A State of Jane

Feb 18, 2013 The Little Black Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review was posted to The Little Black Book Blog: http://littleblackbookbloggers.blogsp...

"Sometimes you need to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince"

If you are single and in your mid 20's , you have probably heard this saying more than once. What I found so great about this book is it is so easy to relate to our heroine , Jane. She is 26 and looking for love. It's been a year since she broke up with her long-time boyfriend Bob and she's ready to get back into the swing of things. B...more This review was posted to The Little Black Book Blog: http://littleblackbookbloggers.blogsp...

"Sometimes you need to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince"

If you are single and in your mid 20's , you have probably heard this saying more than once. What I found so great about this book is it is so easy to relate to our heroine , Jane. She is 26 and looking for love. It's been a year since she broke up with her long-time boyfriend Bob and she's ready to get back into the swing of things. But she is in for a rude awakening when she realizes that the dating scene isn't as glamorous as she thought. Like a lot of women, Jane had a timeline. Get married, have her first kid by 30.. It all seemed so easy.... Until reality hit her.

"While you're so worried about the future and your 'timeline,' your life is happening."

I absolutely adored Jane(most of the time) It's probably because she reminded me so much of myself. A year to the day after breaking up with Bob she decides to the re-enter the dating scene. A lot of people may think her mindset is completely naive. But I think i found her character so lovable because at heart, she's just a hopeless romantic. After having an amazing ex-boyfriend, It never occurred to her that not all men were as good-hearted as he was. Bad date after bad date was beginning to leave her jaded. I have to admit, at times I found myself completely frustrated with Janes character. But before long, I found myself relating to her crazy antics.. We've all been there. The fun part is trying to find your way back to you.

The supporting characters in this book were amazing! Marissa, Lainie, and Claire were all key ingredients to the perfect story line! Marissa, who had been in the dating scene much longer than Jane was also a hopeless romantic, but she was more realistic. What I loved about her is that no matter how many horrible dates she went on, she never let it change who she was. She was the type of best friend everyone needs. Lainie, Janes roommate is the kind of person you want around after a break-up. She is care free and pushes for those around her to be as well. Claire was probably my favorite of all. She is Janes older sister but also one of her best friends. It reminded me so much of the relationship I have with my sister. She can be the closest confidante, but be the one to put you in your place when you need it. There were a few times throughout the story when I wanted to tell Jane to look around her and appreciate her life for what it was.

"A man won't make you happy unless you're already a happy person. Even then, he might make you miserable"

One of my favorite aspects of this book was that we were able to be there along side Jane as she went through the process of finding her happily ever after. It isn't pretty and it isn't without it's flaws, but that's real life. The journey is half the fun. Without giving away any spoilers, I have to say that this book couldn't have ended any better. I am a huge fan of chik-lit, but this book was so much more. It has become one of my favorite reads!

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Mar 12, 2013 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, is a hilariously funny Chick Lit novel that I loved from beginning to end. I must confess that I have been on a Chick Lit bender lately, I can't seem to get enough of the lighthearted reads. I have found that when my life gets crazy insane, I tend to gravitate towards various Chick Lit novels to destress. And let me tell you, the novels I have been reading the last few months are doing the trick! Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, was no different- I picked i...more Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, is a hilariously funny Chick Lit novel that I loved from beginning to end. I must confess that I have been on a Chick Lit bender lately, I can't seem to get enough of the lighthearted reads. I have found that when my life gets crazy insane, I tend to gravitate towards various Chick Lit novels to destress. And let me tell you, the novels I have been reading the last few months are doing the trick! Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, was no different- I picked it up to read and immediately was transported to present day New York City as Jane looked for love.

A State of Jane began a year after Jane broke up with her seemingly perfect boyfriend, Bob. After waiting a year to jump back into the dating scene, Jane decides that it is time to get back on the horse. How hard could finding a nice guy in NYC be, anyway? As readers discover, next to impossible! Jane finds herself in the midst of dating failure after failure with e-Harmony disasters, Sports Bar fiascoes, and Speed Dating craziness. As her relationship hopes are dashed with each loser guy she has the misfortune to meet, Jane starts to realize that she has been looking at dating all wrong. No longer did Jane want to be the sweet girl who was constantly loved and then left. Instead she would harden her heart and become the heart breaker, the dumper instead of the dumpee.

Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, had many hilarious dating scenarios as well as great scenes with her friends. I really liked Jane's roommate Lainie and the way she changed from the beginning of the novel to the end. A Southern Belle, Lainie moved to NYC and met Jane through a Craigslist 'Roommate Wanted' ad. Lainie is cynical about love but finds the dating world exciting. She is not looking for a relationship and is enjoying the perks of her single status. To Jane's shock, Lainie is constantly bringing a new man home with her. However, as Jane gets more discouraged about the dating scene, Lainie seems to find love without looking for it. This puts an odd stress on Jane and Lanie's relationship as they find their roles reversing.

Meredith Schorr's, A State of Jane, is a smile worthy and heartwarming read that is the perfect concoction for all Chick Lit lovers. I read A State of Jane in one evening while my husband was immersed in WWE (I definitely had the better evening!) I really enjoyed how Schorr ended the novel, not how I expected at all! I'm holding out hope that Schorr will be writing A State of Jane part 2 so that I can see what (and who!) Jane does next. Do yourself a favor and make time to enjoy this spunky novel!

**Booktrope has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book, A State of Jane, for the purpose of review. **(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review posted on Kindles & Wine

So I have to confess: although I dated a lot when I was younger (my Ally McBeal -like theme song was “Another One Bites The Dust”), I can’t say that I’ve had the many misadventures we read about in chick lit books. The best story I have involved making brownies for an upcoming date while I was in college. I was not a baker or even a great cook (I’d describe my skills back then as “barely nominal”), but I wanted the brownies to at least appear fancy so as to des...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Laura Chapman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Most romantic stories are about a girl meeting a boy, falling in love and ending happily ever after. Or, if it's a chick lit novel, it's more like happily for now. Meredith Schorr's A State of Jane might seem like one of those stories at first, but it is much more than that.

One year to the day after breaking up with her high school sweetheart, a man she dated for nine years, Jane Frank decides she is ready to re-enter the dating world. Armed with an online dating profile, and ready to be matched...more Most romantic stories are about a girl meeting a boy, falling in love and ending happily ever after. Or, if it's a chick lit novel, it's more like happily for now. Meredith Schorr's A State of Jane might seem like one of those stories at first, but it is much more than that.

One year to the day after breaking up with her high school sweetheart, a man she dated for nine years, Jane Frank decides she is ready to re-enter the dating world. Armed with an online dating profile, and ready to be matched based on however many character traits it takes, she is determined to meet the one.

After going on a series of failed dates, her dreams of finding the man of her dreams seems less and less possible. At the same time, she is supposed to be preparing for the LSATs so she can apply, and ultimately go, to law school.

With her life in disarray, and her future uncertain, Jane's life takes a frenzied twist of turns that jeopardize her relationships with family and friends, while also putting her carefully charted plans for love and career at risk.

Jane was a challenging character. Self-centered, overwhelming and surprisingly self-destructive, Jane ends up hurting her friends and family. Often, this girl was a hot mess, and I wanted to smack some sense into her. That should make her unlikeable, but she was not. Perhaps it was because her past was explained well enough or that the circumstances that lead to her meltdown often made her behavior justifiable. Whatever it was, while I frequently found myself frustrated with Jane.

I quickly realized my feelings were a result of me wanting her to get her life together, because I cared. Somehow, rather quickly, she became that friend who you love, but drives you crazy along the way.

The men she dates throughout the book were kind of a hoot to read. Some of them were losers on their own, and others were caught up in her web. That offered a fun mix of hating the bastards who screwed over Jane and feeling badly for the poor fools who got played by her. Her differing experiences with them created natural tension and made for an interesting story.

Jane's relationships with her friends and family members were also somewhat complicated and varying, which added elements of real life. I especially liked her interactions with her sister, because their connection seemed so true.

Jane's relationship with her ex-boyfriend was handled well. At first, I thought it seemed a little unbelievable -- too good to be true. But by the end, it also seemed more realistic (though I can't say why, because it would spoil the book). In fact, I know it's realistic, because I personally went through something kind of similar.

I also found myself fascinated by all of the food Jane made. She's quite the chef. This made for a fun, and somewhat unexpected plot element throughout the story.

