Customer Reviews

How To Meet Cute Boys

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Chick Lit may have hit its nadir (or is it zenith?) with "How To Meet Cute Boys," a novel that verges on self-parody. Lead character in publishing, imbued with hipster references, lots of pink type, lots of girly drinks, lots of self-deprecating comments, lots of boy angst.

But what really makes this book stand out is the self-centered, narcissistic and neurotic character of the 27-year-old Benjamina Franklin (oh, boy). Her thoughts and actions were based on one of two principles: (A) How can I get a boyfriend? and (B) How do you think I can get a boyfriend?

With that in mind, it's not surprising when her new beau, the 21-year-old Max, starts getting a little freaked out. Any dating veteran will wince with recognition at his telltale signs of an increasingly disinterested lover, but as a reader I had another, stronger reaction: Damn straight. This guy's pretty sensible for his age.

If we werent supposed to see Benjamina as a victim, "How To Meet Cute Boys" could have the bones of a good satire. The idea of someone suffering through unrequited love - yet being uncomfortable when it comes to sharing the bathroom to brush your teeth - is pretty funny.

My low rating of the book stems from the usual assortment of novel-writing sins: plot is nonexistent, it's not very funny and the writing's no great shakes. (Extra discredit for repeated brand-name dropping.) However, I must give the novel its props in one respect: reading it, I felt the bite of recognition for a time in my life where I was every bit as obnoxious and clueless when it came to men. Still, owning up to it doesn't mean I was justified; I look back and cringe. I wish the author felt the same way.

Umm...did they forget to print the last few pages or something? Good book, but a horrible ending. It seems that those several blank pages at the end of the book must have been meant to have a proper ending printed on them.

Deanna Kizis, West Coast Editor at Elle magazine, delivers a cute and entertaining debut addition to the chic-lit genre. Although the advice and dating policies are not what I'd take to heart, this remains a light, humorous break from the real world.

27-year-old Benjamina Franklin (a.k.a. Ben) is a journalist at a successful woman's magazine, which gives her almost instant access to the hottest parties and social events in L.A. You'd think finding a boyfriend would be easy. Wrong. As Ben continues her neurotic search, she must deal with the jealousy she feels towards her younger sister who's now engaged, her not-so-helpful friends (one of whom is an analytical psychology student), her boss who's always looking for a new and romantic article from Ben, and Ben's mother. You'll just have to read about Ben's mother. You wouldn't believe me if I told you!

The chic-lit genre is becoming very popular among women, probably in their 20s and 30s. This addition is light, refreshing and funny at times. What I thought was unique, were the numorous Cosmo-like quizes and dating tips added throughout the story. For me, this book provided a nice break from the heavier reading I also enjoy.

I was so disgusted with the last few chick-lit books I read, I was ready to give up on the genre. However, I got this as a gift and was pleasantly surprised. If it were a little deeper and had a real conclusion, I would give it four stars.

What I found interesting was the dating etiquette that seems to exist with young hipster-types. Ben was in a sexual relationship with young Max, but could not show him any affection or refer to him as her boyfriend. The minute she let on that she wasn't just having repeated casual sex with him, he took off, and she blamed herself. Is this a realistic portrait of the 20-something dating scene? Sadly, I think it probably is. I would have liked to see some personal growth by the protagonist--she had to actually remind herself to do something besides chase men--but besides that, the book was interesting, worth a check-out from the library, at least.

...There are several spot-on, laugh out loud observations about commitment-phobic men and the dating/party scene in Los Angeles. I savor a good girl in the city read as much as the next girl in the city. However, the character in this book is such a neurotic, spineless victim that this book became increasingly difficult to enjoy. Far from being as original and sophisticated as other good Chick Lit we all love (Candace Bushnell, Jane Green, Helen Fielding, etc.)

Luckily I actually read this book after I had borrowed it from the library and not after having purchased it because I would be frantically searching for some kind of money-back guarantee.

