Customer Reviews

Strawberry Mansion: A Philadelphia Story

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Strawberry Mansion by Julia Press-Simmons is a touching novel revolving around the lives of three teenage girls trying to survive their teenage years as best they can. This heartfelt story will take you back to when you were a teen as well as some of the hardships you faced when growing up and not knowing how to ask for help.

Tabitha is a nineteen year-old battered women, who is also a teenage mom and has
nowhere to turn but to the safety of her friends when Eric's rage becomes overbearing. Is there time for Tabitha to see that Eric's' love is one she can do without, or will she become another statistic?

Lisa is a caring and nurturing young lady willing to help everyone but herself. Lisa tries to tell her mother that her step-father is molesting her; but when Mrs. Gloria throws Lisa out and chooses a man over her own child, hurt and rejected Lisa deals with life the only way she knows how, by herself. Lisa only wants her mother's love, but she will have to deal with the fact that her mother does not know how to love herself. Even though her mother puts men first, Lisa and her estranged mother try to settle old wounds, only see if they can forgive and forget.

Shanice is looking for love in all the wrong places, Shanice is fourteen years-old and running wild. Drugs, alcohol, and sex, you name it, she is right there in the middle of the chaos. Scared to confide in her mother, Shanice gives into promiscuity and becomes the school whore. Can Shanices' mom reach her before it is too late?

I recommend this book to readers of all genres, especially our youth today, to let them know that we love them and there is help for them. They are not out there alone.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

Ms. Press-Simmons makes her mark with a storyline centered around three friends that are all plagued with various issues but have one true connection. Their love for one another outweighs all other circumstances.

Tabitha Williams is the eldest of the three but low self esteem ties her to her daughter's father, who's verbally and physically abusive. Lisa Perkins, a high school senior who left home to escape molestation at the hands of a family member, seems to be the strongest of the three. Then there's the baby, 14-year-old Shanice Thomas, who is wild, promiscuous, and foolishly unafraid of the world.

Strawberry Mansion is a tale of struggle that narrates that pain has no discrimination in whom and when it strikes. It was a good storyline, had a good flow, and would have been a much better read if not for the very poor editing job. Julia Press-Simmons has the potential to be a force to be reckoned with. I hope with future projects that she makes a more conscious effort to perfect her novels.

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban Reviews

"Strawberry Mansion" takes you into the lives of three best friends. Tabitha, a teenage mother, is involved in an abusive relationship at the hands of her child's father, Eric. Lisa, whose mother always seems to put her men before her daughter, leaves Lisa feeling unloved. She is the one that seems to hold the group together. Then you have Shanice, the youngest out of the group. She has the reputation at school for being "fast" and is always the one caught up in some drama.

When Lisa is kicked out of the house, Eric hits on Tabitha one too many times, and Shanice gets in over her head, the group pulls together for one another. But the real surprise comes to all of them when it is revealed that there is a secret that will affect each and every one of them.

I felt this story was a fast paced read and keeps your attention. I do think that the ending was a little unbelievable, but all in all I think this was an okay read. I feel as if the story is more geared towards the younger readers because I feel as if there are lessons to be learned from reading this book. So I would definitely recommend this book for younger readers.

Reviewed by: LeonaR

This book was a pager turner. Once I started i did not want to put it down. This author was new to me and I PROMISE ANY BOOK she puts out i will read because i know i will not be disappointed.

I've completed Strawberry Mansion: A Philadelphia Story. I felt countless emotions: endearment, pity, anger and disgust. These young women, Tabitha, Lisa and Shanice, went through hell and at times, victimized by their loved ones. Yet the bond between the three is inspiring.

Their gloomy lives made me think back to my ideal childhood. Unfortunately, life for the three is disturbing. Lisa is frequently molested and Tabitha is beaten by her daughter's trifling father. Then there's Shanice, dealing with her newly "religious" mother and looking for affection in all the wrong places.

By the grace of God, the author has flourished and it's a blessing that she's capable of sharing her story. It's certainly a tale that needs to be told.

Favorite Character(s): Tabitha (although she lived in constant fear, the love she shared with her daughter was heartfelt)

Least Favorite Character(s): Carl Lee (sick bastard)

Favorite Scene: Tabitha smacking the evil out of Lisa's mother, Gloria

Least Favorite Scene: Incident that occurred in Dean Redland's office between Lisa and Carl Lee

Thankfully, a dear friend of mine introduced me to this awesome series.

Final Rating: 5 stars

Tabitha, Lisa and Shanice are the best of friends and have learned to depend on each other during adversity. Tabitha has an abusive boyfriend who always finds a reason to physically abuse her. He uses their young daughter as a pawn to keep her from leaving. Lisa deals with a hurtful past which includes sexual abuse at the hands of her step-father. She is driven to leave their home after her mother not only blames her for his depraved actions, but goes as far as to disown her. Shanice is young, promiscuous and has a lot to learn about life. She lashes out at everyone as a cover for what she really desires. She yearns for the love of her mother who she feels is a church fanatic and no longer genuinely loves her. The three girls lean on each other for support through all of their experiences. Little do they know that their lives are more interwoven than they could have ever imagined.

I applaud how Julia Press Simmons dealt with issues that are prevalent in today's society, such as the various abuses illustrated in the story. `Strawberry Mansion' details how the sexual abuse inflicted on a child can affect their maturation into adulthood. The story also demonstrates the emotional battle that takes a toll on a person in an unhealthy relationship. In addition, it exemplified how one can act out in the wake of feeling rejected by loved ones. This was as great read in spite of the slow start for me. As a result, I look forward to reading other titles by this author!

I really enjoyed this book it was very exciting where I couldn't put it down. If your looking for a drama filled read this is the book to read.

This was a good book with a good plot, however, it had alot of grammatical errors which annoyed me. It is definitely a page turner and keeps you wondering what will happen next, especially concerning Tab. I didn't like the fact that the characters names and ages where getting mixed up like one minute Shanice is sixteen and the next she's 14...like really =/ I also didn't like how the author made Lisa's dialogue seem much older than she actually is..17, right? All in all, the story is definitely a good read aside from all the negative things and I wouldn't mind recommending it to someone.

I honestly just believe that this was an okay read. I was glad when Carl Lee and Gloria got their just due. The book did have a message to it which was a plus and it was also very fast paced. There were some parts of the story that were left open with no real closure or ending. I also felt the end of the book was rushed and left me wondering what was the point.

I absolutely loved this story. the girls were so relateable and went through so much together. I was glad that they all overcame their problems. Tabitha was the character I related to the most because I at one time used to be her. I would recommend this story to anyone because it's a truly heart warming story.