Even though her mission seems impossible at times, A State of Jane truly is a story about finding love. That love may or may not be with a soulmate to grow old with in the suburbs, but part of it always comes down to finding love for yourself.

Originally posted at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com.(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Libby Mercer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jane Frank is such a fascinating character to follow. Her naivety at the beginning of the novel is absolutely astounding - a great setup for what's to come. I just have to say, I spent nearly five years navigating the dating scene as a single gal in NYC (except for those months I dated the Greek god, who tragically had to go back home (sigh)) and I knew Jane's optimism and confidence that she'd soon find The One was delusional. Seriously. Meredith Schorr did such an amazing job in creating these...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Meet Jane Frank. It’s been a year since her last (and only) long term relationship, and with reality looming large in the form of the LSAT, Jane decides it’s been far too long since she’s been kissed and that she’s ready to meet the man of her dreams. Meredith Schorr’s A State of Jane takes us through Jane’s adventures in dating. As she grows more frustrated with the online dating scene and the way men tend to flake out for no reason, Jane decides to take her friend Andrew’s advice about dating,...more Meet Jane Frank. It’s been a year since her last (and only) long term relationship, and with reality looming large in the form of the LSAT, Jane decides it’s been far too long since she’s been kissed and that she’s ready to meet the man of her dreams. Meredith Schorr’s A State of Jane takes us through Jane’s adventures in dating. As she grows more frustrated with the online dating scene and the way men tend to flake out for no reason, Jane decides to take her friend Andrew’s advice about dating, and this is where our story really takes off.

Much the way she did in Just Friends With Benefits, Meredith Schorr gives us an all-too-recognizable heroine. OK, I’ve never gotten up to some of Jane’s antics, but there have been times when I’ve certainly wanted to. Certainly, navigating the dating terrain is not easy, and Schorr captures that feeling of “I don’t know why it went wrong” so perfectly. Of course, as interested but objective observers in Jane’s life, we can see the mistakes she’s making… which makes an interesting point about not being able to discern our own dating foibles, but I digress.

I confess that at times I got really frustrated with Jane. I can’t explain too much of why here, or else it would spoil the story, so I’ll say this about it: I didn’t like the way Jane treated people sometimes. For a few pages there, I frankly didn’t like Jane. However, Jane’s behavior is an integral part of her journey and she had to go through this stage to grow into her true self. That being said, I still wanted to shake her, and which made me again appreciate the authenticity of the friendships Meredith includes in her stories.

We tell our friends we want them to be honest with us. But sometimes, when they are, no matter how lovingly the message is delivered, we just don’t want to hear it. So in A State of Jane I thought the confrontations between Jane and her friends and the conflicts in their relationships were portrayed authentically. It is often the people we love the most who are also the people we hurt the most.

And the final thing I really liked about A State of Jane is the way that it ends. No spoilers here, but I felt the ending was perfect.

Chick lit fans- and fans of Just Friends With Benefits- will really enjoy A State of Jane.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A year to the date after she broke up with her long-time boyfriend Bob, twenty-six year old Jane Frank is ready to start dating again. Jane is on a mission, she wants to be settled in a committed relationship by the time she starts law school the following year, because she'll be too busy studying to meet anyone. From online dating to the local New York bars and everything in between, Jane finds out that finding Mr. Right isn't exactly as easy as she had thought it would be. So if you can't beat...more A year to the date after she broke up with her long-time boyfriend Bob, twenty-six year old Jane Frank is ready to start dating again. Jane is on a mission, she wants to be settled in a committed relationship by the time she starts law school the following year, because she'll be too busy studying to meet anyone. From online dating to the local New York bars and everything in between, Jane finds out that finding Mr. Right isn't exactly as easy as she had thought it would be. So if you can't beat em, join em ... Jane decides to date like a man ... love em and leave em! But this way of finding the right guy isn't working out either ... so come along for the ride as Jane weaves her way through the variety of New York's eligible bachelors in search of Mr. Right.

Every now then I crave a story that will tickle my funny bone from cover to cover, and in A State of Jane, author Meredith Schorr has created a fun, laugh-out-loud, hilarious story that left me completely satisfied. Written in the first person narrative, Jane Frank takes the reader along for the ride on her journey into the crazy dating scene and the trial and tribulations that she encounters in her search for Mr. Right.

Author Meredith Schorr weaves a realistic tale of the frustrations of being single and looking for love. Jane is a hot mess but she is real with flaws and ideals, and the variety of guys she dates will leave you laughing and shaking your head in amusement. We can all relate to what it is like to be in the dating scene, and the variety of people we meet and have to weed out in order to find that special someone. Jane's adventure is thoroughly entertaining, as I followed along on her search there were times where I was cheering her on, but there were also times when I simply wanted to smack her upside the head and say "what were you thinking?"! Throughout her search, Jane lives and learns until she finally comes full circle and listens to her heart.

With a quirky cast of characters; witty dialogue and interactions; richly detailed description of the sights and sounds of NY and Hoboken, NJ; and a storyline that is written in a humorous and sassy style, A State of Jane is a witty true-to-life story that will not disappoint you, it is Chick Lit at it's very best!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A State Of Jane was a very good Chick Lit Novel; I enjoyed it! The main character, Jane of course, and whose POV we read from, to me, seemed like a relatable character, and I liked that. The Author wrote some great character development, including other characters in the story. Jane just seemed believable and goes through situations that some of has may have gone through. Jane just has so much on her plate, from not studying for her upcoming LSATs, to being miserable as a single woman, and when...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Francine LaSala rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved Meredith Schorr's Just Friends With Benefits because it reminded me so vividly of a particular time in my life and a girl I used to be. A State of Jane had the same amazing quality! Meredith has such a great knack for telling a story, I can literally taste the apple martinis as I read. I always feel like I'm a personal friend of the protagonist, along for the ride, experiencing hilarious and also poignant adventures in NYC singlehood as I fly through her books. Specifically here, Jane Fr...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Gale Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meredith Schorr's entertaining, hand-wringing, nail-biting, rollicking new novel was a terrific story that most young single women can relate to but could not be so forthright telling. That's part of what made A STATE OF JANE engrossing--Jane Frank bares all. It's as if the reader is perched right over her shoulder, going on every date or more accurately at times hookup. Jane's life becomes particularly compelling once she secedes from her only serious relationship to brave being single for the...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Stephanie (StephTheBookworm) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Thoughts: Wow! I really loved this book! After reading and thoroughly enjoying Schorr’s first novel, Just Friends With Benefits, I was very anxious to read her latest and was not disappointed at all. In fact, I may have even liked this novel better than the first, though both were completely awesome. Let’s start with Jane. Jane was pretty much desperate to fall in love to the point where she was becoming self-centered and seriously pissing off her friends. While I was irritated by her behavio...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Nikki Young rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Right off the bat, this book started out good. I liked Jane, the main character and her quirkiness. After a one year hiatus from dating, she decided to have a go at it again. Unfortunately, she immediately finds all the available men in New York City to be far too eager for one thing. And it was not the one thing Jane was seeking...love. She traverses a series of bad dates and a few one night stands, but never actually accomplishes finding a long term boyfriend.
As the book goes on Jane begins to...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Julie Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished reading A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr in the middle of the night while my five-year-old was sick with fever. After getting him back to sleep, I crawled under the covers with him, set the lighting on my Kindle to low and read. If he woke and needed me, I was by his side. Trust me, if I wasn’t enjoying the book, I would have spent that time sleeping in preparation for what was shaping up to be a weekend with a sick child. But I was enjoying the book, very much, and if my sweet litt...more I finished reading A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr in the middle of the night while my five-year-old was sick with fever. After getting him back to sleep, I crawled under the covers with him, set the lighting on my Kindle to low and read. If he woke and needed me, I was by his side. Trust me, if I wasn’t enjoying the book, I would have spent that time sleeping in preparation for what was shaping up to be a weekend with a sick child. But I was enjoying the book, very much, and if my sweet little boy was going to be sick, what better way to pass the time at his bedside, then with a good book. Meredith, if you are reading this, thank you for writing A State of Jane. It captured my attention at a time when I was sick with worry and I welcomed the distraction.

