Cutting Loose [Paperback]

Nadine Dajani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2008

Meet three women who are as different as could be—at least that’s what they think—and the men who’ve turned their lives upside down as their paths collide in sizzling, sexy Miami. . . .

Ranya is a modern-day princess—brought up behind the gilded walls of Saudi Arabian high society and winner of the dream husband sweepstakes . . . until said husband turns out to be more interested in Paolo, the interior-decorator-cum-underwear-model, than in his virginal new wife.

Smart, independent, but painfully shy, Zahra has managed to escape her impoverished Palestinian roots to carve out a life of comfort. But she can’t reveal her secrets to the man she adores or shake off the fear that she doesn’t deserve any of it. She also can’t shake the fear that if she holds on to anything—or anyone—too dearly, they will be taken away in the blink of a kohl-lined eye.

Rio has risen above the slums of her native Honduras—not to mention the jeers of her none too supportive family—to become editor in chief of Suéltate magazine, the hottest Latina-targeted glossy in town, and this in spite of Georges Mallouk, her hunky-yet-clueless boss, and in spite of Rio’s totally wrong but oh-so-sinfully-right affair with the boss’s delicious but despicable younger brother, Joe.

In this city of fast cars, sleek clubs, and unapologetic superficiality, Ranya, Zahra, and Rio wrestle with the ties that bind them to their difficult pasts, and it just might be time for them to cut loose. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dajani's engrossing second novel (after Fashionably Late) chronicles the overlap in the lives of three dissimilar women working at a Miami magazine. Upon realizing that her husband is gay, pampered Ranya Hayek flees her situation and, after a chance meeting with smitten millionaire Georges Mallouk, finds herself working for the first time. Georges and his brother, Joe, own Suéltate, a successful magazine geared toward Latinas and helmed by the brash Rio, who works nonstop to make it a top publication. Rio has the occasional tryst with Joe and is wary of Ranya, who has both brothers mooning over her. Also disdainful of Ranya and Rio is Ranya's childhood schoolmate Zahra, who is intelligent but socially awkward. After having made a mistake that destroyed her beloved life in Boston, Zahra took a corporate position with her old friend Georges, whom she still holds a torch for. Dajani seamlessly flits from character to character, embodying each woman and pitting her observations against her misconceptions. Though the unfortunately pat happy ending seems lazy and unlikely, the novel works nicely. (Oct.)
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Review

“The question of how Ali should live is a provocative one, and Dajani’s wit, warmth, and insight shine through in turning over its nuances.” —Publishers Weekly on Fashionably Late

“Fashionably Late is a wonderful story of East meets West. Aline navigates the waters between her overprotective family and their traditional values and what she really wants for herself in life. I read it in one sitting!”--Michelle Cunnah, author of 32AA

“Fashionably Late is an entertaining, cross-cultural debut, filled with honesty, humor and heart.”—Wendy French, author of sMothering
 
“From the chic boutiques of Montreal to the sultry nightlife of Cuba, Fashionably Late sparkles with wit and humor.  You will fall in love with Dajani’s engaging Lebanese-Canadian heroine.”—JoAnn Hornak, author of Adventures of a Salsa Goddess 
 
“Fashionably Late is a compelling read for women who find themselves at the crossroads. It's a must-have for the most fashionable of book bags.”—Mary Castillo, author of Hot Tamara and In Between Men

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765319438
• ISBN-13: 978-0765319432
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,171,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Lebanon and raised in Montreal, Nadine Dajani was an accountant for the offshore hedge fund industry in her previous life. She's now a full-time novelist (and online shopping addict) and travel magazine contributor. Nadine can be found in front of her outrageously girly pink laptop, sipping non-fat venti cappuccinos at coffee shops around Grand Cayman. She loves hearing from her readers, so drop by her blog at newbienovelist.blogspot.com and say hi!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and perfect for summer!, June 5, 2009

By 

nat @ book, line, and sinker (at the beach, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cutting Loose (Mass Market Paperback)

Take a peek into the lives of three diverse women and see how their culture and life choices have brought them together.

Told from multiple points of view, Cutting Loose weaves the lives of three women into an entertaining novel with solid characters and plenty of conflict. Offering more than just the standard 'chick-lit' fare, Nadine Dajani draws on her own her own exotic life experiences to create characters who struggle to reconcile their culture with life in sultry, hedonistic Miami.

