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okiecozyreader's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
What happens when two women accidentally end up with each other’s bags? And do their shoes change their identities and how people see them?
In this book, like in the movie Desperately Seeking Susan or Vanity Fair by Thackeray, this one started off as a short story in the collection Paris for One, originally written for a women’s fashion magazine about a woman who picks up the wrong gym bag. She wanted to write something lighter and it evolved into this book - what happened to the other woman?
Nisha, who owned a fancy, one of a kind set of Louboutins is left with a plain pair of worn shoes. She arrives back at her hotel to an angry husband who pronounces he wants a divorce and leaves her with only the bathrobe she has on, and even refuses to let her get any of her things out of the hotel.
Meanwhile, Sam is making some presentations, and with the fancy shoes, she becomes more confident and alluring. But her husband, in the midst of depression hardly notices her or the difficulties of her job.
Both are mothers of a single child, who they desperately love. Like in Giver of Stars, this becomes a story of female friendship (in this case in the “solidarity of middle aged women”) and the power of women supporting other women. At the age of 40 or 50, everyone is the survivor of something (about 14 min in below video)
“Who are we when are stripped away of our armor?” “Who are we when we are, literally, forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?”
“Who are we without our uniforms?” “Who are we once everything that is familiar is stripped away?”
“The people who love you take away the armor.” Laura Dave
Loved this interview with Laura Dave for Warwicks Books: https://youtu.be/bSOjrmkAOR8
From book:
“Strength - real strength - is not doing what someone asks you, necessarily. Strength is turning up every day to a situation that is intolerable, unbearable even, just or support the people you love. Strength is being in that terrible room hour after hour even though every cell in your body is telling you it’s too much for you to cope with.” P218 (this is said to one more minor character, but I feel like it relates to all the main characters of the book)
“She feels faintly stupid as she speaks, as if everyone is looking at her, as if it is obvious that she is a middle-aged woman in somebody else’s shoes.” P11
“Nisha Cantor, a woman used to turning heads for twenty-five heads, has donned a cheap black top and nylon trousers and, in her service apron, completely disappeared.” P127
In this book, like in the movie Desperately Seeking Susan or Vanity Fair by Thackeray, this one started off as a short story in the collection Paris for One, originally written for a women’s fashion magazine about a woman who picks up the wrong gym bag. She wanted to write something lighter and it evolved into this book - what happened to the other woman?
Nisha, who owned a fancy, one of a kind set of Louboutins is left with a plain pair of worn shoes. She arrives back at her hotel to an angry husband who pronounces he wants a divorce and leaves her with only the bathrobe she has on, and even refuses to let her get any of her things out of the hotel.
Meanwhile, Sam is making some presentations, and with the fancy shoes, she becomes more confident and alluring. But her husband, in the midst of depression hardly notices her or the difficulties of her job.
Both are mothers of a single child, who they desperately love. Like in Giver of Stars, this becomes a story of female friendship (in this case in the “solidarity of middle aged women”) and the power of women supporting other women. At the age of 40 or 50, everyone is the survivor of something (about 14 min in below video)
“Who are we when are stripped away of our armor?” “Who are we when we are, literally, forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?”
“Who are we without our uniforms?” “Who are we once everything that is familiar is stripped away?”
“The people who love you take away the armor.” Laura Dave
Loved this interview with Laura Dave for Warwicks Books: https://youtu.be/bSOjrmkAOR8
From book:
“Strength - real strength - is not doing what someone asks you, necessarily. Strength is turning up every day to a situation that is intolerable, unbearable even, just or support the people you love. Strength is being in that terrible room hour after hour even though every cell in your body is telling you it’s too much for you to cope with.” P218 (this is said to one more minor character, but I feel like it relates to all the main characters of the book)
“She feels faintly stupid as she speaks, as if everyone is looking at her, as if it is obvious that she is a middle-aged woman in somebody else’s shoes.” P11
“Nisha Cantor, a woman used to turning heads for twenty-five heads, has donned a cheap black top and nylon trousers and, in her service apron, completely disappeared.” P127
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, and Sexual harassment
caitdonlew's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Seemingly simple premise that becomes more complicated by the personal and professional circumstances of the two main female characters. In the beginning, neither is all that likeable, but one evokes sympathy while the other is just rude. As we learn their backgrounds and meet the supporting characters, they both slowly begin to change for the better, but this seemed to be dragged out longer than necessary. I really enjoyed the developing friendships among the women from different backgrounds and some parts were very funny. After all that though, I felt the ending was somewhat rushed and had hoped for more detailed resolution for each of the women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide attempt
christareadswhat's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, and Sexism
icieri's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
rebeccarudisill's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Phil deals with depression throughout the bookmrsjoylovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the free audiobook. Full review to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity