did! I hope there's a sequel!

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love Cheryl Faye. She is such a wonderful writer. I have all of her books and not one I was dissapointed in. This book was absolutely wonderful to read. I couldn't put it down for anything, and when I had to put it down I hurried to get right back to it. I was even excited when I was reading that one her old characters Warren Michaels made an appearance. But the story of Darius and Jamilah was such a wonderful read. Cheryl needs to hurry up with another and don't wait another 5 years to do so.