Customer Reviews

The Ex Factor: A Novel

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

APOOO Rating- 4.5

Ex-Factor by TuShonda Whitaker is a story of three sisters, Monica, Imani, and Celeste. They all have different fathers and the cycle seems to continue. One does not want to settle down, one has three children and two babies' daddies, and the other just cannot seem to get out of a toxic relationship. They all seem to want a man to define them. One after the other, they have issue after issue.

Celeste is married and appears to have it all; three children, a husband, and a big house in the suburbs. But all that comes to a halt when she suspects that her husband, Sharief, is cheating on her. She tries to do all that she can to make her husband want her again. When she finds out that her husband IS cheating and that he is cheating with her sister, Monica, the real drama begins.

Monica has finally fallen in love. Only it is with her sister's husband. She knows that she is wrong and that the relationship should stop, but she just cannot seem to keep him away. When her sister finds out, she is shunned by the family and now all she has left is Sharief. Which is something that she did not really bargain for.

Then we have Imani, the baby sister. She is trying to hold her boyfriend and baby daddy, Walik, down while he is in jail. She is taking care of their son on her own, with minimal income. That is until she finds out that he was cheating on her during his jail time, AND got another woman pregnant. She tries her best to leave him alone. It was hard at first, considering they were together for ten years and they have a son, Jamal. But she finds it becomes easier when she meets a Puerto Rican papi, Kree.

All of the sisters lives are intertwined and held together by their mother, Starr. They try to cope with all the mess going on in their lives and realize that, in the end, they are still sisters. It was very interesting to see the different views from three women coming from the same family. I really enjoyed laughing, crying, and wanting to darn near curse them out. I recommend this for a great read.

Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub

tu-shonda tells the story of three sisters: imani, monica and celeste whose drama-filled lives rival that of a daytime soap opera. celeste is a desperate housewife whose tired of dealing with her husband sharief's infidelity. imani is trying so hard to be a that ride or die chick, for her cheating baby daddy, walik, that she neglects the more important things in her life. monica is so caught up in her love affair with her married boyfriend and doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. add a few more colorful characters like their mother, starr and her fiance redtonio, mama byrd and her portable potty, and imani's little hood star, jamal and you have the ingredients for a perfect novel. you will not be diappointed with this book. kudos ms. tu-shonda, can't wait to read your next book.

TU-SHONDA WHITAKER YOU DONE IT AGAIN! THIS BOOK HAVE ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD AND IT ALSO MADE ME CRY. I COULDN'T STAND MONICA, SHE JUST MADE ME SO SICK,I'M WAS GLAD WHAT HAPPEN TO HER AT THE END.I WAS SO SAD WHEN THEN BOOK CAME AN END.HATS OFF TO YOU TU-SHONDA WHITAKER YOU DID YOUR THING.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. From Imani starting it off with her drama on the bus to visit her incarcerated boyfriend, to the mother Starr admitting that she set bad examples for her daughters in the men she chose.

I thought it was very dirty for Monica to have an affair with her sister Celeste's husband but admit that Celeste had some serious issues. The children in this story were grown as I don't know what, especially Imani's son Jamal but his actions fit with the story because of the way Imani was raising him. Also, having Starr's mother-in-law, Mama Byrd's bathroom habits was something that I could have done without but it didn't make the story any less enjoyable because Mama Byrd had me laughing.

If I'm right, Tu-Shonda was trying to show that many women settle for unhealthy relationships in order to be able to say they have a man and not be alone. The men that these sisters chose was due to their upbringing and seeing their mother with so many men other than their fathers. Good job to the author for telling a good story with plenty of humor.

"The Ex-Factor" is WITHOUT a shadow of a doubt, the BEST read of 2006! I just can't seem to put it down longer than five minutes. I keep reading it over and over again. It's enormously hilarious with a smidgen of drama, memorable characters (Mama Byrd ain't right at all ... LOL) and fierce sex scenes.

Tu-Shonda Whitaker is the truth. She can do it all. With prayer, perhaps we'll have the opportunity to "see" Tu-Shonda's characters on the stage. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

WOW! If I to say it again, TU-SHONDA WHITAKER has 'laid it down' like never before! TU has changed the name of the game and even started a new dance....TU has invented the URBAN LIT STOMP!!! Get your stomp on gurl!!!

