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56th out of 82 books
—
71 voters
This Is How It Happened
by
Jo Barrett
He lied, he cheated. He destroyed her life.
How difficult could killing him be?
Madeline Piatro devoted four years of her life to her boyfriend Carlton—and, in return, got romance, flowers, and the best sex she'd ever had. But then he dumped her—by e-mail, no less! He used her, he broke her heart...and he even cost her the marketing job she dearly loved. Now Maddy's on a mis...more
How difficult could killing him be?
Madeline Piatro devoted four years of her life to her boyfriend Carlton—and, in return, got romance, flowers, and the best sex she'd ever had. But then he dumped her—by e-mail, no less! He used her, he broke her heart...and he even cost her the marketing job she dearly loved. Now Maddy's on a mis...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 22nd 2008
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published January 1st 2008)
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When you get dumped, it's natural to want to strike back. But when the dumper is your fiance who promised to love you "forever," and the father of your unborn child, and the co-founder of the company you pretty much single-handedly built, AND he does the break-up by e-mail, your desire to extract revenge will be exponentially higher.
Madeline Piatro is having trouble getting over her break-up with the perfect man. So she hires a perfect man of her own -- a hit man. Full of unexpected revelations...more
Madeline Piatro is having trouble getting over her break-up with the perfect man. So she hires a perfect man of her own -- a hit man. Full of unexpected revelations...more
Jun 01, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
ladies
Recommended to Elizabeth by:
Mary Jo Evans
The brownies on the cover of this book were very appropriate. It was a like eating a pan of brownies... I sat down to read a little of it, and I ended up consuming the entire thing in under two hours.
The book was somewhere between over the top funny and depressingly sad. The over the top funny stuff was great, and in context, didn't seem all that over the top! The depressingly sad part came from having to watch PAINFULLY while an extremely intelligent woman made all of the really obviously stup...more
The book was somewhere between over the top funny and depressingly sad. The over the top funny stuff was great, and in context, didn't seem all that over the top! The depressingly sad part came from having to watch PAINFULLY while an extremely intelligent woman made all of the really obviously stup...more
I enjoyed this book, and parts were laugh out loud funny! The story rotates back and forth between Maddy's love affair with Carlton and the aftermath of their breakup. Maddy was more intelligent than Carlton but yet he was able to manipulate her throughout and after their relationship. I was frustrated with her as she always capitulated to him, and I couldn't decide if it was because she was simply naive or was overwhelmed by getting the good-looking, charming guy no matter the flaws. Anyway, th...more
Leap Before You Look.
- Madeline
Would Carlton feel the pain, I wondered? It was worth a try.
- Madeline
Better to lead a fast life, die young, and look good in your coffin.
- Forest Connors
If life gives you lemons, put on a party dress and go out for cocktails?
- Madeline
There is great power in letting go.
- Ronnie
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
- Old Polish proverb
Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
- Deuteronomy
Don’t take vengeance and don’t bear a grudge against...more
- Madeline
Would Carlton feel the pain, I wondered? It was worth a try.
- Madeline
Better to lead a fast life, die young, and look good in your coffin.
- Forest Connors
If life gives you lemons, put on a party dress and go out for cocktails?
- Madeline
There is great power in letting go.
- Ronnie
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
- Old Polish proverb
Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
- Deuteronomy
Don’t take vengeance and don’t bear a grudge against...more
Madeline Piatro has just broken up with her fiancé of four years. Or so she was led to believe by the handsome to-die-for Carlton Connors. See, Carlton never told anyone they were engaged, and when he found out Madeline is pregnant, he wants her to have an abortion. And if that isn't bad enough, she loses the baby, he cheats on her at a bachelor party, breaks up with her, fires her from the company they came up with and claims all her ideas as his own.
Now Madeline wants to get even and may resor...more
Now Madeline wants to get even and may resor...more
Yang paling asyik di buku ini adalah setengah buku ke belakang. Mengapa? Karena di awal2nya buku ini menyebalkan banget membaca berulang2 mengenai keinginan Madeline untuk membalas dendam pada mantan 'tunangannya' Carlton. Berbagai macam cara dibahas malah akhirnya mencelakakan Madeline sendiri. Depresi banget deh. Untung akhirnya keadaan beralih.
