“Adams is that rare writer who sends out every laugh with a sting in its tail. Most novels fade from the memory. This one sticks.”—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Inside their picture-perfect homes, the residents of this quiet California suburb are not at all what they seem. Lance is a former weatherman, now a buff yogi, stay-athome dad, and manager of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop’s cookie distribution. Belle is his precocious and quick-witted daughter. Darlene is a classic Type A work-a-holic, she has little time or patience for the needs of her husband and daughter And just down the street are Alec and Wren. Alec, a womanizing businessman, is also the financial backer—and sometimes more—behind Darlene’s burgeoning empire. Meanwhile, Wren is a doting mother and talented yogi, ready to lay down the mat for a quick session with Lance. As looming Santa Ana winds threaten to turn brushfires into catastrophe; Playdate proves that relationships are complicated and the bonds between families, spouses and children are never quite what they seem. What happens next door, beyond the hedges, in the romper room and executive office—it’s all as combustible as a quick brushfire on a windy day.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Pity the 21st-century househusband. Although former weatherman Lance Ramsay enjoys staying at home in the San Diego suburb of Encinitas, his 10-year-old daughter Belle's classmates consider him a loser, and his wife, Darlene, is so busy opening a new "Darlene's Diner," the franchise she started eight years ago in Barstow, Calif., that lovemaking has become perfunctory. Lance longs for another child and wishes his wife were more sensitive to Belle, but he finds plenty of distractions: having lots of tantric sex with Wren, the wife of Darlene's business partner, and dodging the amorous overtures of Wren's babysitter. Wren's sister, Robin, starts writing a book about househusbands, which gives a macho neighbor a chance to express his contempt for housebound men. Over the course of a few busy days leading up to the new diner's opening, in which everyone is sleeping with everyone, a brush fire threatens the region, which leads to the inevitable question: will the Ramsays' marriage go up in flames? US Weekly film critic Adams wittily skewers his shallow characters, resulting in a novel that's equal parts cleverness and tedium. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
When a novel starts with the Santa Ana winds about to bear down on a well-groomed California suburb, you know havoc will ensue. In the manner of Tom Perotta’s Little Children (2006), Playdate follows the complicated, about-to-explode life of a modern-day, stay-at-home, suburban dad. Nice-guy Lance has given up his career as a TV weatherman to help his high-powered wife, Darlene, start a new business. His days are consumed with caring for their daughter, Bella; trying to impregnate his reluctant wife; and having tantric sex with the wife of his wife’s business partner. The early introduction of tantric yoga (i.e., sex) puts the novel squarely in the satire category, but Adams is not completely content to let the story rest there. Earnest discussions of modern parenting, marriage, and gender roles fill almost every chapter as the impending storms threaten everything from Darlene’s new business to Bella’s birthday party. Unfortunately, these discussions sometimes come off as clunky exposition, in which the characters seem to be presenting talking points rather than having a conversation. Overall, though, the novel is an enjoyable, if slightly heavy-handed, romp through modern suburban life. --Marta Segal Block
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More About the Author
THELMA ADAMS' novel PLAYDATE was reprinted in paperback by St. Martin's Griffin in March 2012, following its hardback debut in 2011. The book is an Oprah Beach Read and a Parade Magazine pick of the week. She is a Contributing Editor at Yahoo! Movies, following eleven years as the film critic at Us Weekly, and six years at the New York Post. She has twice chaired the New York Film Critics Circle. She has written for The New York Times Magazine, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, The Huffington Post, Marie Claire, More, Interview Magazine, The New York Times, The international Herald Tribune, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has appeared on CNN, E!, NY1, NBC's The Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, Fox News Channel, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Bravo and VH1. In 1993, she earned an MFA in fiction from Columbia University; in 1985, she earned an MBA in Arts Management from UCLA; she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley in 1981. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, son, daughter, three cats, one spaniel and a flock of wild turkeys.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I have mixed feelings on this book. I enjoyed the message which basically is it doesn't matter who raises the kids, all the jobs are important but they go hand in hand. It isn't just the moms who are important it is the dads too. This life is one big puzzle and we need all the pieces.
However the affairs and the way the kids were just pushed through the book really didn't catch my fancy too much. Maybe this book is just too modern for me. I didn't think I would get through it, I made it halfway and thought this isn't bad and then the last 30 pages I wanted to scream enough already. Half the words seemed like nonsense to me.
No one really had any depth to them, because if they did, they wouldn't be in those situations! All the guys except for Lance were painted as jerks, which today's society says they are if they go out and work for a living they are like cavemen. Which isn't true.
My review seems a bit harsh but I couldn't give a everything-is-awesome in this book. I am relieved it is over and I can move on to other things!
However the affairs and the way the kids were just pushed through the book really didn't catch my fancy too much. Maybe this book is just too modern for me. I didn't think I would get through it, I made it halfway and thought this isn't bad and then the last 30 pages I wanted to scream enough already. Half the words seemed like nonsense to me.
No one really had any depth to them, because if they did, they wouldn't be in those situations! All the guys except for Lance were painted as jerks, which today's society says they are if they go out and work for a living they are like cavemen. Which isn't true.
