Customer Reviews

The Accidental Virgin

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Love the title, and subtitle. I liked Frankel's Smart vs. Pretty; I loved The Accidental Virgin. This is a funny book, full of sex (or almost sex). Let me explain: The story is about a woman, Stacy, who is one week away from the anniversary of the last time she had sex. She reads that being celibate for a whole year makes you a renewed virgin. Stacy is horrified to think she's a sexual zero at age 32, so she sets out to fix her little problem. She has no trouble meeting men (or women). The problems are in the men she meets. Won't say what happens on her dismal dates because Frankel takes great pains to come up with creative and surprising obstacles for Stacy's de-revirginization. Sexual misadventure would be enough for me, but Frankel makes the romantic quest suspenseful. I had to know what happened next. And I was completely satisfied (as it were) by the ending.

I got this book because I read on Page Six of the New York Post that Heather Graham bought the movie rights. I am a huge H.G. fan, and had to read The Accidental Virgin right away to see what she has gotten herself into. I'm relieved to report that she has made an excellent choice, confirming my believe that she is not only gorgeous, but smart, too. The book: deeply amusing. Laugh-out-loud, actually. Sexy, but in a funny way, not purple-prosey like romance novels. Love the New York details, and the description of working for a dot.com startup. The pages nearly turned themselves. It'll be an excellent movie, lots of great cameo casting opportunities. The main character goes on a dozen dates with weirdos; Brad Pitt as the best friend? George Clooney as the Russian doctor? Tom Cruise as the dot.com millionaire? (As if.) I can almost see it.

The Accidental Virgin is a fun, breezy, amusing read--nothing to tax the intellect, but sure to amuse. It is the story of Stacey Temple, a thirty-something singleton who works at thongs.com (you know the novel can't be too serious with a job like that). Stacey figures out that she has gone almost an entire year without sex (and barely noticed!). She becomes obsessed with avoiding becoming an "accidental virgin"--or someone who has gone without for 365 days. She's got a week left and a couple promising candidates, but nothing seems to go right for poor Stacey. This is a funny and very fluffy novel. You can read it in one sitting, and you will enjoy yourself.

One does not pick up a book titled "The Accidental Virgin" and expect it to be squeaky clean, but this book has too much sex. Frankel obviously believes the slogan "sex sells" and she throws in everything she's got in a sort of desperate, overbearing way. There is nothing in this book that isn't about sex. Frankel even gives Stacy a job at a lingerie dotcom in an obvious attempt to keep things racey. How about a little realistic variety?

Because of this, Frankel is unable to focus on anything else long enough to create a decent and believable story. Stacy's quest to end her year-long drought is funny at first but it quickly gets old. The reader can predict the outcome of each new scenario, having just read the exact same set up (only with a different leading man) a few pages earlier. There's no plot variety, no growth, no realistic character arcs. And as others have stated, the ending is completely contrived and gag-inducing. Frankel tells the story in a kind of bored, detached voice, leaving me wondering if even she knew or liked the main character at all. Don't waste your time.

I bought this novel as a part of a "buy two, get one free" deal. It was the cheapest book so I didn't spend a dime on it. However, I do want my wasted time back.

I'm not sure if the reviewers who have given such high ratings have read the same novel I have. This book is not funny. It's not witty. It's not amusing. It is monotonous, boring, and its attempts at humor are painful.

Here are a few examples of the absolute junk this book is dishing out:
- Stacy Temple ("redheaded and pink of cheek"): A reader should feel some affinity for the main character, feel some support for the character's desire to change her life. This character could have died, and I would not have given her a moment's thought. The story might have improved.

- Macintosh computer: Dear Ms. Frankel, in the real business world, people don't use Macs. Graphic designers and visual artists use Macs. The other ninety percent of America uses PCs. I would expect a retail firm's VP of marketing and merchandising who works on revenue projections and business plans would know better. Live it, learn it, write about it in your next book.

- Clothing references: Description of an outfit included a "bias cut leather skirt." Bias cuts come from woven fabrics, not animal skins. Someone so familiar with fashion name-dropping (the "red tote from Prada" and "complicated wrap shirt from Banana Republic") should understand very basic clothing terms. Once again, use it in your next novel.

- A creepy vampire boy who hacks into adult sites "for practice" is scary. No woman in her right mind would find him attractive. Find a better character. It's called imagination.

- For a woman who attempts to sleep with everything, I am amazed at her ability to be shocked, shocked! when other characters show deviant behavior.

- The last chapter is horrible. I won't go into detail, just take my word for it: it's bad.

