Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book) [Kindle Edition]

Donna Kauffman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

At twenty-eight, elementary-school teacher Lucy Harper still feels more like a wallflower than the sex goddess she knows is trapped inside her. In fact, she can barely remember the last time she actually had sex. She claims she’s content with her life, but she doesn’t even realize she’s slipping into a coma–a sex coma, that is. Until It arrives: the invitation to her ten-year high school reunion.

Lucy’s childhood pals Jana and Grady are baffled by her decision to attend. But they’ve managed to put geek-hood behind them. This may be Lucy’s last chance to lose her loser reputation and knock her ex-classmates’ socks off–thanks to the modern-day fairy godmothers at Glass Slipper, Inc. For a not-so-small fee, they promise to bring out the princess in any woman. If only Lucy’s friends were more supportive, especially Grady. After all, he loves her like a sister. Doesn’t he?

Soon Lucy is under the scrutiny of eccentric self-made diva Vivian dePalma. And the diagnosis is dour: Lucy has slipped into the final stage of Sleeping Beauty Syndrome–meaning her love life is near death. Can Vivian rouse her in time for the reunion? And will a kiss from her teen crush really be enough to awaken her? For Lucy hasn’t quite opened her eyes to one important truth: the soul mate she’s been dreaming of has never left her side.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

About the Author

Once upon a time, Donna Kauffman was born in Washington D.C. Alas, there were no glass slippers in her closet, but fate was kind, and a trustworthy (and totally hot) knight did cross her path. No fool she, Donna didn't need a fairy godmother to point out a good thing when she saw it. Their happily ever after is currently taking place in Virginia.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 468 KB
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 055338306X
• Publisher: Bantam (June 28, 2005)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000FCK8Z0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,607 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

USA Today bestselling and award winning author Donna Kauffman has published over fifty titles, most currently still in worldwide release, with many translated into more than a dozen languages. She has seen her books reviewed in venues ranging from Kirkus to Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and excerpted in magazines, including Cosmopolitan. A previous RITA finalist and DC native, she currently resides just outside the nation's capital in northern Virginia. You can contact her directly through her website at www.donnakauffman.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars just 3, July 10, 2005

By 

Little D (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book) (Paperback)

This is the first book I read by this author.
I found it to be lagging a bit and hard to get into.
I found myself struggling and just wanted to jump to the end so I wouldn't have to read anymore.
Overall it was a cute book and a cute story line. With the 'fairytale' stuff I thought would make it even better, but instead it just frustrated me.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sweet read, July 11, 2005

By 

Stacy ~ "book lover" (Chicago 'burbs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book) (Paperback)

When we first meet our unlikely heroine, Lucy Harper, it is during her pre-teen years. She is trying to survive the daily tortures that consume the life of the not-so-popular crowd, and while facing them bravely, she doesn't always come out successful. Fortunately, her two best friends, Jana and Grady are there to lend moral support.

Shoot ahead to modern times, where Lucy is now facing a bit of a dilemma: her ten-year high school reunion. While a part of her wishes to just ignore it and not go - after all, she's happy with her life - there's that insistent little voice that tells she must, and that fact that her high school crush will be there doesn't hurt. Only this time she's determined to be the belle of the ball.

But there's a slight problem - Lucy is not the belle of anything. Geekhood has followed her into adulthood, and she doesn't know what to do about it, until she hears about a place of wonder called Glass Slipper where any wallflower can release her inner goddess. Against the better judgment of her best friends - both of whom no longer wallow in pariahville alongside her - Lucy makes a date with destiny and bravely faces the trials and tribulations of primping. The outcome is more than she expected, and she is overwhelmed by the enchantress she has turned into. She needs the support of her friends, only Jana has her own issues to deal with, and Grady doesn't seem to like her anymore. Bound and determined to shine, even if she has to do it alone, it's time to face the past and show her former classmates what they overlooked all those years ago.

Most of us can relate to the traumas of high school, and suffering through hopeless crushes on the cutest boy in school who never gave us a second glance. But not all of us were lucky to have a Grady, who loves Lucy no matter what and is sad to see his beloved geek turn into a swan. He is a true diamond in the rough, always there for her and Jana, and while we can understand Lucy's desire to prove something to those who snubbed her in high school, we can't help but wish she'd take her blinders off a lot quicker and see who's been by her side all along. But eventually she does, and what happens is the happy ending we've been holding our breath for - thank God! It is a sweet moment that is finally realized.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great fractured fairy tale!, January 3, 2006

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book) (Paperback)

Self-professed geek Lucy takes a month off to attend "Barbie Boot Camp" to prepare herself for her ten year high school reunion. She is upset when best pals Jana and Grady are not supportive of her endeavor, since her ultimate goal is to capture the attention of hunky Jason Prescott, who humiliated her at her prom. Jana does not want her heart to be broken; Grady does not want his heart broken, as he has nursed a crush on Lucy since they were 16.

When she bumps into Jason at the reunion and shares a dance, drink and lingering kiss, she is suddenly ignored when he talks on about his glory days. Much to her surprise, Grady has shown up at the reunion and attempts to whisk her away, until Jason shows up and she leaves Grady in the dust.

Lucy was a bit too much of a sad sack. While she spent a small fortune to show the A-crowd how great she became, she never wore her name tag and never revealed who she was. But then, she got the high school's version of Prince Charming, as she and Jason continue to see each other despite having nothing in common, much to Grady's disappointment.

With witty dialog and comical situations, Kauffman pulls off another great fractured yet contemporary fairy tale with delightful results.