Customer Reviews

Divas, Inc.

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been seeing Divas, Inc. in the store for a while and kept picking it up and putting it down. Finally, I buy the book and begin reading against advice from a friend. I think, "It's not so bad, the writing is decent and it moves fast." After a couple of chapters, I determined that I would not subject myself to read this ridiculous and stupid story. Tiffany and Chantal are barely developed and Margaret continually got on my nerves. I do not expect plots to be exactly true to life but I kept going "Come on, be for real!" after Margaret kept getting into one mishap after another. Frustrated, I read the ending to see if this was all leading to something worthwhile, again, I must say that I was disappointed and thought that it was stupid. By page 120, I put the book down, actually I passed it on to a friend who would probably enjoy it a lot more than me. This is definitely one of those books that you get from a library or a friend. From one diva to another, do not waste your money on it. Add some money and get a nice pair of shoes.

What do you do when your two best friends go on a 6-week European vacation and don't invite you? Instead, they expect for you to take care of their apartments, water their plants and walk the dog. If you are Margaret Drew, you take on the responsibility and do a little snooping. What Margaret finds transforms her from plain Jane to the ultimate diva in Donna Hill's newest novel, Divas, Inc.

From the time they were toddlers, Tiffany Lane and Chantel Hollis were on their way to becoming divas. Margaret Drew was lucky to be their friend, however she benefited very little from this alliance. Tiffany and Chantel wore designer clothes, Margaret shopped at K-marts. They lived in expensive condos in Manhattan and Margaret lived in a one-bedroom walkup apartment in Harlem. They rode around in Tiffany's Jaguar and Margaret caught the bus. So when Tiffany and Chantel decide to go to Europe and leave Margaret home to water the plants and walk the dog, she decides it's time for her to get a taste of the good life. Since they did not invite her to go along, Margaret felt justified in rambling through Tiffany and Chantel's closets. She began dressing in their designer clothes and shoes, wearing their make up and wigs, a new Margaret emerges and she is a diva. The question is can she handle all that comes with the title of diva?

Donna Hill displays her versatility as a writer as she tackles the "Chick Lit" genre. Having read other novels dubbed as "Chick Lit" written by British authors, I feel Divas, Inc. equals if not surpasses the other novels I read in this genre. Filled with quirky secondary characters such as Margaret's grandma, Willie and the dog, Virginia, this novel is a funny and enjoyable read. Are you a Diva? Take the quiz in the back of the book and find out where you rank!

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Tiffany, Chantel, and Margie have been the best friends from before the turn of time but when Chantel and Tiffany decide to go on a lesiure trip to Paris leaving Margie to house set Margie decides to take a look into their lives.

The book brings you laughter and mysterious scenes where it leaves you wondering have you figured it out or is Ms. Hill up to her usual schame of giving you the one to hook keeping you wondering until the very end.

The book is an excellent read keeps you hanging on for more!!

I thought this book was alright and I liked Maggie's transformation however, there really wasn't much of a story there. I guess I was expecting it be a romance or something and it could have been. Though i'm not sure with who in the book Maggie could have gotten with. Calvin and James were friends' exes so that's not good form. Willie was a criminal. And I'm sorry but Wayne was a weirdo and stalker ways were freaking me out. I would have liked further detail in the secret life of Chantel and Tiffany (the hood rat side), She never followed up the club incident with Wayne either. I mean it was a pretty okay read. Nothing too spectacular.

Tiffany Lane and Chantel Hollis ARE divas! They wore some of the finest clothes and shopped at the most expensive stores. Their (3rd-wheel) friend, Margaret Drew shopped at K-Mart. Tiffany and Chantel lived in expensive condos. Ms. Margaret Drew stayed in a one bedroom apartment in Harlem. Tiffany and Chantel ride around in a Jag, and once again, Margaret is left to take the bus.

Margaret is flat out, down right TIRED. She wants to be a Diva! She gets the perfect opportunity when Tiffany and Chantel take a trip to Europe. She's left behind to water the plants and see after the condo, which she does until she opens the closet!!! She starts dressing up in Tiffany and Chantel's designer clothes, tries on their hair pieces, and gives herself a make over by drowning in their makeup. Margaret becomes a diva!! I love it!

As Margaret goes from dull to glamorous, she finds out that all that glitters ain't gold! For me, this is where the story turns into a masterpiece. We as women want to be beautiful at any cost. We take it to the extreme by going broke, or worst, being something we are not! Margaret finds out in the end that beautiful just as she is!

