daynpitseleh's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely not as good as 'I was told there'd be cake.' If you haven't read anything by Sloane Crosley yet, do yourself a favor and read 'I was told..' before this one.
riaana's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed by this book. There were brief flashes of excellence in the form of well-timed comedic delivery, nice turns of phrase, or an emotionally compelling moment scattered throughout the essays, but the presence of a few great bits served mostly to highlight that the rest of the content was lacking in quality. Sometimes severely.
I hope by her next book, she'll have figured out how to sustain the funny and the charm for more than a few pages at a time.
I hope by her next book, she'll have figured out how to sustain the funny and the charm for more than a few pages at a time.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
While this one wasn't as good as "I Thought There'd Be Cake" (which is one of my all-time favorites), it was still very funny! I definitely want to be friends with Sloane Crosley.
mrsthrift's review against another edition
1.0
Lately I have been really procrastinating on my goodreads reviews for no good reason. It's winter! What better thing do I have to do with my time? I am determined to break this streak with this book. Why? Because I need for this book to be completely OVER and out of my life FOREVER. Was it only six months ago that I read Sloane Crosley's other book? I think it was.
[bc:I Was Told There'd Be Cake|6981434|I Was Told There'd Be Cake|Sloane Crosley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275621970s/6981434.jpg|2201026]
[b:I Was Told There'd Be Cake|6981434|I Was Told There'd Be Cake|Sloane Crosley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275621970s/6981434.jpg|2201026]
I only "sort of" liked that book, although I gave it a generous three stars rating. This is the goodreads equivalent of a pity fuck. I didn't really love the book, but I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt and shoulder the burden for the missed connection. Certainly if this lady ends up on so many year-end lists, if she has written two books in as many years, and her market saturation is, in one word, extensive, there must be something redeeming in her writing? Is it just me? Did I miss the awesomeness?
No. This book is terrible. It's barely funny. Mostly it's annoying over and over again. There was not a single essay that I didn't say "Please get over yourself" every other page. Boo hoo, my boyfriend was cheating on his girlfriend and I was the other woman and I was fencing stolen fancy home furnishings at the same time how profound. Boo hoo let me tell you about my crazy roommate, lol, roommates are crazy. Boo hoo I went to Lisbon/Alaska/Paris and the trip wasn't as perfect as it should be, let me share my trauma. I really try to find something positive in every book I read, but it's a serious challenge with this book. She's unlikeable, but not in a charming or appealing way. And I usually like unlikable people. Her life seems like it may have been interesting, but not much more interesting than any other girl you went to college with. I had to drag myself through the last 100 pages of this book, and I'm stuck paying late fines for it, and I am so indignant about that.
Sloane worked in the publishing industry and that's the singular reason I can imagine for how she wrote two books and *anyone* read them. I heard she quit her day job to write full time - dear god. I hope that works out for her, but I am never reading one of her books again.
[bc:I Was Told There'd Be Cake|6981434|I Was Told There'd Be Cake|Sloane Crosley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275621970s/6981434.jpg|2201026]
[b:I Was Told There'd Be Cake|6981434|I Was Told There'd Be Cake|Sloane Crosley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275621970s/6981434.jpg|2201026]
I only "sort of" liked that book, although I gave it a generous three stars rating. This is the goodreads equivalent of a pity fuck. I didn't really love the book, but I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt and shoulder the burden for the missed connection. Certainly if this lady ends up on so many year-end lists, if she has written two books in as many years, and her market saturation is, in one word, extensive, there must be something redeeming in her writing? Is it just me? Did I miss the awesomeness?
No. This book is terrible. It's barely funny. Mostly it's annoying over and over again. There was not a single essay that I didn't say "Please get over yourself" every other page. Boo hoo, my boyfriend was cheating on his girlfriend and I was the other woman and I was fencing stolen fancy home furnishings at the same time how profound. Boo hoo let me tell you about my crazy roommate, lol, roommates are crazy. Boo hoo I went to Lisbon/Alaska/Paris and the trip wasn't as perfect as it should be, let me share my trauma. I really try to find something positive in every book I read, but it's a serious challenge with this book. She's unlikeable, but not in a charming or appealing way. And I usually like unlikable people. Her life seems like it may have been interesting, but not much more interesting than any other girl you went to college with. I had to drag myself through the last 100 pages of this book, and I'm stuck paying late fines for it, and I am so indignant about that.
Sloane worked in the publishing industry and that's the singular reason I can imagine for how she wrote two books and *anyone* read them. I heard she quit her day job to write full time - dear god. I hope that works out for her, but I am never reading one of her books again.
tessypie's review against another edition
3.0
I had read Sloane Crosley's first collection of essays, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, and loved her writing style. Her biting Manhattan sarcasm seeps into every word. However, I feel the endings fall slightly flat. The build-up is amazing, but the finale is a little less so. Her writing seems to have matured a bit in this second attempt. I particularly enjoyed the final essay where she managed to perfectly describe the exact moment I am currently experiencing in my stage of a break up. Genius. Best of all, this is a super quick read. Give it two sittings and you'll be done.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't find it humorous, as it was billed, or even all that interesting. Usually I don't give memoirs/personal essay collections less than 3 stars, but this one is an exception.
literallykristen's review against another edition
3.0
Well it wasn't as hilarious as David Sedaris' essays are but it was amusing. I particularly liked Le Paris! though I don't know why exactly. Overall, I think I liked this collection better than I Was Told There'd be Cake.