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teresja's review against another edition
3.5
Some things in this book haven't aged very well, but it was a fun, easy read anyway.
hamie58's review against another edition
3.0
Over all the book was good, the beginning and the end I couldn't put the book down but the middle started to get boring.
cooperca's review against another edition
5.0
The Boy Next Door was an absolute wonderful surprise. Loved it from the first email to the last. The characters came through loud and clear, each with their own distinctive voice. Perfect afternoon read that left me feeling satisfied (not as satisfying as cheesecake...but close).
Hearing everybody's take on Mel's love life was brilliant. I've read other epistolary novels, but this one has moved to my top 5.
Just a delight!
Hearing everybody's take on Mel's love life was brilliant. I've read other epistolary novels, but this one has moved to my top 5.
Just a delight!
winemakerssister's review against another edition
4.0
A light, funny, epistolary novel written entirely in emails. Fast-paced, with loveable MCs and some laugh out loud moments. I didn't realize it until I read it, but it was just what I needed.
mairelon's review against another edition
2.0
Oh this book has not aged well.
And then there's the whole "Transvestite Killer" story line. Yikes. Yikes Yikes Yikes Yikes.
With a few alterations for today's readers, this could be a really fun read but it was hard to get away from how very early 2000's it was, particularly regarding ethics oft the era.
Spoiler
And I don't even know where to start. Maybe with the fact that a Crime Reporter gleefully and repeatedly commits rape by fraud which is, unfortunate. You think he of all people would be able to identify a crime when he's committing it.And then there's the whole "Transvestite Killer" story line. Yikes. Yikes Yikes Yikes Yikes.
With a few alterations for today's readers, this could be a really fun read but it was hard to get away from how very early 2000's it was, particularly regarding ethics oft the era.
finitha's review against another edition
4.0
One of my friends who is studying to become a nurse, once sent me a letter. Oh, not a mail, but a handwritten original letter. Needless to say, I am surprised. Glad to know that the post office still exists, thanks to the convent mode hostels which still scrutinises our letters and allows us to make a call to home only on Sundays.
With this almost extinction of letters, gone are the days of epistolary novels. Or so I thought, until I have come by this one. Samuel Richardson has written the first novel in English, 'Pamela', in a series of letters and it seems the tradition is not forgotten. Well, except for 'Colour Purple' of Alice Walker and 'Dracula' (though it is in the form of a diary), I don't have much favourites in this mode.
This one is the modern form; story is all in e-mails and rest is left to the imagination of the reader. Its all about a romance which blooms in a crime scene; too bad, its all predictable. At least Cabot has made an attempt with an ordinary story. What should we expect next? A novel made out of SMS! (As for that matter Sophie Kinsella's 'I've Got Your Number' is a partial attempt in this field)
With this almost extinction of letters, gone are the days of epistolary novels. Or so I thought, until I have come by this one. Samuel Richardson has written the first novel in English, 'Pamela', in a series of letters and it seems the tradition is not forgotten. Well, except for 'Colour Purple' of Alice Walker and 'Dracula' (though it is in the form of a diary), I don't have much favourites in this mode.
This one is the modern form; story is all in e-mails and rest is left to the imagination of the reader. Its all about a romance which blooms in a crime scene; too bad, its all predictable. At least Cabot has made an attempt with an ordinary story. What should we expect next? A novel made out of SMS! (As for that matter Sophie Kinsella's 'I've Got Your Number' is a partial attempt in this field)
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
After a re-read, this book has gone from 5 stars to 4 stars. I don't remember getting annoyed while reading it the first time, but this second time I did. It's written all in e-mails, which I love, but too many of the characters wrote exactly the same with the same quirks and everything. Still a cute story that's a keeper for me when I need something fun and quick.
lgb98's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0