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thegifts's review
Funny, entertaining but it dragged on and on. The ending does not tie up story lines. Super annoying
Predictable
Predictable
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
Vivien Armstrong Gray was covering one of the biggest stories when things went terribly wrong and Vivien ended up getting shot in the butt. After this incident, Vivien has become the butt of everyone’s jokes. Vivien needs a break, so she heads down to stay with her sister, Melanie and her two children, Sheila and Trip.
Vivien soon realizes things aren’t always as they seem in the suburbs. Vivien comes up with the idea to write a news column about the burbs. She calls it Postcards from Suburbia. She writes under a pen name of Scarlett Leigh. Things don’t quite add up in the death of Melanie’s husband, J.J. Vivien decides to do some investigating into his death. How long will Vivien be able to survive in the suburbs?
Magnolia Wednesdays is the first book I have read by author, Wendy Wax. I have wanted to check out her books but just haven’t until now. Vivien has so much life and character to her. The funniest moments were when she was driving. Anyone and everyone had better stay in their homes when Vivien is on the roads. I felt sorry for the poor cop who kept having run ins with Vivien. Though, he got back at her when he made her walk to the gas station in her bath robe. Magnolia Wednesdays does not have to be read on a Wednesday, it can be enjoyed any day or time of the week. Don’t take my word for it, pick up a copy today and see for yourself.
Vivien soon realizes things aren’t always as they seem in the suburbs. Vivien comes up with the idea to write a news column about the burbs. She calls it Postcards from Suburbia. She writes under a pen name of Scarlett Leigh. Things don’t quite add up in the death of Melanie’s husband, J.J. Vivien decides to do some investigating into his death. How long will Vivien be able to survive in the suburbs?
Magnolia Wednesdays is the first book I have read by author, Wendy Wax. I have wanted to check out her books but just haven’t until now. Vivien has so much life and character to her. The funniest moments were when she was driving. Anyone and everyone had better stay in their homes when Vivien is on the roads. I felt sorry for the poor cop who kept having run ins with Vivien. Though, he got back at her when he made her walk to the gas station in her bath robe. Magnolia Wednesdays does not have to be read on a Wednesday, it can be enjoyed any day or time of the week. Don’t take my word for it, pick up a copy today and see for yourself.
robint1981's review against another edition
4.0
Good story, enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters and the others who attend the dance school. There were some aspects of the book that lacked realism
sheila_p's review against another edition
3.0
Total chick lit Southern style. Nothing spectacular and definitely predictable but a good summer read none the less. Take this one to the beach or the pool and enjoy.
thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
3.0
This 400-plus page paperback kept me hooked- I didn't want to put it down, even though I knew I had to at times. It follows main character Vivien Armstrong Gray, a journalist who rebelled against her southern belle upbringing. Fleeing the life she made in NYC with a lot of skeletons in her suitcase, Vivi finds herself sheltered in her sister's home in Atlanta suburbia. Melanie, Vivi's sister, knows this sudden visit is suspicious- her sister was never the family type and only made the occasional holiday appearance. Even when Melanie was in need the most after the passing of her husband J.J., Vivi couldn't seem to handle sticking around for very long.
As Vivi learns to navigate the life of suburbia, she can't help but let her journalistic nature get the best of her. Emerging herself in Melanie's daily life, Vivi seeks out stories for her column and tries to find the truth behind her brother-in-law's sudden death. While taking belly-dancing classes at her sister's dance studio, she learns that there's more going on in suburbia than she expected, and more complicated issues than her alias suggests every week in the paper. When things come to a head by the end of the novel, you can't stop turning the pages.
I give this one a good recommendation for all it's interesting plot twists and entertaining banter between characters. Though I did have a few minor issues with point of view changing abruptly and paragraph breaks inconsistently defining the direction of the story, it wasn't something that I got hung up on long enough to distract me from the action.
As Vivi learns to navigate the life of suburbia, she can't help but let her journalistic nature get the best of her. Emerging herself in Melanie's daily life, Vivi seeks out stories for her column and tries to find the truth behind her brother-in-law's sudden death. While taking belly-dancing classes at her sister's dance studio, she learns that there's more going on in suburbia than she expected, and more complicated issues than her alias suggests every week in the paper. When things come to a head by the end of the novel, you can't stop turning the pages.
I give this one a good recommendation for all it's interesting plot twists and entertaining banter between characters. Though I did have a few minor issues with point of view changing abruptly and paragraph breaks inconsistently defining the direction of the story, it wasn't something that I got hung up on long enough to distract me from the action.
fudge's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
jenwestpfahl's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was mildly entertaining, the way junk food is mildly satisfying. A lot of the characters actions were predictable yet unrealistic at the same time. They acted in a way that people only act in fiction.
I did really enjoy the relationship development between Vivi and Shelby.
I did really enjoy the relationship development between Vivi and Shelby.
macwolf01's review against another edition
3.0
I'd actually give this book 3 1/2 stars but it won't let me. I really like Wendy Wax's writing style and the book was a quick easy read. This story bounces back and forth from the perspectives of 2 sisters. Vivi gets shot in the bum, quits her job in an emotional explosion and then finds out she's pregnant. She heads down to live with her widowed sister and her two teens.
~~~SPOILER~~~
My only complaint with this book is that NO ONE is so completely self delusional about their own life as Vivi is written. She sees and writes about the 'truth' of everyone elses life but when it comes to her own she spends the WHOLE book (until the very end) before she starts to believe that the baby is really coming and that maybe she should have told Stone (her boyfriend of 3 years ... who's in Afghanistan) REALLY NOT BLOODY LIKELY! Otherwise, a pretty good book.
~~~SPOILER~~~
My only complaint with this book is that NO ONE is so completely self delusional about their own life as Vivi is written. She sees and writes about the 'truth' of everyone elses life but when it comes to her own she spends the WHOLE book (until the very end) before she starts to believe that the baby is really coming and that maybe she should have told Stone (her boyfriend of 3 years ... who's in Afghanistan) REALLY NOT BLOODY LIKELY! Otherwise, a pretty good book.
marisahhh's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining, but the big "mystery" was apparent about 1/3 of the way in.
teresat's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it
I knew this was the book for me when I read the Gray siblings' names - Vivien, Melanie and Hamilton. GWTW is my all time favorite movie, though I shamefully admit never having read the book.
Magnolia Wednesdays is about two sisters getting to know each other as adults. Vivien has always looked down on the "simpler" life of her sister, as she is an investigative reporter for a national news network in NYC. Circumstances send her to the Atlanta suburbs to live with her sister and her children. Without going into detail so that the story is not spoiled, Vivien discovers that lifestyles and choices other than those like hers, are just as busy, messy, meaningful and important. This is a story of self discovery, redemption, friendship and family. It is funny and poignant, two attributes of a great read. Enjoy
I knew this was the book for me when I read the Gray siblings' names - Vivien, Melanie and Hamilton. GWTW is my all time favorite movie, though I shamefully admit never having read the book.
Magnolia Wednesdays is about two sisters getting to know each other as adults. Vivien has always looked down on the "simpler" life of her sister, as she is an investigative reporter for a national news network in NYC. Circumstances send her to the Atlanta suburbs to live with her sister and her children. Without going into detail so that the story is not spoiled, Vivien discovers that lifestyles and choices other than those like hers, are just as busy, messy, meaningful and important. This is a story of self discovery, redemption, friendship and family. It is funny and poignant, two attributes of a great read. Enjoy