Customer Reviews

The Wedding Date CD

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

1,000 words are not enough to describe how great this book is, but I'll give it a shot! While the blurb on the back sounded promising, I expected another post-Bridget Jones funny-yet-predictable novel.

I bought it anyway, and was pleasantly surprised to find a well-written, fast-paced, and truly hilarious novel about a heroine I could really relate to. The book's tone is conversational, as if Sophy is your best girlfriend, and you're dishing over a couple of vodkas; as a result, I liked her and found myself waiting anxiously for the next plot twist to unfold.

Even though Sophy's white lie(s) spin(s) wildly out of control, I didn't think the plot and its many twists were at all contrived or predictable. Sophy's character rang quite true to me, as did everyone else's.

In the ever-expanding universe of contemporary women's fiction, I think this book is a breath of fresh air. While Sophy is no less charmingly neurotic than Bridget and her "sisters," I feel that Sophy's character is deeper, a bit more developed, less breezy, and, as a result, more human. She acknowledges, and agonizes, over her faults, and seems to grow as a person through her experiences.

The characters' relationships strike me as more complex and authentic than other novels, perhaps because of Ms. Young's attention to detail in crafting their mannerisms, speech, etc. She also creates a sense of history, in describing events and people from Sophy's childhood, which are traced to the present.
Finally, the situations, dialogue and descriptions are often so unexpectedly funny that I laughed until I cried. I could not put this book down. You'll love it, too.

After watching the movie "The Wedding Date", which is based upon this book, I felt like I'd missed something. It was a cute idea with amusing possibilities, but the movie was poorly executed. I figured I might as well give the book a shot. Usually books are better than movies, right?

Over all, I preferred the movie. Aside from a few moments of laugh-out-loud humor, most of it is pretty dry and bland. It drags on and on, with a good 100 pages to even get to the wedding. After the wedding, the book just kind of meanders, as if the author realized she couldn't possibly make it convincing that these two are so infatuated with each other after one afternoon. She could have meandered to 1000 pages, and I still wouldn't be convinced.

The book's biggest problem is the "heroine", Sophy. She is--as she often says herself--such a cow. Oh, and she's also fat.

She's a raging b*tch towards Josh, who is technically doing her a rather nice favor, wouldn't you say? But she's constantly snippy with him, completely paranoid, and always assuming he thinks the worst about her. Plus, she lies on a consistent basis, especially to him. Yet he still likes her, despite all this...and despite the fact that she's fat.

Any skinny, pretty woman is automatically a b*tch and a man-stealing cow. Maybe this is due to Sophy's fat-o-vision? Because of course, unlike those skinny pretty women, Sophy is too fat for a man to find her attractive. She's dead certain that as soon as someone a pound or two lighter walks onto the scene, Josh will be on them like white on rice. Isn't that lovely? But in spite of that, too, he still likes her. And despite the fact that she's fat.

Are you sick of me stating that Sophy is fat? Is it getting on your nerves? Because if it is, then this book will make you want to tear your hair out. I've been overweight for the greater half of my life, and I have self-esteem issues, but unlike Sophy, my every thought does not center around my weight. Of course, I, at least, would be justified. How the hell does Sophy, with her 36C chest, qualify as fat? Seeing as how she's about 5'10", a 36 inch underbust is not even close to fat.

Here's a little tip to the chick lit authors of the world: it's okay to make your herione overweight so long as you don't HARP ON ABOUT IT LIKE AN OBSESSIVE FREAK!

Completely unsympathetic as a character, it's impossible to feel bad for anything Sophy goes through, as she tends to reap what she sows. And the utterly predictible ending was completely unbelievable. Lovely idea, completely wasted on a Heroine From Hell and a "plot" held together by bubblegum and elastic bands.

I really loved this book. If you're expecting the same story as in "The Wedding Date," which was loosly based on this book, don't worry. You can enjoy both without any plot spoilers! Elizabeth Young makes you laugh out loud as you follow a "desperate" young woman on her quest for a decent date to her sister's wedding. There are twists and turns that all lead to belly laughs and deep sighs! What a great story!

I picked this book with a bit of hesitation but after the first few pages I was hooked and I absolutely loved this book. Sophy is the first character that I've read of that isn't 22 with a size six waist, a perfect family and the perfect little life and career. She's a realistic, 30 something, size 14 English girl trying to keep her parents, or mother, out of her love life so she tells her what she wants to hear. But I found myself laughing out loud with this one or just chuckling. It was highly enjoyable, I read over half the book in one night, and absolutely enjoyed every page. I couldn't put it down and once I was finished, I wanted to read it again. Yes, he ending was a bit predictable but all the same, it was still a wonderful book. I highly enjoyed it and look forward to other books by this author!

A familiar voice on the BBC, Jasmine Hyde is the perfect actress to bring sassy, saucy, prevaricating Sophy Metcalfe to vivid life. She reads this likable, laughable British comedy with robust charm. First released under the title Asking For Trouble, Young's first novel is now also a major motion picture titled The Wedding Date. Whatever the title, it's fun.

Sophy is a successful young career woman - according to her mother the operative word here is single woman. Mom will give her no peace until she puts that Mrs. in front of her name. So, to get a little breathing room Sophy invents a suitor, Dominic, who is, of course, everything her mother could ever long for in a son-in-law. Except for the fact that he doesn't exist.

All's well until sister Belinda sets a wedding date and Sophy must produce her perfect Dominic. Ooops! She hires a date for the wedding from an escort service, which doesn't turn out to be such a bad idea after all. But, there are lots of twists and turns in this road to romance, thanks to Sophy's predilection for falsehoods.

- Gail Cooke

What an absolutely fantastic fun read. This story reminds me of a cross between Bridget Jones and the Shopaholic series in its humor. I laughed out loud at the way things progressed through the story. It also shows how sometimes one little white lie can turn into a huge white elephant. What happens when you tell your mother you have a fabulous boyfriend that doesn't exist and you have to produce him? Well Sophy (with a Y not an IE) hires one but, ack she is actually really attracted to him and this has her confused. There are a couple of other story lines running through also. The thing I liked the most is the characters all seemed so real! Hats off to another new author for me that I am now scrambling around to find other works by...

I'm as big a fan of British chick lit as anybody, but I found the main character in this book so fundamentally unlikeable that I couldn't figure what Josh could see in her. (He seemed quite nice and charming.) I found Sophy so unpleasant that I could barely finish the book.

I fell in love with The Wedding Date! When I heard it was based on a book, I went out and bought it right away!

I loved this book just as much as the movie! It wasn't anything like the movie except for the hiring-an-escort-to-take-to-your-sister's-wedding part. Their were other great characters and a lot of funny moments. When you are a busy mom like me with a stressful job, its nice to escape into a light-hearted story like this one.

I love all Elizabeth Young's books and this was no exception. A previous review clearly doesn't agree with the majority and asks 'what is a part?'. A prat is a stupid person - which pretty much speaks for itself! It is a shame if you don't enjoy books written in English - in the UK we often have to put up with books written in 'American' with phrases we don't understand. It doesn't detract from the enjoyment of a fun and well-written book. I hope disappointing reviews and problems over language differences do not put anyone else off reading what is a really good read.

Ask for this one by name! It's a witty romp of a tale revolving around the main character, Sophy. Sophy's a 30year old singleton who makes up a boyfriend to please her mother. Her foibles and wacky antics from that point on will keep you captivated til the last page. One lie leads to another in a domino effect and after a while even Sophy can't keep track of her lies. This tale is a quick, predictable read, but it's enjoyable. It's the perfect 'vacation/going to the beach' book.