Dune Road

A unique beach read

Dune Road takes us in different directions, but not too unexpected. You have some interesting characters like Edie and Robert who have history and intrigue, but the others seem too familiar. The introduction of new friendships is too easy and fast. The job that falls into the protagonist's hands is too easy. The children are stereotypical. Real women aren't as stupid as the protagonist and don't allow sleek newcomers into their lives that easily without checking first. The happily every after ending really was too much closure too soon and tied everything up nicely. Still, it's an easy read that isn't painful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good beach read.

Who doesn't love a good chick lit.? Jane Green is one of the best at this. I, however, didn't love Dune Road, but I enjoyed it a lot. I felt some situations were too predictable, but there were a couple of surprises in this book I didn't see coming. I am a Jane Green fan and I always feel I get my moneys worth when buying one of her books. I'm trying not to give anything away here. There is a character in this book who is rotten to the core, and you will instantly know who it is, but there is a twist even with that.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I Would Rather Be at the Beach With NO Book

I had found Jane Green's books, "Beach House" and Second Chance" at least amusing on a summer book level of reading, but "Dune Road" left me feeling like I had wasted my time in a way no book has in a very long time. The author presented us with shallow, weak, brand-worshipping women. I couldn't believe how conniving and dishonest the characters were, only to have their best friends, family members and/or spouses, so very easily forgiven. A best friend of the main charater sets her up with an abusive con man and when she finds out, she's sympathetic towards her?! UGH!! None of the women, with the exception of the only likeable character, the 86 year old neighbor Edie, seems able to survive without a man, and will go to any extreme to hone in on their target as long as he's a handsome meal ticket. (What year is this?!) And the writer repeats herself several times throughout the book, to the point of thinking the reader may be experiencing memory loss. Do yourself a favor and skip this lightweight drain...find something with strong female characters. I'll not read another Jane Green book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Good

This book was completely predictable and shallow. Towards the end, I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over, but it turned out the author repeated herself in a few chapters. I do not recommend this book at all.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dune Road - Dull Read

This book might be better stocked in the kiddie department. Once upon a time there was a book with a trite, predictable and sadly unoriginal plot. Kit, supposedly the enlightened woman is a self obsessed, immature and pathetic character. But not to worry - they all live happily ever after.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Jane Green provides her fans with an interesting character study

When Kit divorced Wall St. workaholic superstar Adam, she left him with the Highfield, Connecticut country house. Instead she moved from the mansion having left the manor to live in a nice home near the beach town's Main Street raising their kids there.

She works as a personal assistant to renowned writer Robert McClore, a widower who avoids the world. Kit has made new friends like her yoga partner Tracy and lives next to a reliable neighbor in eight something Edie. As Kit decides to become Robert's second wife though he has shown no romantic inclination towards her or anyone and she is seeing Steve, her previously unknown half-sister Annabel arrives from England to meet her. However, the biggest problem she faces is she begins to believe she still loves her ex.

Remaining on the New England shore (see BEACH HOUSE) Jane Green provides her fans with an interesting character study starring strong avaricious women living a very shallow existence until one of the card carrying members drops out. Thus the audience compares Kit's revelations on what matters vs. the greedy desires of her former BFFs make for a strong story line. Unnecessary late suspense detracts from the comparative character study as the sudden action subplot feels out of place. Still watching Kit change so that she no longer fits with the gourmet gossip group makes for an overall fine read.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Recommended

It was good! Keep me wanting to keep to see what happens in the end.

What gives with the ebooks??

Gee, thanks, Barnes & Noble for the 3 PAGE ebook sample. How generous, especially when the ebook is $12.99. Sorry, I don't have enough information to buy this book...but you know that.

Disappointing

I have read some other Jane Green books and this was a disappointment. I don't think her books are great, but they are entertaining. This one I seriously considered not finishing. It was predicatable, the characters were not very three-dimensional. The story was set in Connecticut but I kept thinking this book had been written for a British audience or adapted from another story because who in CT fills their car with "petrol" or parks it in a "car park"? And American Santas don't wear "cotton wool" beards. Who edited this book and didn't pick up on that? Skip this one.

menza menz

not horrible, not a page turner, pleasant and predictable.....

Not Worth It

I have read a lot of Jane Green's books. This one had a lot of lead up with a quick ending that was boring. There was so much going for this book that the ending could have been explosive and exciting. Instead it was neat and boring. I question reading any future Jane Green's books. I love Jemima J. It was the first book of Jane Green's that I read and my favorite.

