When I picked up this book to read, I wasn't really sure what it was about and I didn't bother reading the jacket copy. I knew it would be chick lit, you can tell that by the cover. And I enjoy the genre. In fact, I've been so immersed in paranormal the last couple of years I've come to crave contemporary stories, be they chick lit or straight out romance. The way I see it, there are two varieties of chick lit. You have the fluffy stories with the silly young heroine who goes through life making a series of funny mistakes which often lead to hijinks and misunderstandings. Usually she grows a little as a person, though sometimes over the course of a series she never seems to really learn anything (yes, I'm talking about you, Rebecca Bloomwood). Then you have the stories that still include a lot of humor but have a little more depth to them, a heavier subject matter, and a heroine who faces real and serious adversity (not to belittle addiction to shopping since that can certainly cause real and serious problems for people, so don't glare at me Becky). The heroines in these stories definitely grow as a person, and often do some soul searching along the way. Behaving Like Adults falls into the second category. Holly is 29, fun and breezy, and loves love. She owns and operates a dating agency, where her life's work is to make perfect matches for other people. She and her long time fiancee, Nick, bought a house together but never actually set a wedding date, and after breaking up, are still living together (though sleeping in separate rooms) in that same house three months later. When Holly dips her own toes into the dating world, she goes out with Stuart, who has applied to the dating agency and seems on paper to be too good to be true. And sure enough, he's a caddish jerk and the date is a bust. But when Holly needs a date for an agency event, she gives Stuart a second chance. And that second date turns into a nightmare that leaves Holly questioning the validity of love, the goodness of the human race, and doubting her abilities and instincts for matchmaking. I'm not going into detail about that date, but if you read further you are likely to figure it out, so be warned that this could be a SPOILER ALERT. There is a great supporting cast in Holly's sisters and friends. As Holly sank deeper and deeper into her own thoughts and began pulling away from socializing, work and her friends, there were times where I sort of wanted to shake her and say “Talk to them! Tell someone about what that jerk did to you!” But she has a hard time believing that she didn’t bring her problems onto her self and putting the blame on Stuart rather than just on herself. The narrative is in the first person from Holly's point of view, but the author does a good job of conveying the supporting character's personalities, so you feel as if you get to know them pretty well and know what they are thinking and feeling also. There was just one tiny niggling detail that bothered me. Twice there is reference to calling 911. But do they use 911 in England? I thought the emergency services number there was 999 or something like that. Did the publisher's change it to 911 for us ignorant American readers? If so, I'm insulted. Towards the end of the book, I cried. Literally. That doesn't happen very often when reading a book. I am definitely be adding Anna Maxted to my list of authors whose back lists I need to hunt down and read. (I bought this book new. Because the cover jumped out at me.)
Until recently I have shunned "chick lit" but I also don't believe in completely ignoring a genre because of personal prejudice. I chose to read this book for two conflicting reasons that in themselves sum up the book beautifully: the sleek cover art and because of the "tougher issues" addressed in the book.The book for the most part is a typical chick lit: a thirty year old successful woman in a glamorous job tosses aside her long time boyfriend/fiance for her own shallow insecurities. Having given him the heave-ho she realizes that there are men worse than hers and this realization nearly destroys her business, friendships and self esteem. In the end those around her conspire to get her back on her feet and together with her one true (albeit not perfect) love. Had the book only been about that plot I would have tossed it aside.Instead Maxted tosses at her shallow and self absorbed protagonist a variety of issues: rape, law suits, unwanted pregnancy, clinical depression, and adoption among others. For all of this crap that Holly is faced with I wish I could say that she follows the title of the book and behaves like an adult. But she doesn't. She repeatedly makes things worse for herself by hiding from the unpleasantries of her life. While at times these scenes are poignant and understandable, after awhile I had to side with Holly's friends and coworkers at their frustration with her behavior.So why did I keep reading it? I read it for Nick, Holly's much maligned boyfriend and sometimes fiance. The only thing I could figure out is why he kept taking her back but people are stupid about love in real life so I can't quibble. Nick for all of Holly's bitching and moaning is actually the more mature of the two.
What do You think about Behaving Like Adults (2004)?
I wasn't sure if I would like this. I decided to give it another chance. Not too long in the book I was laughing out loud and that does not happen to me that much so I decided to keep reading. Then something i totally did not expect happened. The rape. You don't expect it in a chick lit book.Anyways then when reading a bit more I thought O no, she is going to be nice to her rapist? I do not think I can read anymore, but I did keep on and glad I did.It took me ages to read, I am not sure why. Ma
—♥ Marlene♥
Ah chick lit... people don't understand why I would like it, I think. I'm not a woman! I'm kind of austere and severe! I'm unromantic! But whenever I read something that really gets into the female experience, I find myself seeing how very much I am like a woman. Sometimes, as with Brene Brown's book on shame, I see how I feel disempowered and ashamed, while in this case, some of that was there, but here I resonated more with the protagonist's desire to please and make people happy while also be
—James
i'm not completely sure if i want to give this 2 stars or 3. it was easy reading, like a beach book, except it was quite a bit longer than most of those and also covered some pretty serious material. i love her conversational text and the humor - a few times i did laugh actually out loud just a tiny bit. (nothing ridiculous, just a little heh-heh of course - don't judge me). i enjoyed the beginning and end, but felt like i was struggling a bit through the material in the middle and wasn't as excited to pick it up. some things that happened during this part of the book caused me some eye rolls. i am sure some people may have some strong reactions to the way she covers some very personal and negative subject matter, which from what i understand was a disappointment to some people who have read more of her novels. still, i feel compelled to give some of her other material a go, as i enjoy her style and think every once in a while a little chick lit can a nice break.
—Sarcomical