While I was reading A State of Jane, the premise of the story reminded me of the popular HBO television series, Sex and the City, based on a collection of Candace Bushnell chick lit books that began with a book of the same title, Sex and the City. (For those of you new to the chick lit genre, other Candace Bushnell books include Four Blondes, The Carrie Diaries, Summer and the City. There are more, and I mention this here because many fans of the HBO series discovered chick lit fiction through these books.) At any rate, from a grammatical point of view, you will note the title of the HBO series and Bushnell book is not Sex in the City, rather, Sex and the City because they are about two separate things: (1) sex; and (2) New York City. It’s not about one singular thing: (1) sex in New York City; because New York City, its sights, sounds, and its unique impact on a single gal’s dating and sex-life is such a prominent story element that it deserves separate billing. In this same vein, A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr is not just a book about dating, but about New York City, because dating a guy in New York City is very different than say, dating a guy in Dubuque, Iowa. So it’s not a ‘dating on Main Street or any street’ tale, and it’s not an L.A. story, nor a courtship in Paris.

Which brings me to this: If you love chick lit books about dating and the single life, read this book. Likewise, if you love chick lit books set in the Big City, then read this book.

And, wait for it, wait for it . . . If you liked the critically acclaimed HBO series Sex and the City and/or you liked any of Candace Bushnell’s New York Times Best Selling books then you should read and discover Meredith Schorr’s A State of Jane. (Meredith, based on the success of the previous, I do believe you and Jane are in good company!)

But there are some pretty strong differences between the main character in Meredith Schorr’s A State of Jane and the characters in Sex and the City.

Jane Frank, the main character in Schorr’s book, is a smart, sweet girl who should be studying for the LSAT but instead embarks on a new life in the dating world of Manhattan (and Hoboken) after the break-up of a nine-year relationship with a great guy. She’s like Sandra Bullock; the girl next door; your college roommate. She waits a year before heading out into the singles jungle (very respectable) and while she does lose herself a bit during the whirlwind of her sex-capades, she does have a moral compass and does struggle with the ethics of her “behavior” (ah hem) during certain “interactions” (ah hem, again) in the book. This makes Jane a very likable character because she’s not simply sleeping around for the sake of sleeping around. You come to understand that on those delicious, necessary occasions, Jane had to have those experiences so she could learn and grow while traveling on her personal journey. I believe this is a key distinction to make between Jane Frank in A State of Jane and the characters shown on the HBO TV series who present themselves as far more liberal with their sexual identities and far more free with their bodies and quantities of partners.

Jane manages to blow herself up a bit (okay, a lot) with not just the male characters in the book, but the female characters as well. She is selfish in different ways and for different reasons with each character along her journey and she pays real consequences for her actions and has to atone for ignoring the needs of others when she becomes so self-absorbed she can’t see clearly until a chance encounter gives her much to think about. But is it too late for Jane? Can she mend broken fences? And will any of the dates she has (including Mr. Agentine Malbec, maybe, maybe not) pan out for Jane? Read A State of Jane to find out!

I wished for ten more pages at the end of the book and I definitely want Meredith Schorr to write a second book with Jane at the helm so I can check-in on my friend, Miss Jane Frank. I hung out with her one night when my son was sick and I wonder now how she’s doing. New York is such a brutal place.

- Julie Valerie

Disclaimer: A copy of the book was provided in exchange for an honest review. The complete book review can be found on my book blog: Chick Lit Chit Chat - a gleeful gallop through the chick lit genre found at julievalerie.com.(less)

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Feb 12, 2013 BestChickLit.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A State of Jane is a realistic portrayal of life as a single woman in the modern world, albeit a slightly delusional single woman! The all-encompassing need to get married and have kids is a pressure, rightly or wrongly, felt by many women and the author reflects this well throughout the book.

Jane is a solid main character. Although is a driven to find ‘the one’, Jane is intelligent, independent and confident, with a quick wit and a couple of cracking one-liners. The book could have easily turne...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Samantha Robey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meredith Schorr is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and A State of Jane. Meredith quickly made it on my Authors to Watch list, and is someone I can even credit with being a “virtual” friend. I was very much looking forward to reading A State of Jane and sure enough – it did not disappoint! Our MC is Jane Frank, someone I easily connected with right off the bat. It helps we are around the same age (twenties) and that I could understand easily what Jane was going through in her dating life. She fee...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Kaley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour, read-in-2013

Jane was a hilariously entertaining main character. I have to admit that it took me awhile to warm up to her simply because she was being a bit of a twit. But I really cared about her and desperately wanted things to work out for her. Then I realized that it was not the first time I had been conflicted about a heroine like this. A State of Jane has a very similar feel to the novels by Sophie Kinsella - there are well meaning (if irritating) characters, an entertaining storyline, and a lovely mix...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Charlotte Lynns Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane breaks up with her steady boyfriend of nine years. After taking a year long break from dating and sex she decides to find the man of her dreams. Jane’s adventures through dating start with online dating then head to making face to face contact. When Jane takes her co-worker, Andrew’s, advice towards dating the story takes off.

