Monday, November 03, 2008

The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

From the back cover:

Smart, successful Ava Nickerson is closing in on thirty and has barely had a date since law school. When a family crisis brings her prodigal little sister Lauren back to Los Angeles, Lauren stumbles across a forgotten document- a contract their parents had jokingly drawn up years ago betrothing Ava to their friends' son.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiance. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy toreenter the Nickerson sisters' lives. And always-accountable Ava will soon realize just how binding a contract can be...

I adored this book! I can't say enough good things about it! I knew exactly where Ava was coming from and found myself being eager to see what she did with herself for my own benefit! I really can't think of the last time that I identified with a character in a book so much. I don't dress to impress and hate wearing makeup! And like in the book, my little sister has done my makeup on occasion.

And Lauren, also what a great character. Even though I didn't identify nearly as much with her as I did her sister ,Ava, I saw a bit of my sister in her. Russell was so sweet, I loved him too! These characters were real people to me. (This MUST be made into a movie!)

So besides the fact that I felt like those characters were very real to me, this book was just funny. Your everyday, can't help it funny! That's just who they were. I loved that and found myself laughing often while reading this. Also the whole plot, the idea that people that knew each other as children, but that are now strangers, are thrust together in a variety of situations. It made for some great set-ups and sneaking around on Lauren's part. Ava is so stuck in her ways that Lauren has to trick her into being social with anyone other then their family.

My only unfulfilled wish for this book would have been to see the ending drawn out a bit more, maybe just 20-40 more pages. Without giving away anything, I wanted to hear Russell's thoughts a bit more on a particular character.

Do you know any other books with characters like Ava (because I want to read them!)?

5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

10 comments:

  1. Hi Alea: I loved this book as well. Claire, the author , is very, very nice.

    If you like this type of book I would suggest you try In her Shoes - that also has a responsible, older sister type and a pain in the -- younger sister.

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  2. Anonymous6:37 AM

    I haven't read it yet, but this one is on my wish list.

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  3. I totally agree - this book was the cutest!

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  4. Sounds good! I'm adding it to my wishlist. :D

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  5. Anonymous6:59 PM

    the other day, i checked this book out :))

    it is in my lust-list ;)

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  6. Sounds like a fun read. I've heard good things about this one.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  7. Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed this book, especially since I seem to have had something to do with inspiring you to read it! Tina is passing on her copy to me later this month, so I'll let you know what I think...

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  8. Anonymous10:46 AM

    5/5? I gotta read it now.

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  9. Tina- I can't wait to read her other book, Knitting Under the Influence! I totally forgot about In Her Shoes, I really liked that book! Thanks!

    bermudaonion- I hope you enjoy it too!

    s. krishna- So cute!

    amee- Ahh I loved it!

    veens- Lust-list LOL! I hope you get it and like it!

    anna- I coudn't have read it fast enough, I was just eating it right up!

    avisannachild- You totally had something to do with me reading it. Big hug for helping me with that :D I hope you like it too!

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  10. J. Kaye- I felt like I knew the characters, it really spoke to me! And the cherry on top was the cover!

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