Overall A Good Read

This is the 3rd book I have read from Jane Green. I loved The Beach House, did not love Second Chance, and liked this book. Green takes us into the lives of the wealthy, through the mazes the weave and the unexpected events so many people have encountered. She also gives a touch of thrill as the plot evolves to include a mysterious celebrity, an abusive boyfriend, a pathological liar with addicitions, and the group of women who are friends and how they are all somehow connected to the unfolding drama. The characters are likable and I found myself wanting to find out the ending to see how it all played out. I was a bit disappointed in the quick wrap-up ending, but it was still well done. It's not one of the most exciting books I have read, but it is a fun, quick read that I would recommend.

Kept my interest

I enjoyed the story and the characters. At times the writing seemed a bit simple or repetitive, which surprised me as I have read Jane Green before and didn't remember the other books being this way. But all in all I liked the book.

Dune Road, a remarkable trip!

Admittedly, when I first delved into "Dune Road" by Jane Green, I felt like I had haphazardly discovered someone's to-do list. Drab, drab, drab. That someone is, namely, Kit Hargrove. In these first pages, the main character has pulled through her divorce effortlessly. Ho-hum, she doesn't mind downsizing into a small house after living the high life with a husband who just can't seem to separate from his work life.now isn't this an overdone idea. And, wouldn't you know it, a job working as an assistant for a famous author, Robert McClore, falls right into Kit's lap.

No conflict. No appeal. I thought Dune Road was going to become Drab Road, but as I forced myself to read, I found the characters and situations took some interesting and surprising turns that roused my curiosity more and more.

A leap above pop psychology, Jane's knowledge of recovery from drugs and alcohol and family interactions is remarkable and right on! Her expertise gives the characters credibility and the elements certainly play into the melodramatic stage that Jane so refreshingly sets.
My connection with the book is the locale of Dune Road. A native of Fairfield County, CT, in fact, on occasion I play tour director on coach motorbuses through the fabulously posh Gold Coast that Jane writes about. Although Jane fictionalized the street and other relevant names of businesses and such, she re-creates the region precisely. I also enjoyed the Easton, CT, backdrops in the book. As a professional day-tripper, however, I must say when she illustrates Maple Row Farm, where Kit and her family go to obtain their Christmas tree, the author describes the farm setting perfectly down to the cider and donuts, but leaves out the oxen. How can you miss those mammoth creatures? They are what make the farm extraordinary. But, hey, we're talking fiction here, so oxen or no oxen, Dune Road, apart from a few bumps along the way, is well worth the trip.

Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell, Author/Book Reviewer/Teacher
CONSUMMATE CONNECTICUT: DAY TRIPS WITH PANACHE

A Memorable Real-Life Story

I have read some of the reviews that others have left for this novel, and I have to say I completly disagree with most of you. Jane Greens first few novels did indeed start off as complete chick-lit, and now they have become just wonderful stories for the everyday woman. Her stories comntain REAL plots, with real problems like divorce, and pain that people overcome everyday. I think her newest novels are more grown up then her previous novels and woman should read them. They show that can can overcome everything in your life if u put your mind to it. 'Dune Road' has interwoven plots that keeps your asking what is going to happen, all the way to the end. I loved that characters, and how to seemed so real to me. I think woman should def read this novel!!

Jane Green is a great author--her books never disappoint!!

I'm glad I bought this book--it was a wonderful read! I couldn't put it down. Jane Green writes wonderful books that everyone can relate to.

Another Rushed Ending

After recently having read Second Chance this was very similar. However, Second Chance (which at the time I thought was just OK) was much better. With both books she adds all of these twists and turns, and then when she gets to her required word count she just wraps everything up in a neat little bow. It makes no sense. The endings in both books were far far too rushed. Especially in Dune Road, things just...ended. After so much build up there was no description of a resolution. Just a paragraph or two. Very disappointing.

Why did she turn into a Danielle Steel wannabe?

I used to love Jane Green's books. They were edgy, funny and contemporary, with great locations such as London, New York and LA. The best one by far - Jamima J.
Unfortunately, her last two books became boring and predictable with goody two shoes heroines and too much talk about cooking and "curling up by the fire" (snore). If I wanted to read about that (which I definitely don't), then I'd read Danielle Steel. Ms. Green seemed to have lost her identity. She went from Chic Lit Fab straight to the retirement home.

Love Jane Green.

Just a good story. Finished in two days.

Don't waste your time or money

I read Jemima J years ago and enjoyed it so I decided to try another Jane Green book. Sadly this one is lacking the charm and humor of her earlier work.