Behaving Badly [Paperback]

Isabel Wolff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2006

Saying all men are dogs is an insult to canines everywhere . . .

For animal behaviorist Miranda Sweet, pets beat people -- paws down -- and she's convinced that animals are sweeter, softer and a lot more predictable than the men she's been dating lately. So when she opens up her own animal clinic, she decides to focus on the species she understands, and forget about trying to fathom the murky depths of the male psyche.

While schizophrenic schnauzers and confused canaries are benefiting from her professional ministrations, her best friend Daisy is convinced that Miranda needs a little therapy, as well. Enter dishy photographer David. Even Miranda begins to think she may have been just a tad hasty in her analysis of men, and she finds herself reconsidering her position.

But just as she lets her guard down, her own past reappears, and Miranda must come to terms with the fact that she hasn't always been as sweet as she'd like to believe . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The latest novel from the author of Out of the Blue (2003) and Rescuing Rose (2004) opens with Miranda Sweet, a vet turned animal-behavior specialist, reeling from the sudden end of her engagement to a handsome actor whose television career is taking off. Running into an ex, the sleazy Jimmy Smith, who is now a supposedly respectable member of Parliament named James Mulholland, doesn't help matters, especially since it brings up long-buried guilt from an incident Miranda can't forget. Sixteen years ago, as a young activist under Jimmy's sway, Miranda was responsible for hurting the son of a university professor, and she decides to look up the boy, now a photographer, and confess and apologize. But when she meets the handsome, gruff David White, sparks fly immediately and Miranda puts off telling him that she was the one who unwittingly delivered the letter bomb that scarred his hands. Wolff's new novel has an unusual premise and a great payoff that will keep readers hooked. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Hilarious, moving, a wonderful story. I loved it." -- bestselling author Wendy Holden

"Wolff has a light touch and a slick prose style that makes this story flow effortlessly." -- Marie Claire

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Mira (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778323188
• ISBN-13: 978-0778323181
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,232,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Isabel Wolff read English at Cambridge and was a journalist and BBC broadcaster before becoming a full time writer. A Sunday Times best-seller, her eight poignant romantic comedies have been published in 29 languages and include 'The Making of Minty Malone', 'Behaving Badly' and 'Rescuing Rose'. Her latest novel, 'A Vintage Affair' was an Amazon.co.uk 'Best of the Year' title, 2009, and in 2011 it was shortlisted for the American Libraries Association Reading List award (in the women's fiction category). Her ninth novel, 'The Very Picture of You' will be published by Random House Inc on October 4th. Isabel lives in London with her partner, their children and her stepchildren and in her spare time enjoys playing with dolls and trains. For more information please visit www.IsabelWolff.com or see Isabel's author page on Facebook. Thank you...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining!, July 31, 2005

By 

Janice (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behaving Badly (Paperback)

Isabel Wolff's "Behaving Badly" deals with Miranda Sweet who is an animal behaviorist (somewhat of a psychologist for animals) who helps her clients to understand why their pets are behaving in strange manners such as tearing the house down when his/her owner leaves the house or bullying other pets. Miranda enjoys her job immensely and is successful at what she does. Her love life however is not so great. Fresh from her breakup with an upcoming TV star, Miranda is determine to move on, with the help of her best friend. She met photographer David whom she believes would make a great partner but in order for the relationship to continue, she needs to settle a part of her past which haunts her daily.

It's a shame that "Behaving Badly" is not published in the U.S. as I think this is one of Isabel Wolff's better books. The plot was clearly written, the characters were likeable (especially Miranda's best friend, Daisy) and I find the problems that Miranda's clients had with their pets simply fascinating. The author also did a great job in keeping certain parts of the books a mystery to engage her readers to continue reading the book. Overall, this is a better than average chick-lit!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully entertaining, with a lot of pathos, July 6, 2006

By 

Christina Bee Bee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behaving Badly (Paperback)

I was really impressed by this unusually entertaining, but also poignant book which had me laughing and crying in turn. Miranda Sweet is an animal behaviorist - or pet shrink. She has no problem working out the neurotic behaviors of the animals she sees at her clinic - whether it be deluded dachsunds, stir-crazy cats, or introverted iguanas. But understanding the behavior of men is not so easy. After one shocking incident newly single Miranda has given up on them altogether. But then she meets a handsome photographer - and they fall in love. But this gives her a huge moral dilemma - because she already has a dreadful connection with the guy from years before, which he does not know about. Should she confess to him the shameful thing she did, and risk him rejecting her - or keep quiet? The mystery of what it was Miranda did those years before, and which affected him so badly then - and still affects him now - kept me turning the pages. In addition to this darker part of the story there was lots of fun and humor with the animals themselves, and with Miranda's lovely friend, Daisy, whose long term boyfriend won't commit. But the overall theme of the book is about courage and also forgiveness - finding the courage to tell the truth - and the forgiveness to forgive. For me this elevated it far above the usual girl about town chick lit offerings into something very moving and worthwhile.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I've been spoiled by better British authors, but this wasn't bad, August 26, 2006

By 

Kathy Kaiser - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behaving Badly (Paperback)

American readers have been deprived of some hilarious, wonderful British authors who write the best chick lit out there. We're finally getting a few of them published here. Isabel Wolff is one of the authors who has made the leap to the American market, and she's a pretty decent writer. Behaving Badly is an above average book with a likeable heroine and a good plot. But, I've been spoiled. I buy the best of the best when it comes to British chick lit by going to Amazon.co.uk. When you've read Sarah Mason, Melissa Nathan (who's been published here and who, sadly, recently passed away), Katie Fforde, Victoria Corby, Donna Hay, Catherine Alliott, and a host of other fantastic British novelists, Behaving Badly doesn't quite stack up. I've never understood why someone like Isabel Wolff gets published more here in the U.S. than some of these other great writers. Ah well. That's why I'm not in the publishing industry. But, Wolff isn't half bad. Her book would have been better without the masses of pages spent on the conversations at her puppy parties. She also spends way too much time discussing various random animal problems that the owners need help with. I had to skim through all of that to get to the more interesting action with her main characters. So, this is a perfectly pleasant read, but I just wanted it to be as good as the books I get from overseas.