Donna Hill tackled something outside the norm for her, which I think she did a brilliant job in doing so. Divas, Inc. was beautifully written as well as very funny!! Any woman would enjoy this wonderful novel.

Rolanda,
Nothing BUT Page Turners

this book takes you back to school days, when you felt out of place or lonely, or the 3rd-4th-5th wheel. the three girls represents one of us in some sort of way (I think so). it was funny and the end was unpredictable, BUT the character's were sort of weak, the storyline was kinda boring and the plot was non-existent. the ending was kinda confusing to me. but it was an o.k. read.

Maggie, Tiffany, and Chantal have been friends for a long time going back to pre elementary school. While the flirtatious Tiffany and Chantal have been dude magnets able to get males to do their bidding since first grade, Maggie has always been reticent and in awe of the dynamic duo. Tiffany and Chantal remain successful, obtaining fabulous jobs and homes as everyone considers the two women as Divas.

Maggie envies them but loves her pals. When Tiffany and Chantal go on an extended vacation, she agrees to watch their expensive New York apartments. Soon Maggie begins emulating her friends and though still overweight with glasses, hunks take notice of her for the first time. She learns that Tiffany and Chantal belong to the exclusive women only Divas, Inc., club for females who demand the best. However, as she begins obtaining multiple boyfriends and behaving like a Diva, Maggie worries that at midnight Cinderella will only have a mouse to show for her efforts.

This is an amusing contemporary tale that gently winks at some of society's "Ivana" like assumptions. Maggie is a delightful protagonist as she gradually turns from bookworm to diva. Fans will notice that this tale lacks Donna Hill's normal deep drama but readers who enjoy an urban Cinderella like frolic will appreciate the humorous somewhat biting DIVAS, INC.

Harriet Klausner

Have you ever felt like the third wheel? Margaret Drew has spent her entire life as just that. Tiffany Lane and Chantel Hollis have been Margaret's "friends" since they were in diapers. In elementary school, Tiffany and Chantel were the girls everyone wanted to be friends with and by high school the two were the girls of every boy's dreams. As women, men loved them and women loved to hate them but no one would question their status as true divas. Margaret has always been relegated to the shadows; she was more of a "plain Jane" that was outshined by her diva friends. As adults, Tiffany and Chantel have dream jobs, fancy cars, even fancier wardrobes and men that would make most women salivate. Margaret has an average job and secretly dreams to become a writer. She sports payless shoes, "sale rack" clothes and a serious inferiority complex. The three women get together for their regular lunch date, and the idea of a European vacation comes up. Margaret immediately begins to mentally scramble, trying to figure out how she could afford such a costly trip, that is until it becomes apparent that Tiffany and Chantel plan to go without her. To make matters worse, they expect Margaret to house and pet sit while they are away.

Initially, Margaret is disappointed. But when she realizes that she will have access to all of Chantel and Tiffany's belongings she soon devises a plan to learn the secrets of becoming a diva. She figures that while her friends are traveling in Europe, she can reinvent herself and no longer be relegated to the shadows. After just a little snooping, Margaret learns of a secret society of divas; complete with handbooks and training videos. It becomes her mission to find and absorb the videos and handbooks because she is convinced that they hold the secrets she needs to complete her transformation. With this, the story begins, and between Margaret's antics and her wry sense of humor and sarcasm, Donna Hill has crafted a tale that is sure to keep you in stitches. Filled with action and more than a few surprises DIVA'S INC. is the perfect summer read. While this is a light read, the author uses Margaret's journey to remind us of the importance of self-love and self-respect. As Margaret secretly creates her new identity, she ultimately learns that some sacrifices are too big to make and along the way learns the true meaning of being a diva.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I really wasn't impressed with this book for the simple fact that there was not enough storyline around the other characters. My favorite person was the grandma was my favorite cause she was the most interesting of all of them. Maggie to me gave up too soon for on the job that she was offered and were based on her job skills. I think she should have kept the job and still wrote her book. I also wanted to know more about Wayne, cause he seemed like a stalker, but a nice one. Either way, I have enjoyed other books of Donna Hill. This one kept my interest, however I just didn't feel it all the way.

I got this book at my local library not knowing anything about the author and myself not being any part of a DIVA. I read the book in one day (and I'm a mother of 3 including a 1 year old) due to it's easy flowing humor and cute lead-ins. Maggie did get on my nerve but it her 'grandmother' and the story that followed her as well as the other supporting characters, that actually held my attention not to mention my wanting to see how and when Maggie's newfound world would come crumbling down. If you are looking for entertatinment, this is a great book, if you are looking for advice on how to become a DIVA in 500 pages or less, this isn't the place.