Review: Trashionista
This is a review of the British version of UMF, which is different only in its cover:
BOOK REVIEW: The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer & Anne Stuart
You all know how much we love Jennifer Crusie here at Trashionista, so a collaborative novel (Crusie is joined by Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart) was bound to be a treat. Plus, it’s about three magical sisters. I was almost afraid to read it in case I was disappointed (I’m pessimistic like that). Was I?
Of course not. The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is the story of Dee, Lizzie and Mare: three sisters who have been on the run from their Aunt Xan since their parents’ death. Living in the small town of Salem’s Fork, they’re happy, but unfulfilled. Dee works in a bank and is desperate for Mare to go to college. Mare works at Value Video!! and Lizzie is obsessed with trying to turn straw into gold, believing that if their money problems were solved, all their problems would be solved.
But then three - no, four - gorgeous men arrive. Danny is researching the Fortune family for a book and wants Dee’s help. Elric (a wizard) has come to help Lizzie control her powers. Mare’s former boyfriend, Crash, has come back to win Mare back, but he’s got competition in Jude, Value Video!! head honcho, who wants Mare for himself.
Odd that all the men have turned up at the same time? Not really. Turns out it’s Xan’s doing - she’s arranged for the girls’ true loves to come to town, but why?
Well, I’m not going to say, obviously. What I will say is that The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is enormous fun. I was expecting three novellas, but it’s not - it’s a novel written by three women and it’s impossible to see the joins (if I hadn’t known Mare was Crusie’s character, I wouldn’t have been able to pick even that out). The women are strong and entertaining. The men are (almost) all gorgeous. It’s (of course) very funny. And there’s loads of sex. I hesitate to say that there might be too much (I thought they were never going to stop!) but that might just be me.
A book to snuggle up with and lose yourself in.
Rating: 4 out of 5
http://www.trashionista.com/2007/06/book_review_the.html#more
9 Comments so far
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Woo Hoo! I can’t wait to read. July is taking forever to come.
Yeah! (said in a Lie Jon voice including the hissing sound made by people who talk with grills in thier mouth).
Now, this is a person who knows what’s she’s talking about and has actually read the book. (But why do people insist on thinking it’s three novellas? Are collaborations really so rare as to be confusing?)
And really, is there such a thing as too much sex?
Can’t wait to read this book!
Books with three names on them are almost always novella anthologies.
But books with three names and the words “A Novel” under the title on the cover are novels.
The British are lovely people aren’t they?
Excellent review! There can definitely be too much sex, especially if it’s not fun sex (books about a certain vampire executioner come to mind). And perhaps having 3 authors and 3 main characters makes for more than one usually gets in a novel, but I’m sure it’s all good here.
Waiting eagerly…
You know, I think maybe this reviewer actually READ this book, unlike another whose-name-can-t-be-mentioned.
Great review. Congrats ladies
The last line is a very good quote ,and yes, the British are lovely. You guys just may start a new trend. For me at least it’s empowering to see three women come together and be able to write a novel.
I wrote this review. The only reason I mentioned thinking it was three novellas (which it was originally, wasn’t it?) was because, after reading the *other* review, I didn’t want other people to make the same mistake!
We love you, Keris. We think you’re fabulous.
Do not give it a second’s thought.
Well now I’m very happy!