Buku ini gaya berceritanya juga back-forward menceritakan masa2 depresi Madeline sekarang setelah diputuskan by email oleh Carlton dan masa2 'bahagia'...more
Buku ini gaya berceritanya juga back-forward menceritakan masa2 depresi Madeline sekarang setelah diputuskan by email oleh Carlton dan masa2 'bahagia'...more
This is a funny novel about moving on. And while it did drag a little in the middle there was enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and once stuff starts happening at the end it’s quite fun. My only other complaint was that the author switches back and forth each chapter in time as Maddy flashes back to tell the story of her relationship, it was ok at first, but then the time sequence got a little confusing at the end as past becomes present.
Would be a fun movie. I’m interested in readi...more
Would be a fun movie. I’m interested in readi...more
Akhir-akhir ini saya tidak begitu tertarik lagi membaca chicklit. Bagi saya toh, plotnya selalu sama. Kecuali mungkin untuk beberapa penulis, Sophie Kinsella dan Meg Cabot misalnya, rasanya chick lit ya ceritanya bakal begitu saja. Tapi buku yang satu ini benar-benar berbeda.
Madeline Piatro, seorang wanita cerdas yang ditinggalkan begitu saja oleh Carlton, pacarnya. Yang paling menyakitkan, si pacar mencampakkan Madeline begitu saja setelah apa yang telah dilakukan Madeline untuk mereka berdua....more
Madeline Piatro, seorang wanita cerdas yang ditinggalkan begitu saja oleh Carlton, pacarnya. Yang paling menyakitkan, si pacar mencampakkan Madeline begitu saja setelah apa yang telah dilakukan Madeline untuk mereka berdua....more
I really love the Little Black Dress Books - they're really good for just a quick, light read. They're concise and funny and all the authors who write them seem to have a knack for writing well and making something serious funny. In this case, Barrett makes revenge into an art. Revenge doesn't have to be deadly (like rat poison in brownies or cyanide laced vodka for example!) but it can be fun and anonymous. The twist at the end with the death was a twist and a half and it was totally unexpected...more
Ini novel memang JAGOAN. BAru kali ini saya baca novel "cewek" yg tokohnya nggak cengeng, mantap. Terlebih, yang paling saya suka, penulisnya seperti benar-benar tahu apa dan bagaimana itu seorang wanita karier yang cerdas! Saya jadi pengen bikin usaha kayak Maddy juga nih, hehe...
Ternyata ini salah satu novel LBD ya? Little Black Dress. Memang nggak semua novel LBD bagus sih, tapi Esensi sdh cukup cermat memilih yang ini. Semoga Seri Kejutan Cinta yang lain juga sama bagusnya atau lebih bagus :...more
Ternyata ini salah satu novel LBD ya? Little Black Dress. Memang nggak semua novel LBD bagus sih, tapi Esensi sdh cukup cermat memilih yang ini. Semoga Seri Kejutan Cinta yang lain juga sama bagusnya atau lebih bagus :...more
An amusing, fluffy read. Who doesn't want to read about how a creative, high-functioning, smarty-pants woman (who turned a few too many blind eyes) exacts painful revenge on the ex who did her dirty in so many ways? The ending was a bit too perfect, but then again, when a woman gets burned like Maddy Piatro was burned, I suppose she deserves a too-perfect ending. I'm betting there'll be a movie before too long.
There are not enough stars for this book. It was downright awesome.
I've had some friends that fall into the scorned lover category. And you might hear "hell hath no fury" and I am here to say... that's an understatement. Women get downright vindictive and they are creative about it.
Men, take the warning. And live in fear.
He was your typical jerkwad pretty boy. Thinks he can have it all. Treats her like trash. Possibly gives her an STD. Steals her business. Cheats on her. And then dumps her and...more
I've had some friends that fall into the scorned lover category. And you might hear "hell hath no fury" and I am here to say... that's an understatement. Women get downright vindictive and they are creative about it.
Men, take the warning. And live in fear.
He was your typical jerkwad pretty boy. Thinks he can have it all. Treats her like trash. Possibly gives her an STD. Steals her business. Cheats on her. And then dumps her and...more
one of the best novels I read
about a girl who was completely devoted to her BF then discover that he was using her n dumped her,,, she tries to poison him
the story seems shallow but the novel is very interesting,,, it is the kind of book u live the events n never get bored when u read it ,,, I finish it like in 4 or 5 days in 2008
very entertaining book with very simple English
about a girl who was completely devoted to her BF then discover that he was using her n dumped her,,, she tries to poison him
the story seems shallow but the novel is very interesting,,, it is the kind of book u live the events n never get bored when u read it ,,, I finish it like in 4 or 5 days in 2008
very entertaining book with very simple English
This book was a wonderful escape read for me, set in Austin with places I know prominent and a strong, smart, funny protagonist. I don't even particularly relate to the revenge theme, and haven't been taken advantage of by men like Carlton, but the presentation was so good that the book just really worked for me. It made me care what happened to Maddy and it made me actually laugh. this book is not deep, maybe a little outrageous depending on your life experience, but for me, delightful.
