Customer Reviews

Fool Me Once

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

This was an awful book. I normally like Fern Michaels, but this was almost unreadable. The main character was a despicable person - shrewish, nasty, petty and weak. She cried all the time, was mean to her father for no reason and had no backbone. In terms of the love story, it was just ridiculous. Olivia and her love interest, Jeff, were engaged inside of 2 weeks - the majority of the time of which was spent sleeping. Pretty much every evening ended with "and Jeff was sound asleep on the couch when she got back into the room". The story had so many holes in it, and was completely improbable. I wanted someone to just shake Olivia and tell her to stop acting like an idiot the whole time. To cap it all off, the writing style was juvenile and superficial. Overall, one of the worst books i have read in a long time. Do not let yourself be fooled too - avoid this one.

This book was excruciating. From the narration (think the fake Jan Brady from "The Brady Bunch Movie") to the soul-crushing writing, and the main character who needs a good braining more than any main character I've encountered in a very long time, listening to "Fool Me Once" was about as enjoyable as a visit to the gynecologist.
The audio version is also dangerous, since I spent much of my long commute alternately dry-heaving and scrambling for a pen to write down such winners as "The first weekend in May would be the Apple Blossom Festival. She couldn't wait to take Jeff to the festival. She wondered if her father would come to the festival." If the writing style was actually intended to be an homage to the "Dick and Jane" books I should probably dial back my criticism. Otherwise, I stand by it.
If you're looking for a good way to spend [...] or waste several hours of your life that you'll never get back, I suggest going to Lowe's, buying a hammer, and hitting yourself over the head for a while. You'll regret it less.

This was one of the worst books I've ever read, and I LOVE to read. I had to get on here to see if it was just me. Glad to see it's not! Don't waste any of your life reading this.

This is my first selection from this author and I'm weary of choosing another book. I found the whole plot a little ridiculous. The writing style was not what I would have expected from someone who has published as many books as Fern Michaels has - maybe a first-time author, but not an established author. I think this book could have used a couple of edits before going to print, because it did have potential, but I won't be recommmending it to anyone.

This book is a writing abomination. Not only did the author allow the main character to ponder something only the reader should know about in the opening chapters (that her mother committed a crime in the 1960s), but before all the characters were introduced, there are a few confusing moments where the reader cannot tell if one of the dogs is narrating the story (the opening photography studio scene). I held on, hoping things would get better, but was rewarded with an appalling development when the main character's father convinces her to steal a dog and replace him with an "exact" replica plus a companion. If the main character feels sorry for the dog because she thinks he's lonely, she should have suggested a pooch companion and left it at that. I don't know dogs as well as the author seems to assert that she does, but I do know that every animal has a separate and distinct personality, so the premise that once the replacement dog is home with her dog and companions that she purchased for her own dog and the soon-to-be-victim dog (four yorkies in all) that she suddenly can't tell the original from the replacement rings completely false. The final straw for me happened when, after she's read through a letter from the mother she'd never met, the main character has the note memorized by heart. The same "memorized by heart" phrase is written on the next page... She had it memorized after the shock of learning that her supposed dead mother has been alive all these years and she read letter once??? Come on! And how about some originality? Readers don't want to see the same "memorized by heart" phrase over and over again. Boring! Add to all of this that the dialogue between father and daughter sounds absolutely forced and false, and I had to quit reading before the end of chapter 6.

This is the first book I've ever wanted to tear to shreds because I was so disgusted with the way it's written. So I did just that. It will never again poison the mind of another. I would award it -5 stars if I the scale went that low.

I was extremely disappointed in the book. The writing was incredibly disjunct and was not believable. I am completely surprised that this ever went to print without much more work on developing the characters and the plot. I have read many romance novels and this is truly the worst one I have ever read. I know I have read Fern Michaels work before and enjoyed it, but this was just B-A-D!! Unfortunately, I spent money on it. I wouldn't even advise anyone to borrow it from the library.

I usually prefer to read classic literature or non-romance novels. I recently decided to try one just for something different. I picked this book because the plot seemed unique. I chose the wrong one. The synopsis on the back cover was the best part of the book (that's what the one star is for). I agree with all the negative posts on this book. One additional burning thought: Jeff, who at the beginning of the book, claimed that he had no time whatsoever for a relationship, all of the sudden finds all kinds of time to hang out with Olivia...AND it's ALWAYS snowing and they're shut in for several days but all they do is sleep, yet they've grown to love each other so much after 2 weeks, that they get engaged! Give me a break! My husband (an English lit. major)found me laughing at the ridiculousness several times. When would I read a paragraph to him, he would shake his head and ask if I was going to bother finishing it. I told him I intended to because I was learning more about the art of horrible writing. Read several well-know classic novels, and then go back to this book and you, too, will find yourself busting a gut.

While I have been a fan of Fern Micheals for many years, I found this book to be predictable and improbable. The story line did not seem well researched and the main characters fell in love way too fast. Also, the plot had too much in common with her previous novel Annie's Rainbow. While Annie's Rainbow was unique and interesting, this book seemed to be rushed and poorly written. It smacked of being written to make a deadline. Fern Michaels is a much better writer than this and I was quite disappointed.

Imagine how you would feel believing your mother died at childbirth and then having an attorney drop off a letter from your recently deceased mother. Olivia Lowell is faced with that after 34 years of living a good life with her father Dennis.

Olivia's world is suddenly turned upside down and she wonders if she will ever be able to forgive and trust her dad again?

Jeff a handsome and single lawyer is entrusted with taking care of Cecil and adorable Yorkshire terrier who is not crazy about Jeff.

Olivia's mother has asked her to complete some unresolved issues and she is faced with the decision whether to do this for her deceased mother or not.

Although she is debating whether to do this for her mother or not she is also battling with the idea of possibly learning more about her mother like who exactly was she..........this is going to cause many things to unfold and as a result lives will be changed forever and lies and secrets will be revealed.

Ms. Michaels takes us on a very interesting journey and we see how you can learn to care, trust and even fall in love by doing the right things.

If you love animals (they are mans/womans best friends) you will truly love this book a great ready.

The ending is touching and will leave you cheering for all the right reasons.

Oh wow is this a bad book. The main character Olivia is so unlikable I did not care what happened to her.
She is nasty and rude! The story line on th jacket of the book sounded good. With such unlikable characters,
including Olivia's dead mother who cares!!!!