raeanne's review against another edition
2.0
When first reading this, I didn't like it. It was pretentious with a ridiculous cast of unbelievable rich white people running around like morons. The author hardly took any time to describe the places, or people for that matter, unless the Meg decided to use her so called wit to describe them. Like what the hell does the houses and rooms actually look like or Micheal the love interest for that matter, or good lord, Meg herself? I do however know what Berry the "slow" creeper Meg hates look like. I wanted to put it down and hate it but since I hate leaving things unfinished even more, I finished it. I want to preserve my list of its-so-horrible-I-couldn't-finish-it list and didn't want to add a so-so book to it.
Its an amateur cozy-mystery and it is actually more about the cast of clowns the authors wants us to believe than anything else. Meg did hardly any sleuthing and the mystery itself was so underrated because Meg herself was hardly bothered by it. There was no suspense about it, no build up, it was utterly lame on the mystery front. Its more of a rich white eccentric family and chaos ensues kind of book, like a family vacation summer movie. The murders were just mentioned as an inconvenience to the family in the background most of the time. Someone rids off a cliff in your backyard RIGHT in FRONT of YOU because someone tampered with it trying to kill your father and its just thank god we found someone to replace him as an usher in the wedding? WTF?
But Oh lord! Nobody is enjoying the party or eating the food because of a would be poisoner, oh woes me. Get the mentally challenged person to test all the food to ensure its safe for you. Yes, that character is a major creep but I have major problems with the privilege and bigotry shown in this book. The author totally nails the selfish stuck snobs that are completely intolerance so well it makes me wonder about the author herself.
This is the part that frustrates me,it picked up beyond page 100 and I actually laughed out loud at several places. So despite everything, this book definitely gets points for making me laugh. I don't want to like this book but few authors make me laugh out loud.
I hope it picks up in the next book or its going to be a long love-hate relationship. I can't believe I'm reading more. I hate that I even like it a little, even if its because it made me laugh.
Its an amateur cozy-mystery and it is actually more about the cast of clowns the authors wants us to believe than anything else. Meg did hardly any sleuthing and the mystery itself was so underrated because Meg herself was hardly bothered by it. There was no suspense about it, no build up, it was utterly lame on the mystery front. Its more of a rich white eccentric family and chaos ensues kind of book, like a family vacation summer movie. The murders were just mentioned as an inconvenience to the family in the background most of the time. Someone rids off a cliff in your backyard RIGHT in FRONT of YOU because someone tampered with it trying to kill your father and its just thank god we found someone to replace him as an usher in the wedding? WTF?
But Oh lord! Nobody is enjoying the party or eating the food because of a would be poisoner, oh woes me. Get the mentally challenged person to test all the food to ensure its safe for you. Yes, that character is a major creep but I have major problems with the privilege and bigotry shown in this book. The author totally nails the selfish stuck snobs that are completely intolerance so well it makes me wonder about the author herself.
This is the part that frustrates me,it picked up beyond page 100 and I actually laughed out loud at several places. So despite everything, this book definitely gets points for making me laugh. I don't want to like this book but few authors make me laugh out loud.
I hope it picks up in the next book or its going to be a long love-hate relationship. I can't believe I'm reading more. I hate that I even like it a little, even if its because it made me laugh.
kate01970's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
minty's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this "cozy mystery" much at all--the multiple wedding premise being eye-rolling to me from the start, the main character who is a metal sculptor (??), and such a series of madcap disaster and mysteries as to be excessive. This could be a fluffy fun movie I guess, but I found it tedious to read. The dad, and the relationship between the dad and the main character, were charming, but that was about it. No interest in reading another book with a main character who is all about solving a myster but ignores every obvious clue around her about her own life.
leasummer's review against another edition
4.0
This was written in 1999 I believe and the use of "cellular phone". For the late 90s, it was relatively more progressive toward the gay community than I would have expected and it aged okay.
As for the mystery, it was really engaging. There's so many weddings (3!), some really over the top wedding antics, some potentially crazy antics by suitors. I enjoyed how it all unfolded!
I look forward to the next one!
As for the mystery, it was really engaging. There's so many weddings (3!), some really over the top wedding antics, some potentially crazy antics by suitors. I enjoyed how it all unfolded!
I look forward to the next one!
saucyknits's review against another edition
4.0
Now re-reading this funny, charming and witty series!
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Harmless, clean, escapist fun. Don't expect to be challenged, but it's definitely a good '15 minutes on the bus' commute book.
katewrites's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
lakecake's review against another edition
3.0
I liked some things about this book--Meg, the main character is a hoot, her father is awesome, and I liked her relationship with Michael. That said....everyone else in the book was SO ANNOYING. (Sister Pam and brother Rob seem ok, but they don't do much, so they can't really count.) It took forever to solve the mystery, and way too much time was spent on the supposedly zany relatives and members of Meg's hometown.
I would try another of these, because Meg as a main character has a lot going for her, but...I'm kind of amazed this book won so many awards. It just didn't hold together for me.
I would try another of these, because Meg as a main character has a lot going for her, but...I'm kind of amazed this book won so many awards. It just didn't hold together for me.
anglesmith's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75