Customer Reviews

Seven Year Switch

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Claire Cook has crafted another winner. With her trademark wit and tenderness, she sweeps us into the topsy-turvy life of Jill Murray, a feisty single mom trying to stitch together a future after she and her little girl, Anastasia, are abandoned by her husband. SEVEN YEAR SWITCH explores love, loss, anger, recovery, and the surprising events that healed the hearts of a young mother and her daughter.

The characters are fully developed, and each has endearing quirks, fobiles, and very real (sometimes delightfully convoluted) emotions. From page one to the end, I cheered for Jill the entire way.

As a journalist I'm lucky to get advance copies of books, and always look forward to getting Claire Cook's newest tome. I receive and read a lot of books, but I have to say "Seven Year Switch" was one of the few of late I hadn't been able to wait to get to every night when I crawled into bed. I have very much enjoyed all of Cook's books, but there was a level of depth and realism in this story of single mom, Jill, that pulled me in from page one. Of course there was the humor Cook is known for, but Jill's life isn't easy, and we get to experience the tough choices she has to make right along with her. Claire Cook has the talent to move a reader while also making them laugh. Folks who already fans of Cook's will love it, and I think this one may herald in lots of new readers as well.

I started reading and never stopped till I was finished. I simply couldn't put this book down. The characters are thoroughly convincing and the story zipped along. Lots of laughs, but also great food for thought. Jill was my favorite character, but I thought her daughter Anastasia was well drawn, and her neighbor Cynthia was a hoot and oh, so recognizable. Loved Joni and also loved that none of the characters was black and white. I am a Claire Cook fan and respect that she never lets her readers down but works hard and keeps getting better. Don't miss this one.

Jill Murray has it all figured out. A single mom with a spunky 10-year-old daughter named Anastasia, Jill does her very best to keep her head above water. Having been abandoned by her carefree husband seven years ago, she has learned the hard way how to survive without child support or assistance from loved ones. Despite her unfortunate circumstances, her home is filled with laughter and love.

Making ends meet has been a struggle for Jill; however, her latest endeavors seem to be working. Juggling part-time jobs as a travel agent as well as a cooking instructor at the community college, Jill is able to pay the bills. And best of all, the very sexy Billy Sanders hires her for some consultant work on the side. Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure? As far as Jill is concerned, she is willing to try.

Just when it seems life is as perfect as it can possibly be, her runaway groom Seth shows up expecting to pick up right where he left off. Of course, Anastasia, who is starving for his attention and love, welcomes him with open arms despite Jill's reluctance. In the back of her mind, Anastasia envisions her broken home becoming whole once again. If only she can convince Jill that Seth is here to stay.

Fighting him tooth and nail, Jill puts on her armor as she prepares for the most extreme marital battle of her life. What gives him the right to decide whether they can be a family again? And more importantly, how dare he assume that she still holds a place for him in her heart?

SEVEN YEAR SWITCH is the seventh book by the highly popular bestselling author Claire Cook. As sure as the summer breezes will descend upon the shores, Claire Cook delivers yet another charming and delightful story that will capture her readers' hearts. Funny, engaging, and downright delectable, SEVEN YEAR SWITCH is this summer's must-read.

If you like to read books that make you forget what else is happening, buy this book! The Author isn't a single mom, but she sure seems to have walked in those shoes. Everyone deserves happiness and true love-but what exactly is true love? Claire Cook takes the reader on a delightful ride through the imperfections of life on the way to find out if true love is real. Seven Year Switch is an open door invitation to be refreshed by warm,true to life characters and the sweetness of a lovely story, well written. You will be sorry if you miss this book on the beach this summer!

SEVEN YEAR SWITCH is instantly absorbing, absolutely endearing, and has characters who feel like real people. Jill is smart, kind, creative, and has a dry sense of humor. I absolutely loved her. The conversations between Jill and her neighbor had me laughing out loud, and I identified with her moments of insecurity and doubt. I love the way Jill works to do what's best for Anastasia, even when it's hard for her, and I love the way she's honest about her struggles. Because Jill has such a strong interest in other cultures, there are fun facts scattered throughout, and the multi-cultural cooking class she teaches provides for some rich scenes with colorful characters. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down, and the characters have really stuck with me. It was the perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon. SEVEN YEAR SWITCH is one of the rare books I plan to read again.

