Amazon.com: Franco American Dreams (9780684830926): Julie Taylor: Books

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Buy Used
Used - Like New See details
$3.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Franco American Dreams
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Franco American Dreams [Paperback]

Julie Taylor (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

Price: $20.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Tuesday, February 28? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Paperback $20.95  

Book Description

July 3, 1997
Her name is Abbie. She is nineteen and she has had it with guys. Especially the wrong guys. 'Cause that's all she ever seems to meet. Oh, she likes guys just fine -- and they are kind of necessary, in a Mother Nature sort of way -- but she is just over it with the ones who drink all the time, and are forever taking pills and drifting off into their own little private Idaho. Abbie will just concentrate on getting through this final year of schooling in fashion design, because once outta here she is off to make her name. She's got her roommate Georgette and her best friend Pat, and they will be all the companionship she needs.

And then she meets Franco.

Dream on, Abbie. Dream on.

In a style so fresh and original that it seems to practically reinvent prose, and with an energy that grabs the reader from the very outset, first-time novelist Julie Taylor succeeds with Franco American Dreams in bringing to life characters that defy you not to love them, no matter what your age. They and their story are funny, fabulous, far-out ... and so very, very real.


Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A fun, frantic, and energetic first novel that shows genuine promise. Fledgling fashion designer (and Dallas Design Institute student) Abbie McPherson, who narrates, is 20, single, and ready- -after the usual bad experiences with the wrong kinds of men--to tackle life as a ``free woman.'' Unfortunately for her resolution, however, she quickly meets a wasted but utterly hot guy named Franco Richards at a New Year's party. Abbie knows Franco's not what she's promised herself she'd look for in her next relationship, but she's smitten hard and therefore willing, yet again, to overlook Franco's neglect, boozing, and lack of ambition. Meanwhile, her final project--a 30-outfit fashion show--is due by the end of the semester; Georgette, her roommate, has decided she's now ``Gigi,'' complete with breast implants, a wardrobe transformation, and a whole new look; and her best friend, the flamboyantly gay Pat, is being cheated on by his gorgeous boyfriend Sal. It doesn't help that Abbie is still a smidgen hung-up on her Franco-like ex, Parker, or that Franco turns out to have a deep, dark secret in his own closet. With flair, gumption, and a lot of hard work, Abbie manages to be there for Pat and Gigi, maintain her close family ties, come up with a to-die-for collection, and deal with Franco, ultimately, in the way he deserves. Taylor's debut is rough in spots and trite in others, but her voice is honest and refreshing and her whirlwind, conversational style a breath of fresh air. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Original edition (July 3, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684830922
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684830926
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,857,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Recommended For Teens Only - Far Too Juvenile For Your 20's!, June 13, 2002
By 
Curb (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Franco American Dreams (Paperback)
While the story of this young girl's adoration of bad boys is endearing and even entertaining, the writing style is like that of a high school freshman (could she possibly have used the term "ballistic" any more often than she did?). Her constant (and I mean CONSTANT) references to brand names makes the reader believe she must have been hired by every corporation in the United States to include their name. It's annoying, and for me was impossible to ignore. The characters are such exaggerations that they come across as simply unbelievable. The main female characters, Abbie & Georgette, are pathetic. They seem to pin all of their hopes and dreams on superficial attributes and toxic men. Abbie acts like an obsessed stalker over Franco, and then she wonders why she gets treated poorly.

Remember those Sweet Valley High books you used to read as a pre-teen? Well, this reads just like an older version of those sappy novels. The ending was predictable and way too fairytale. If you're a teenager looking for a very light story and don't have many expectations, I say go ahead and read the darn book, if only for a few chuckles. A classic for Generation X it is NOT. Perhaps Generation Y can make better use of it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars So-So, January 21, 2002
This review is from: Franco American Dreams (Paperback)
This book is nowhere near Generation X (early 90s) but more of Generation Why (late 90s). The plot was good but the characters all seemed to be attempting to act older than they really were (and I think most of us can agree at 29 that we really didn't know as much at 19 as we thought we did). The ending seemed a bit unrealistic, with Abby getting a job in NYC before she even had a shred of fashion design experience under her belt. A final project in college doesn't mean squat in lieu of real experience. And when she finally flew to the Big Apple, what happened to all her stuff? She left behind her car, her pink and orange striped couch, and her "closet crammed with clothes". The book doesn't say if she sold them, shipped them, etc. A good attempt, but immature.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is Gen-X-cellent!!!!!!!, May 8, 2001
By 
Rayna Gorowitz "Sparkina" (Pembroke Pines, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Franco American Dreams (Paperback)
I am a little past 19 (14 years past) and I still loved this book. I thought it was hip, funny, and real. The depiction of Abbie's feelings for Franco was right on target and universal to a LOT of women, whether 20-year-old college co-eds, middle-aged professionals, or senior citizens. You're never too old or too young to fall for the wrong guy and get a broken heart. I loved the character of Abbie, although I thought she was making a BIG mistake. I mean, the guy chose substances over her and neglected her, and she treated him like an IDOL?!?!? (Good thing she wised up at the end)Also, who fantasizes about marriage, babies, and a life together with a guy they first meet? Abbie obviously never heard the word ACQUAINTANCE! Still in all, this a refreshing, humorous, poignant read, and although it has a teenage main character, this book can hold the interest of those considerably past the Clearasil-and-SAT's age group. I should have bought two copies -- I'm afraid I'm gonna wear out the first with rereading!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Here's the deal: I, Abbie McPhereson, am totally tired of boys who love me, adore me, can't live without me-until they have a six-pack coursing through their veins, then they're like "Abbie who?" Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
banana dress, cold duck
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Franco Richards, Design Institute, Hat Gal, New Year's Eve, Gel Boy, Salvation Army, Alison Simone, Club Unity, Highland Square, Abbie Sue, Chia Pet, Grant Shaw, Las Vegas, Blow Me Blondes, Chiquita Banana, Darcy Durby, Double Limbaughtomy, Franco American Dreams, Rhinestone Paste, Richard Zachary, Runway Collections, Tutti Frutti, Laffy Taffys, Little Mermaid
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:


Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject