Amanda's Wedding

I bought this book at the dollar store, and I think I paid too much.

Terrible story, full of unoriginal stereotypes and unlikeable characters. The main character, Melanie, is shuffled through one pathetic situation after another with no redeeming qualities. At least Bridget Jones had charm. We are somehow supposed to like a woman who: treats her roommate like crap just because she's odd, skips work all the time for selfish reasons (and only gets transfered to another department instead of having her ass fired), worships a boyfriend who cheats on her, remains friends with a woman who treats her like crap to her face, shows no sign of intelligence... I can go on and on about how dislikeable Melanie is. Scenes that are supposed to depict show more her as cute or quirky come off as just sad. It is laughable how she lets everyone get one over on her- even her best friend, Fran, whom we're supposed to believe is so close to Melanie, yet steals the terrible boyfriend she always openly despised. Oh, but it's all OK, because the two gals are BFFs again at the end, because Fran was just being her usual slutty self, ha ha! Really, I wonder if the author ever met a woman of three-dimensional depth, because it's not evident by her female characters. The titular Amanda is the alpha bitch whom we've seen a hundred times before, complete with a raving tantrum that finally is her undoing. Fran is the promiscuous best friend, (Oh, that Fran, she'll make out with anyone, including that married guy!) And Melanie is the self-loathing, masochistic heroine always looking for a guy to make her feel better about herself. Her sudden romance with Amanda's would-be groom in the last chapters is laughable, especially since the novel spent so much time building up her potential with the groom's brother Angus.

Besides the terrible plot and poor characters, the reader is plagued with terrible writing and bad jokes. The book jacket notes that the author tried out material in the book on the stand-up circuit, and I can only wonder if polite laughter convinced her she was on to something.

I only added this to my library because I have truly found the worst book I've ever read, and had to write about it. I didn't crack this book open expecting Shakespeare, but the story doesn't even have the light fluffiness that makes typical chick lit books enjoyable. I'd feel embarrassed for the author if I suspected that she knew what she wrote was vapid junk. show less

All the right elements are in place - fun loving pair of friends, love lost and love found, miscues and miscommunications. But.....yes, there's a but. I know and love Colgan's current works. You can absolutely tell the difference between then and now. The characters in Amanda's Wedding are not likeable. They're often crude and rude, not at all what I want in a warm, fuzzy chick lit read. I want to be on board with the characters, but found I wasn't on board or on side with Mel at all. Usually in this genre, I feel like I could be friends with the lead character. Quirky is good. But, these are just mean girls. The only characters I liked were the McConald brothers - and I had a hard time fathoming why they liked Mel and Fran. I did show more indeed finish the book just to see the ending. Yes this was a first book - and it shows. But....you can see the potential. Colgan's writing now is warm and wonderful and oh so good. So, if you've not read Colgan, pick up one of those later books - you'll love it. show less

I'll say first that I really like Jenny Colgan. I follow her on Twitter and she is funny and cool and I really like reading her thoughts. I have also read and liked quite a few of her books. They are usually light and frothy and just very easy to read and enjoy.

This one really missed the mark for me. I only looked it up after I read it, but according to Wikipedia, this is her oldest novel - published in the year 2000.

It doesn't actually feel that long ago to me - but this book really does feel dated. I would suspect if Jenny had the chance to change some things about - she might - it is not super offensive - but there were a few moments in it that I felt were pretty jarring in today's world.

The Novel also suffers from a lack of show more likable characters. It is really hard to sympathize with the main character who is really a mess and pretty mean to all those around her. Then there is just a cavalcade of really flawed people around her. I read it on audio and the reader was good so I did get through it - but it really lacked the charm that Colgan's later books so adeptly showcase. show less

As with all Jenny Colgan books, this one will make you laugh out loud. It's one of her older books but it's a lot of fun to read. Long time friends Melanie and Fran are busy looking for love -- or at least for sex - in all the wrong places. Their evil friend from school has snagged a Scottish lord ad is planning a wedding. Will they be invited? Will they act properly if they are? This is a quick fun book and I enjoyed the two girls antics throughout.

One of her earlier books, Colgan's ability to write slightly bonkers central characters who you almost instantly connect with is firmly established. The plot is no surprise, but then who cares? It's easy going, fun rom com reading at its best.

From the book jacket: Meet Melanie Pepper, a spirited twenty-something who lives in the scruffy end of South London, works at the world’s most boring job, and spends her time lusting after a sexy, commitment-phobic, pop-star wannabe. Join her and her best friend, Fran, in the treacherous trenches of today’s singles scene as they cope with Amanda-envy, Melanie’s on again, off again relationship, the proverbial nice guy who may or may not be “just a friend,” and a wedding where she isn’t a bride, or even a bridesmaid.

My reactions
Meh, trending towards dreadful. This was Colgan’s debut work and I’m glad I’ve read others by her before this one, or I’d never have read anything else she’s written.

Basically, two show more twenty-somethings try to sabotage their “friend’s” wedding. Yes, Amanda is a spoiled, self-serving “princess,” but Melanie and Fran are not what I’d call role models of new adult behavior.

This book just seems as if the author is trying too hard … to be clever, to be cute, to be sexy. But then, I’m way past this stage in life (and when I was in my twenties, I didn’t behave like Fran and Melanie). My nieces are in their twenties, and they don’t behave like this, either.

The jacket blurbs promise this is “witty” “compulsively comical” and “funny and insightful.” I didn’t think of those descriptions fit; I just found it tedious. I only finished because it satisfied a couple of challenges.

In the future, I’ll stick to the cozier series books I’ve come to enjoy by Colgan. show less

Ummm, let's just say, there's nothing funny about rape and making light of the subject the way Jenny did in this book is absolutely not acceptable. I am a fan of Jenny's books, in general, but this one (aside from the unfortunate choice to joke about such a subject) is a total miss