You have to love a book that starts with someone baking a batch of revenge arsenic brownies, testing it on themselves and ending up being sick. Seriously - who does that? So, from the start you know this will be a rather cute/fluffy book designed to appeal to the woman scorned but who still has a sense of humor.
Maddy veers from being annoyingly dumb (with her big powerful lawyer friend Michael around, she never got a real contract for Organics 4 Kids?) to cleverly vengeful. However, between thos...more
Maddy veers from being annoyingly dumb (with her big powerful lawyer friend Michael around, she never got a real contract for Organics 4 Kids?) to cleverly vengeful. However, between thos...more
There is something so delicious about reading about and plotting revenge - especially on a scumbag of an ex-boyfriend. I'm sure most women can relate. Though definitely not a challenging or intellectual read, I think it's really fun and honest. A good book to read to remind you why you're glad you're single.
this was a very light read (started & finished on my flight to phoenix this weekend). it really deserves 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 stars. it started getting kind of good than then the story wrapped up way too neatly and quickly. i was bummed that i was not left in more suspense!!
Highly entertaining story about Madeline , Smart , Sexy and honest to a fault, she’s been with Carlton, who is (Sex aside) really unwilling to do the right thing , after four years of an almost perfect Relationship, lots of Sex and starting a Company together , he cheats , then break’s up with Madeline , by email . A very battered Madeline vows to give him a taste of what he deserves and plans to kill him . Unsuccessful , she decided to hire a hit man , Dick (who likes cookies) to set him straig...more
Suka temanya, balas dendam pada mantan yang berengsek :D Ada kelicikan, dendam, dan amarah tokoh utama, Maddy, yang diekspos di sini. Sifat manusiawi tapi jarang berani ditulis untuk jadi sifat tokoh utama, apalagi perempuan.
It just didn't seem feasible. I don't care how great the sex is, it would not make me forget that my significant other is embezzling money! Yeah, it was slightly humorous, but that was the only thing going for it. I would not recommend this book.
nice book.at first few chapters i felt like what the hell.numerous trial to kill ex fiance.but i love the surprise and and the way author told you the story.one chapter after another.good job.and plain english.no macbeth and shakespeare.good for me.
I loved this book. It was amazing how the author changed the chapters to technically explain her past and present. I especially enjoyed her idea of REVENGE. You just have to read this book to find out. ^_^
I couldn't help but pick this book up once I saw the blurb on the back. How could *anyone* turn something like this down? (The cover was another draw!) It ended up going slightly different than I had originally imagined, but I liked where it went.
PS: Am I the only one that kept seeing Better Off Dead in this book?
PS: Am I the only one that kept seeing Better Off Dead in this book?
I really liked this book, I couldn't put it down! It has a good story line with an interesting twist. Her character is very relatable because we've all been there.
Good for a quick read. Barrett had a couple of fax paus in the book I would have left out. I was happy with the humor with a twist of reality.
Really enjoyed this book! A quick, easy read that I expect from a Little Black Dress book. I read it while I was traveling which I think it is the perfect book for.
Jan 25, 2009
Adriana
added it
I wanted to read something that was funny and I got this off a novelist list for humor. It was amusing, but not laugh-out-loud funny.
I read this book back in 2008. It is a great and fast read. One of those books that you laugh out loud while reading.
Cute, fun read. Pretty quick read, it kept me entertained and I bought her first book after reading this one...
Great post-break up revenge book. There's nothing like inflicting long term pride damage to an asshole ex.
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Jo currently resides in North Carolina with her patient and supportive family while she juggles her writing career and her position as a programmer analyst. She has won numerous awards and continues to write whenever she can. Someday, she hopes to take off her programming hat and write full time. So many of her dreams have already come true. What's one more?
Email: jobarrett@jobarrett.net
More about Jo Barrett...
Email: jobarrett@jobarrett.net
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