I never went to the extremes of antics Jane did to find Mr. Right and really thought Jane took it too far. “Nail ‘Em and Leave ‘Em” is a very selfish slutty motto and...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Lydia Laceby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes

I enjoyed this cute book. A State of Jane is all about dating in New York City, so fans of Sex and the City should enjoy. Jane has not only been dumped by her high school sweetheart but dumped into New York City’s dating and mating grounds and after taking a year hiatus, she decides she’s ready to get back out there. Unsure of the rules, and even with two friends who try and tell it like it is, Jane remains convinced she’ll find a man within a week, and becom...more
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes

I enjoyed this cute book. A State of Jane is all about dating in New York City, so fans of Sex and the City should enjoy. Jane has not only been dumped by her high school sweetheart but dumped into New York City’s dating and mating grounds and after taking a year hiatus, she decides she’s ready to get back out there. Unsure of the rules, and even with two friends who try and tell it like it is, Jane remains convinced she’ll find a man within a week, and becomes jaded as reality sets in and each guy she dates is worse than the last.

Although I enjoyed A State of Jane and found it an easy and amusing read, I couldn’t quite relate to Jane as much as I had hoped. It took me forever to warm to her, and then her character took a nose dive into self absorbed and entitlement land. This was the point of the novel, where Jane gets a little lost, but it still grated on me. Her character is realistic with her flaws, but I found her naivety a little odd, particularly considering she lived in New York City and had watched her friends go through dating woes for years before she had to.

I also wasn’t entirely invested in her plight of finding a man. It was the entire purpose of the novel and I would have liked to see some more development in other areas of her life instead of just her dating life. One of my favourite aspects of Sex and the City wasn’t actually the trials of the women with men. It was their friendship, their relationships and how they struggled with other aspects of their lives. And other than Jane’s dating life, there wasn’t much to grasp on to, nor was there any real interesting aspect to this. Maybe I’m just becoming tired of girls who are desperate for a man in their lives all the time and have nothing else going on. How Jane falls in love with every single man she sets her eyes on had me rolling my eyes a few times as well.

In the end, I was glad Jane figured a few things out and was pleased with the ending. Overall, A State of Jane is an easy, enjoyable read with some laughs, but I had just hoped for something I little deeper. Fans of lighter chick lit fare will definitely enjoy!

Thank you to Meredith Schorr for our review copy. All opinions are our own. (less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-on-blog

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. It was a fairly quick chick lit read that I read every free chance I had. I finished this book in just over a day.

The main character, Jane, reminded me of most twenty-something women who are still single. They want to find "the one" and will look at every date as the potential "one". We have all done that, we have all waited for "the one" to appear. That made her very relatable for this reader...and probably for most readers. Sometimes, I found Jane...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Susan Buchanan rated it 4 of 5 stars

DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN - GREAT CHICKLIT!

I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book by the author and in exchange I am happy to offer an honest review.
I had loved the cover and the dippiness it supposed about the protagonist straight from the off.
I read this book over a few days and the highest accolade I can give it is that I put down my Marian Keyes' hardback in favour of reading this on Kindle.
Jane having split up with her previous partner, Bob, over a year ago, is now ready to star...more DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN - GREAT CHICKLIT!

I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book by the author and in exchange I am happy to offer an honest review.
I had loved the cover and the dippiness it supposed about the protagonist straight from the off.
I read this book over a few days and the highest accolade I can give it is that I put down my Marian Keyes' hardback in favour of reading this on Kindle.
Jane having split up with her previous partner, Bob, over a year ago, is now ready to start looking for Mr Right again. But she is too formulaic about it - has too fixed an idea of how it should happen. She forgets to register for a really important event, so caught up is she in finding Mr Right. She goes through a wide variety of Mr Wrongs along the way.

