The Smart One and the Pretty One [Paperback]

Claire LaZebnik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2008

"This sparkling novel about two sisters is both witty and stylish. Even if you don't have a sister of your own, you won't be able to resist LaZebnik's charming take on modern relationships. Read it!"
- Holly Peterson, bestselling author of The Manny

When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document.
Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is . . . (2008)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the winning latest from Knitting Under the Influence author LaZebnik, sisters Ava and Lauren Nickerson look a lot alike, but hyperpractical attorney Ava, 29, wears dowdy clothes and holds men at arm's length, while flashy, debt-ridden boutique owner Lauren, a few years younger, goes for the quick romantic fix. Drawn together in L.A. by their mother's illness, they determine to straighten each other out. Soon Ava ropes Lauren onto a budget, while Lauren, having uncovered a playful contract in which their parents jokingly betrothed Ava at age eight to a neighbor's young son, decides to find out if the grown-up two—who are strangers—might indeed make a match. The fact that fiancé-designate Russell Markowitz proves to be twice-divorced presents no obstacle to Lauren, especially after she learns that he works in the clothing industry and might be of assistance in making over Ava. Despite the lightweight premise, moments of real depth combine with witty dialogue as LaZebnik deftly spins each turn convincingly to avoid easy answers. (Sept.) ""
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

From Booklist

Ava is the smart sister, an L.A. lawyer who hasn’t dated in years. Lauren is the pretty sister, an unemployed New York stylist buried in debt. Lauren returns to L.A. when their mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. Between chauffeuring her to chemo appointments, Lauren finds an old “contract” betrothing Ava to Russell, the son of family friends, and decides a reunion is in order. Though Ava finds herself uncharacteristically falling for Russell, she can’t believe a man would choose her over her glamorous sister. She nearly lets her skepticism ruin her shot at love until Lauren meddles again. LaZebnik, author of Knitting under the Influence (2006), writes a funny and endearing novel that truly captures the devotion and rivalry between sisters. Whether they relate to the smart one or the pretty one (or both), readers will find this book irresistible. --Aleksandra Walker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: 5 Spot (September 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446582069
• ISBN-13: 978-0446582063
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My first YA novel is out! It's called EPIC FAIL and it's loosely based on Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. And FAMILIES AND OTHER NONRETURNABLE GIFTS is coming out in September from Hachette Books.

Meanwhile, come visit me on my Facebook page Claire LaZebnik Writes--we have book giveaway contests and silly conversations about anything and everything--and if you need a laugh, watch this animated video I made with my husband about book clubs.

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7560829/

Cheers!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring and irritating, November 25, 2009

By 

Rebecca - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smart One and the Pretty One (Paperback)

I couldn't even finish it. I got about halfway through and it was a struggle to get that far. The "pretty one" is a lowlife who mooches off her cancer-ridden parents and sister even though she's in her late 20s. The turning point for me was when she screws the guy who's been rude and disrespectful to her and barely even bought her dinner. All while her sister was in the other room listening to the whole thing and stated she was "proud of her" for using a condom?? Who would be proud of that sister? The whole thing was a twisted and made me feel oogy and irritated at a woman my age for being so cheap and easy. Aside from all that, the author is not a very good writer and struggles to maintain a plot, much less make it funny at any point. I returned the book to Target.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY FUNNY AND THOUGHTFUL READ..., March 16, 2010

By 

Laurel-Rain Snow "Rain" "Rainy Days" (Fresno, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Smart One and the Pretty One (Paperback)

Two sisters, living widely disparate lives, come together to support their mother through a medical crisis. Lauren Nickerson, living beyond her means in New York, is the "pretty" one--fashion conscious, obsessed with new clothes, she is on the verge of financial disaster. She flies home to LA to help out while their mother goes through chemotherapy. Smart Ava Nickerson is a lawyer, very conscious of making good financial choices, she hardly ever thinks about fashion, and already lives close to home and has been the conscientious "good" daughter.

When they first meet up in this family crisis, Lauren is worried about her finances and hopes to borrow money from Ava; Ava's response is to hook her up with a credit counselor, and firmly suggests that she not make any purchases except necessities. Frustrated, Lauren vows to get "revenge." So when she discovers an old "contract" between two mothers that "betroths" Ava and the neighbor's son Russell Markowitz, she sets out to stir things up a bit.

What could have been a clichéd story about sibling rivalry and conflict, turns, instead, into a clever, funny, and quite compelling read about how we perceive ourselves as opposed to how others see us, and how sometimes the "right" choices are not necessarily the best ones.

The Smart One and the Pretty One was a quick and completely page-turning story that I thoroughly enjoyed, thus earning five stars from me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Charming Story About Two Sisters - 3/3.5, April 15, 2009

By 

Chantay W. "BookLover4Life" (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Smart One and the Pretty One (Paperback)

APOOO Rating: 3.5

In The Smart One and the Pretty One, we meet Ava and Lauren Nickerson, two sisters who are completely different from one another. Ava is highly considered the intelligent sister who has her career in order but her personal life, relationship-wise, is pretty dull. Lauren is the free-spirited and beautiful sister who is a shop-a-holic, in a world of debt and never has a problem getting a man.

With the family going through a crisis, Lauren decides to move back to her home state in show of support. While home, she finds a contract created by her parents marrying off Ava to a neighboring family's son, Russell Markowitz. Of course, Lauren being the free-spirited sister decides to do some "matchmaking" with her sister and the long lost neighbor, Russell Markowitz.

Author Claire LaZebnik has written a wonderful story that focuses on the lives of two sisters who love each other dearly but who have their own personal flaws. This is a lovely book that keeps the reader's attention all the while adding in a few laughs here and there. The Smart One and the Pretty One is highly recommended to those looking for a quick and memorable weekend read and who enjoy chick-lit reads.

Reviewed by Chantay W.
APOOO BookClub