Customer Reviews

Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Her memory of school was being too tall and too clumsy for any of the boys to desire her. This twenty-eight years old elementary school teacher and still wallflower Lucy Harper has doubts about the ten year anniversary reunion yet would like to show up as a sex goddess especially to knock over her high school unrequited crush Jason Prescott. Lucy hires the fairy godmothers of Glass Slippers to turn her into a beautiful desirable princess.

They succeed beyond her wildest dream and Jason is all over her seeking more than just a kiss. However, Grady Mathews who liked the old Lucy back in high school, but was to shy and too short to do anything about his feelings is unhappy with her change and with Grady sniffing at his beloved's heels. He wants his former less glamorous Lucy back to show her that love is where it at not some shallow relationship with the hunk.

Though the plot of a high school outsider coming back as the queen of the reunion has been told often, Donna Kauffman refreshes the theme with her fairy tale SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY. The key to the novel is actually Grady who brings the brisk newness to the story line by his having the same feelings for Lucy that she has for Jason. However, he wants the real Lucy not the pumpkin at the ball who Jason desires. Though Jason comes across shallow next to a real man like Grady, readers will enjoy the latest fairy godmothers' delightful makeover.

Harriet Klausner

After the Cinderella Rules and Dear Prince Charming, I knew I definitely had to get my hands on Sleeping with Beauty. I imagined another fascinating and funny story. Unfortunately, it just annoyed me.
The book is not a short one, but even with so many pages, it doesn't justify the fact that about 90 percent of it was romance free. The hero was a constant no-show, the romance lasted like for a 5 seconds and don't even get me started on the heroine. A silly, hallucinating teenager - that's my opinion on Lucy. Though actually, even that is being discreet.

It irks me to read about the constantly whiny girl because she can't walk in high heels, her hair is a mess, glasses give her a nerdy look, her nails are awful, clothes lack fashion etc, etc, etc. And I am so past the stage of eye-rolling. It's more like I want to shake or smack her and yell.

Neither of us were born in high heels or manicured fingers. Practice is what makes it perfect, not whining. Women look good because they invest time and effort in their hair, nails and clothes. Of course, some have more natural appeal than others, but that is barely the reason to neglect yourself. Whining certainly doesn't help.
I mean is it so difficult to ditch glasses and use contacts, or even buy more stylish ones? Go to the hairdresser? Read a magazine about a fashion or observe others? It could be difficult when you are a teenager, but for a grown woman?

My opinion is that if you are not happy with yourself, try changing it and not whining. It won't improve because of some divine intervention. And if you finally, finally decided to do something, shut up, stop whining and listen. After all that why you are here, are you not?

That's why Lucy's constant blabbering simply grated at me. I mean I understand that confidence doesn't appear magically, but in Lucy's case it is simply ridiculous. There probably was not a one line that proved her adult. She was like a child crying about injustice of her being not attractive. Though nobody forced her to wear granny underwear.

I simply can't believe that a grown woman can't do even a fraction of what professionals can manage in two weeks. Plus, she was protesting every step of the way, you'd think she was bound, gagged and dropped at the torture chamber.

That is my irritation spilled right there. And just a small part of what I felt while reading.
Lucy was just a twit who knew no limits for her hallucinations. Was actually living in them.
I couldn't believe how quickly she jumped on Grady. It didn't scream love in any way or form. It seemed she was sexually frustrated for far too long and just seized the opportunity. For twenty years he was like a brother to her, and suddenly, she wants to get naked. Yeah... Believable. Not.

Ive read a few books from the Glass Slipper Inc series and this one is my favorite. I liked this book the most, because i relate to Lucy's character. She goes from being a dorky, klutzy, frumpy, ugly duckling, and gets inner confidence and a makeover, and becomes a swan. Her best friends are awesome and Grady sounds so sweet. You feel so bad for him, because he lives with his love for Lucy till the end of the story, bc he's afraid she only likes a certain type guy. Her relationship with her friends is also and endearing part of the story.

While parts of this book were mildly entertaining (especially the stuff about the makeover and the recounting of Lucy's school days), other parts made me quite annoyed!!

Warning: Spoiler ahead...

So she starts dating Jason, the former prom king, and things aren't going the way she wanted them to... he's basically using her as arm candy and is really uninterested in getting to know her (or even going to bed with her). Alright, so he is emotionally repressed or whatever, and she finds out he's seeing other women. Considering the fact that they did not have an exclusivity agreement, as Jason points out, I don't really see the issue here. She gets angry with him... and punches him in the nose (breaking it).

I know we are supposed to cheer for her getting together with Grady (I'll get to him in a minute). But come on. It was absolutely 100% unnecessary for her to break Jason's nose. First of all, violence is wrong, even when it's woman-on-man (which, to my perpetual annoyance, is often considered okay and even AMUSING). Jason didn't do anything wrong, other than not fall head-over-heels in love with her! And yes, he rejected her in high school, but really... she shouldn't have asked the prom king for a dance without expecting a little humiliation!

I'm sorry, but I do not like Lucy Harper at all. She's unrealistically naive. If she were a real person that I knew, I would never want to hang out with her because she's so bloody annoying. Not to mention clueless. She let Jason use her as arm candy, knowing that he wasn't exactly in love with her (or at least she should have known). And then being clueless about Grady's feelings for her... puke.

I know this story is supposed to appeal to people who were "geeks" or "rejects" in high school. But get over it, I'm sorry. Just because a guy was popular does not mean he's a total jerk. Or that he deserves to have his nose broken!!

NOW: as for Grady... what a total tool. He's in love with Lucy for more than a decade and refuses to act on it? Why, was he thinking she'd never get another date? Yeah, that shows how highly he really thinks of her. And when she starts going out with Jason, Grady doesn't respond by coming out and telling her that he has feelings... no, no. He responds by acting like a sulky baby and refusing to communicate with her for a month. I'm sorry, but Grady is even more annoying than Lucy!

I honestly think she should be charged or something for breaking Jason's nose... that was ridiculous.

Wow! Another keeper from Donna! What person male or female can't relate to being a misfit at some time or another? This is a great story of our heroine getting to know herself, taking charge, and overcoming whatever she sees as her own stortcomings. And let's not forget finding love, great sex, and happily ever after. The best in entertainment and escapism you can find is a book by Donna Kauffman. If you haven't read her yet, I highly suggest you do. You won't be sorry.