The most truthful thing I took away from this book and which I am sure many of us can relate to, whether now or in the past, is how you can become completely self-absorbed either in the search for that someone special, or when you finally find them, that you ignore everyone else around you, to the detriment of your platonic and familial relationships. Jane is really selfish for much of the novel. There are also hilarious escapades, such as becoming a daredevil and creating an alter-ego Frances, or unleashing a statement at her ex-boyfriend's housewarming party, which she immediately wishes she could take back. I particularly liked the scene with the old lady on the bus and the poignancy of how that related to sisters. There was one big twist right at the end, which I saw coming but with a different person and for different reasons, but twist there was and very well executed. There were also plenty of red herrings along the way and it was interesting to learn about Eharmony and how vetting a potential mate on these sites works.
Jane's relationships with her friends and work colleagues, also felt very real and seeing some of the roles reversed along the way and/or Jane taking some comments too literally only added to the enjoyment of the novel.
Good solid chicklit. Would be happy to read another by this author.(less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is Meredith's second book and I have to say I find her books extremely easy to read-light, fun, and quintessential chick lit. That being said, Jane got on my nerves a lot. However, they say hindsight is 20/20, so maybe it's because now I can see all her "mistakes", but most likely lived very similar experiences myself! I had a lil hard time relating to her fixation on finding a husband, the nagging mother, etc, but I have to say I can see Jane's experience very similar to some friends' expe...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fitting to kick off 2013 with an absolutely fantastic book by the lovely Meredith Schorr. Jane Frank is tired of flaky guys that don't know how to handle relationships. So she decides to date like a man - love 'em and leave 'em. One little problem, though. Jane doesn't handle it very well. She alienates her family, her best friend, the people that are trying to be in her corner rooting for her and helping her. Jane is at time self absorbed, at times downright annoying, but she is always complete...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Josie Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book begins with Jane, the main character, talking to her sister on the phone about wanting to get back to dating. It's been a year since she broke up with her boyfriend, Bob, and she feels as if she's ready to move on. Later on in the novel, Jane experiences horrible dates, she begins to alienate her family and friends, and she begins dating like a man, "date em and leave em". At times, Jane could come off as a little selfish, but it made me like her even more. She seemed so realistic, and...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Tobi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First thoughts after.......
I want to know what happens next. Left hanging a bit! LOL

How Distracted did I get?
I remember the days of singlehood and feel deeply with the ups and downs Jane goes through. I love that she has strength to tough it through. I cringed sometimes because you just know the guy will be a jerk etc..... Though I did get to fix a meal the dishes didn't get done after. I give A State of Jane...........

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Jan 07, 2013 Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour

State of Jane is a funny story that has you rooting for the main character, Jane. Jane is flawed, real and sometimes frustrating. You will take a literary trip through singlehood with amazing and vivid characters, through real life situations all the while feeling like your are there along side them living every moment. A must read book with a 4.5 star rating!

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Dec 07, 2012 Deirdre Noonan rated it 5 of 5 stars

A State of Jane takes me back to my days of dating in NYC. I laughed out loud as I was able to relate to so many of Jane's experiences. she is a fascinating, loveable character that reminds me of myself in a way. Never has a book been so relatable and so entertaining. I'm sure many women can relate to Jane and the woes of meeting Mr Right when the time is right. I know what I'll be getting everyone for Christmas this year...Married. Single. Dating. This book is for all to enjoy!! you've done it...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Laurie Verdirame zaneski rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went to college with this author and we once shared an apartment, however this does not make me biased! She has a true gift for developing real, memorable characters and her story lines are engaging and ultimately create an enjoyable reading experience!

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Nov 05, 2012 Melissa marked it as to-read

Shelves: adult-fiction

Looking for a fun, fast read? Try this one. Jane has recently gotten out of a long term relationship and is optimistic that she will very soon meet "The One." Until she starts dating and realizes that all guys in New York City are flakes.

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Mar 22, 2013 Lisa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-nook

The writing and plot were poor and the story went on for way too long. It felt like I was reading Jane's activity journal. I ended up skimming, and there wasn't even a good pay off. I've read much better "chick lit."

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Oct 25, 2012 Allyson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Meredith Schorr has done it again, what a funny book! The dates that Jane went on bless her heart! I found myself laughing outloud several times! I can't wait to read her next book!

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