Customer Reviews

My Best Friend and My Man: A Novel

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

 

 

The author of My Husband's Girlfriend and My Daughter's Boyfriend, Cydney Rax, introduces readers to Demetria and her best friend, Veron, in My Best Friend and My Man. Poor Demetria (and trust when I say, the girl needs some serious help) is in perpetual bad date mode. When noticing how her best friend, Veron, seems to have it all together in this department, she wants to know what her secret is. Why do men appear to bend over backwards at Veron's every beck and call?

Veron is a self-proclaimed expert in the dating arena and thus, makes it her personal responsibility to school Demetria on how to pick a man and play the game based on the latest dating rules book. When Veron sees Demetria start to fall for Seaphes, a guy in their office, and see him actually falling for her, too (!), Veron decides to make a few changes to her strategy that jeopardize her friendship with Demetria.

At times, I found myself wanting to literally jump into the pages of this book and shake some common sense into Demetria and then I started to realize that she just is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I enjoyed the storyline, I just felt that it moved a little too fast to be realistic. Although I did not enjoy My Best Friend and My Man as much as I enjoyed Rax's last two books, there were some timely laugh-out-loud moments and catchy phrases that have already been added to my vocabulary! I recommend this book to those that enjoy chick-lit and other offerings by Cydney Rax.

Reviewed by Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub

Veron is an easy-going woman, not too experienced in relationships, who wants nothing more than to snag an honest, trustworthy man who will treat her good. Since Veron's best friend, Demetria, is so successful when it comes to men, Veron turns to her for help. Demetria is more than happy to assist her friend in finding a worthy mate and starts coaching Veron on everything from how to talk and act, to how to respond when it comes to the male species. Veron believes Demetria has it all when it comes to men, and basically wants to be just like her.

When Demetria tries to work her magic on Seaphus, Veron's new love interest, she's in for a rude awakening. Seaphus is part of a rare breed that knows exactly what type of woman Demetria is and isn't afraid to let her know. Although he almost succumbs to her prowess, Seaphus knows that Veron is the woman for him and keeps Demetria at bay. Not used to playing second fiddle Demetria goes through many antics to prove that she can gain the attention of a man like Seaphus. The lengths she goes through are downright scandalous, though all the while she claims Veron is her "girl" and everything she is doing concerning Seaphus is to her benefit - NOT. Veron will soon discover that her friend is not as put together as she likes people to believe. For behind the tough exterior is a truly broken woman.

Cydney Rax has brought yet another story of the boundaries of relationships to the forefront of reader's minds with her latest project, My Best Friend and My Man. This was a quick read that was both entertaining and insightful. It definitely makes one think hard before getting a friend involved in their relationship.

-Englishruler
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating: 4.0 Stars

I love him...I love him not.

That's just about how confused the poor girl (Vee) was throughout the entire book up until the last page, and you want to know who kept her confused? HER FRIENDS! Watch out for your friends for sometimes they know not what they do, and sometimes they just might. Hmmmm...

Out of Veron, Seaphes and Demetria, Vernon a.k.a. Vee was my favorite character. She'd been hurt in relationships time and time again, acknowledged her hurt and was a real person with the only flaw in relationships of falling for the wrong man and loving him too hard too long (ladies, sound familiar?). Well, Vee has gotten it down to science, until she gets let down so low on Valentine's Day that her two friends Mike and Demetria stage an intervention. And that's when the trouble begins.

Bottom line, Demetria introduces a new relationship rule book that Vernon is to abide by called Why Men Love Bitches. So, when she falls hard for her coworker, Seaphes, she's gotta be everything to this new man, but herself. That's if she plans to baggem', get bankrolled, and treated like a queen like the men in Demetria's life treat her. She wants so desperately to have the kind of love life Demetria has, she is willing to ignore her instincts and live by Demetria's advice to get it.

For me, it was the story between Vernon and Seaphes that kept the pages turning. I liked the realness to their love connection because it's uncertain and vulnerable, and shows what really happens when you let your friends dictate your business and some friend Demetria was.

My Best Friend and My Man, gives credence to the saying, the grass ain't always greener! Read this one, you won't be dissapointed at the relationship jewels you pick up.

Shani Greene-Dowdell, author of Keepin' It Tight

I could NOT put this book down! Everyone has a friend like Demetria Sparks. Beautiful, intelligent, slightly self-centered, and thinks she knows what a man wants. This book is beautifully written in realistic situations. After finishing this book, you'll start to question whether or not it's a smart move to share all those candid details with friends.

What happens when two best friends, who have shared everything from personal shortcomings to sexual techniques, are suddenly positioned to share a man? It does not make for a pretty picture. Veron Darcey is a young African American woman on an upward path, the only thing missing in her plans is a committed relationship. That's where her best friend steps in.

Demetria Sparks is a special woman, she is always involved with several men at the same time, and all of them want her to be their number one lady. But Demetria is not having it, she thrives on all her options. When Veron asks Demetria for advice on how to capture and hold a man, Demetria eagerly accepts the challenge, and the lessons begin. After numerous instructions, Veron is ready to go after the man who has caught her eye. As they put their strategy into action, Demetria is midly shocked; for maybe the first, time a man does not seem captivated by her charm. Naturally, Demetria sees this as a personal challenge, and before long Veron's mission is not her main focus, Demetria has her own agenda. Now the best friends are on the verge of becoming competitors, and emotions are strained between them. But Veron, no longer feeling like a trainee, flexes her own relationship muscles. Will it become a survival of the fittest?

MY BEST FRIEND AND MY MAN is warm, engaging and intense. It brings home real thoughts about the road men and women travel to reach that pinnacle called love. Ms. Rax, with her unique titles, always takes the story in a different, thought-provoking direction than what readers surmise. There is definitely more uniqueness to this story than the title implies. The characters will remind you of someone, and the drama with make you sit down and think. This one will take readers, especially friends, 'there'!

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Very well written! Ms. Rax has done it again!!! I could not put it down. This is the must read book of 2009! I am a Cydney Rax fan for life!

This book started off slow and was really hard for me to get into. It finally got interesting around the middle but it just hit a plateau and never became GREAT. I was disappointed to say the least. I can't believe Vernon ridiculously thought Demetria was her REAL friend. Vernon is far from stupid so I take it she is a glutton for punishment. I wouldn't recommend anyone spend their money on this like I foolishly did.

This is such a good book.It makes you understand the meaning of trust, commitment,friendship,more than anything,love.It is such a great read although the ending sort of took me for a surprise I enjoyed it.Its one of those books where you don't correctly guess the ending.GOOD READ.

Cydney Rax has told another very compeling, drama filled story with "My Best Friend and My Man". She really shows a true to life ascpect about female best friends hangig around your man. That is some serious stuff. It's a truly great story and a fast read with some twist and turns with Veron, her best friend Demetria and her man. Donna takes you a rollercoaster ride as Veron finds out that Demetria is using the tatics to snare a man on her man. A good read!!!

Thanks for sharing Cydney!!!

This one was hard to read. It did not grab my attention to continue reading. I put it down for several reasons. This is not one of her better books. Vee was stuck on stupid big time. No real substance in this book. Entertaining yes!