It's definitely a family affair with a story full of drama! Drama in the morning, drama in the noon time, damn, drama at night! In the forefront is sister Imani, in all of her ghettofabolousity! She's young, in love with her childhood, incarcerated, cheating baby daddy! She's holding it down for him and going through all the drama with his 'sideline ho' in the midst of the story. Then there's Monica, the 'diva' that supposedly has it all together. Good job, money in the bank, but she's fiending for some very forbidden fruit! Crossing that line that should NEVER be crossed regardless of the circumstances. Alrighty then, enters CELESTE, big house in the suburbs, three babies, husband that's making it all happen for her!!! NOT!!! All that glitters damn sure ain't gold! Last but not least is the QUEEN BEE, Starr, thus her name, the originator of all the Ex Factors, whether it be by addition, subtraction, or whatever mathematical equation you'd like! She keeps it real and the laughs are prevalent between Starr, Jamal, and Mama Byrd and that damn portable potty!

One thing about it, "The Ex Factor" is full of laughs, but the drama of everyday life is realistic with true feelings draped in hurt, humiliation, insecurities, love, abuse, true life on the real! Tu-Shonda's writing takes you places that few can delve into and come out with the true gist of emotions that she can evoke! The future gets brighter and brighter for my gurl Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker! Keep shining Ma! That's Biggie Lady, Tu-Shondastyle!!

Like most reviewers I think The Ex-Factor is Dysfunctional families and the ones they love at its best.

This story is filled with DRAMA, LAUGHS, HEARTCACHE, & SURPRISES. Reading the book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the sisters Celeste, Monica, & Imani who were all EXTREMLY different, and very well developed characters. I also felt for them when they went through their individual struggles especially Celeste and Imani, as far as Monica U do dirt U get dirt, what goes around comes around and all that other good stuff....lol

Other Characters like Mama Byrd were funny but her jokes got repetitive and worked my nerves towards the end of the novel. The kids (Imani's son & Celeste's daughters) were TOO grown but realistic ghetto children. (Their antics will keep you laughing)

My one complaint about the novel was that @ the end the sisters really didn't resolve their issues with each other. Other than that it was a GREAT READ that is worth every cent so be sure to read it!

This book was off the hook! Celest was evil but i felt bad for her, her husband wasn't ish. Her sister monica was triffling, everyone knows you're not suppose to mess with your family signicant others. This book was drama filled, funny as hell, and i would definitley reccommend this to anyone.

Celeste, Monica, and Imani are three half sisters with a lot of drama. Celeste's marriage has been on a downward spiral for years. Celeste suspects that her sexy policeman husband Sharief is patrolling more than just the streets. Everything comes to a head when Celeste finds out who her husband is keeping late hours with. Monica has been very unlucky in love and never planned to fall in love with her sister's husband Sharief. But will Monica break off this affair or is she already in too deep? Imani's deadbeat boyfriend Walik is out of jail ready to rekindle their relationship and to be a father to their son Jamal. Walik has some stiff competition when Imani meets a sexy DJ name Kree that gives her and Jamal the love and attention they need. Starr is the mother of these three siblings and is about to finally marry the love of her life. But Starr is going through her own drama when confronted by her past relationship mistakes.

The Ex Factor is a highly entertaining novel by Tu-Shonda Whitaker. Whitaker brought a fast-paced drama with some humorous dialogue. I liked how this author showed how a mother's decision to have different men in her life can affect the lives of her children. I also enjoyed the fact that this story showed that women are just as responsible as the men for their relationship woes. There are also some hilarious characters and situations that will have readers laughing out loud! Mama Byrd, Red, and Jamal are just plain crazy! The Ex Factor is the perfect blend of drama, sensuality, and comedy. Tu-Shonda Whitaker will definitely have readers begging for more.

Well... TuShonda Whitaker has done it again...she has penned a tale that is off the chain and comes with a warning...It is not for the faint at heart for the story between the front and back covers of this book, is loaded with back to back drama, sex scenes that are on Fiyah, and On The Floor Laughter.

Come follow three half sisters and their trials and tribulations of looking for love. Are their lives spinning around because their mother Starr had three baby daddies that didn't hang around?...are these sisters affected by the generational curse of their mother and her many ex factors?...did she pass the ex factor dilemna along to them?...

Come journey with Tu-Shonda as she weaves you through a tale that will have you loving some characters, loathing some, and having empathy for others. Will the drama tear this family completely apart...or will the bond of family come alive and grasp this family...

Come on meet Celeste, Monica, and Imani...as they deal with the hand they were dealt

Mama Byrd, Jamal, Kayla and her sisters, along with Red helps to keep the drama coming...you are bound to fall in love with one of them

Yes, KUDOS are in order for Ms. Thang, TuShonda Whitaker, for she has done it again, with this, her junior novel..and that is... she drops it like it is... and that is HOTT....