Amazon.com: Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within (9780152063856): Books

More About the Author

My name is Laura Bowers and I'm the author of BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT, (Harcourt, 2007,) a novel I was inspired to write by a rusted sign that was posted in front of a charming old house.

Besides being a young adult author, I'm also a wife, mother, horse nut, reader, Baltimore Orioles fan--no matter what their record is, compulsive list keeper, and reality TV addict.

Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look out, Joan Bauer!, April 29, 2007

By

Lara M. Zeises - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within (Hardcover)

BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT represents what's missing in a lot of current YA fiction - good old-fashioned storytelling that doesn't need some sort of gimmick to make it stand out. The quirky cast of characters feel like real people, and not devices created to perform the plot. Abbey's voice sparkles right from the get-go, and her relationship with Granny Po and the rest of the gray widows is both hilarious and moving. This is more than just STEEL MAGNOLIAS for the younger set - this is a lovely coming of age story that stands on its own two feet, just like its heartwarming and headstrong protagonist.

And, despite what another Amazon reviewer seems to think, this is a very, very, very CLEAN read - I'd be as comfortable recommending this to a ten-year-old reader as I would someone going on sixteen.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come On In, May 1, 2007

By

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within (Hardcover)

Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers is fully equipped with quirky, memorable characters. Inquire within and you'll find a heartwarming story about a lovable teenage girl, her feisty great-grandmother, and the many people who love them.

The beauty is in the writing. The beauty is in the plotting. The beauty is in all of the characters, especially the protagonist. Readers will root for sweet, savvy Abbey, who is trying desperately not to follow in the tragic footsteps of the three generations of women before her.

As Abbey gives her deliquent mother a second chance - and a third, and a fourth - she runs the risk of losing all she's earned and challenging everything she knows about her family's history.

Step into this BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT for a good, clean read that will tickle your funny bone, massage your mind, and warm your heart. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to be charmed..., May 2, 2007

By

Pamaloon (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within (Hardcover)

Beauty Shop for Rent is going to wrap itself around you like your favorite blanket. This book has it all: engaging characters, humor, and a protagonist that you root for from page one. I'm giving my copy to my 16 year-old daughter, and buying another for her pal in Australia. A great read.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick and Enjoyable
This book was both a great and short read. The characters were strong and engaging. Although at times it felt like you couldn't quite get a handle on all the side characters, the... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Static9

3.0 out of 5 stars So cute
A cute teen-version of Steel Magnolias, without the death.

This book was witty and fun. I enjoyed every page. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Wannabe Librarian

5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and memorable
Abbey has been working at her great-grandmother's beauty parlor for three years, ever since her mom left her with Granny Po and took off. Read more

Published 12 months ago by The Compulsive Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem
Three generations of women in Abbey Garner's family have made the same mistake: teen pregnancy followed by an early marriage and dependency on an unreliable man. Read more

Published on January 13, 2010 by Karen Keyte

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read!
This is a must-read for teens who have been searching for a YA book that has something different to offer. Read more

Published on March 5, 2009 by BookBuff9293

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story about Family
Ambitious Abbey Garner spends a lot of her time hard at work at her great-grandmother Granny Po's quaint though struggling beauty shop. Read more

Published on August 4, 2008 by The Book Muncher

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book!
I picked this book up after my then-13 year old read it cover to cover in less than a week. This was the longest book she had ever tackled, and when she finished it that quickly,... Read more

Published on January 12, 2008 by Marjorie A. Macciocca

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, sad and funny
This beautiful debut from Laura Bowers infuses horses, charm, family and mother-daughter dynamics that all come together in BEAUTY SHOP. Read more

Published on August 29, 2007 by Jessica Burkhart

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to Enjoy
Kudos to a new author. This is a great book for any age reader. You will relate to these people and situations. Read more

Published on July 5, 2007 by Lois V. Peters

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too
There is nothing like Polly's Parlor, where a free dose of gossip comes with a manicure.

For Abbey Garner, her great-grandmother's old-fashioned beauty shop and the... Read more

Published on May 31, 2007 by TeensReadToo

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
Hypothetical Question of the Week: If you were forced to have an extra body part implanted on your back, which would you choose? Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
paraffin treatments, manicure table, puppy breath, horse rescue, red velvet cake

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Granny Po, Loretta Scott, Ocean City, Gray Widows, Polly's Parlor, Miss Hopkins, Camden Mackintosh, New Year's Eve, Wheel of Fortune, Miss Caddie, Miss Edith, Miss Rosemary, Amy Perkins, Dewey Beach, Evelyn Somers, Grace Garner, Harry Penney, Serenity Spa, Black Friday, John Wayne, Polly Randall, Abigail Lynn Garner, Charlie Hawkins, Granite Hill Church, Mindy Sible

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