5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A series of great short stories to make any girl smile, December 9, 2007
This review is from: Girls' Night Out (Paperback)
I bought this collection of short stories to put in our guest room, when a girlfriend was coming over for the weekend. She loved it so much, she took it home with her and returned it with her next visit. I didn't love every story, but the great thing about short stories is that you don't have to. There are more than enough great reads contained within to make this a worthwhile purchase. There is a story for every woman.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for your next girls' night in, January 2, 2007
This review is from: Girls' Night Out (Paperback)
Girls' Night Out is a collaboration effort from some of the biggest names in chick lit with proceeds to benefit War Child, an organization dedicated to easing the suffering of children around the world. The editors of this book have long-since had a similar effort organized in England with many British chick lit authors contributing, and this is the second effort in the American version of the series. The previous novel, Girls' Night In, was released in 2004 and included many of the same authors.
If you like chick lit, this is your chance to get samplings from many of your favorite authors in one convenient package and to help out a good cause while you're at it.
A couple of my favorite stories in the anthology are:
A Thing of Beauty by Emily Giffin
In this story, by-the-books actuary Kate stops living her ordinary life when her numerologist/manicurist Betty suggests that she needs to make some changes. On Betty's advice, Kate cuts off her long hair, breaks up with her long-time boyfriend, and quits her respectable job as an actuary. Instead, she takes a job at a flower shop, and decides to rethink her previously well-ordered life.
I thought this story was fun and lighthearted while at the same time reminding you to take stock of your life and make sure you're living it the way you want to. Kate takes a chance, and winds up with valuable experiences that she'd never have had if she'd just kept living her ordinary life without thinking there might be something more out there for her. Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors and her books Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof are definitely worth checking out if you have never read her work before.
A Little Bit Broken by Sarah Mlynowski
When her husband of six month confesses to her that he's had an affair, Jessie has no idea how to react. The idea that someone she trusted and thought she knew so well could treat her so badly doesn't sit well with her and she has to make a decision about whether or not she can forgive this indiscretion.
This story is probably my favorite in the entire anthology because it resonates with truth from start to finish. It's difficult to know whether or not you can put back together something that may be irreparably broken and the fact that their marriage is so new makes it especially difficult in this story. Mlynowski is also one of the editors of the book and I'd never heard of her before I picked it up. I'll be sure to check out her work in the future.
Overall, Girls' Night Out is a great way to get a little something from some of your favorite chick lit authors who might not put out work as often as you'd like them to, and also a great way to get an introduction to some new ones. Another story I really liked was by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, titled The Corruption of Father Scott, and involves a television producer who is tasked with finding the sexiest Catholic priest in the country to become the next Dr. Phil. I'd never heard of Valdes-Rodriguez before but I enjoyed the story so much I went out and bought one of her books.
Girls' Night Out has got stories that range from humorous and lighthearted to somber and thought-provoking. It would definitely be perfect for your next night in.
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