See Jane Date

Like many others, I watched the movie before reading (and even knowing about) this book. And the book left me feeling kinda...eh. I was glad it was something I could read during travel layovers but the flaws with the main character Jane were all over the place! Yes, there are certain events that take place in her life to make you feel a wee bit sympathetic towards her but her constant complaints and lack of self-confidence left high hopes for an ending that ended up being completely unsatisfying. Without giving anything away, it was the equivalent of ignoring the fact that a gift you're giving is not at all what the recipient would want but you'll instead wrap it up and tie a near little bow on top, hoping they will just be happy with show more the package and never bother to actually open it. And if they happen to do so, you'll have made your escape. Okay that's a bit overdramatic but seriously I wanted to jump into the pages and shake Jane at nearly any given paragraph. On the plus side, there are a few comical moments but it's easily a book you can skip over and be happy you're not missing much. show less

Not too much too say about this one. It was a pretty fun read but not that memorable in any way. One aspect that didn't ring true to me was Jane's ease in quitting smoking. One aspect that did ring true was the bad dates. They were in no way over the top, I'm afraid to say. They would have fit right in with my own and my friend's bad dates stories.
I liked how Jane got to know The Gnat. I also liked how Jane got promoted by being patient and asking for a promotion but not insisting. I think a lot of business literature would have young women believe that unless you are completely assertive and insistent, you will not succeed in getting the promotion you deserve. I prefer to think that quality work eventually does get recognized for its show more merit and that, like in this book, promotions can happen as a direct result of that. show less

I liked it. For a single-girl-in-the-city type of book, avoided a lot of the trope/cliches (for starters was not all brand-name/shop/brand-name and did not have to have a gay best guy friend). On the otherhand, did have quite a few of what you would expect of single, 20-somethings in the city and rather predictable (could have done with less about smoking). Downloaded sample first and got to like the main character and plot setup. The book blurb on this site did make it sound ("date like crazy") like a lot more dating than the 3-5 guys she did date (mostly just one date before deciding against). I would have rated higher and liked better if not so much of the everyone-I-love-dumps-or-leaves me whining and the meh ending (although I'll show more give it points for again not heading completely down the cliche ending where it's way too sappy); did kinda turn midway completely away from what I got in sample. By "meh" ending I mean that it goes down the walk-in-their-shoes type of thing where she gets to know relatives, friends, wedding party and client better and the people she could not stand for 3/4 of the the book she suddenly has new insight into and into herself; takes a good hard look at herself and decides she does need attitude adjustment so gets a line on the now wonderful guy relatives had been trying to set her up with at the get-go. Although not a part of plot, almost read like she had gone into therapy. I'm all for characters developing; but, this part of story arc not smoothly handled and all the water under the bridge stuff (like cousin not allowing her to bring a date then changing mind after inviting famous client made cousin decide would be bad form if famous person saw her cousin mistreated that way) more than what I would expect her to handle by just forgive/forget. show less

This was a really enjoyable read. Pretty standard chick lit fare, set in New York. A little predictable at times I did found the characters very endearing and I cared what happened to them.

This was a really enjoyable read. Pretty standard chick lit fare, set in New York. A little predictable at times I did found the characters very endearing and I cared what happened to them.

A typical story line for a "chick lit" book, but I thought it was a solid read.

I'm beginning to think the entiregeneration of twenty-somethingfemales is neurotic. And no wonder, if all they read arebooks like this. Jane worriesabout everything, every thingshe does, every word out of hermouth. Bad Jane. Bad, bad Jane.Lighten up, Jane, lighten up.