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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Huge disappointment, July 6, 2008
This review is from: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Hardcover)
I've recently become addicted to Meg Cabot's adult books, especially the Heather Wells series. I enjoyed the first two Queen of Babble books, although I was sometimes distracted by the thought that Lizzie's personality is only a slight variation on Heather's. Still, I really liked the books. A plucky heroine who always takes tough situations and makes them work in her favor, romance in a foreign location, a young woman struggling to make her dream career come true -- what's not to like? So I was anxiously looking forward to seeing how the love triangle would play out in this book: how could a girl choose between Prince Charming and a guy who's been one of her best friends and staunchest supporters? Simple. You assassinate the character of one of the men. And you have the other two characters indulging in behavior that's not much better. The Lizzie of this book is an indecisive, neurotic mess. One of the guys is largely absent, and when he does appear he's pretty much unrecognizable as the guy from the first two books. The other guy, at least, emerges with his basically charming personality still intact, but some of his choices aren't likeable at all. I hate to say it, but this is the only Cabot book I wish I'd left on the shelf. Even Cabot's always engaging writing style and the comic relief of characters like Gran can't make up for the deficiencies in the three main characters.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
THE PATH TO TRUE LOVE SELDOM RUNS SMOOTH, July 12, 2008
This review is from: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Hardcover)
Meg Cabot, popular author of The Princess Diaries series has crafted a featherweight plot filled with funny, finely drawn characters - suspend belief in rational thought and enjoy, which you surely will. Lizzie Nichols has hit the big time in the Big Apple. After Vogue's editor called her restoration of an ancestral wedding gown "cunning,"and that comment appeared on Page Six the phone at Chez Henri has been ringing incessantly. Everybody who is anybody wants Lizzie to do her wedding gown. Regrettably in the midst of this Henri, yes, the Henri immediately following Chez has a heart attack and it's left to Lizzie to take charge. Taking charge isn't such an easy task when one of your clients is Ava Geck, wealthy daughter of the owner of the Walmart-like stores whose motto is "Get It At Geck's." Ava is one of the funniest characters to ever grace pages. "Grace" is not the word to describe Ava - she's a gum chewing gal who is often seen "on the red carpels of movies in which she is not starring, since she has no actual talent." While her dad is worth billions Ava has a personal worth of more than $300,000,000, and she's engaged to marry a Greek prince. She's currently in NY to do a guest shot on Celebrity Pit Fight, and she wants Lizzie to do her gown. Being involved with Ava sets the stage for a series of laugh out loud scenes. While Lizzie is a whiz in business her romantic life is currently on a fast road to chaos. She is also engaged to a prince, Jean-Luc, aka Luke. It would seem to be what a girl from Ann Arbor Michigan has always dreamed of - her own Prince Charming ready to take her away to France where she will live at Chateau Mirac. Problem is Luke's best friend is Chaz with whom Lizzie has recently shared a bed (only that), and he's the one who makes her heart do flip-flops. Nonetheless, she knows it is Luke she loves or does she? Meg Cabot is a whiz at creating both fun and fantasy. She does it every which way with Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. A caveat: While some readers of the first two books in this series may have wished for further emphasis on original characters, first-time readers will probably find it a romp. - Gail Cooke
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is one wedding you won't want to miss, June 30, 2008
This review is from: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (Hardcover)
As the third romp of Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble series begins, Lizzie Nichols's life is on the upswing (well, except for the little detail of the person she just spent the night with). Thanks to her big but friendly mouth, the wedding shop she works in is suddenly a tremendous success. Then, of course, there's her recent acceptance of a fabulous engagement ring from her prince (he literally is a prince), handsome Luke. She is going to get married and is simply thrilled about finally being a bride herself, after working on the wedding gowns of so many other brides. But back to the man she has spent the night with. It's Chaz, who happens to be not only her best friend's ex but also her fiancé's best friend. In fact, even as Lizzie accepted Luke's ring, the tuxedo-clad, champagne-sodden Chaz snored in her bed. Oops! However, Lizzie is pleased to note that, although there may have been a bit of indiscreet fondling the night before, she is still wearing her Spanx. Chaz is bewildered when Lizzie urges him to depart quickly before Luke returns. He keeps referring to "us," even as Lizzie replies that there is no "us" in spite of the obvious case of Chaz-induced beard burn inflaming Lizzie's face. Lizzie feels terrible about her drunken carousing and is determined to recommit to Luke. However, every time Lizzie contemplates her upcoming wedding, she feels a wee bit queasy instead of anticipatory. She is sure that her wedding nausea stems from all the excitement and/or the Chaz guilt. After all, Luke is her dream husband. He not only has the royal title and the looks, but he is dedicated to helping people in his future career as a doctor. Lizzie is slightly distracted by her new client, gum-chewing celebrity heiress Ava Geck. Ava is engaged to be married to a Greek prince and insists that Lizzie must make her wedding gown for her. Lizzie reluctantly agrees but is also determined to turn Ava (who is frequently photographed without underpants and commonly referred to as a "skanky crack whore") into a decent, underwear-wearing young woman. Meanwhile, Lizzie is shocked to learn that her boss, Jean Henri, is in the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Both Monsieur and Madame Henri will be unable to work in the shop for an indefinite period --- even as the demand for their shop's services increases. Will Lizzie be able to hold down the fort? Lizzie's life nosedives in other ways as well. Her new fiancé seems less interested in pursuing medical school and more interested in working overseas. Lizzie cannot move to France to be with Luke while he works for his uncle. At least it's a temporary job, right? Then there's the confusion she experiences every time she runs into Chaz and his new perfect girlfriend. There's also an unfortunate episode with paparazzi, traceable to Lizzie's admittedly big mouth, which causes her to lose a valued friend. When tragedy strikes, at home and at work, Lizzie makes some difficult choices. QUEEN OF BABBLE GETS HITCHED is the feel-good reading equivalent of a luxurious soak in a fragrant bubble bath with an unending supply of chocolate at hand. Meg Cabot's many fans will treasure yet another good-natured story, complete with her signature humor and irresistible romance. Lizzie is a sympathetic main character with a terrific self-deprecating voice, who triumphs over the rollercoaster plunges of life. Readers will also continue to revel in her supporting cast of friends and family, who are a rambunctious, colorful lot. The various threads of Lizzie's story appear to be resolved by the book's end, giving admirers a worthy conclusion to such an enjoyable trilogy. --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
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