Shoe Addicts Anonymous [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Beth Harbison (Author), Orlagh Cassidy (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2007

Four different women. One common shoe size. And a shared lust for fabulous footwear. In this sparkling novel, the wife of a controlling politician, a debt-ridden eBay addict, an agoraphobic phone sex operator, and a nanny for the family from hell (who barely knows a sole from a heel but who will do anything to get out of the house) meet Tuesday nights to trade shoes, and, in the process, form friendships that will help them each triumph over their problems--from secret pasts to blackmail, bankruptcy, and dating.  Funny, emotional, and powerful, Shoe Addicts Anonymous is the perfect summer listen.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Light and breezy as a pair of summer sandals, this chick lit about four very different women drawn into friendship by their shared love of fine footwear makes for perfect beach listening. Orlagh Cassidy doesn't create actual character voices per se, but she does differentiate her voice to make it clear who is speaking: a cool, confident, well-spoken tone for political wife Helene; a timid, self-deprecating voice for shy Jocelyn; a snappish, demanding tone for Jocelyn's snobbish and unreasonable employer. Cassidy's warm and expressive narration brings out the likability of the characters and will have listeners hooked on their humorous ups and downs.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In this entertaining novel set in Washington, D.C., three very different women are brought together by a shared passion: shoes. They meet once a week to trade Manolos and Maglis, but soon they rely on each other for much more. Lorna, a debt-ridden waitress, founded the group to curb her destructive shopping sprees. Helene, a senator's trophy wife, attends to escape her loveless marriage and the banality of high-society life. Sandra, an overweight phone-sex operator, hopes the group can help cure her agoraphobia. They're joined by Joss, a young nanny, who doesn't care about shoes but needs a place to avoid her demanding boss. The four women become fast friends, trusted advisors, and eventually business partners. Readers will root for these four plucky women. Like the designer shoes that pepper its pages, this book is pleasing and stylish. This frothy confection is sure to fly off the shelves this summer. Aleksandra Kostovski
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427201021
• ISBN-13: 978-1427201027
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,823,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beth Harbison is the New York Times bestselling author of "Shoe Addicts Anonymous", "Hope in a Jar", and more. Her latest book is "Always Something There to Remind Me", a poignant look at first love and the eternal question "what if...?" She currently splits her time between Washington, DC and New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!!, June 12, 2007

By 

Tina "Tina" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Shoe Addicts Anonymous (Hardcover)

After reading the preface of this book I thought "this sounds a little corny - but whatever". I am so glad that I picked it up. While there is lots of talk of shoes (never quite understood the fascination myself) - this book turned out to be a little treasure.

The writing is honest and crisp. The main characters - while all flawed are all likeable and entertaining and there is even a little bit of a "spy" angle (very small, but funny).

The biggest surprise for me was that although it is a chick lit book, this bok was written with warmth and humor and comes across as a sensitive understanding of women and what we go through.

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars marvelous detail!, June 17, 2007

By 

Constance Atkins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shoe Addicts Anonymous (Hardcover)

There are several simultaneous and interesting plots threading through the book and they are all tied up nicely at the end. It's fun!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dull and rather corny, October 6, 2007

By 

Janice (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shoe Addicts Anonymous (Hardcover)

"Shoe Addicts Anonymous" by Beth Harbison centered on the lives of four women - Lorna, Helene, Sandra, and Jocelyn and these four women were part of the "Shoe Addicts Anonymous" support group which was started by Lorna. All four women came from very different backgrounds and professions - Lorna, a waitress in a bar, Helene, the trophy wife of a Senator, Sandra, an agrophobic who was also a phone sex operator, and Jocelyn, a nanny for a difficult rich family. Somehow, the women (with the exception of Jocelyn) had a thing for shoes and this support group was an opportunity for them to swap shoes and also life stories.

The premise of this book was quite corny - especially with very typical characters with very cliche backgrounds that you can find in other chick-lits. There weren't any real solid story line and the characters were not very likeable either. Their sudden bonding with each other was rather quickly and not very belieable. If you are looking for a quick and light read, this may be for you. However, there are definitely better books out there in this genre.