After finishing the novel, I was amazed that such trash could get into print. The editor and publisher who approved the production of this book should feel ashamed. I mourn the poor trees who sacrificed their lives to bring this work into my life.

The author has written five other fiction novels. Perhaps these other books are better, but I can guarantee I will not purchase a single one. Ms. Frankel, your readers are your customers. Entertain them.

I enjoy a good chick-lit read, but I prefer them witty or amusing. This book is neither. If you are considering purchasing the "Accidental Virgin," don't.

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

It is a VERY RARE event when I start a book and cannot finish it. This book constituted one of those very rare events.

I got halfway through and realized that I would never get back the time that I was wasting waiting for this novel to get good.

I agree that the premise sets out to be light and humorous. But, when Stacey becomes OBSESSED with getting laid (I apologize for being so blunt but, the author did it, so why can't I?) it gets to be too much. You have to ask yourself why sex is SO important to her... The notion that she will become a lesser person for going a year without sex is simply preposterous and once you realize this, you will lose ALL interest in reading the rest of the book.

Don't waste your time!!!

Can you become a virgin again, once you've well --- done it? According to Valerie Frankel's newest novel, "The Accidental Virgin", the answer is ... YES you can. Haven't had sex in a year or more? Boom, you're a virgin again. Frankel (of "Smart vs. Pretty" fame) produces a really funny and smart book with interesting characters, a great plot and wonderful charm.

Without a doubt, this isn't your usual "chick-lit" endeavor. It's better than that. It's really well crafted and well thought out. I think Ms. Frankel is extremely talented and I continue to be charmed by her work.

I loved main character Stacy, and found myself really relating to her and her struggles. She's an everyday gal and would certainly fit in with the ladies I call friends.

A wonderful read --- loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.

As a guy, I know I'm not supposed to like this kinda stuff but my girlfriend had it and I found that Valerie Frankel's prose and dialogue zips along so effortlessly and naturally, you don't just want to know her characters. You want to know her. She's one smart, funny chick. I'm going to read all her books now!

The Accidental Virgin is one of the few chick novels that actually stand out. Frankel's story and dialogue are sharp and crisp. What makes this novel even more likeable is that the situation the heroine faces is quite original.

Having devoted all of her time to thongs.com, an Internet company that sells women's lingerie, Stacy Temple realizes that she hasn't done the deed in almost a year. To her horror, she is told that she will be revirginized if she doesn't shatter her dry spell. So, all she has to do is find someone who's willing to sort her problem out. However, the aforementioned quest isn't as easy as she had hoped...

The twists in the novel are refreshing and intriguing. Also, Frankel's comic timing is precise. I laughed on various occasions. The Accidental Virgin isn't the typical single-girl-looking-for-love-in-the-big-city chick lit -- it is a tour de force with clever misadventures and wicked humor.

If you think this book is a serious tome on relationships between men and women and on love ~~ don't bother to pick this book up. If you are looking for a book that is pure escapism, fun, light, saucy and sexy ~~ this book is it! It is a very fun read ~~ I read it in two hours and had a great time reading it. Frankel's writing style is crisp and clear ~~ and very vivid. It is funny and I am being honest here, I couldn't stop turning the pages from the beginning to the end. It's been awhile since I can say that ~~ and I was fortunate enough to have an understanding husband who let me read this book uninterrupted while he took care of the babies.

Stacy is on a quest. She realized that in just one week, she will have been celibate for a year and not wanting to regain the "virgin" status she had worked so hard to get rid of sixteen years prior, she decided to find a man to break her celibate cycle. And this begins a riotous attempt to beat the end of the year. She works at an internet lingerie company, which was also having problems as well ~~ so in between meetings to save the company and setting off a new design line and meeting men ~~ Stacy's life quickly became a whirlwind. Preoccupied with sex, she bungles every attempt ~~ and it just gets more and more hectic towards the end of the book ~~ and more unpredictable.

Frankel didn't write the typical chick book ~~ where girl bemoans the lack of man, romance/sex in her life and obsessing over her weight and desires to have a family ~~ only to find that true happiness lies in herself all along. Nope. Frankel took a different twist on the single woman's life by allowing Stacy to be obsessed with sex and it was getting to the point where she didn't care ~~ and that's the fun part of this book. Frankel never leads the reader on to believe that this is a typical chick lit ~~ which is refreshing in itself for a change. Everything that can go wrong between a man and woman in that precoital haste ~~ happens in this book.

So, kick back and enjoy a few hours of escapism ~~ don't forget your diet coke or whatever you drink ~~ and just enjoy this book. Forget the real world for a few hours.

3-23-03