The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square

This is the second book by Sara Donati (aka Rosina Lippi) that I've read this year and she is rapidly becoming a favorite author. Though I don't rate this one quite as highly as THE GILDED HOUR, what I recognize most is the same depth and dimension in all the characters, even though the two plots couldn't be more different.

This time, the two main characters are Julia Darrow, a young widow running a fancy linen shop (including pajamas) in the small Southern town of Lambert Square, and John Dodge, a 40-ish free spirit who likes to buy, fix up, and sell small businesses. At its heart THE PYJAMA GIRLS is a budding love story, between two people with issues around commitment and intimacy. But there are no easy fixes here and Donati's end show more does not tie everything up too neatly. Instead, the story is much more realistic. These characters are human-- they make mistakes, they change slowly, they wrestle with internal demons, then slowly move cautiously toward each other.

In addition, there are a host of other fascinating characters (and dogs) who are nearly as fully developed. An Afro-American divorced worker at Julia's shop, trying to balance the needs of her precocious 10 year old with her new romance with a white man. There's a curmudgeon with an encyclopedic knowledge of antique pens. A super-smart woman mayor who expertly reads everyone in town. And about a dozen others, all with believable and distinctive personalities. Like any small town, they all keep up on each other's business and offer lots of unsolicited advice. Having just finished the book, I wish I could visit the town and meet them all. show less

This is the second book by Sara Donati (aka Rosina Lippi) that I've read this year and she is rapidly becoming a favorite author. Though I don't rate this one quite as highly as THE GILDED HOUR, what I recognize most is the same depth and dimension in all the characters, even though the two plots couldn't be more different.

This time, the two main characters are Julia Darrow, a young widow running a fancy linen shop (including pajamas) in the small Southern town of Lambert Square, and John Dodge, a 40-ish free spirit who likes to buy, fix up, and sell small businesses. At its heart THE PYJAMA GIRLS is a budding love story, between two people with issues around commitment and intimacy. But there are no easy fixes here and Donati's end show more does not tie everything up too neatly. Instead, the story is much more realistic. These characters are human-- they make mistakes, they change slowly, they wrestle with internal demons, then slowly move cautiously toward each other.

In addition, there are a host of other fascinating characters (and dogs) who are nearly as fully developed. An Afro-American divorced worker at Julia's shop, trying to balance the needs of her precocious 10 year old with her new romance with a white man. There's a curmudgeon with an encyclopedic knowledge of antique pens. A super-smart woman mayor who expertly reads everyone in town. And about a dozen others, all with believable and distinctive personalities. Like any small town, they all keep up on each other's business and offer lots of unsolicited advice. Having just finished the book, I wish I could visit the town and meet them all. show less

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square is the hilarious story of a cast of quirky characters set in small town South Carolina. It's contemporary, regional chicklit at its very best, complete with half-baked rumors, Southern-style deference, and an abundance of charming but eccentric characters.

John Dodge is a traveling man, reviving ailing around the country to flip for a profit. When he finds himself in Lamb's Corner, South Carolina, to take over a stationery store, he is greeted by sweet, southern hospitality, and plenty of well-meaning, loose-lipped neighbors.

Dodge, as he calls himself, befriends Julia Darrow, the owner of a fine linens store who is always in her pajamas. Julia is secretive and mysterious, but Dodge has his own show more secrets, and cannot ignore his attraction to her. He doesn't plan to stay in Lamb's Corner very long, and it becomes apparent that Julia can't leave.

My favorite thing about this book is the store full of women who wear beautiful and comfy pajamas to work everyday. I have to say, I really like that idea - sign me up for that job! I also really loved the fact that Dodge was so friendly with his new neighbors, and even goes out of his way to record a more Southern outgoing message on his answering machine after each caller leaves him advice on how to make it more friendly.

This was a great book, full of mysteries and gossip, and a big 'ol slice of small town Southern life. Seriously, where in the world would a claustrophobic man meet an agoraphobic woman and fall in love - the South, of course! Julia Sugarbaker said it best, "I'm saying this is the South. And we're proud of our crazy people. We don't hide them up in the attic. We bring 'em right down to the living room and show 'em off. No one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they're on." This book had plenty of crazy-Southern types. From Dodge's inherited employees, to the Tuesday Needlework Girls at Julia's store, to Bean Hurt, the feisty 10-year-old who notices everything, these people are just too much!

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square is witty and funny, and will keep you laughing at the town hijinks, and guessing what on earth will come next. It is a delightful and entertaining story with plenty of likable characters complete eccentricities. This book has humor, tragedy, family struggles, and friendship, a terrific Summertime read! show less

3.5 stars

Dodge moves to a small southern town to take over a pen business, a business that has never made money. While there, he meets a large number of people, including Julia, who fosters dogs and only ever wears pajamas. There's something a little odd about Julia, though (besides the pajamas!), and Dodge himself has something he's not telling.

It was good. You see how everyone comes into a relationship with all kinds of baggage. There was a large cast of characters, some more interesting than others. I think I enjoyed the second half a bit more, as secrets were beginning to be revealed.

After Julia Darrow is widowed, she moves to the small South Carolina town where her architect husband had designed and built a multi-use renovation of an abandoned plant. She now owns and operates Cocoon, a high-end boutique selling fine linens. Julia and her sales staff always wear beautiful pajamas when working. John Dodge comes to town when he buys a failing pen / stationery store; he specializes in buying small businesses, turning them around, selling them and moving on. But the attraction between Julia and John is undeniable. Will he settle in Lamb’s Corner, or take Julia away with him on his next project?

This is pretty typical chick lit romance. Handsome, wealthy stranger comes to town and charms everyone, especially the show more vulnerable lady who has remained aloof and whom everyone protects. The small Southern town is full of colorful characters, including a precocious 10-year-old, a curmudgeonly expert on pens, and a wise lady mayor. There’s an interesting subplot involving a wounded single mother who is African American, and the young Swedish Lothario who has been assigned to the new automobile factory that promises to bring new jobs to the area.

The whole thing is predictable, and Lippi doesn’t even try very hard to give us a reasonable plot to move the story forward. It fulfilled a challenge and was a quick read, but I’m in no hurry to read anything else by this author. show less

What a fun book, Even when it was a little slow, the character's kept it going. I liked how the author depicted Julia and her issues, and it was a cute twist how she wore pajamas just about everywhere. The writing was very nice and being from the south myself, I found the setting and quirks to be spot on.

Also, it was so nice to read a book where nobody gets raped, murdered, or abused. I would categorize this as a romantic comedy.

Julia Darrow's life in Chicago falls apart and she moves to a small town in South Carolina. She opens a linen shop where all the employees wear pajamas all day every day, is a foster dog parent and has no desire to go anywhere. Julia's shop Cacoon is successful and staffed by quirky yet capable women. John Dodge likes to buy things, fix them up and sell them always keeping an eye on the next venture. His newest venture, a pen shop which sells collectible pens, has him landing in Lambert Square. Lambert Square is filled with quirky characters that the reader will grow to love. Though a little long in the middle it is a delightful read filled with twists and lots of love.