My review seems a bit harsh but I couldn't give a everything-is-awesome in this book. I am relieved it is over and I can move on to other things!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
In some ways, a guy might fantasize about being in the shoes (or yoga robe) of Lance, the protagonist of this story. When he's not parenting his precocious daughter, or managing the cookie sales for her girl scout troop, he's sharing some intimate moments with his lovely neighbor, or fending off the persistent offerings of his neighbor's live-in nanny. But the fantasy would die in the details, as does the plot of this book.
It's a good premise, but to be honest, it just never travels very far. Lance's wife has her own business startup issues, and there are the typical misconceptions about a stay-at-home dad. But all in all, there really isn't a lot of there... there.
It's a good premise, but to be honest, it just never travels very far. Lance's wife has her own business startup issues, and there are the typical misconceptions about a stay-at-home dad. But all in all, there really isn't a lot of there... there.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Lance is a former weatherman turned house-husband. His wife, Darlene, is busy opening up the first in what could be a chain of new restaurants targeted at working mothers.
The two have one child, sixth grader Belle. They're considering having more and while Lance is excited, Darlene may not be as enthusiastic. She's so driven by her job and starting up her business that she is slowly becoming disconnected from Lance and Belle. Meanwhile, Lance is connecting with other women in his life, included the wife of Darlene's business partner and Julia, the babysitter who watches over the kids of the wife Lance is having an affair with.
Apparently, being the king of the Girl Scout cookies is quite the turn-on for some of the ladies in Lance's life.
If it all sounds a bit complicated, it can be at times. But you won't have any trouble keeping up with things in the story. Told over the course of three days, Thelma Adams' "Playdate" fills in enough of the details to keep you interested but it doesn't really break any new ground. The main question the novel ponders is how much do we all what we do to define a person or persons. The story could have been a bit better if had actually delved a bit deeper into the questions asked here, but the novel instead goes for humorous moments and brings everything together in a nice, neatly wrapped romantic comedy package in the final pages.
The two have one child, sixth grader Belle. They're considering having more and while Lance is excited, Darlene may not be as enthusiastic. She's so driven by her job and starting up her business that she is slowly becoming disconnected from Lance and Belle. Meanwhile, Lance is connecting with other women in his life, included the wife of Darlene's business partner and Julia, the babysitter who watches over the kids of the wife Lance is having an affair with.
Apparently, being the king of the Girl Scout cookies is quite the turn-on for some of the ladies in Lance's life.
If it all sounds a bit complicated, it can be at times. But you won't have any trouble keeping up with things in the story. Told over the course of three days, Thelma Adams' "Playdate" fills in enough of the details to keep you interested but it doesn't really break any new ground. The main question the novel ponders is how much do we all what we do to define a person or persons. The story could have been a bit better if had actually delved a bit deeper into the questions asked here, but the novel instead goes for humorous moments and brings everything together in a nice, neatly wrapped romantic comedy package in the final pages.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for me
Didn't really like this but I read it on a rainy weekend when I had nothing else to do. Kind of weird.
Published 5 months ago by Lori H
5.0 out of 5 stars
Plsydate
Playdate
Thelma Adams
What happens when you and your husband are in an intimate position and your sixth grade daughter walks into the room? Read more
Thelma Adams
What happens when you and your husband are in an intimate position and your sixth grade daughter walks into the room? Read more
Published 11 months ago by Samfreene
2.0 out of 5 stars
very disappointing novel
This was almost, but not quite, a total waste of time. Unhappily married couples, a precocious 11 year old, the launch of a new franchise, a stay at home, wonderful father who is... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Dana R. Casella
5.0 out of 5 stars
Biting suburban satire
A timely send-up of contemporary culture about a restless weatherman turned househusband. Laser-like skewering of modern family roles and irresponsibilities.
Published 16 months ago by JR
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like her style
To me this story played out like a reality TV show - a little wacky with all the inter-couple intrigue, with an oversexed wacky babysitter thrown in...so very L.A. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jacqueline Gum
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wouldn't reccomend this book
I had a hard time getting into this book, and relating to the characters. The characters lacked dimension, and didn't seem real to me. Read more
Published on May 3, 2011 by Angel
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wavers, and people are despicable...
Playdate has a circle of unlikable people. They each seem selfish, and driven by their sexual desires: each act upon their carnal wants like a teenager. Read more
Published on April 27, 2011 by E. K. Bolin
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sounds campy and fun but doesn't deliver
I wanted to like this book. The description sounded interesting, funny and fun; a campy look at the drama of the 'burbs set against the background of the Santa Ana's and resulting... Read more
Published on April 14, 2011 by Jennifer S. Guise
1.0 out of 5 stars
Amazingly horrible
The story sounded interesting enough. I am from California and this author milked every single description or cliche about California and did it repetitively. Read more
Published on April 11, 2011 by Beatrice
5.0 out of 5 stars
The more I think about this book, the more I like it....
I thought the characters were relatable and I was still thinking about them, and their situations, long after I turned the last page. Read more
Published on April 10, 2011 by Jacey
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