Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead [Paperback]

Saralee Rosenberg (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 22, 2008

In Mindy's yoga-obsessed, thirty-is-the-new-wife neighborhood, every day is a battle between Dunkin' Donuts, her jaws-of-life jeans, and Beth Diamond, the self-absorbed sancti-mommy next door who looks sixteen from the back. So much for sharing the chores, the stores, and the occasional mischief to rival Wisteria Lane.

It's another day, another dilemma until Beth's marriage becomes fodder on Facebook. Suddenly the Ivy League blonde needs to be “friended,” and Mindy is the last mom standing. Together they take on hormones and hunger, family feuds and fidelity, and a harrowing journey that spills the truth about an unplanned pregnancy and a seventy-year-old miracle that altered their fates forever.

Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a hilarious, stirring romp over fences and defenses that begs the question, what did you do to deserve living next door to a crazy woman? Sometimes it's worth finding out.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There's enough suburban-mom anxiety in Rosenberg's crackling fourth novel to fuel several ulcers: worrisome in-laws, spoiled-brat kids, a husband with a shrinking income, a newfound stepson and a gorgeous neighbor whose nastiness knows no bounds. The nonstop crises in Mindy's diary of domestic disaster would easily torpedo both credibility and patience if it weren't for this harangued housewife's edgy wit and chicken-soup-for-the-soul warmth. (Buggin' out? Mindy fumes at her stepson. Oh, right. Because with three other kids, a job I hate, and a failing business, I was short of things that pissed me off.) Though hostile next-door-neighbor Beth Diamond is the presumed Darth Vader in Mindy's life, it's clear the pair have more in common than they'd like to admit, and they eventually bond and help each other through domestic troubles. If you enjoy giddy diversions, this chronicle of a long and bumpy suburban ride can be surprisingly sweet and is well worth the trip. (Aug.)
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From Booklist

Mindy Sherman either has the neighbor from hell, or is the neighbor from hell, depending which side of the Lexus-lined driveway you’re on. While her image-conscious, nutrition-obsessed, high-maintenance neighbor Beth fails to appreciate the intricacies of carpooling, purse parties, and other niceties of life in suburban Long Island, fashion-challenged, grooming-beleaguered Mindy scarfs fast food, juggles credit cards, and lives in stained sweatshirts. Their polar-opposite approaches to life keep Mindy and Beth from being neighborly, much less friendly, until evidence of Beth’s marital difficulties are broadcast on the Internet, and her high-powered executive husband abandons her. Desperate times make for strange bedfellows, forcing a reluctant Beth to rely on Mindy’s down-to-earth practicality and supermom efficiency. As each woman faces an escalating series of family crises, a white-knuckle, life-or-death emergency brings the true meaning of friendship home in unexpected ways. Through a winning blend of hip and humble humor, Rosenberg simultaneously skewers and celebrates the institution of suburban sisterhood. --Carol Haggas

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Avon A (July 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061253774
• ISBN-13: 978-0061253775
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a funny beach read with heart July 22, 2008

By Franny Duke

Format:Paperback

I knew from the title that this book would be funny, and it was, but what surprised me was how wise and grounded it was. A battle between female neighbors in the 'burbs -- one frumpy and funny and kind if a bit of a martyr; the other thin, bitchy, demanding and snobby -- was sometimes a bit over the top, but evolved into a smart and engaging story of two families, one presented with a host of reasons to fall apart (financial troubles, moody teenagers, deaths in the family) that comes together more grounded than ever and the other seemingly perfect and wealthy that is anything but. Rosenberg is a very funny writer (sometimes the wise cracks come a bit too fast and furious) and her protagonist, Mindy (the frumpy, funny, kind one), is completely endearing. She captures the 'burbs in all of its competitive falseness but instead of just skewering the people as so many "suburban" novels do, she writes with empathy, intelligence and warmth. This is the kind of beach read that you dive into just for fun and end up taking more seriously than you expected.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars L'Chayim September 18, 2008

By Michelaneous by Michele

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

We all have funny friends who tell great stories. Friends to whom we sometimes say things like, "you should write a book." I'm so glad author, Saralee Rosenberg, either heard this enough or believed in herself enough to share her humor with us. There's a laugh on every page of Dear Neighbor Drop Dead. From page one, I felt I had to fasten my seatbelt, as the quick pace and over-the-top characters just cracked me up. It was quite a ride through this Long Island neighborhood full of twists and turns and page-turning gusto.

Although primarily Mindy's story, this is the tale of Mindy and Beth. Beth is THE neighbor from hell, a first-class beyotch, who puts on the perfect routine and is so mean to everyone--particularly the big-hearted Mindy--she's easy to loathe. Mindy and Beth are thrown together through a variety of circumstances and their relationship as frenemies develops in unexpected and amusing ways. Every secondary character no matter how important or trivial to the story is beautifully developed and makes this quick read highly enjoyable.

