The Sleeping Beauty Proposal (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "If you ask me, the best part about the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale is that she didn't have to do anything to get a man..." (more)
Key Phrases: Hugh Spencer, Genie Michaels, New York Times (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Admissions counselor Eugenia Genie Michaels has dated professor-turned-author Hugh Spencer for four years, patiently waiting him out. When Hugh's bestselling novel lands him on TV, Genie's loved ones tuning in are surprised to see him make an on-air proposal to the love of his life. All assume it's Genie, but off camera, Hugh confesses to an affair, escapes to England for the summer and leaves Genie to do the explaining. Best friend Patty proposes that, rather than moping, Genie keep her mouth shut and enjoy being engaged while it lasts. Soon, Genie's sporting a giant, self-purchased cubic zirconia ring, and masses of wedding gifts begin to arrive at her office. As the inevitable approaches, there's plenty of opportunity for sticky situation comedy, including handsome, charming carpenter Nick, and Strohmeyer nails it at every unpredictable turn.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In Strohmeyer's latest novel, following The Cinderella Pact (2006), college admissions counselor Genie Michaels has to face the world after her author boyfriend, Hugh, proposes on national television to someone else. Horrified, Genie realizes she has spent most of her life "sleeping," or waiting for something to happen to her. Spurred by her best friend, her first action after she awakens is to allow friends and family to believe she is the mystery woman Hugh asked to marry him. Her trickery prompts an irate phone call from the alleged fiance himself. During the deception, Genie enjoys being the center of attention, although she grows increasingly nervous as her mother and sister make plans for the wedding. She also meets a chiseled Greek carpenter, Nick, further complicating her situation. Gradually, Genie begins to realize that she can take charge of her life on her own terms. With or without Hugh, Genie soon seems well on her way to having it all in this humorous tale of romance, heartbreak, and healing. Katherine Boyle
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (June 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525950184
• ISBN-13: 978-0525950189
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #739,482 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty and fun., June 30, 2007

By	Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Eugenia "Genie" Michaels is a thirty-six year old lady who works as an admissions counselor for Thoreau College. Her boyfriend of four years, Hugh Spencer, has been an aspiring writer and Genie supports him through all the rejection slips and hard times. Suddenly, Hugh's makes the big time. His novel hits the best seller lists and he has become famous. He goes off for a string of interviews and even flies to England to sell some foreign rights. Genie could not be happier for him! Until ...

During a Barbara Walters prime time interview, Hugh proposes marriage to the love of his life. Problem is, Hugh did not propose to Genie! Patty Pugliese, Genie's outspoken best friend and lawyer, does not hesitate to give her some hard advice. Genie has two choices: Ignore it all and continue to go around with her head in the sand or she can actually DO SOMETHING about it. Before Genie can ever choose, friends and co-workers are calling to congratulate Genie on her upcoming wedding. And Patty, being Patty, answers Genie's phone and begins telling everyone that Genie is THRILLED that Hugh proposed to her. It is then Genie chooses to take a risk and lets everyone continue to believe that she is Hugh's real fiancée.

Genie is now the center of attention. Her parents are going all out in planning the wedding. Her siblings are crazy, nothing new there. Meanwhile, on campus, Genie's co-workers are suddenly taking notice of their placid colleague. Yet soon Genie realizes that she never really needed a man in order to buy a home, get a better job, or wear diamonds. But when the right man comes along while she is pretending to be engaged, Genie's plans may backfire.

**** Witty and loaded with fun, this novel is sure to cure any blues you may have left over from the drab months of winter. It is nice to read a novel where the main characters are not so perfect. Human flaws make them seem much more real and ALL of these characters have flaws. Perfect reading for those who enjoy witnessing the underdog win. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Witty...., June 21, 2007

By	Debs (Parkesburg Pa) - See all my reviews

Rarely do I drop one book to read another, but when I was given the opportunity to read Sarah Strohmeyer's newest, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL, I found that I had to due to the intriguing premise and after my glance at the first page.