Ranya, Zahra, and Rio each arrive in Miami with baggage from their other lives. Ranya escapes Montreal and her sham of a marriage, Zahra leaves Boston and a career-ending disaster which was precipitated by a one night stand with an unrequited love, and Rio runs from the slums of Honduras and manages to climb her way to the top of a niche magazine.

From the cover, I figured the book would follow a predictable path and that the women would become fast friends despite their differences. How wrong I was! Each character grapples with her own internal and external conflicts but the friendships I predicted never materialized. Instead, mutual respect and camaraderie developed.

Ranya struggles with the deeply ingrained rules of her Muslim upbringing, while Zahra buries her emotions and feelings for her boss in work and comfort food, and Rio tries hard to stay emotionally unattached in a 5-year 'fling' with her boss's younger brother.

Religion, relationships, and personal growth are strong themes throughout the novel. The three women try to supress parts of themselves but ultimately realize that in order to find true love and personal happiness they have to embrace their whole selves. They are dynamic characters who change and develop with every experience.

Overall, this book was an entertaining and interesting read--perfect to get me in the mood for summer! I enjoyed the multicultural angle, characters, and Miami backdrop.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From S. Krishna's Books, December 4, 2008

By 

skrishna (http://www.skrishnasbooks.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cutting Loose (Paperback)

I first heard about Nadine Dajani's novels through the website of the wonderful Jess Riley, author of Driving Sideways. She featured an interview about Ms. Dajani's new novel, Cutting Loose, and I was immediately intrigued. Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I love multicultural fiction, especially when that fiction can fit in the genre of chick lit. This book seemed to fit the bill, and I was thrilled when Ms. Dajani's publicist sent me not just one, but both of her books to review!

I think the strongest point of Cutting Loose is its wonderful characters. When I first picked up the book, I figured that these three women, Ranya, Rio, and Zahra, would become friends and that's what the novel would be about because that's how most chick lit works. Imagine my surprise when these three didn't become fast friends; instead, Zahra and Rio seemed to resent and severely dislike Ranya. I thought that added an extra ingredient to the novel and I really enjoyed it.

I liked the character of Ranya a lot, though Rio and Zahra didn't. I might have actually found their immediate judgment of her irritating, had the book not also been told from their points of view. Sometimes a book with multiple narrators can be confusing, but in this case, the tool is very effective. It is easy to understand why each of these women act in the manner they do. Dajani is a talented writer who really understands the dynamics of female relationships.

I also loved that these women were from very different backgrounds. Yes, Ranya and Zahra were both from the Middle East, but basically from completely different worlds within that area. I like how Dajani makes clear that growing up rich in Saudi Arabia is not the same as growing up as a poor Palestinian; too often, the Middle East is painted as one homogenous area. It's nice to be reminded that's not the case. And Rio, being from Honduras, throws something entirely different into the mix.

Cutting Loose is well-written, fun, easy to read, and very interesting. If you enjoy chick lit, or books about different cultures, don't miss this one! A big thank you to Ms. Dajani and her publicist for getting these books to me and making sure I received them!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb character study, October 4, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cutting Loose (Paperback)

In Montreal, originally from Riyadh, Ranya looks forward to ending her marriage to a gay person when she meets fourth generation Lebanese-American Georges who intervenes when an idiot opens her mouth about Arab terrorists.

Georges leaves her to sit with his subordinate business woman Zahra, who has doubts ingrained since her West Bank childhood re a woman succeeding in business and her attraction to Joe who doe not reciprocate.

In Miami Honduran expatriate Rosario, called Rio by friends, knows she should not have an intermittent affair with Joe, as she as the editor in chief of Sueltate magazine sort of works for him though his brother Georges runs the publication.

The key to this superb character study is the prime cast members all are fully developed and seem genuine as each seeks happiness although none appear to know how to obtain it. Their lives intermingle with Ranya and Zahra being childhood friends and Georges the connection to Rio. Readers will relish following the escapades of the women and the two brothers who chase them whether it is Canada, Florida or London. Nadine Dajani provides a wonderful contemporary tale.

Harriet Klausner