The basic plot: Benjamina "Ben" Franklin, writer for trendy Elle-like magazine, Filly, meets a younger guy, falls in lust, and spends the entire book trying to figure out if he feels the same for her. All the while she's dealing with a mother that's a caricature of every Hollywood mother, too caught up in her youngest daughter's impending nuptials as well as her own dating scene to offer any practical advice to her children. The sister appears perfect until she goes off the extreme other end towards the conclusion of the novel, and the aforementioned younger guy ends up the epitome of commitment-phobic. Everyone in this novel is simply an exaggeration of a real person, their thoughts and actions enlarged to the point where the reader knows that what they're reading is just trying too hard to be realistic. And the conclusion leaves a lot to be desired, mainly an actual conclusion. I don't need happily-ever-after, but I need something.

The add-ins of Cosmo-like quizzes and Filly articles, all in Pepto-Bismol pink, are distracting. Had they separated chapters it might have been different. But as is, breaking into the middle of sentences, you are forced to either go back to seek them out after you've finished the chapter, or ruin the flow of a chapter to read them as they come.

All of my comments so far have been directed toward what is in the book. But, I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the disgust I felt after having read it. Ben's whining throughout the novel made me sad that I'm actually a woman. Ugh. To think that someone can be this pathetic is infuriating, at least to this reviewer. I suppose it can be argued that since the focus of the book is on Ben's love life that it's unrealistic to expect her to concentrate on anything other than the boy that she's sleeping with, or any of the other boys that she's slept with, and her never-ending thoughts about why those relationships didn't work out. Still, women have got to have better things to do with their time than pine over men, constantly worrying that they've done something wrong, that they're not measuring up, or that a desire for something long-lasting is somehow selfish of them.

If you want to question the sanity of the second X chromosome, this book is definitely for you. If not, don't waste your time.

Two stars: A fast read, but not worth one minute longer than the first turn in your tanning cycle.

"Are you kidding me?" is what I said when I finished reading this book. I enjoyed the easy read of this book until the end. This. Book. Has. No. Conclusion. To. Any. Of. The. Plots. I feel like I wasted my valuable time reading this book.

If you've read the other reviews, you should know the plot by now... it's disgusting. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities to this book what-so-ever. I bought it (on clearance thank God) looking for a no-need-to-think good time girl read. What I got was an answer to why my boyfriend is afraid of American women. No wonder men shrink away from us for what seems to me to be no reason at all.
Were I to conduct my life like the main character Ben, I'd be $100,000 in debt, have slept with over 60 men, and have the lowest self-esteem in the world. Had Ben simply told Max that she was looking for a relationship and didn't want to screw around wondering where the heck this relationship is going... she would have saved herself a TON of trouble. Mothers, do NOT let your daughters read this book. They may believe this is normal behavior to be emulated.
I wish it were legal to press charges for small homicides. I feel like Ms. Kizis has killed me... but just a little. I will never be able to gain back those lost six hours, and now I feel I have gotten dumber. And I haven't even mentioned the atrocius grammar or the complete inability to write.

I bought this because I read all the great reviews on this page .You guys must have been reading a different book .

Where are the jokes
where is the plot

save your money and if you want a good laugh buy some David Sedaris

Benjamin Franklin(OK,the name was just a bit too cute)writes for Filly Magazine. She(yes, she)is also trying to find a man who will commit,or just not be an absolute s**t. When her sister Audrey announces her engagement,Ben not only has to reconsider her single state,she has to find a date for the wedding."How to Meet Cute Boys" is liberally sprinkled with articles,quizzes and wisdom pulled from Filly magazine. Ben used their wisdom as she navigates the single life. And she comes to realize that her life is not so bad after all.This book is filled with pop references and pop psychology. It is a bit too lightweight and fluffy for my taste(or my age group). I got way too many snickers diricted my way as I tried to read this at my desk Maybe a good read for someone younger