Customer Reviews

Venus Envy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was lucky enough to read "Venus Envy" a couple of months back. Shannon McKelden is a tremendous author, with the ability to write characters the reader cares about and roots for. Venus makes you wish for your own fairy godmother (well, within reason,) and you'll cheer Rachel on to a once-in-a-lifetime true love. Did I mention that Luke the hero will melt any mortal woman's heart -- and at least one immortal woman's?

You'll enjoy "Venus Envy". It's funny, charming and has snark to spare. Shannon McKelden's future books will be on your "must buy" list as well!

I have a major case of VENUS ENVY envy! I started the book around 2 this afternoon and by 4:30, I was done :) I literally did not put it down for 2 and a half hours. I loved so much about it: the fact that it was set in Seattle, the juxaposition between vivacious Venus and reclusive Rachel, how hunky Luke was, all the fashion, how troubled Rachel was and not quite ready to forgive herself....and on and on.

This is a great, quick read and the secret of why Rachel doesn't trust herself is a good one and will have women everywhere saying, "God, poor thing."

Overall, the whole reading experience leaves me wanting more! I want more Hannah, more Venus and defintiely more fairy-godmothering. And I want Venus to have a love story of her own! Is Ms. McKelden, per chance, planning a sequel :)

In the Puget Sound area, though surrounded by family members with their loving partner like her parents, her brother and now her younger sister, Rachel Greer believes she must have inherited a recessive trait that only brings losers into her life as her former boyfriends are a pathetic lot. With love everywhere she goes near her family, Rachel feeling like a Trogg hides as much as possible, doing good deeds for people whether at work as a customer service employee at a bank or volunteering at the dog shelter or soup kitchen. Because of her track record with males, Rachel buries her attraction towards firefighter Luke Stanton, who monthly opens up new accounts.

Ann irate Zeus has demoted his offspring Venus to the fairy-godmother community service on earth for cheating on her spouse. She detests this punishment that she feels is too harsh, but also knows she better complete the sentencing or find a home on Mount Hood instead of returning to Mount Olympus. Venus sees an easy pickup wit Rachel "Loser List" Greer matched up with Luke the hunk though she would not mind a side snack of him. Venus applies her sure shot "Extreme Love Life Makeover" on a reluctant Rachel while telling the mortal's best friend Hannah to butt out. When that somewhat fails Venus physically and verbally bullies and blackmails Rachel to force her to fall for Luke.

Rachel and Venus alternate first person accounts leading to the audience obtaining a chick lit romantic fantasy. Whereas Rachel is out of chick lit stereo-casting, Venus is a refreshing takes no prisoner acerbic fairy godmother (think of the Carol Kane character, the Ghost of Christmas Present, in Scrooged). Readers will appreciate VENUS ENVY as she does what she does best, cause havoc with the heart.

Harriet Klausner

For those people who are just looking for a fun book to read that leaves you laughing in parts, crying in parts and just going "Wow... it's almost like she's writing about me!" parts... This book is fantastic. Unfortunately it seems like other reviewers are being far too harsh and look far too much into things to really appreciate this book for what it is.... Which is a book that just makes you smile and wish that you too, had a "godmother" like Venus pushing you towards taking a leap of faith for love.

i bought this book only because one of the reviews had the word "snarky" on it. Working full-time, having a side home-job and raising a 2-year old, i'm always looking for books that are light reading to help "take me away". Venus Envy was a fantastic read and the humor was right on. Yes, there were some charactor flaws, there was a time I thought "Get off your cross" regarding Rachel's constant paranoia of them "finding out" what she had done in the past. The humor always brought it back to center and I definetly recommend this book if you're looking for some light reading with, yes, snarky humor.

Another "old vacuum" novel: starts by sucking you in, but after a while, it loses its power. And it's all because of the female protagonist. If you can't like the female protagonist, it's hard to keep liking the novel.

The premise is nice and big. The goddess Venus, grounded by her father, Zeus, is stuck "fairy godmothering" her way around Earth, helping humans find love. But the problem with a big premise is that you have to cover some pretty big bases. McKelden tries to do this, and for the most part, succeeds. But eventually the reader starts to think, "Why is Venus so bad at this if she's been stuck on earth for 2,000 years?" This issue could have been avoided if McKelden had just made Venus' time on earth shorter - say she's been on earth since 1600-1700 or so.

Don't get me wrong - the book is an easy read. It's especially easy to skip over all the tedious whining from Rachel about how awful a person she is and how she sucks at life. It's not so bad if you do this - and Luke is a decent guy (from what I can tell, but McKelden isn't too keen on letting the reader get to know him), despite his stalker activities. Another reviewer wrote, "... he's convinced that 'she's the one for him' and keeps on trying despite her telling him NO. Well, in any SANE world, a guy who is that persistent and doesn't hear a woman's 'NO' is a STALKER." I agree. Just because a guy is hot does not give him the right to pester a woman who isn't interested. Early on, I found myself wondering why McKelden didn't try to smooth this over somehow. After all, I thought, Rachel can't possibly have that many men issues if she hasn't definitively asked Luke to stop coming around.

But turns out, Rachel DOES have that many issues. Because she's a moron. And apparently a wimpy one too. And I'm sorry, but it's so tiring. 150 pages in, all I could think was "get a grip. I'm 25, made a million more mistakes than you did, and still managed to mature to adulthood." It's one thing to have issues; it's another thing to be so annoying I hope you DON'T end up with the guy.

I understand this is the author's first novel. It would make sense, since there are some typical first novel problems going on. The largest of which is pacing. McKelden spends 250 pages getting Rachel over her emotional issues, which are extremely nauseating, and require almost no action. Here's how it goes: Luke wants Rachel, Rachel has sworn off men. Rachel whines. Venus whines. Rachel whines. Venus whines. Luke shows up once or twice and acts cute. Rachel whines. Venus whines. In the final 100 pages the pace is picked up, lots of action, etc. At one point, McKelden skips 2 months, leaving the reader with a "what happened?!" feeling.

*Spoilers*
In those missing two months, it is never explained where Venus goes, how she felt, what she did, if she ever tried to contact any of the people in Rachel's life, etc. Worthless. By the end of the novel, I cared far more for Venus than Rachel.
*End Spoilers*

I admit: I've been putting off the writing of this review for a long time, never knowing quite what to say. This was just one of THOSE books. You know what I'm talking about. One of those books that you devour in one huge gulp and are left feeling satisfied, speechless even. I could relate with Rachel and I loved the pushy, yet compassionate character of Venus. VENUS ENVY was a book that I didn't want to end. I wanted more of Venus, more Rachel, more Luke. Definitely more Luke. The plot is interesting and different - it's not one of those plots that has been written by a million different authors, each changing one little thing.

I recommend this book to anyone. Give it a chance. It will delight you, no doubt. I look forward to more from McKelden. Definitely on my must-have author pile.

This book was a "light" summer read...served it's purpose. It tended to become a bit monotenous - but great ending:)

Venus Envy is a fabulous debut by a wonderful author. A fresh idea with fun characters and a dreamy hero. What's not to love? Pick this one up today - you won't regret it!

Very entertaining and imaginative. Light and fun to read. Well done for a first time author. Anxious to read her next publication. A.D.