Man of the Month Club [Mass Market Paperback]

Jackie Clune (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2007

A funny, edgy novel about having it all-when timing is everything.

Amy Stokes has made a fortune from luxury baby products: not bad for someone who doesn't particularly like or want kids. She'd rather stay out late with friends and spend her money on the fabulous life-designer clothes, a convertible, a chic apartment with a roof garden. Then Amy turns 39 and, after years of utter silence, her biological clock starts ticking-loudly. There's just one thing missing-a man.

Applying the same entrepreneurial can-do spirit that's always worked for her in the past, Amy gives herself a year to find an acceptable guy to knock her up, and embarks on a merry-go-round of potential winners and losers she dubs "the man of the month club." But finding a father for her child may not be quite as easy as creating a business plan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though 39-year-old Amy Stokes is one of London's "leading designers in baby kitsch," she claims to have no interest in "succumbing to the hideous shackle of baby-and-chain." But when the financially blessed singleton finds an abandoned baby in front of the store she owns, she reconsiders the three magpies nesting on her roof, concluding that the squawking trio means "three for a girl." She brings the baby to the hospital and soon finds herself at the mercy of her "unexpectedly maternal response to a child in need." Thusly, Amy resolves to become pregnant before turning 40. Unlike her three pregnant friends, Amy is not in a relationship, so she decides that a series of one-night stands is the best path to pregnancy. A string of hilarious, albeit predictable, debacles ensue, as Amy realizes her task is not as easy she had hoped. Her success is not of much interest to the reader; far more entertaining are her escapades as she suffers through dreadful dates. Clune, who has worked as a cabaret singer, an actress and comedian, has a sharp wit and an eye for irony, and uses both to great effect in her debut.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Has the snooze alarm gone off on your biological clock? Are you looking for a sperm happy to get egg all over it's face? Then this is the funny and fiercely honest book for you. A hilarious concept - literally.' Kathy Lette '...you'll start out thinking Man of the Month Club is too cynical by half, and end up missing tube stops to find out what happens next.' Daily Telegraph 'Very funny, very wry, this is a book to savour as you shop for those cute baby clothes.' Dublin Evening Herald --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425215571
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215579
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,174,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ultra lighthearted British chick lit tale, August 12, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man of the Month Club (Hardcover)

In London Precious Little Darlings boutique owner Amy Stokes enjoys the freedom of an OINKS (one income no kids or spouse). However, several incidents in a short time leads Amy feels her biological clock running down as she turns thirty-nine to sudden introspection syndrome.

Following her thirty-ninth birthday party, Amy comes home drunk running over her dog; next she finds an abandoned newborn left by her apartment. That makes her think of the wealthy parents who buy her items for their children at her expensive Chelsea shop. Amy wonders if she should consider an offspring as her biological clock is running down. She needs the right throwaway mate so she begins solicitating partners choosing appropriate men to seduce at the right time of the month. Some are worth lusting over, but lack intelligence and or charm; some are losers; some have children that terrorize their dates; finally there is Joe, single father of twins, but their dates are disasters. Amy begins to think remaining OINKS status looks right for her though Joe believes otherwise.

This is an ultra lighthearted British chick lit tale that follows the sub-genre guidelines from start to finish. Even having an infant dumped on Amy only serves as a catalyst throwaway. Still Amy's metaphase is fascinating, as she ponders how she went from the centerfold of OINKS to a need to become pregnant with the right hunk. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this blithe character driven tale of a desperate woman's clock ticking down as her one year objective provides her with losers with children and losers with no children; the common theme being the male of the species is pathetic except perhaps for good dad Joe.

Harriet Klausner