Claudia Riess

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written and engaging novel about love, sex, avoiding both, and falling into one or the other. I'd best describe this as a rom-com for the literati set. It was amusing, deft, emotional, and endearing.

The main characters, Glenda and Eugene, are upper-middle-class New Yorkers with small daughters who attend the same school. The comedy of manners begins when one of their daughters is caught by the other parent fondling the private parts of one of the naked statues show more in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The comedy continues, through one odd run-in or another. Their paths cross several times in several situations, and a friendship of a kind develops. There are hints of a "Harry Met Sally" relationship here, complete with funny sidekicks in the friends category, and farcical situations that are comical in a Woody Allen-ish, rather than a Judd Apatow-ish, way.

The characters are well-drawn, sympathetic and endearing. Glenda's quirks, habits and personality are off-putting at the beginning, both for the reader as well as for other characters, but the story slowly reveals her backstory and emotional vulnerabilities, and soon she is endeared to us. Eugene is equally quirky, in different ways, and has similarly difficult histories that explain his own idiosyncrasies. Separately, they're likable enough, but together, they're magic, their repartee bubbling like newly opened champagne. I enjoyed their relationship, their self-awareness both as separate characters and as a couple, and their intellectual delving into their own and each other's foibles.

The author has a light and ironic touch, portraying her characters with wit, insight, and humor.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a review copy, and I look forward to reading more from this author. show less

Thank you to Marcia Rosen, who provided a copy in a Giveaway.
Ok... I opened package and pulled out this book. The cover is only a falling wineglass (dropped in shock, I presume).... sure, I'll open it... oh! it's signed by author on title page (she took time to sign it, I guess I can take time to read it, maybe)... look: she included her business card (use as a bookmark)... page one titled Escape. (Why is she running in panic? Quick, turn page)... Chapter One. Eight weeks earlier... (Eight show more weeks??) OK, now I'm hooked...
WOW! I will not give the story away, however, I will say I am very glad I received the book for free because everyone else will be paying money for it! One line from the book says it best: "There could't have been a sweeter substitute for orgasm." show less

This story has the freshest plot and characters. That made the book much better than comparable books. In the beginning we are introduced to Ellen Grace, who worked for the Greendale Chronicle. One of her main assignments may have been a major detriment to herself. It was to interview the Grahams, who moved into the hoity toity old Halsy House. Ellen thought nothing of this interview.

While there, she stayed to help them unpack and to get closr to Sophia. Graham kept his distance. Then one show more day she saw him near his job at Colombia University with another woman. Ellen followed her ALL the way home. Not long after, Ellen was invited to a party Sophia was throwing, along with a secret for her and Graham. This is when the cow kicks the farmer! Sophia spots Ellen at the party and goes ballistic, screamng to get her out of her house.

Ellen, nor us readers, can understand why Sophia is so upset. Ellen ran upstairs to try to find out. Next thing you know, you will have to read the book to find out!!!! Disappointed or underwhelmed, absolutely not! Claudia Riess is guaranteed to blow your mind with this wonderful suspense mystery thriller!

Thank you to Archway Publishing for giving me an e-ARC of this book to read and give my honest review. show less

Love and Other Hazards by Claudia Riess.
This book starts right in with adult situations although it's a little girl that is crawling all over a male unclothes statue.
Mother is there and uses it as a learning experience. There is also a man there with his little daughter and they realize both the kids go to the same school.
The adults are not compatible but they are thrown together at work.
Enjoyed learning about Russian foods at dinner and how the words are defined.
Didn't care for how some show more will have sex with others although seeing another. It's just the way I was brought up.
This is NY and you can feel the atmosphere of the locations of where each live. Misunderstandings occur and men are mishandled.
Discussing who the father is having sex with is just not my idea of a family talk. Sex itself doesn't really show they care much for the other as it's more an animal instinct to have sex.
There are a lot of characters and I got easily confused as to who was who. show less