15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A penny saved, August 10, 2009
...is a great read!
The first book I read by Sarah Stohmeyer was the Sleeping Beauty Proposal - a great fun chick lit read that I enjoyed. So on a rainy Sunday I happily settled down with her latest - The Penny Pinchers Club.
Kat Griffiths is unpacking her husband's luggage after his business trip. But when she discovers two Mint Tingle Trojan wrappers and a receipt for a fancy dinner on a night she couldn't reach him at the hotel, she is caught unawares. Convinced he is having an affair with his young assistant, Kat visits a divorce attorney, who advises her that she will need at least $15,000 of her own money to land on her feet. The problem is - Kat loves to shop. What she doesn't love is knowing what she spends - Visa bills are the enemy. But forced with no choice, she vows to stop shopping, cut corners and save money. To that end, she joins the local 'Penny Pinchers' club. The plot thickens when a former lover appears back in her life.
Strohmeyer is a witty writer. The dialogue is funny and fast paced. Her characters are warm and engaging. The members of the club are an eclectic interesting group that I enjoyed. The secondary plots involving their lives added to the story. The group has some good realistic ideas on saving money - especially timely in today's economy. There's a list of their suggestions included at the end of the book. Although it's a light hearted entertaining read, the degree of happiness Kat achieves without the purchase of 'things' is worth noting, as is the degree of satisfaction she finds in taking control of her own life. The ending isn't quite what I envisioned or would have preferred, but I enjoyed it very much. If you're looking for a fun light hearted read, this would be a great choice. A little more hen lit than chick lit.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Her Best Work..., April 16, 2010
This is my third Sarah Strohmeyer book, and it is by far my least favorite. It's difficult to explain what exactly I didn't like without giving something away, so if I seem vague, it's because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.
The overall readability of the book is just fine. Ms. Strohmeyer keeps the story going at a great clip, revealing just enough to keep you eagerly turning the pages. Some characters (Elaine comes to mind) are not really developed well at all though, so when you meet them throughout the book, you have to struggle to remember who they were, and where Kat knew them from. On a good note, I really liked the tips given on how to save money. Some were a bit extreme, like canceling the cable, and trading in the car, but others I've actually started doing myself...flipping the power strips my TV's are connected to whenever they're not in use, and unplugging gaming devices which eat up electricity, even when they're turned off. Also making a consious effort to turn off fans and lights in rooms that aren't being used.
My main issue with the story though was the predictability. I guessed very early on what the outcome was going to be, and I was disappointed to see that I was correct. I also had a hard time swallowing how neatly everything wrapped up. Even the outcome of the Penny Pinchers themselves. It was all WAY too convenient. Kat's husband Griff; while I believe Ms. Strohmeyer was out to make him seem likeable, he wasn't really. I never trusted him, and (here's where I have to be careful with what I say) while he was a pleasant, easy going guy, and all his explanations added up, for things to end the way they did, those emails were worded VERY strangely. Who would talk like that? Ok...that may not make sense to some people, but read the book and you'll get it.
In the end, I don't discourage anyone from reading this since it wasn't that bad of a story, but it's certainly not her best work. If you've never read Sarah Strohmeyer before, then do not start with this. Try 'Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives', or 'The Sleeping Beauty Proposal' instead, both of which are GREAT books.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just In Time For The Recession, July 5, 2009
What a book! It's just in time to make us laugh AND help us think of ways to save a little money. Well written and witty. Grab a bag of chips, a big glass of iced tea and get ready for an afternoon of non-stop, sizzling fun! A must read.
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