Very formulated. Couldn't bring myself to finish it. ( )

Men, put this book down. Don't you see? It says "Sisterhood"...right there on the cover. For women only, but, for us, a delightful read. ( )

Really easy and enjoyable to read. The characters are memorable and really draw you in to their world. ( )

Great fun

I read this book as part of a BookCrossing ring in 2004. When I received it in the mail, I'd just seen the film for the very first time, so I was expecting to find it a little bit tedious, thanks to the story being so fresh in my mind. I was very pleasantly surprised -- if you've seen the film but never read the book, read it! The film version, despite being good entertainment in its own right, pales by comparison.

I love the way Rebecca Wells writes. She weaves vividly colorful images of locales and characters' personalities, and gives a depth to each character that was absent in the film version. The story is a deliciously sentimental tale of friendship, family, and making amends out of long-held grudges and resentments.