The Ex Chronicles: A Novel [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Carol Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2010

The creator of the bestselling Brown Sugar series returns with her first sexy novel

In a New York City rife with emotional land mines, four friends search for Mr. Right but too often settle for Mr. Right Now.

Precious, a struggling writer, discovers her fiancé Darius in bed with another woman, but that doesn't stop her from wanting him. Bella, the wise-cracking, over-indulged only child of an absent diplomat father and pill-popping socialite mother, knows her boyfriend Julius is using her, but before she can give him up she has to give up her first love, alcohol. Half black, half British Zenobia sacrifices a successful modeling career for Malcolm, her overly critical boyfriend, but when she strays she fears she's made a terrible mistake. Bourgie Hope, the creative director of a high-fashion magazine, is hiding her dementia- ridden mother and her debilitating depression, while trying to resist a strong attraction to her new driver Derrick, a single dad from the projects.

Funny and sexy, heartbreaking and inspiring, The Ex-Chronicles is a novel about faith in one's self, trust in one's friends and the sacrifices we make in the name of love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's a familiar premise—four 30-ish New York City friends bond Sex and the City–style to navigating the perils of single life. Thankfully, Taylor (editor of the Brown Sugar series) makes it fresh again in her delicious debut novel by punching up the ante with some intriguing Terry McMillanesque twists. All the women have the expected romantic issues. Aspiring novelist Precious Morgan, a struggling “Literotica” journalist, loses her job and keeps returning to an unfaithful Darius. Zenobia “Z” Bowles is a chic model who's in love with unfaithful Malcolm, a Dutch/African artist. Bella, an overindulged diplomat's daughter, is an alcoholic/addict who wonders why she can't deep-six Julius, her unfaithful musician boyfriend. Only stressed-out Hope Harris, the creative director of Shades magazine, has a different love problem—while coping with a mother suffering from Alzheimer's, she's falling for Derrick, a handsome artist from Harlem struggling to pay the bills for his three daughters. These dark beauties share realistic concerns many singletons can identify; they survive tough times by recognizing a challenging truth: “It's not what happens, it's how we handle what happens.” (Feb.)
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Review

"Audaciously refreshing. From Taylor's insightful and provocative introduction to the last sentence, each story not only pushes the envelope, but also shatters taboos of African American love and sexuality." --Essence Magazine

"Particularly intelligent, varied and sexy. A stylish anthology." -- Publishers Weekly

"Brown Sugar portrays sex as it is rather than how others envision it to be." --The Boston Globe

"Whether subtle, romantic or graphic, the tales in Brown Sugar represent some of contemporary African American literature's best voices." --Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452295874
• ASIN: B0042P5AHW
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,023,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, March 12, 2010

By 

F. Catching - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ex Chronicles: A Novel (Paperback)

The Ex Chronicles tells the story of four very different friends who are searching for the men of their dreams while pursuing the next level of their careers. Bourgie Hope achieves an amazing balancing act of caring for her mother who suffers from dementia while excelling as editorial director of a fashion magazine. Just when the demands of both threaten to overwhelm her she meets Derrick, her new driver, a wonderful man whose personality and deep devotion to his own mother and children captures Hope's heart. Free spirit Precious, a freelance writer who has dreams of completing her first novel, also has dreams of reuniting with her cheating ex-fiance Darius. Rich and overindulged Bella struggles to overcome her addiction to drugs, alcoholism and Julius, who keeps her in a state of chemical and emotional dependence. After giving up her successful modeling career for love, Zenobia, now the co-owner of a modeling agency, inspires an insecure young woman to see her own inner beauty and pursue a modeling career, even as she tries to free herself from her emotionally abusive ex.

I highly recommend The Ex Chronicles. It is a truly inspiring example of women achieving goals despite personal challenges involving lost love, unfulfilled dreams and familial responsibilities. It is a story of hope and triumph as these four friends pull back layers of self doubt and encourage each other to overcome negativity in their quest for self-actualization. As we share their victories we are encouraged to pursue our own. The Ex Chronicles should be nominated for Book Of The Year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sex In The City, March 7, 2010

By 

Urban Reviews "Your Source for the Best in AA... (Online) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Ex Chronicles: A Novel (Paperback)

Precious, Bella, Zenobia, and Hope are four friends who excel in their professional lives, but their personal lives are rocky due to their search for Mr. Right. Precious is a struggling freelance writer who hopes to finally finish that novel that she started years ago. Precious is also dealing with still wanting her cheating ex-fiancé Darius. Bella, who is the product of very rich and dysfunction parents, can't seem to shake her alcohol addiction and her leech of a boyfriend Julius. Zenobia had a successful modeling career but gave it all up for her non-supportive boyfriend Malcolm. But did she make the right choice? Hope is a creative director of a fashion magazine that's also dealing with caring for her dementia-ridden mother, and her own depression. Things get complicated when she develops a strong attraction to her driver from the projects name Derrick.

The Ex Chronicles is a good story about four women living very complicated lives. Carol Taylor did a good job of bringing these characters to life. All of these women have problems with men, but it goes much deeper than that. Self-worth, depression, alcoholism are just some of the issues that were addressed in this story. All of the characters were great, but the best character was Hope. Hope's story is strong enough to carry a whole book on her own. The only minor flaw with this novel was that the ending for some of the characters in this story was way too clean. Strong characters and an interesting storyline makes The Ex Chronicles a wonderful debut novel for Carol Taylor.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Love and sucess..., October 24, 2011

By 

Angelia Menchan "acvermen.blogspot.com" (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ex Chronicles: A Novel (Paperback)

I thorougly enjoyed, Carol Taylor's Ex Chronicles. I found the characters, charmingly flawed and diverse. The relationships amongst the female characters rang true and the book was a page turner, with this reader wanting to know what was going to happen. The only take away for me is that the ending seemed to tie up a bit neatly.

Otherwise, I reommended this book to my friends because I think it the perfect book to discuss over tea or wine, with good girlfriends.

angelia vernon menchan