Customer Reviews

Smart Vs. Pretty

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

While reading Smart vs. Pretty, I kept thinking of Alice Hoffman (relationships between women, relationships between women and men, plus a little magick/New Age sensibility thrown in) but the rich descriptives that make Hoffman's books such a treat to read were missing. As the book evolved, I was also reminded of Woody Allen's "Manhattan Murder Mystery" - two ordinary people getting inadvertently involved with a crime and then playing detective on their own. Hijinks ensue.

Nonetheless the book met my expectations...it's a quick, breezy read, engaging in its own way. I read it on the morning bus, on the treadmill even. The girls in question (Frank ("smart") and Amanda ("pretty") get into more scrapes than Bridget Jones in both Fielding books combined, but somehow it's not as convincing or fun. The red herrings required a little too much suspension of disbelief. All this intrigue over...a neighborhood coffee joint? (I know, I know, it was less about coffee and more about prime real estate.) Some of the dialogue was laughable ("Is my touch painful because of your secret love for me?") but I did learn a lot about coffee beans (seriously). Frankel obviously did her research in that area.

I wish the book would have dealt a little less with plot twists and more with the relationship between the two sisters, which was obviously quite complex. Nevertheless, it's definitely appropriate for beach reading, the morning commute, etc.

This book is a quick read with many colorful characters. It's the story of two sisters and their plot to save their coffeehouse from financial ruins. Although the sisters have opposite personalities (hence, smart vs. pretty), they share the common bond of saving the family business and the love of their deceased parents. The sisters are interesting because they are quirky in their own way. I was surprised when the story turned into a murder mystery, but I didn't mind since the story remained focused on the sister relationship.

Unfortuately, as the story progressed, the text became juvenile and wandered off the point. Rather than exploring the sister theme in depth, the writer wasted a lot of ink describing what the characters were wearing. Still, there are many humorous moments in the book, particularly the scenes where the sisters find themselves in trouble with the police, the press, a freeloader, a rival coffeehouse, and a crazy wife. If you read this book, think Judy Bloom meets Mary Higgins Clark and you won't be disappointed.

From start to finish, I thought this was one of the worse books I have ever read! I only endured it until the end to see if it would improve but alas, it didn't. The characters were implausiable and the plot was idiotic. Many of the scenes were unrealistic. For example, what bank allows you to take out $55,000 from it's ATM and then go back for more???? My advice, don't waste your time!

If you are looking for a fun, breezy, easy read . . . this is the book for you! Growing up with two sisters (one older, one younger), I found Frankel's book to be insightful and humorous. There were no indepth realizations or commentaries on the relationship between sisters . . . so if you are looking for something deeper and more meaningful, this is not the book for you. But I loved it -- very fun, humorous, vivid, and entertaining. The banter between the sisters is light-hearted and warm, and their various adventures (which are, of course, not completely realistic . . . but very exciting and interesting! ) are positively page-turning! I finished it quickly (a chapter here and there on the subway each morning) and find myself looking for more books like it. All in all, it is a great read for a vacation, or a plane trip, or a lazy weekend. I highly recommend it.

Take two sisters on the brink of financial tragedy, a few snide remarks about corporate coffeedom (Starbucks, anyone?), a murder mystery and lots and lots of boys and you've got a silly but kind of fun weekend or rainy-day read. Enjoy!

I judged this book by its cover (cute) and bought it on impulse for some light lunchtime reading. On almost every level, I found it pretty awful. The characters were flat, the setting uninteresting, and the plot required a massive suspension of disbelief. I can't understand how any editor could let so many absurd and unbelievable plot elements stay in a book. And the not so cleverly reworked names ("Moonburst" chain coffee store rather than Starbucks, "Bookmakers Monthly" magazine rather than Publisher's Weekly) were indicative of an overall lack of originality. Did like that cover, though.

I picked up this book to read in the library one day when I decided to skip my math class, and found it to be much more interesting than differential equations. At first I thought it'd be another one of those "sisters are your best friends" type of books, which to a girl with only brothers is irritating. I found it to actually be an amusing read, if nothing else. It has a bit of that whole sister relationship deal, along with an decent crime plot, which if you're not a huge mystery fan, is pretty good. It was descriptive to the point where I could visualize being there and watching. Though it's a bit cheesey in parts, its not bad for a quick read-just don't expect literary miracles. Also, the sisters obsession with coffee makes you crave a cup of joe the whole time, and is rather a bizarre part of the plot. Oh, and if you read the magazine Mademoiselle, you'll realize that the author is also a columnist, so that may help you decide whether this kind of thing would interest you.

Does your sister drive you crazy? Is she cute and charismatic? If so, read Smart vs. Pretty.

This book is about coping with sibling rivalry. In an effort to save the family business, the smart and articulate Francesca endures the presence of her annoyingly cute sister Amanda. The sisters compete with each other, which makes the story hilarious.

So, would you rather be smart, or would you rather be pretty? I don't think it matters, but to tell the truth, I'd rather be smart AND pretty. A fun read!

this is one funny, funny book. The two sisters have to battle the evil coffee bar next door, deal with their old sibling issues, and still manage to find time to solve a murder and get dates. Great read, couldn't put it down.

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this book, but was familiar with Frankel's fun articles throughout the years in Mademoiselle. But I can confidently recommend this one. The writing was breezy and hilarious, the characters were interesting and I related to many of the sisterly situations. In fact, I gave my copy to my sister, who's now enjoying as well. Pick up a copy and have some fun. It's not heavy reading, but that's not what I wanted out of it. I just wanted to be entertained and this certainly fit the bill.