Customer Reviews

The Not-so-perfect Man

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

 

 

Give me more of the Schast sisters, please! All three are smart, funny, and ultimately flawed (in the best possible, most relatable, laugh-with-me) kind of way. Unlike some other fictional NYC women, this trio of unlikely heroines is neither sexier, more clever or hipper than thou. And there's a minimum of coy product placement. What there's a maximum of: interesting characers you root for, a plot with just enough complications and some informative insight about the complexities of emotions inherent in being married, single, and widowed. A great feel-good read on a cold day.

This book had the right blend of humor, reality, and romance. This book illustrates a common issue in relationships: Whether it is better to marry someone you are passionate about vs. someone who is practical.

I would not recommend it for young adults. The only reason why I did not give it 5 stars is because there is some bad language in the book. Otherwise, it is written very well.

I decided to give Valerie Frankel another chance after I had read and disliked "The Accidental Virgin" and this was a much better read. The book focuses on three sisters-Illene, Frieda, and Betty. I disliked the character of Illene the most and liked the character of Betty the most. Illene didn't have many traits that I could connect to and she did a lot of things in the book that I found to be really annoying and ridiculous. Frieda was a so-so character for me. I didn't mind her and I did root for her and Sam's relationship but there just wasn't something that I could fully connect with. I probably connected the most with Betty. I felt for her when she got duped (I don't want to reveal too much). The book is a fast read, as I read it in two days. I've bought The Girl-friend Curse by Valerie Frankel and hopefully that will be as good as "The Not-so-perfect Man".

I could not believe how good this book is. Funny, sad, characters I loved and a complex involving plot. I was expecting a chick-lit romance novel, but got much more than I'd hoped for, or paid for. Highly recommended.

The Not-So-Perfect Man is Valerie Frankel's latest romantic comedy. The novel centers on the love dynamics of three sisters. Frieda is a thirty-five-year-old widow who hasn't found a man that comes close to her late husband. That is until she meets Sam. The sex and chemistry are so strong that she's willing to overlook the fact that Sam is a struggling actor with no money. To make matters worse, he isn't a suitable father for her son. Big sister Ilene has the perfect candidate for Frieda. She is so involved with making Frieda happy that she fails to notice that her marriage is dwindling. All she does is criticize her husband's weight gain. Betty, the youngest sister, has weight issues of her own. As a result, her bitterness alienates men. What transpires is an earnest, fun and insightful romantic comedy with a great deal of heart and soul. The Not-So-Perfect Man is far more substantial than Smart vs. Pretty and The Accidental Virgin. Valerie Frankel has created a story with characters that are compelling and wonderful. The characters -- namely Betty, Ilene and Peter -- are flawed, and said flaws make them solid and real. You'll find yourself caring about these people and wishing them the best. Are you in the bargain for a droll, smart chick-lit? I urge you to give this wonderful novel a whirl.

I love a good romantic comedy - in movies and books. So, I was really happy to hear that Valerie Frankel had a new book out. I love her stuff... I find it really funny, charming and romantic. "The Not So Perfect Man" was a real treat. The story of these sisters had me rolling on the floor laughing and thrilled to my toes with my Sunday afternoon of reading.

Frieda Schast is a wonderful heroine and I really enjoyed her way. I think that Ms. Frankel has come even farther in her talent and I eagerly anticipate her next offering.

Cheers!

Picked this up the day it was released and read it non-stop until the last page. The story covers a year plus in the lives of three sisters in New York City--one widowed, one married, one single. They each have a romantic storyline with a beginning, middle and (happy) end, all overlapping, all having an influence on the romantic destiny of the others. It's an amazing bit of storytelling, actually, where the smallest early detail is relevant and pivotal on another sister's life pages later in the novel. Which isn't to say that The Not-So-Perfect Man is too complicated to keep track of. The short chapters keep the plot humming along. I would decide I related best to the single sister, and then I'd get more involved with the widow, and back and forth. Although each of her character certainly has her share of problems here, Frankel is as funny in this one as in any of her other novels. The Not-So-Perfect Man, though, goes deeper. For me, that means better.

This is my first time reading Valerie Frankel. I took this book to the beach with me on a recent long weekend out to Montauk, NY. This book seemed to scream Beach Book.

The story is about three sisters. One sister named Irene is involved in everyone else's life, but forgets to pay attention to her own husband. She treats her husband very poorly after he gains weight. The other sister Betty has low self esteem and seems a little too involved with her brother-in-law and my favorite sister Frieda is recently widowed with a child and has met an exciting man that her sister Irene does not like.

The book's ending was abrupt and confusing. There were a lot of loose ends in this book and I truly do not recommend it.

I really loved this book. I thought it was enteraining. Which isn't that what we all wish for in a book? I laughed so many times though this book. I would recommend it to anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So far, I've read 2 of Frankel's books and loved both. It's the right combination of funny, serious, smart, and real! Another reviewer wrote that she would have given it 5 stars but didn't because of the bad language...there is not that much of it and it's real. Meaning, I don't know about everyone else, but my friends and I speak just like what was written in the book. Do we always curse? No. Do the characters in the book? No. It's just enough that it is believeable in real life conversations. It's chick lit...one shouldn't be uptight about it anyway! That's my 2 cents and I'm sticking to it.

The characters are developed very well and the reader always knows who is who and their motives. There are many characters but the book's flow is easy to follow.

It is a book about a widower, an uptight sister and another sister that has slacked off on her image. They all transform by the end of the book. It also makes one stop and think whether true and passionate love is better than the safe and dependable friend. I always root for the true and passionate side - that's what makes us alive!

Have fun with this one!