Customer Reviews

Monkey Love

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Holly has a degree in primatology from Columbia (which her family refers to as "monkey school"), but to make ends meet, she does a series of activities which make up "Holly's Hobbies". This is anything from pet sitting, baby sitting, running errands, doing taxes, and typing and helps her supplement her income while she pursues a career as a stand up comic. Holly was raised by her dictatorial aunt when after lost her mom as a child and her father deserted her.

She is the go to gal for her pals, which results in hilarious hijinks when she adds a monkey to the menagerie already holding court in her home, which means she can put all she learned in monkey school to practical use. Unfortunately, Holly can never say no to anyone, so she tends to get walked all over. When steady man Marcus dumps her in the middle of a catastrophe, she is surprised that she is not as devastated as she thinks she should be. And when sexy and soon to be single dad Tom enters her life, she has someone else to aid. And then there is the writer who has her transcribing for him. His words are poetry to her and oh so familiar.

Told in first person, this is one of the most hysterical and laugh-out-loud funny books I've read - second only to "Tales of a Drama Queen." The humor is dry and filled with so many wry observations that readers will find themselves chuckling out loud, which can be a little embarrassing on a commuter train! Pick it up and check it out - you won't be sorry!

It sounds like a pretty easy recipe to turn chick lit into comedy: just add monkey. But Brenda Scott Royce's gift for comedy begins long before her heroine, Holly Heckerling, winds up caring for the monkey Tallulah. In addition to working a variety of odd jobs (some odder than others), Holly has been moonlighting as a stand up comedian. With comedy, humor often comes not only from the situation but from the delivery. Brenda Scott Royce really understands that concept. Holly Heckerling gets herself into a variety of situations (as in situation comedy)-- an early example in the novel: Holly removing a would be actress's leg cast with power tools. I won't even delve too deeply into Tallulah the monkey's reactions to Regis Philbin. What ups the comedy level in these situations and throughout the novel are Holly's own observations about what's going on. Brenda Scott Royce has a great comic voice and a perfect character through with to speak in Holly Heckerling. Brenda Scott Royce also has a wonderful gift for crafting poignant moments that don't turn maudlin or prevent the reader from comfortably getting back into laugh mode. There is a moving scene in which Holly meets David, the quadriplegic whom Tallulah has been trained to assist. Royce has created a New York in which it makes perfect sense that an aspring stand up comic would be housing a monkey and a boa constrictor in her sixth floor walk-up. It's just one more slice of the craziness in Holly's life, but a craziness not so far removed from reality that we can't all relate to it. That's part of the fun of this novel, part of the humor, the belief (the fear maybe or the hope) that all this zaniness could happen in our own lives. Janet Evanovich's blurb on the front cover likens the novel to a jelly donut; I see "Monkey Love" more as a many-layered cake with lots and lots of frosting.

I read A LOT of books and before reading Mokey Love I had only come across one book that had me laughing out loud. I loved this book from start to finish. Holly and her monkey friend kept me laughing through out the entire book. It's wonderfully funny.

And I thought my family was embarrassing! Author Brenda Scott Royce has a skill for building layer upon layer of believable hilarity.

Protagonist Holly Heckerling has a knack for picking up stray pets and wayward friends. With a degree in "monkey-ology" (don't make me look up the official name), Holly isn't quite living up to her education. She performs odd jobs such as hair cutting and typing, while trying to breakthrough as a stand-up comic.

If only Holly's friends and family would give her a bit of breathing room, she might have time to find herself, and a love that lasts longer than her "record" three months.

Throughout the reading, I found myself literally laughing out loud. Ultimately, you'll fall in love with Monkey Love.

This story was fast paced, funny, yet not in an entirely slapstick way. The humor was excellent and delivered in a well-timed fashion. It seemed perhaps Ms. Scott Royce has herself tried stand up comedy.
I bought this book thinking of romance and ended up appreciating the many levels of the dysfunctional family, and having a distinct hankering to walk the streets of New York again. Oh, and I did fall in love, just not with the hero. Don't get me wrong, he's perfectly lovable, but I fell in love with the monkey. Long live Tallulah.

My sister recommended this book to me and I'm really glad she did. I laughed out loud several times (on a plane!). Holly cracks me up, and I love her "can do" attitude. I think my life is busy and my family is quirky, but we don't hold a candle to Holly and her family. This is a fun, witty book and I will be recommending to my friends that they download a copy.

Best new book I've read in ages! Laugh-out-loud funny. Not to be missed--can't wait for the author's next book.

One of the best books that I have read in quite some time! I found myself reaching for it on a continual basis. From beginning to end, I was completely engrossed in Holly's world. The animal antics are funny, but the human relationships are what really evoked my tears and laughter.

This book is really funny! I bought it a while ago, and am finally getting around to reading it. I had just finished reading Only in London, and thought it was funny how both books have the same type of monkey in them. As far as this book goes, what can go wrong will, and it is interesting to see it all unfold. I especially liked Holly's aunt who would put people on ice, and her cousin Gerry and his sock collection. This book is visual and I would love to see it on the big screen. Anyway, I'm looking forward to see how it will all end.

Hop, slither, swing, or run to get your hands on a copy of Monkey Love. You'll be absolutely charmed by Holly, utterly appalled by her relatives, and eager to see how Holly handles her exotic animal menagerie!

More than that, Holly will touch your heart with her struggles to be true to herself and to find love in the big city.

When you finish reading this book, you'll heave a deep sigh of satisfaction and just be that much happier in the world knowing there's a writer like Brenda Scott Royce creating great characters and engrossing stories. Gosh, what a great read! I eagerly anticipate her next book!