Dedication

You need to read this book

This book is full of surprises! I just wonder why Kate waited so many years for someone who left her at prom alone. It's kind of funny toward the end when she states "it was just 3 minutes 47 seconds" or something like that. I was lughing very hard. I read this book in 6th grade but I didn't understand. Now I understand it after reading it seven times. :) fun! lol! I love this book and I am going to buy it. I love this cover too its amazing!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Katie

After having a particularly harrowing, literally life-changing week, I rambled into the library, searching for the perfect book. You know the kind. The book that cozies up to you, amuses you, confounds you, and ultimately seduces you. That is exactly what I found in this charming novel crammed in the rows of piled bookshelves and emerald and gold carpet. McLaughlin and Kraus are excellent writers not because they write with funny witticisms or because they write good romances, but because they present real people in real-life situations. All in all, Dedication was an exceptional book that I particularly recommend.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fun, quick read that I didn't want to put down. From the opening

Fun, quick read that I didn't want to put down. From the opening page, I was curious to find out what would happen next. I liked the writing style, the storyline, and the 80's references. The authors did a great job of giving enough background on the characters to make me care what was happening in their lives.

The ending was not what I expected and at first I was not sure I agreed, but upon thinking it over for a bit I decided it was actually perfect. If you're looking for an amusing and entertaining book to immerse yourself in, check this one out.

Ehhhh

Honestly i really did not like this book. Sure it had it's moments but the two main characters (jake and katie) were both too involved with their own lives to realize what each other needed. The ending is a complete let down! It leaves you hanging at a point that is just plain annoying. Don't waste your money is my advice.

Amazing

This book is one of the best books i've ever read. The story line is great & its well written. I've read it 4 times and it just keeps getting better!!!!

Great romp

Kate Hollis has just gotten the call she's been waiting for years to get. Her ex-boyfriend, Jake Sharpe, has just returned to their hometown. Yes, Jake Sharpe. The Jake Sharpe who's a mega-rockstar. The Jake Sharpe who was her high school boyfriend and who broke her heart when he disappeared on her right before prom night. The Jake Sharpe who has made fame and fortune detailing their sexual relationship and all of Kate's family issues in his songs. Now it's payback time.

McLaughlin and Kraus tell this story by alternating between the 18 year old Kate and the 30 year old one. Kate is now an accomplished professional, but still haunted by the betrayals Jake has done. She has maintained a close relationship with her best friend in high school, and comes home to confront Jake when her friend calls with the news that he has hit town. Even her parents worry about what the result of such a confrontation will be, but Kate is determined. She feels that she can't move on until this issue from her past is resolved.

Lovers of "chick lit" will love this book. It is written in a light and breezy style, with twists and turns in the plot. I think it would be incredibly difficult to write a book with someone, and I wondered if they had split the writing with one author doing the 18 year old Kate and the other the adult one. If they did, it wasn't possible to tell as the book flowed easily between the two eras. This book is recommended for readers looking for an enjoyable read and those interested in how women resolve life issues.

Slow Start

The story starts out slow and is made tedious by the authors writing style. Though they do have you wondering from the beginning what could Jake have done that was so bad. The second half of the book, the story picks up, as you discover the gist of the problem. I have a feeling a lot of people won't like the ending, but I thought it was exactly right for the way the authors developed and wrote the characters.

Another Great book by this writing duo!

The dynamic duo of Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have done it again by creating a funny and entertaining book for for chick lit lovers everywhere. The book is told from the main character's perspective in two time periods. Her high school years, and her life as an accomplished 30 year old with a score to settle.

Kate Hollis is out for revenge, on her ex-boyfriend Jake. Who has made his whole music career out of revealing what went on in their high school relationship, including her secrets and her personal family problems. Kate was a fun character. She seems so fearless. This could be her only chance at confronting her ex about basically exploiting their relationship in order to build his career, an she is ready to make the most out of it.

In the beginning I really didn't get what was going on in this book at all. It was just confusing to me, but after a while things started to make sense and I got a lot more into the book. The plot was interesting to say the least and it kept my nose in the book. I enjoyed the high school years part of the book more than the present day telling of the book. The high school sections were a lot more believable, and they seemed like real actions and emotions a high schooler would feel going through what Kate went through. Though when it came to the present day sections, I found it hard to believe that it was a thirty year old telling the story. I had to flip back to the beginning of the chapters many times to see if it was high school Kate talking or 30 year old Kate. Besides that, the book was enjoyable.

There were many ups and downs in the book, that throw you off whatever idea you will have about how the book will end. Jake and Kate went through a lot of roller coasters in their relationship that I think a lot of girls can relate to. Through the high school and middle school years, Jake was a wonderful character. But as he showed up in Kate's adult life, I started to question his compassion, and how he viewed women as a whole. You'll understand what I mean if you read the book.

