Customer Reviews

Romantic Fiction

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

 

 

A lighthearted read! This book is great for one of those relaxing no-thinking days. The characters are refreshing and although at times the storyline is unlikely, it is entertaining to read. If you like rich characters, then you will enjoy this book. As for the comparison of being like the television show "friends" I can see some resemblance, in the sense of absolutely ridiculous situations that the characters seem to put themselves in. Enjoy and I would read another book from this author.

I LOVED this story. Didn't want it to end.

There were a few problems with the writing, which kept it from being 5 stars, but the story and the voice were great.

Romantic Fiction is set in Melbourne, Australia, which is unusual. The blurb on the front compares it to the TV show Friends, but in my opinion, the characters in the show were much more self-absorbed and shallow than these characters.

Just a warning--there's blatant promiscuity in this one.

It's mostly about a group of friends: Lucy, Meg, Chloe, Tom, who's Lucy's on-again-off-again boyfriend, but always best friend, and Percy, who fell head-over-heels with Meg and just sort of stuck around.

This book wasn't the best in bunch but it was enjoyable.
Some parts had me cracking up =), while others left me wanting to put the book down.
It was like that the whole way through. It would get good then it would get boring and I'd stop.

On the cover, Julia London is quoted as saying, "If you love Friends, you will love Romantic Fiction." I never really cared for Friends and saw less than a handful of episodes. But I found this book amusing. In fact, I laughed so hard at one point, that others began to wonder about my sanity.

That does not mean this is a perfect book. It is sometimes repetitive or slow, and there are several times that the reader isn't crazy about the characters. Though bordering on stereotypical, the characters work together to present an amusing group. Moreoever, they still come across as real, flawed people -- in this case, adults who haven't quite grown up yet, but mature during the course of the story. The story is more about friendships than about romantic love, but it does deal with the issue of fantasy versus reality. Tom will never be the "romantic fiction" hero that Lucy dreams of, but he loves her, quirky, emotional, and high maintenance though she is. But as they each recognize their flaws and seek to be more mature and understanding with each other, true love emerges.

If you're looking for a highly romantic story, look elsewhere. If a quirky group of friends, just shy of questionable mental stability, who really care about each other despite their differences, and a strange but somehow honest romantic relationship sound interesting -- despite the occasional playful sleeziness -- then give this one a try. It might be that something different you're looking for. I'm giving it 4 stars to indicate the between 3 & 4 nature of the book and the review.

Solicitor Chloe cannot say no to anyone even hiring Ariel the intern who cannot spell her own name though her boss did not give her much choice Her friend Lucy sees the world through pink colored glasses which impacts her on and off relationship with Tom. He in turn loves Lucy, but loves being single much more. Rounding out the quintet are neighborhood fighter Meg and gentle caring Percy. These five are best friends with Lucy and Tom also having been lovers and sharing at least seven exclusive but short run relationships; the other trio knows they belong together forever if Tom would stop sniffing at other women.

Chloe enlists Percy to assist her with helping Meg with a relationship. He follows that up with an effort to bring Tom and Lucy back together, but she without the pink glasses so she can know he is the one and he without chasing other skirts as she is the one. Meanwhile Percy likes Chloe, but is shy about how he feels so she enlists help from her girlfriends as she finds his reticence quite attractive.

Though obviously a Friends chick lit imitation, ROMANTIC FICTION is a madcap contemporary tale starring five distinct likable protagonists. The relationships, friendship and loving, are fun to follow as each intrudes in the lives of the others trying to support and help their buddies. Secondary characters enhance the overall craziness of the quintet interrelationships by further turning the tale into a Friends-lite.

Harriet Klausner