Sweet Life [Paperback]

Mia King (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 2, 2008

What if you got away from it all?and then it all got away from you?

When her husband gets a new job, Marissa Price leaves the island of Manhattan for the island of Hawaii. Paradise seems like the perfect place to find herself, save her marriage, and reconnect with her daughter. But Marissa discovers her new life is less about beaches and beautiful sunsets and more about cows and lava flows. Their new ?home? is a fixer-upper. But what most needs fixing?her marriage? is the first thing to crumble when her husband announces he wants time apart to find himself. Pulled in opposite directions, Marissa is faced with the most important decision of her life?a choice that will define who she is, what she wants, and where her happiness lies.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Marissa and Paul Price are living the fast-paced life in Manhattan. They have prestigious jobs, and their eight-year-old daughter, Pansy, has a nanny and is enrolled in the right school. When Paul is offered a management position at a resort on Hawaii’s Big Island, they decide to move to paradise, but it is not what they expect. For the first time, Marissa becomes a stay-at-home mom in a house that unexpectedly turns out to be a fixer-upper. Paul absolutely loves his new life, while Marissa is miserable. The cracks in their marriage widen, and when Paul tells her that he needs time away from her negativity, Marissa suspects another woman. Supporting two homes creates financial hardship, so Marissa takes in female tenants and starts repairing the house, intending to sell it and return to New York. But then she starts bonding with her roommates and the island. A truly delightful read by the author of Good Things (2007) that highlights the nontourist Hawaii and incorporates King’s trademark recipes. --Patty Engelmann

Review

This is a breezy read, perfect for a "stay-cation" at home if you are dreaming of a Hawaiian vacation this year. King captures the atmosphere of the island beautifully. She infuses relaxing descriptions of island life-relaxed clothes, tropical flowers, the terrain, and local cuisine-to balance out the Price family drama. There are even some bonus Hawaiian recipes in the back of the book, perfect for cooking up your own Hawaiian experience without the travel costs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Books; First Edition edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425221679
• ISBN-13: 978-0425221679
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mia King is the national bestselling author of the novels GOOD THINGS, SWEET LIFE, and TABLE MANNERS. Her books have been printed internationally and are selections of the Doubleday, Literary Guild, Rhapsody and Book of the Month book clubs. She also writes under the name Darien Gee. Mia lives and writes from the Big Island of Hawaii.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Sweet November 19, 2008

By Sarah A. Buki

Format:Paperback

I won this book online and am so glad I did. I loved it. I have never been to Hawaii but I would love to go. The story was well written and drew me right in. It was definatly worth my time and I did have a hard time putting it down!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Life November 7, 2008

By J. Jordan

Format:Paperback

Wow! Mia King did it again! She challenges her readers in a light hearted way yet her point comes across loud and clear. She says,"Grow up girls, and while you're at it - GET A LIFE!"...or should we say SWEET LIFE? If you are looking for inspiration with island flavor, this is the book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really wonderful book December 2, 2009

By K. P. Brown

Format:Paperback

I am not typically a woman's book reader. I am a woman who generally reads sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller and some random genres here and there. I had come upon this book at the library on the recommended shelf and found a treasure. The night I started it, I stayed up until 2am ("Just one more chapter and then I'll go to bed") and accidentally took too long of a lunch the next day. I finished it the next night and I absolutely loved it.
It's a sweet little story with great characters. You get interested in their lives right away and just have to know what happens. The main women are all so their own characters and you love them for all of it. The characters have integrity, morals and show that to be a good woman's book, you don't have to have steamy sex scenes but instead can focus on what most women want - a happy, healthy life and family. The struggle to make this happen and realizing when we've lost touch and are blind to it.
I really appreciated this book and it came along at a great time when I'm trying to reflect on and improve my own life. I wrote the author and told her how much I enjoyed it and got a very nice email in return. I'll be picking up her other books this evening and will have likely devoured them by this weekend.