Genie has supported her boyfriend, emotionally and financially, for years. And then the day comes when he 'makes' it, and proposes to .....somebody else? What would you do? How would you react? For that matter, what would your family and friends do or say if they thought that the one proposed to was you???

This was a fun and witty story, which totally kept me turning the pages to see how Genie would work through these situations while realizing her true power. Read the book to find out what happens...it was a true page-turner that I look forward to sharing with friends and loved ones.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fun book from Sarah Strohmeyer, November 15, 2007

By	Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL by Sarah Strohmeyer
November 15, 2007

Rating **** (4 Stars)

One thing about Sarah Strohmeyer's books is that she gets better with each one. Her "Bubbles" series are hilarious, but her stand-alone novels have more depth while at the same time keep a similar level of humor throughout. In THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL, Genie Michaels ends up dating a very eligible bachelor named Hugh Spencer, a British up-and-coming literature professor at the university where she works. He's good looking and clever and has just written a book. The two have been dating for four years now, and she's wondering when he'll pop the question. When Hugh's book takes off and he ends up on television for an interview, he proposes to his girlfriend in front of millions. Unfortunately, Genie soon realizes that the girlfriend is not she. As she watches Hugh call "her" up on live television, her phone fails to respond. He's proposing to someone else!

Since all of Genie's family and friends find out soon enough that she is supposedly engaged, Genie's best friend convinces her to go along with the act, and pretend that she IS indeed that girlfriend that Hugh proposed to. With Hugh back in England to promote the book, Genie manages to fake the engagement, down to a cheap imitation diamond ring.

Genie had wanted to purchase a cute cottage that her brother is fixing up, and when she's told it's about to go on the market, she and best friend Patty show up to make a deal. While in the cottage they discuss how the whole engagement is a lie. What they aren't sure is whether the carpenter that was in the next room has overheard their conversation. Genie notices that Nick is one really gorgeous guy, and cannot stop thinking about him.

Genie is angry over what Hugh has done to her, but she is beginning to want Nick, although she has to continue this farce of an engagement. There is chemistry between Genie and Nick, but Genie thinks he has a girlfriend waiting for him in Greece, and in the mean time, Genie has to do her best to please her family, in particular her mother, as they begin planning the engagement parties and the wedding. Genie gets deeper and deeper into trouble, while her attraction to Nick grows stronger. And then, she learns that Hugh is back in town!

There are a lot of things to like about THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL. First off, those who are fans of Sarah Strohmeyer will not be disappointed with her latest book. As usual, she creates a likeable heroine with flaws like everyone else, but Genie is not one to let life pass her by no matter what. She takes control of the situation, with the help of best friend Patty, and does what she thinks is the right thing to do to getting back Hugh. She is so caught up in the idea of being with someone, that she does not even think about whether Hugh was really good for her or not. She has always thought that Hugh was the perfect man for her, and that is her biggest flaw, that she is blind to who Hugh really is, and that the perfect man might be around the corner.

The story can be to some a stereotypical romance, with the introduction of man number two, Nick, who is not in the same league as Hugh in terms of career or income. Hugh works at the University and is a writer, while Nick is a carpenter, but as Genie gets to know Nick, she learns that there is a lot more to Nick than there was to Hugh.

The story line takes a sharp turn when Genie discovers that Hugh is engaged to someone she actually knows, and it infuriates her to think all this was happening behind her back. It's a twist in the plot that will keep the reader interested, part of the reason why this book is a page-turner.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was a funny story about a young woman who desperately wanted to find her prince charming, but discovers too late that maybe she had picked the wrong guy. One can certainly imagine this book as a movie, with Hugh Spencer played by Hugh Grant, and Genie played by Sandra Bullock. The premise is silly and one would think Genie really needed to get her act together, but it's a story where the reader is going to want to cheer Genie on and hope she does find her prince charming and live happily ever after. - courtesy of Love Romances and More - M. Lofton