Customer Reviews

Pieces of Happily Ever After

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked this up at the library, thinking that it would be a nice chick lit book, or a beach read, or a guilty pleasure. Started it last evening, because had read all of other "good" books, and saved this one for when there was nothing else to read. Hah!
Color me fooled---was hooked from the first page, and kept on until one am, when I told my dear, long-suffering husband (himself also an avid reader) that if I stopped right then, I'd have something to wake up with.
Finished it and had to review it with the most glowing words that I can find...so, buy this one, people-outstanding characters, funny and poignant observations about the nature of life in LA and really everywhere-a true treasure. Most books from the library I enjoy and return, but this one, I'm buying, and I'm buying Ms Zutell's other books too...so that I can keep my appetite for her fine work somewhat in check.

It's a novel but it should be a movie. It's beautiful. It's funny. It's deeply moving (I cried - twice) and it's got edge. Irene Zutell, the author, is a friend of mine and I went into reading it with slight trepidation because I always have that feeling like what if I don't like it? How will I tell my friend the truth? Well no worries there, I was completely taken aback by my love for this book. Seriously, I want to make out with it. Truth be told I'm still in a little post good book haze where moments and feelings come back to me while doing other things -which is so rare for me when I read.

Remember when Julia Roberts met her fairy tale camera man, married him and lived happily ever after? Did you wonder what happened to Vera who was happily married to the guy before America's Sweetheart got her hooks in him? Did you cringe along with me when Julia was spotted wearing an A loe Vera shirt? Do you still want to key her car a little bit? This book gives you a glimpse into what Vera might have been feeling -if Vera was a sarcastic, funny, east coast transplant with compassion, stretch marks, porn filming neighbors, a five-year-old daughter and a mom with Alzheimers. The heroine is brought to life so much that it feels like she could easily be your friend, your neighbor, or a mom you see at drop off at your kid's school. Someone you never took the time to know but should have.

Irene keeps the story moving (which I like because who wants to hear a two page description of a lake?) but takes time to create great visuals like the over-the-top lawn extravaganzas done by her Christmas holiday loving neighbors. I got so swept into the story that I never wanted the book to end and now I have to wait for her to write another one. DAMMIT.

This is a fun book and easy reading. Women everywhere can relate to a husband walking out on his family and the aftermath that follows. Alice and her daughter Gabby pick up the pieces and try to move on. Do they succeed? Read the book and find out!

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were interesting, complex and yet easy to relate to. The story [...] in immediately and kept the pages turning. I will definately be reading Irene Zutell's other books!

This is a good book if you are looking for a fast and mindless read. It's about a woman who recently separated from her unfaithful husband. The husband was having an affair with a Paris Hilton-like movie star. The woman has a preschool age daughter Gaby. Even though I am a parent of a little girl myself, the character Gaby seems very annoying. All the characters are very superficial and not very likable. The plot does move along nicely, but the characters don't really develop any depth. The "moral" of this book is that there is no happily ever after, but there are pieces of happily ever after. It was a mindless entertainment for a few hours, but after reading it, I donated to our library's paperback exchange. It is not a keeper.

Alex, an entertainment lawyer, gets a new client an actress and starts working late. I think you know where this is going. He takes his wife out to a dinner date where she also meets this new client. Who just gushes and gushes about how fabulous Alex is and how wonderful Alice is for loaning him out to her. Wonder what she means by that? Alice has a miscarriage, while Alex was out with Rose, the other woman. A few days after the miscarriage Alex admits things and says he needs to find himself. Only thing is that he wants to find himself with the actress. Alex seemed a bit whiny and self centered. He really needed to grown up. It was like life was happening and it got to be too much for him he was always wanting someone else to take over responsibilities and let him just float along. Who wants that in a hero? I think Alice found some happiness later on though with someone who was at least grown up. I think both Alice and Gabby were better off with Alex out of the house. He really didn't even want to provide any structure to the child. I liked that Alice learned to not judge a book by its cover. After all she found a good friend in Ruth the ex porn star. I think the reader will have to read between the lines to determine how everyone's piece of happily ever after comes about though.

Alice Kirshall has a storybook life, or so it seems. Her husband, Alex, a Hollywood entertainment lawyer signs on with a new client, actress Rose Maris. When Alex starts hitting the gym, Alice assumes he's going through a mid-life crisis and writes it off. But then he starts working later and later. The intimacy in their relationship has dwindled down to nothing.

When Alice discovers she is expecting, Alex isn't as excited as she would have hoped. He actually begins to ignore her. A few weeks later she goes to the hospital due to severe pain and bleeding and Alex is nowhere to be found. He shows up right as Alice is being carted into surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. When Alice awakes, Alex is right by her side, crying with guilt.

