These Girls

This is the third book by Sarah Pekkanen that I've read, and it

This is the third book by Sarah Pekkanen that I've read, and it may be my favorite so far. It's about three roommates who work together at a beauty magazine in NY. Like all of her books, it explores relationships, this time between female friends. It was a fast read, but I liked how it wasn't predictable. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but then there would be twists and turns that would take me by surprise. This is an enjoyable book that has a lot to say about how we need our "girlfriends."

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read Author

Cate, Renee and Abby are These Girls. They are three girls you can’t help but fall in love with. All three girls have history, baggage…things they are hiding…things they don’t want to talk about. Each girl has her own story, and their three stories overlap each other until they are braided together forming a strong friendship.

The smart, sexy and talented Cate believes her career is like a house of cards, if someone figures out her lie her career will fall apart. With a new promotion at Gloss, Cate feels she has something to prove the boy’s club and to herself. As her career seems to hit some bumps in the road, Cate recognizes she is missing what is going on right in front of her.

Renee wants no needs to get the promotion as the beauty editor of Gloss and she is willing to do whatever it takes. Even if whatever it takes means drastic measures to ‘fit’ into the idea of what a beautiful person must look like. The beauty of Renee is a beauty she doesn’t seem to see in the mirror. She is fun, funny and loving. Anyone would want to be her best friend, but she doesn’t realize her true beauty.

Abby had been happily working as a nanny and fallen in love with the little girl in her charge, Annabelle. Out of nowhere, Abby rushes into the story as a mystery--you will pull one layer after another to finally unveil her pain.

The more and more I read the deeper emotionally I connected to all three characters. I don’t always relate to characters or maybe to just one, but I related on some level to all three women! I think what surprised me the most, was while reading These Girls I felt as if I was becoming part of the friendship that was blooming. They became my friends. A definite recommened!

I just have to add this one line that JUMPED out of the book, “I think the hardest things to talk about are also the most important things to talk about,” (Pekkanen 306) expresses why we need good friends. Now go grab yourself a copy of These Girls!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable

POsted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Sabrina
Review Copy Provided by Book Spark PR

I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting into when I requested this book to review. I expected heartache, friendship going above and beyond the call of duty and maybe a small tease of romance. What I got out of it was so much more. Normally when you read books about friendships, you get people that have known each other for years. All through college or high school and that is why they are still friends, even if they have grown apart. What intrigued me about this book was this was NOT the case. The girls didn’t really know each other at the beginning of the novel, and what they went through for each other even at the young stage in their friendship was incredible. I don’t know if I could do it. I’d like to think I could for someone I didn’t really know, but… I dunno. This book takes a hard look at what women give up for their job, the stresses they can feel in their everyday life, and the people that make it better and worthwhile. I don’t want to say anything more that that as everything as it is revealed in the story is important to discover with the characters. Suffice to say that this is worth reading if you like friendship stories. My only complaint was one little thing left undone at the end of the story that I thought should have been worked out, but that is me and I can see why the author left it as ambiguous as she did.

This is what chick-lit should be

This is a fun book that tracks a year or so in the life of three very different girls, cataloging their failures and successes via both inner monologues and their own views of each other. Each has problems that the others struggle to understand as they go about their lives in New York City, most of which revolve around the magazine industry.

While lacking the depth of the author's previous book Skipping a Beat and falling somewhat short of the gold standard for this genre (that being the engaging train wreck that is Bridget Jones' life), this book's realistic details, fully fleshed-out characters, and engaging storyline raise it well above the quality of average chick-lit fluff. No need to be embarrassed if you are spotted reading this one beside the pool.

I was anxiously awaiting the release of this latest work by Sara

I was anxiously awaiting the release of this latest work by Sarah Pekkanen. I was not disappointed. This story is about the friendship of women. The struggles with career, image and love. I liked that it was told from the perspective of the 3 women, hearing the story of their own feelings and also how they saw each other. Each of them admired by the others for their special qualities but each feeling terribly inadequate. And making us realize that things are not always as they seem.
Well written, complex characters you will love.

Sarah Pekkanen has quickly become a favorite author in women&rsq

Sarah Pekkanen has quickly become a favorite author in women’s fiction. Realistic and relatable relationships are her specialty and in her most recent novel she tackles the ever-special bond between girlfriends, beautifully.

Although work acquaintances Cate and Renee decide to rent a New York apartment together, their friendship has stalled at simply roommates. The addition, however, of Abby, the mysterious and troubled sister of office playboy and Renee’s longtime crush, changes their life forever. As they begin to bond, each of the women discover they are not alone in their own troubles and experiences, suddenly having a place to share, connect and grow.

Best friends around the world rejoice. Pekkanen perfectly presents a heart-warming story of the problems women face and the friends who save them again and again.

Sarah Does It Again!

Another great book from one of my favorite authors. Sarah Pekkanen writes like many of us think. Her stories could be a slice of anyone's life - her books are down to earth and engaging. I especially enjoy that her characters don't need to rely on men to have substance.

Sarah Pekkanen has a way for developing characters that a reader

Sarah Pekkanen has a way for developing characters that a reader can fall in love with at page one. She has the opportunity to develop three unique characters who begin as room mates and end as friends. Cate, Renee and Abby end up living together through different circumstances and each are struggling with hard life situations.

Although I may have not personally related to any of the problems these girls are trying to overcome, I felt like I was really able to experience their full emotions. The reader was given details at precisely the right moment. I was completely impressed by the uniqueness each girl had, their voices were of their own. The other thing that struck a cord with me was the character of New York, I loved how New York was described.

Another Sarah Pekkanen book that I will be passing along to friends and family.

A Lilac Wolf and Stuff Review The cover is classic chick lit -

A Lilac Wolf and Stuff Review

The cover is classic chick lit - flows with Sarah's other novels too. Lone female staring out a window in New York. I'd bet on Abby - I do wish they would have put all three women on the cover.

The story does go from Cate, to Renee and then to Abby. It follows their messed up love lives, and mistakes they have to overcome. I really connected with Renee, having my own issues with weight. The fact that she's in that industry at all proves her worth. And she's not even fat, but compared to all the models and fashionistas she works with, she feels every pound more than anyone else would. She even realizes that when thinking about going back home.

Cate feels the need to prove herself because of a big mistake she made back in college. She comes across as cold and guarded to other people - even she realizes this. But what happened to her in college has to do with it.

Abby - her story makes me want to curl up and cry. You won't find out what is going on in her life until the end. But it keeps you so addicted to the story, along with the other 2 that you won't be able to put it down.

Sarah's writing is so smooth, and the flow is fairly fast - never boring. I truly was sad when the story ended. I fell in love with each and every character...well I'm talking the 3 main ones. There were a few outside ones I wasn't too crazy about, but they were written that way. :o)

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