Customer Reviews

Family Affair: A Novel

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Caprice Crane's third novel is neither stupid nor something to forget about ... Family Affair is a poignant and witty tale of personal journeys and discovery of what makes a family a family.

The central protagonists - Layla (yes, named for the classic song) and Brett - are a couple who've been together since high school and are nearing 30. Layla has been a part of Brett's life for so long that she's become a member of the family. When someone stops being a wife or husband and starts being a sibling? Brett soon realizes that he's seeing her less as his wife and more as his sister.

What happens when you want a divorce, but, both of you want the family? Joint custody? Crane deftly plays the divorcing parent stereotypes as the two try to top each other all to earn the affection of the family. All the while creating comical drama.

With her deft ability to flesh out multiple roles and points of view, Crane weaves a three-dimensional story and characters that you can love and hate at the same time (*see Brett).

Caprice Crane again delivers a universal story with her own trademark style, imaginative and unique characters and panache. A definite must-read.

I read Stupid and Contagious several times before a friend "borrowed" my copy and never returned it. I can say two things: 1.) That person is no longer a friend, and 2.) This book might even be better than the brilliant stylings of Stupid and Contagious. Yep, it's that good.

Caprice Crane does a great job speaking from the mind of a guy and makes the most awkward situation hilarious. Her writing is sharp and her characters are perfectly defined. The only request I have of Caprice is to hurry up and get the next book out so I can enjoy that one too.

Caprice Crane is one of the funniest people writing today. In her previous books, Forget About It and Stupid And Contagious, she made me laugh until I cried, cheer on her main characters and even quote their quippy, smart lines from time to time. A Family Affair was, happily, just as awesome. She takes subjects that sound like chick-lit waiting to happen, but goes beyond the genre into edgy, riotous humor that anyone can adore. Crane is funny to just about any audience and any format - she writes for television (90210 and Melrose Place - S&C had a cool little cameo on 90210, even) and is the person to follow on Twitter (@CapriceCrane), so you can get your fix of her sometimes snarky, sometimes bitter, sometimes obscene and ALWAYS hilarious humor while you wait for her next book like a junkie waiting for a fix. I know I do.

I have to say ahead of time that I know Caprice and did a blurb on her second brilliant book, after getting to know her through her first brilliant book. And now that she has written a third brilliant book, i think she deserves a week or two off before she starts #4 and makes that one brilliant too. I am also a professional working writer with a bunch of tools and tricks of my own, and yet I still can't figure out how Caprice can be so soulful, and so funny, and so perceptive, and so funny, and so cutting, and so tender, and so funny and so heartfelt, and so funny and so vulnerable (and also funny) - and somehow do that all in the same sentence. I don't know how she does it. She comes up with high concept ideas and then fleshes them out with real people who have real feelings, and gives them problems and dreams we can all recognize and identify with. There is almost nothing harder to write than romantic comedy and Caprice makes it look effortless. Every other writer (including me) who does this should be jealous. I know I am. For the reader though - just sit back and enjoy. You're in the hands of a true maestro.

I really liked most of the characters but like some of the reviewers I didn't like Brett too much. He really was an jerk. Right from the beginning he couldn't seem to say what he wanted instead he just let things go as though Layla should be able to read his mind. Seriously stupid on his part!! His big beef with her is that she spends too much time with his family and not enough with him. He wanted her to get along with his family.

Seemed like temptation was placed right in front of him at a rough patch in his marriage. Heather the new SID, he was checking her out. Soon after the separation from Layla he is dating Heather. He brings her to family "dates" and practically rubs Layla's nose in it. Frankly I can't believe Layla didn't think that this whole divorce/separation thing didn't have something to do with her husband wanting to get with another woman at that point. He claims later on that he doesn't want to kiss, have dinner with her, etc., yet he did.
This would have all been fine I suppose if Layla had started dating someone too. Why is it that the heroines never attempt to move on before getting back with the heroes and yet the heroes ALWAYS move on. Wouldn't normal women do that too? No matter if they still love the hero?

The fighting over who gets custody of the family was funny. But the hurt that Brett continuously inflects on Layla and then claims to love her is unbelievable!! The last straw is the whole Christmas thing. Which he did out of spite. That really hurt. I was glad she finally ran out then. I kept wondering where her pride was in all of this. Finally she gets it and tells him goodbye! Now of course he wants her back.

This 3rd novel by Caprice Crane is as delectable as her first two - if that is possible!? She has a way of making you fall in love, have empathy for, be seethingly mad at, and even forgive her characters when they totally screw up. I loved this book SO much. Ms. Crane can write somehow from a married, single, lesbian and dude's perspective in a totally organic way - impressive!
I feel like a Harry Potter junky wanting the next book yesterday (though I assure you, this is nothing like Harry Potter)!
It has a broad appeal, yet like the other books is witty in an insider, super smart way.

Caprice Crane is a super talented writer that delivers hilarious, smart and fresh stories. I have read all three of her books, and I am not suprised that Family Affair is great. I had trouble putting down, and laughed out loud. A lot. The main characters Brett and Layla are interesting, ridiculous, real and relatable, as are Brett's family. Between the great music references, funny dialogue, sweet and fun story, it was an engaging and entertaining distraction for me, which is what I look for in a great book!

This is the second Caprice Crane book that I've read and I'll definitely be back for more. Family Affair takes women's fiction to a whole new level. What happens when one half of a divorcing couple wants to sue for custody of the in-laws? I'll tell you... some very interesting and sometimes awkward situations that are marked by Crane's sharp sense of humor. There's never a dull moment in this book and found myself thinking about Layla and the Fosters long after I turned the last page.

This book was a blast to read, I couldn't put it down. I completely relate to the Layla and I constantly found myself laughing out loud. Looking forward to reading more books from Caprice Crane!

Oh my goodness, I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. In fact, I might have liked it but one of the main characters was such a tool it made me want to scream. I have no idea what Layla saw in Brett. He is a narcissistic twit to the very bitter end. So any enjoyment I might have had was negated by him. Sorry.