Customer Reviews

The Solomon Sisters Wise Up (Red Dress Ink Novels)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up yesterday and couldn't put it down until it was done. I do disagree somewhat with a previous reviewer who described this as a "screwball" romp. While there are some humorous elements, this is actually one of the warmest and most realistic chick lit books I've seen so far. The only thing that threw me a bit at first was that the whole book is in first person, and yet there are three main characters, but once I got to know them, it didn't matter. All three stories were touching and enjoyable, and I found myself really rooting for the characters. I also found the subplot with father and his young wife interesting, and thought she did a great job of showing how these three girls get to know each other and discover that their father isn't exactly what they thought.

This is the kind of book to curl up with for the evening, and then loan to all your friends when you're done! I read her first one, See Jane Date, which was cute, but this one is much deeper and overall just much more fun.

I can see why Red Dress Ink chose Melissa Senate's novel to help launch its imprint. See Jane Date was a cause celebre of the chick-lit imprint phenomenon, and Red Dress Ink went uphill from there. Now Ms. Senate is back with her second effort, The Solomon Sisters Wise Up. I am pleased to announce that there isn't a trace of sophomore slump in this memorable effort.

Sisters Sarah, Ally and Zoe are facing the most critical time of their lives. Sarah is pregnant by a man she's dated for two months, Ally has caught her husband cheating, and Zoe hasn't been able to cope with the fact that her father is engaged to her best friend. But the aforementioned dilemmas bring them closer together. Self-discovery and learning experiences are forthcoming...

I've summarized this novel in an incomplete manner, for there are more facets to this wonderful story. I've always loved novels about sisters (Rebecca Wells's Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Jennifer Weiner's In Her Shoes are two of my favorites), and this one is as funny and poignant as it gets. The humor and poignancy are earnest -- you cannot help but love this novel. RDI has scored big again. I highly recommend this memorable gem.

Cotton candy is yummy, fun to eat, and has nothing of value, but it makes you happy. This book is like that - fun to read, but a little cloying and sentimental, with the "everything will turn out all right" message and the newfound true loving sisterhood of the three sisters. It's pretty amusing in places, and utterly annoying in others, especially in the inconsistencies that should have been caught by a copy editor. (Did she have a cheap wedding, or a $40,000 wedding? etc.) It was also annoying that it was entirely written in first person - although there were three narrators (the sisters), they all had practically the same voice and it was easy to get confused as to which sister was "speaking". However, overall, a pink cotton candy tasty read.

This novel truly stands out above the rest when it comes to lighthearted, humorous women's literature. What makes yet another "Chick Lit" book among so many on the shelves a shining star? The reason is simple. The author.

As a single professional woman in my early 30's, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story through the perspective of each of the main characters eyes. The author, Melissa Senate, has a way of capturing the feelings and reactions of these women as they all face a major crisis in their lives which is honest, funny, and all too easy to relate to. Several times I found myself laughing out loud as I came to care about the characters. Some previous reviewers here have called to book "predictable", but it was told in such an entertaining style, in such a lively way, that I found myself anxious to turn every page.

"Solomon Sisters" is a great read for twenty and thirtysomething women, whether married, single, or divorced. The situations and characters are amazingly true to life.

Fabulous book, Ms. Senate has the separate voices of the sisters down. I don't have any sisters, but this book made me wish I did. I love the fresh look at life through three different points of view. Kudos to Ms. Senate!!

I kind of liked the idea of three sisters in crisis living together again at their absent dad's place. I liked the characters and the way they differently related to the issues in their lives. That is, the first half of the book is very entertaining. But then, everything falls into place like a fairy godmother with a magic wand has come through, and the second half is unlikely, with a sickeningly happy happy ending.
And PLEASE hire better proofreaders: too many typos for a published book.

I loved The Solomon Sisters Wise Up by Melissa Senate and could not put the book down. The story, about three sisters, is very emotional and touching, yet very funny at the same time. I highly recommend this novel!!

Pros: I have to give this writer credit for taking on some really controversial topics and somehow managing to make them not so intense (ex. stepmothers who practice favoritism, unattentive fathers, potential deadbeat dads, abortion, pregnancy in singlehood, adultery, commitment phobia, divorce, plastic surgery, etc.) Senate hit on quite a few topics that are happening repeatedly in today's world but brushed under the rug. She picked strong characters to lead the tale in discussing these topics and I stayed interested throughout. I was the most entertained by Zoe's high school friend, but I liked Griffin because he was so realistic in regards to how many men view fatherhood these days. I was relieved with Zoe's decision at the apartment with Griffin; I'd have done the exact same thing if the tables were turned, otherwise it's settling. It was interesting to me how Ally went out with a friend for plastic surgery shots, and the stepmother she hated was doing the same thing. Maybe they hated each other because they'd somehow grown so much alike, but I wish I'd have known what Giselle did that was so terrible. Background stories would've been nice there. These Red Ink books are blowing me with the blonde hair blue eyes emphasizing, but I was pleasantly surprised when somebody overweight and somebody with brown eyes was mentioned. Acid came back to be a jerk and I was tickled by her reactions to the pregnancy article and the dating article. She is a piece of work! My favorite spot in the whole book was when Ally sang to herself the "It's my birthday/I'll have sex if I want to" song. I'm still giggling about that. Once again, Senate's humor has me hooked.

Cons: Not much. I liked the book throughout, even though I still don't understand this blue eye deal.

Melissa Senate does a great job of giving us three women at different points in their lives, yet all joined by the fact that they're sisters (even if one is just a half sister). I liked the three different voices, and even though it could have become confusing, Senate manages to make each character distinct enough that each sister stands on her own. This is a great story about "going home again" and growing up.

Melissa Senate did a sensationl job with this story! I was compelled to keep reading, I couldn't put the book down and couldn't wait to see what the next chapter held. Having four sisters of my own, I grew to relate with all three sisters and it was wonderful how their relationships with one another developed throughout the story. They grew closer as sisters, became best friends and also helped change one another's lives. Thanks for a wonderful book Melissa!