I became a fan of Claire Cook a few years ago when a friend of mine told me I had to read "Life's a Beach" because one of the characters reminded her of me. I have since read every one of her books and, in each one, I can connect virtually every character to someone I know. And so it is with "Seven Year Switch." I can easily relate to each character in her story, and I think this is one of the factors that makes this, and all of Claire's books, such delightful reads. We all know that single mom trying to raise an exceedingly precocious pre-adolescent child. There's a Cynthia in everyone's neighborhood. We've all worked for, or hope to work for, someone like Joni. Claire's stories highlight her female characters as they come to terms with their strengths and weakenesses. Following their stories of personal growth as their lives intertwine is such a pleasure. Each of her stories leaves me determined to try something new..."Life's a Beach" got me reinspired to make my own jewelry. "Wildwater Walking Club" had me ready to put on my sneakers and go plant some lavender in my garden. And "Seven Year Switch" has me dying for an international cooking class to join, if only to meet a cast of characters such as those in the book! This is the tale of Jill's personal journey towards inner strength and independence told with humor, poignance, and such insight that you will find yourself feeling as though you personally know each and every character in the book by the time you're finished. The theme of "reinvention" is one that carries through each of Claire's books, and it is fascinating to see how Jill deals with what life throws in her path while on that journey. If you want the perfect book to tuck in your beach tote while on vacation, or to make a plane trip cross-country pass more enjoyably, make sure you grab a copy of "Seven Year Switch"!

Full of humor, this quirky novel by Claire Cook was my first one by her. She writes with style that instantly draws you in, taking you on a whirlwind, witty ride through out and by the end, you've laughed out loud so much your cheeks hurt....or at least I did! But, I must warn you this: I went into this book knowing it wasn't a Christian book, so I wasn't displeased with the mild use of language, however, if you don't like even mild language then you may not want to give this book a try. BUT, that being said, if you read contemporary novels of all genres, then this one is one you won't want to miss!

I really could relate with Jill. She's a single mom(like me!) determined to make the best of things (like me!), but all that goes haywire when her ex shows back up (not like me!) AND she meets a man she feels totally unworthy of (ummmm...!). Between the ex, the good looking new guy, Jill and her "Lunch Around the World Class" (oh and lets not forget Jill's "let's play dumb even though I'm not dumb" witty best friend, Cynthia), Cook has the humor flowing in this novel. Being a single mom myself, Jill's story really had me looking at my long ago single-parenthood and man-free-lifestyle decision in a whole new laugh-out-loud way!

So, despite the mild use of language, I still recommend this book with 4 stars. You'll laugh, drop your jaw, and maybe even cry a little, when you enter the "Lunch Around the World" world of Jill and her no-man seven year switch!

I just put Seven Year Switch down to write this review, and trust me that wasn't easy to do. I LOVE IT! My daughter is a single mom with a young daughter and I picture them on every page. It is so easy to visualize each character. I can see this story on the big screen. Jill's maternal feelings jump out of the book, along with her daughter's whimsical & precocious personality. This book is fun, romantic, and graps at my heart. I strongly suggest that you buy this book and enjoy it too.

After 7 years MIA, Jill's husband comes back and wants to pick up where they left off. Meanwhile, she's met a new guy and suddenly has men to pick from when before she was a single working mom.
I wanted to love the book - I liked the travel aspect and the cooking classes she taught and the sudden reappearance of Jill's husband, Seth and her relationship with nutty neighbor Cynthia.
Where the book fell short, though, in my opinion, was how soon after leaving both men behind she had an epiphany of which one to pick. Two chapters - and one of the men showing up in Costa Rica - was a little sudden after all the buildup.
The book was a fast read but a few more chapters developing the characters in the beginning where we could see a little more of why Seth bailed on his wife and child in the first place, as well as a few more tagged on at the end where we could have seen more of Jill's thought process behind her decision, would have helped this book resonate with me.