Be prepared to experience the culture of modern Jewish families. You'll hunger for a New York bagel and smile at the expressions: "It's never the stuff you worry about that happens, it's the stuff you don't see coming that incapacitates you like a Taser. And nothing like five-thousand volts of electricity to get your undivided attention."

I had to agree with Mindy's stepson, Aaron, when he proclaims: "I like being Jewish. You guys really know how to party." To which Mindy, ever the wit, replies: "Next to suffering, it's what we do best."
Very well done.... I look forward to reading Saralee Rosenberg's other books--including one mentioned in this story, Claire Voyant--particularly when I feel the need to smile.

Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Neighbor, Read THIS! ;-) July 25, 2008

By V. Marx

Format:Paperback

I had previously read and greatly enjoyed Saralee Rosenberg's book Fate and Ms. Fortune. So I looked forward to seeing what this creative mind had come up with this time around. However, even if I hadn't already experienced any of her books, the title of this one alone would have captured my interest immediately.

In "Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead" we meet Mindy Sherman and her next-door neighbor, Beth Diamond. A more unlikely duo may never have been seen. Mindy is your somewhat typical mother. She's slightly frazzled and often finds herself wishing for more for her family. She loves her husband and her children and she works hard to juggle the daily life of a working mother. Her house may not be immaculate and her shirts may not be designer, but Mindy makes sure that her kids have a good life. Yet she can't help but eye up the neighbor and her impressive lifestyle. Beth is Mindy's opposite in all appearances. She's the perfectly made-up mother that never breaks a nail and always shows up in designer labels. She has a seemingly wonderful life with a successful husband and beautiful children. Beth clearly has it all, including a bad attitude toward anyone she deems is beneath her, which is pretty much everyone. The only thing these two women have in common is the fact that they both have mean little nicknames for one another and they agree upon their mutual disregard. Mindy's and Beth's worlds co-exist next to one another, but only intertwine for carpooling the children to and from school and very little else. The two women soon, however, find themselves being forced together as drama hits both families.

"Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead" is a tale of family and friends, a story of relationships ending and beginning, a lesson of appearances not always being what they seem....... and it's a tale of finding a confidant where you might least expect it.

This novel is filled with both laughter and tears for the reader as well as the characters. The cast of characters is unique and wonderful, albeit rather quirky in some circumstances. Perhaps it is the quirkiness that makes everyone so relatable and very likeable (even the mean neighbor from you-know-where is rather likeable in her own little way). Saralee Rosenberg masterfully combines fun and wit with drama and seriousness to bring us a novel that is a real page-turner. As events unfold, Rosenberg throws a curveball or two in order to keep the readers guessing. Who will stay together? Who will split? What will happen next? The pages didn't turn fast enough for me and I often found myself on the edge of my seat wanting to hug someone or slap someone... sometimes both at once. When an author can make you strongly love, hate or hate-to-love their characters, it's a winning book in my opinion. Saralee Rosenberg accomplished this and more with "Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead". By the end of the tale, I wanted to join the Sherman and Diamond families myself! Closing the book on the last page left me with a bittersweet feeling because I had laughed and worried with the women and I felt as if I was a part of their lives. I hated to say good-bye to both Mindy and Beth and everyone else in their crazy families. Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a book that never disappoints from beginning to end. It is a book that I plan on recommending to family and friends, and perhaps even to a few select neighbors. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I loved the misadventures in this book. November 15, 2008

By Monica Garcia VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I'm sure there are a few people out there that have had experiences with a neighbor who makes you want to put a note in their mailbox that says, "Dear neighbor, drop dead." This is exactly what Mindy Sherman did to her horribly mean neighbor Beth Diamond.

Mindy is an average overweight wife and mom of three who juggles work, carpooling the kids and the stress of just barely managing not to drown in debt while ducking and dodging mean comments from Beth. Beth and her husband seemingly have it all; new cars, a huge immaculate house and two perfect kids. But all is not as it seems... Beth's marriage is about to fall apart at the seams and she has no real friends to turn to. Suddenly she's apologizing for treating Mindy bad in the past and looking for a shoulder to cry on.

Meanwhile Mindy's own family drama is escalating and they've just learned that Mindy's stepson is coming for a visit which eventually turns into a permanent stay. With everything flipping upside down around her, Mindy channels Oprah and Dr. Phil to help make everything right again.

Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead is a funny madcap look into the life of a soccer-mom. Just when you think things might be looking up for Mindy, Beth and their families another bad thing happens and you can't help but laugh. I enjoyed reading this book but the ending was just too "storybook" for me to rate it higher. It's a quick two/three day read that I do recommend reading if you have the chance.