Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 [Paperback]

Kelley St. John (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

One of romance's hot new writers, Kelley St. John gives us a steamy contemporary in the vein of Lori Foster about a larger than life woman who's finally decides to take a leap into the wild side

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In St. John's sexy contemporary, staid size 10 Clarise Robinson, top salesperson at Eubanks Elegant Apparel, is determined to use the company retreat to go after her secret love, best friend and boss, Ethan Eubanks. Self-consciousness has kept her from pursuing him in earnest, but as Clarise turns 30, she decides it's "high time she at least tried to locate her wild side," and the office trip is the perfect opportunity: Tampa, Fla.'s Gasparilla Pirate Festival (think Mardi Gras on peg legs). With a new, body-hugging wardrobe and a sexual to-do list, Clarise decamps to Tampa, and while she drunkenly flashes her "Robinson Treasures" for trinkets, Ethan discovers his feelings for her are quite different outside the office. Amid plentiful and inventive sex, though, those old inhibitions take hold of Clarise and Ethan, who can't quite come clean about their sticky feelings. The hot fun is occasionally dampened by some distracting purple dialogue, and hobbled by a too-long ending. Still, this is steamy reading that should appeal to those in the Sex and the City crowd who aren't getting their fill from standard chick lit. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Pleasingly plump sales clerk Clarise Robinson is turning 30, and she's decided that it's time to set her wild side free. This includes doing something about her secret crush on Ethan Eubanks, co-owner of Eubanks Elegant apparel, the upscale clothing store where she works. Ethan is Clarise's best friend and shows no inclination to move their relationship to a romantic level. Clarise also intends to go to the raucous, rowdy Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Tampa's version of the Mardi Gras, for the first time, where she's promised herself she'll let her inhibitions go, maybe earning a few strings of beads by flashing her finest assets. St. John (Good Girls Don't, 2005) continues to show her flair for comedic timing and dialogue in her latest chick-lit romp. Readers who enjoyed Meg Cabot's curvy, spunky heroine, Heather Wells, in Size 12 Is Not Fat (2006) will also cheer for St. John's plus-sized, spirited, newly confident femme fatale. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Forever; large type edition edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446617210
• ISBN-13: 978-0446617215
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some moments of wonderful wit...., December 18, 2006

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 (Paperback)

Clarise Robinson believes in making lists- and this year's list includes becoming more than just friends with her sexy boss, Ethan Eubanks, at Eubanks Elegant Apparel. Clarise has always forgone the corporate bonding experience held yearly in Tampa, Florida, during Gasparilla but this year's she's going to let out her wild side. Will Ethan be able to see beyond their friendship to the sexy woman Clarise truly is?

REAL WOMEN DON'T WEAR SIZE 2 offers a welcome change from the focus on the "heroin chic" look of fashion models. Clarise has some insecurities about her figure and considers herself "fluffy". The reader will cheer as Clarise comes out of her shell and recognizes that her curvy, voluptuous figure is beautiful. The surprising twist at the end is phenomenal and showcases the writing talent of Kelley St. John.

Unfortunately, REAL WOMEN DON'T WEAR SIZE 2 appears overly long. The checklist of places to have sex at Gasparilla- and the exploration of each and every item on that list- causes the book to drag a bit in the middle. While Kelley St. John firmly convinces the reader of the attraction between Ethan and Clarise, the middle of the book slows down the flow and loses the wonderful wit displayed elsewhere in REAL WOMEN DON'T WEAR SIZE 2.

Readers who enjoy heroines who aren't the perfect size 2 will relish reading about Clarise and her awakening to her own beauty. Kelley St. John is obviously familiar with the Gasparilla festivities in Tampa and does an excellent job at making this yearly festival come alive to readers. REAL WOMEN DON'T WEAR SIZE 2 will definitely appeal to some readers as Clarise is a different type of heroine. Kudos to Kelley St. John for daring to emphasize the beauty of a woman who isn't the perfect size 2.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Women Don't Wear Size 2, March 12, 2007

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 (Paperback)

Clarise Robinson has the hots for her boss Ethan Eubanks. Ethan is her best friend, but she wants him to see her as a woman. Clarise is determined to get him to notice her.

Ethan notices Clarise alright, but he worries about losing their great friendship if he takes things to the next level. On the corporate bonding trip in Gasparilla, Clarise had plans to finally fulfill her fantasies with Ethan, but it turns out he's not going. When Ethan's plans change, Clarise gets everything she wants and more, until she discovers the secret Ethan has been hiding and it nearly breaks her heart.

Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 is a fun, flirty and romantic story that had me bouncing with anticipation for Ethan and Clarise to get together. Clarise is fun and adventurous. Ethan is handsome, sexy, and an all around great guy. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and change. The ending threw me for a loop after all of the bliss that came before. it but everything works out as it should. Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 is a delightful, funny, and sensual story.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If your a Sex & the City fan, you'll love this book!, September 13, 2006

By 

M. Espinoza (AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 (Paperback)

This book was great! A true laugh-out-loud comedy! The author not only caught that most curvy woman have many insecurities, but she also pointed out that all woman whatever the shape are beautiful and should be confident & proud of all of their accomplishments big or small. From the minute I opened this book I couldn't put it down. I will definitely recommend this book to all of the wonderful women in my life! Single or married, this is a book to laugh about during those fun lunches with the girls!