I really liked this book, especially after seeing the movie. It gives you a lot more insight into the characters. Fun, light read. ( )

It was off to a mediocre start: an insecure heroine, a dazzling best friend and a handsome boy. While it did improve as the plot developed, there were definitely some long bouts of annoying introspection and self-pitying. Luckily, Darcy's antics, Hillary's straight-shooting ways and Ethan's charm save the book, and the reader is compelled to follow Rachel's romantic adventures peppered with humour and sentimentality.
A novel that is not super high on my list, but makes for a relaxing read. ( )

I'm sorry. I couldn't get past the cheating. There are just some things you don't do. I didn't feel sympathy for them. ( )

It was good in a weird way. I didn't like the characters all that much or what they did or the situation they found themselves in, but I enjoyed reading this. Does that make sense? This was a bittersweet story. ( )

Heavens, what a tense novel this is. I am finding the dilemma faced by Dex (the about to be groom) and the maid of honour to be very real. I don't know yet how it will be resolved - one part to go.

OK. This novel was excruciating! Of course, we only saw one point of view, Rachel's, but how on earth did she stick with Darcy. I thought I maybe didn't understand it because I never had such a friend from childhood, with all those memories to share before I married. But, a long time ago I read about not tolerating crazy people - they suck you dry. Leave you with a deficit in life. My good sense tells me the same should be said of boring narcissists like Darcy.

Is Dex spineless? as Ethan says. Certainly Rachel is spineless ... she values being rational and caring and patient - but she's excessively self-sacrificing - or how much is she a coward? or disastrously passive?

Until finally she asks him the million dollar question. Up till then, she avoids talking to him. She's afraid of the possible outcome if they make decisions. When she makes her demand of him, she doesn't talk about it. She doesn't even explain the Marcus thing. Always, each of them, they are strangely opaque. Not honest? Yet Dex always seemed earnest with Rachel - it mustn't the partner of honest that I thought it was. In the light of what he has told Rachel, how can he then not leave Darcy? He doesn't explain much of the reasoning behind his final decision to Rachel, and what's more thoroughly annoying, Rachel doesn't ask him, and she doesn't fight for him. One can't help but think her love for him is a little shallow, bound up in her passivity, and her competitiveness with Darcy.

Why didn't Rachel bow out of being the maid of honour? Wouldn't that have been the right thing to do once she'd decided to continue her affair with Dex? Parallel to what we expected of Dex - that he should withdraw from the engagement, once the liaison became an affair and he allowed it to continue through the lead up to the wedding.

I loved and hated this novel. it was long, drawn out - which is a pet peeve of mine. I was sick of Rachel's "voice" - or was it simply anger at the stalemate? - Rachel is the narrator. I was frustrated at not getting inside Dex's head. I could do without getting inside Darcy's head, which is why I have no desire to read Something Blue, since it is supposed to be from Darcy's perspective.

I'd have to agree with some other comments below, that this wasn't a romantic comedy - it was neither romantic or a comedy. The writing was clever, and to me it was more of an issues novel.

I'm curious about the movie, but I'm afraid I would find it too depressing!

PS: I've read some comments about "cheating" being the theme of the novel. Mmmm. Rachel is racked with guilt about it. I don't get that sense from Dex. Though he doesn't want to cause Darcy pain ... It seemed to me the guilt should be reversed. He was the one who should have felt guilt, as he was betraying both women by not committing wholeheartedly to either. Who was he? He was painted as quite noble - possessing worthy traits. Yet his conduct was reprehensible. It didn't seem logical that he would stay with Darcy unless it was out of pure cowardice. And Rachel's guilt distorted her good sense - as evidenced by her continued sycophantic behaviour towards Darcy. I found my feelings about Dex's reprehensibility startling - as I usually believe it is the single person - the one outside the established relationship - around which her life spins and goes nowhere - who plays the fool, and forfeits her life. And this is somewhat deserved since they are the outsider. But in this novel, I didn't think that - it shows the manipulative power of both Rachel's narration AND her passivity. Most of the time I felt that Dex alone was the cheater. Of course, both cheated. If he had chosen Rachel, I could have forgiven them both ...

Jennifer Wiltsie is the audiobook's narrator - she has a charming velvety voice, and I have a feeling Rachel benefits more than she should from her talent! ( )