Alice returns home and is immediately overwhelmed with phone calls. She assumes the calls are from friends and family members calling to wish her a speedy recovery. But the calls are coming from the press: a story has appeared in a tabloid, reporting that Alex and Rosie are having an affair. Suddenly Alice's storybook life starts to crumble into pieces. She orders Alex out of the house and is left to deal with their five-old daughter, Gabby, the loss of their unborn child, and the loss of their marriage, alone.

As if all this isn't enough to drive anyone insane, Alice learns her mother, Mary, is having problems at the home in which she is residing. Mary has Alzheimers, and has recently begun using foul language that is upsetting the other residents.

Alice must pull herself together and deal with all this chaos in her life. She, with Gabby in tow, must pick up the pieces of their life and move on.

How to I begin to relay how much I loved this book? The characters are wonderful, so well-developed and real. Pieces of Happily Ever After is not your typical chick-lit. The story and the relationships between the characters are so raw and emotional. You can't help but be swept up in this story. The emotions you'll feel while reading range from joy to anger, and from happiness to tears. I loved this one so much I've read it twice and that still isn't enough. I want to learn more about Alice, what has become of her life. When the book ended I felt as though I lost a close friend. I very impatiently await the release of Zutell's next book, whenever that may be.

Pieces of Happily Ever After
Author: Irene Zutell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-54009-8

Happily ever after is over. Alice Hirsh, native New York City girl, never expected to end up living in the bizarre kingdom that is the San Fernando Valley. Somehow, she is managing; making a home for her attorney husband, Alex, and their 5 year old daughter, Gabby; trying to hold on to both her job and sanity. Alice's husband soon lands a coveted trophy client: Rose Maris, bombshell beauty and box office queen. Before long, Alice notices Alex is working late every night, looking more fit, more tan, even buying new clothes. Before long, the gossip columnists are coyly hinting about Rose Maris and her attractive mystery man; then the full court press from the media begins. Alex Hirsh and Rose Maris are the couple of the moment, and the paparazzi are having a field day. Soon, Alice is hunkered down at home, trying to avoid the cameras and intrusive questions and comments from trash gossip hell.

How to keep a job, the house, care for her daughter, and attempt to learn to live a life of her own take our Alice on a humorous and heartfelt ride. Her responses are so true to life, you feel like you are reading a note from a dear friend. Her daughter is a hoot, a five year old self appointed princess, wise beyond her years in some ways, and always up to something.

Will Alice move on with her life? What happens if and when Rose Maris kicks Alex to the curb? Will he come home, begging his way back into the life they had, or will she move forward without him. The story of a woman forced to evaluate her life and make her own decisions, told with a humor and attention to detail that is second to none. Sure, chicklit, but chicklit at it's best, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Alice Hirsh is trying to adjust to life in the San Fernando Valley after living in New York. Judgmental and borderline unfriendly, Alice relies on her family- Alex, a wonderful husband and father, working as an entertainment lawyer for the stars, and her precious daughter Gabby. But everything turns when Alex announces he needs a "break"- then Alice finds pictures of her husband cuddling with the hottest man-eating actress in Hollywood, also Alex's newest client. Suddenly, she is on the verge of getting a divorce, and is having to deal with the demise while the paparazzi is stalking her and five year old Gabby asking all the hard questions.
Alice struggles to get through each day, trying to pick up the broken pieces around her. She finds friends with the most unexpected people- another mother who loves wearing Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirts but can swear like a sailor and an ex porn star trying to make a better future for herself. Their friendships help support Alice through her mother's declining health and a possible love interest- with a former paparazzo.
Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell is a heartwarming tale of a very real situation and one women's experience of trying to get her life back on track. I loved the spin with the fairy tale, seeing how Gabby's love of fairy tales could relate to Alice's life. The supporting cast really helped shape the novel, with just enough detail on each person's lives. This is feel good reading material that shows no matter how much you lose, there is more you can gain to get your happily ever after.

I received this book from the publisher as an early reviewer book. After I got it, I hoped it would be good so I wouldn't have to write a bad review! Luckily, it was a GREAT book and I loved it!

I was instantly drawn in to this book in the first chapter. I love Aly's character and I loved her daughter Gabbie even more. Aly also has a mother dying of alzheimers. The things that Gabbie and Aly's mother did and said had me laughing out loud. I liked how this book was unpredictable. Characters that you thought would play a certain role in the story played something you totally wouldn't have expected. I thought for sure the book was going to end in a certain way and it didn't, and I was glad it didn't! The author's writing style was smooth and made this book so easy to read and follow. My only criticism (and I find this in many books) was that the author made Gabbie a little to smart and quick witted for her age. However, with that being said, it definitely did not detract from this wonderful book.