In the end, I did enjoy this book. I loved how the book ended and I felt Kate finally womened up and became the strong 30 year old she should have been all along.

I Recommend: this book to all Chick-lit fans!

love a good read...

This book had me at the first sentence. It was clever, witty, moving, riveting, all of those adjectives and more. I procrastinated on other projects just so that I could read this book. I love it when that happens! Getting lost in a good book is one of my favorite things in the world.

Usually switching back and forth between past and present is confusing and irritating, but not the case here. Even without the titles of the chapters, the reader could tell which time period they were in by the descriptions of the clothes and the fads and the music. I can't believe what people wore in the 80's! Glad I was a bit young for that crazy fashion...And the end of each chapter left you wanting more, but kept you in suspense as you learned more about the family and friends from the past or the dramatic events of the present.

The end made me a bit nervous. Katie did something I did not expect her to do, especially after she had been so strong and stubborn throughout the whole book. It makes sense when you think about the connection between her and Jake, but still, I didn't want her to do it, and I was afraid it was going to ruin my entire reading experience of this book. Thankfully my reservations were resolved by the last page turn.

The entire book just worked. The flow of the dialogue, the mix of characters, everything leading up to the end of the story, it all added up to a wonderful read. I enjoyed "The Nanny Diaries", written by the same authors, and I was ecstatic that this one was just as good if not better.

Page Turner[

I really couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed the way it cross referenced her life between childhood and present day. I enjoyed the characters as well, especially Laura!

Ehhhh....

Sounded good, and it was alright... I read it, but it was definetly not a page turner. Cute , slow moving story though.

Dedication

I felt that the book was good, but not great. The story was one of those story that everyone can related to because there is always that one guy every woman would want to know about the "what if". The book uses a "flashback" style to explain the present. I would definitely recommend this book.

Mind bogglingly witty

To appreciate Mclaughlin and Kraus is to appreciate intelligent yet upbeat writing. I've been a patron to their previous two novels, and am equally gratified with Dedication. As a writer myself, I look to them as steady inspiration, for they never fail to proffer a creative melody only embedded in their own unique style. A must read for those who like to read outside of the conventional chick lit box.

Worst Book Ever!

This was the worst book ever. It was boring, lame, and poorly written. The characters are all weak and the main character, Kate, is a joke. She is a serious loser to be 30 years old and still be obsessing over a guy who was never that into her anyway. I am amazed at how bad this book was.

Fun, Lighthearted Read

I found the book to be a fun, lighthearted read. I normally don't like books that switch from past to present from one chapter to the next because it gets confusing, but once I got going I didn't mind it. I thoroughly enjoyed the main character Kate and understood her relationship with Jake and her need for closure. Brought back a lot of memories of my own junior high and high school years. It wasn't the best book I have read, but I completely enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone who likes fun reads that can make you laugh.

No real payoff

Like all the others have written - the back and forth with past (80s) and present (2005) from chapter to chapter is definitely not a huge success. Too often, you have to read many chapters ahead to understand comments/incidents from previous chapters. It becomes a page turner because you want to understand more and more, however, you will be dissapointed and feel no real pay off by the rushed ending.

Better be an 80's child for this one!

Don't get me wrong I WAS an 80's child, so I understood and appreciated most of the 9 zillion references, but found they were not always necessary in order to further along the plot. Sometimes it just felt like they were stuck in there for show. I also had a bit of an issue with the dialogue between Katie and both her parents and friends. Their conversation/banter seemed overly contrived and 'quippy,' like they were just a tad too witty for their own good. I prefer more realistic voices in my characters. If those things don't irritate you, it's basically a cute, chiclit book which will serve you well on a beach or somewhere which you don't have to invest too much of your time or mental energy.

Highly recommended... two thumbs up!

I really enjoyed this book. It's very comical and reminded me a lot of my childhood 'the friendships over the years from preteen to teen to adulthood, first love, family dramas, etc...' The only thing I probably didn't like was well.. towards the end, but I can't say much because then I'll spoil it for those who haven't read it yet! Dedication is a great read if you're looking for something girly, different and that you can relate to.

ehh

It wasn't bad but it wasnt the best thing in the world either. i enjoyed Kate very much and reading about her story and her life but Jake just pissed me off. He was a jerk the majority of the novel and it just sucks that he never grew out of that I was a little disappointed. Also, i found that i was just reading the book to figure out what would happen. I wasn't totally invested in the book like i usually am. It's light and fun but that's were the book ends it has no substance.

Absoutly Amazing.

I'm not the girl to pick up a book on my free time and read, but this book I couldn't seem to put down. It was absoutly amazing, and I really can't wait to read another one just like it. When I was at the last chapter, I didn't want to read it because I didnt want it to end. This book has diffently become my favorite.