The Opposite of Love
by Julie Buxbaum (Goodreads author!)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 461)
Just finished reading this first novel and really wasn't that crazy about it. It's the story of a 29 year-old lawyer, Emily, struggling to find herself (fix her relationship, her job, her family).
Best part of the book: First line of chapter 1: "Last night, I dreamt that I chopped Andrew up into a hundred little pieces, like a Benihana chef, and ate them, one by one." Also, I liked the cold relationship she has with her father.
Worst parts of the book: The extensive use of cliche...more
Best part of the book: First line of chapter 1: "Last night, I dreamt that I chopped Andrew up into a hundred little pieces, like a Benihana chef, and ate them, one by one." Also, I liked the cold relationship she has with her father.
Worst parts of the book: The extensive use of cliche...more
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Read in February, 2008
Emily Haxby is lost. She breaks up with her boyfriend of two years because she thinks he is going to propose (she's right, he was about to). Her job at a prestigious law firm is far less than satisfying, especially after one of the partners makes unwanted sexual advances. Her mother died when she was fourteen and she's never had an open relationship with her father (lying to each other about life is just what they do). The one person in life who has always been there for Emily is her Grandpa Jac...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
I was leery of reading another voyage of self-discovery book after the self-involved garbage of Patti Callahan Henry's Between the Tides, but Buxbaum gets right every single thing Henry does not, with none of the missteps and narcissism. Her heroine, Em, is someone you could know and like in real life. She has flaws and quirks and the capacity to care for others, even when she is being bitchy. Which isn't that often. Here is a woman I felt actually modeled on real life, who breathes through ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Jill by:
tommy
I'm not sure I've ever had this same experience where I'm reading a book and thinking, "how does this author know exactly what my life is like?" But the truth is, it doesn't matter that many of the details aren't exactly the same-- what matters is that Ms. Buxbaum captures so many universal feelings in a realistic, true and contemporary way. At first I thought, I have to make sure all my girlfriends from law school, the firm, and after read this; but truth be told, this is a great, e...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
mothers, daughters, grandpa lovers, elderly, 30somethings, lawyers
This book really got me, brought me in -- where a title like that can rarely get my attention.
The characters, and main character Emily, were endearing, funny, their own voice, brought to life, and surrounded and engulfed Emily in a way that rang true.
There were many heart tearing moments, surprising me constantly, and a deep exploration at other moments that left me blushing or feeling as if it hit very close to home.
There has been a theme of leaving or losing on purpose (or forcefu...more
The characters, and main character Emily, were endearing, funny, their own voice, brought to life, and surrounded and engulfed Emily in a way that rang true.
There were many heart tearing moments, surprising me constantly, and a deep exploration at other moments that left me blushing or feeling as if it hit very close to home.
There has been a theme of leaving or losing on purpose (or forcefu...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Fans of Marion Keys and Shannon Olson
After raising my testosterone levels with Five Skies, I craved something more girly. This has been billed as "smart chick-lit," actually a pretty accurate description. While the framework is stale--a 29-year-old New York lawyer who just dumped her boyfriend and hates her job has a quarter-life crisis--I thought the writing had surprising depth. The main character is haunted by her mother's death, struggles with her grandfather's illne...more
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Read in March, 2008
i liked this book. didn't love it. there is some fine writing along the way and the first sentence is killer, as they say. but i found the plot less than compelling. the book flips the modern chick lit book on its head and for that, it's to be commended. instead of a nyc woman trying to get it all -- the guy, the career, the apartment -- the protagonist here (emily) has it all and throws it away in a fit of ennui. well, okay, she does not ditch the apartment -- she's not completely crazy. there ...more
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Read in April, 2008
The only reason I decided to read this book was because of its single endorsement by author Marian Keyes. She said she loved this book. I figured that was a good sign that I, too, would love this book.
Fortunately, this turned out to be the case.
First-time author Julie Buxbaum wrote a great story that many young women can relate to. It wasn't an original premise, with a twenty-something heroine who feels lost, but it was told in a fresh and simple way. I laughed. I cried. I fervently tur...more
Fortunately, this turned out to be the case.
First-time author Julie Buxbaum wrote a great story that many young women can relate to. It wasn't an original premise, with a twenty-something heroine who feels lost, but it was told in a fresh and simple way. I laughed. I cried. I fervently tur...more
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Read in May, 2008
Buxbaum’s first published novel has a comepelling, interesting first-person narrator in Emily. On the verge of being proposed to by her boyfriend of two years, Emily dumps him and begins a journey that of discovery of who she is and what she wants from life. And while Emily’s voice is compelling, unique and makes this novel worth picking up, Buxbaum picks every single last cliche in the book to put Emily through on her journey. You’ll meet character fifty pages in and be clearly able...more
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Read in May, 2008
I like books about smart late 20's early 30's women having major instrospective periods/mid life crises, because it make me feel more normal. like reading a book about the crazy or autistic and realizing youre just on the normal side of crazy. This book was not remarkable in its story really but the writing was pleasant, and had moments of real poignancy. I wish the prologue hadnt been so revealing, because I kept feeling like I sort of new how it was going to end. but it made me grateful for my...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
any women's fiction fans
The Opposite of Love is about Emily, a twenty-nine-year-old lawyer who is shutting down. She has a successful, but totally boring and uninspiring career. When she realizes that her boyfriend is about to propose, Emily decides that she can't pretend any longer. So, within a few weeks she breaks up with her boyfriend and quits her job. Even she doesn't understand why she is doing what she's doing. This is a very thoughtful book about a person's choices and how one woman finally decides...more
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Read in June, 2008
I've read a lot of books written by graduates of law school, and they all seem to be good authors. Why is that? Is it because they have to write thousands of pages for research, motions, briefs, and all those other lawyer documents? Or is it because they have a feel for good dialogue due to taking depositions? Whatever it is, this book was very enjoyable. My favorite line from the book is in a description of Emily's pregnancy: "now that I got to play my part as a Russian nested doll,&q...more
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Read in July, 2008
I randomly picked this up at the library and it was so good. Some of the themes were definitely covered territory.
A successful lawyer uncertain of her relationship, her career and her sense of family. But I really enjoyed Buxbaum's writing. She was gentle and compassionate in her story of Emily.
Of course too, I really enjoyed Emily's relationship with Grandpa Jack. It was really special and caused other supportive relationships in her life, such as the one with Ruth.
I look forwa...more
A successful lawyer uncertain of her relationship, her career and her sense of family. But I really enjoyed Buxbaum's writing. She was gentle and compassionate in her story of Emily.
Of course too, I really enjoyed Emily's relationship with Grandpa Jack. It was really special and caused other supportive relationships in her life, such as the one with Ruth.
I look forwa...more
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Read in March, 2008
This is a debut novel that got a lot of attention in review journals, etc so I have had in on my TBR list for a long time. I wasn’t disappointed. Emily is a 29-year old lawyer frustrated with her job as a litigation attorney. Her relationship with her father is strained, her beloved grandfather is ill and she has just broken up with the perfect boyfriend. Emily’s comments often made me smile and I even had a few tears during reading this book. Definitely a step above the chick lit/single wom...more
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It was my first "Stay up until 2 in the morning" book of the summer. The prologue of the book was so intriguing, I had to read all of the story immediately to see how the characters resolved everything in the end. I loved the frankness of the main character's voice. Her pain and confusion were palpable. I really sympathized with what the characters went through, and yet, the book was not all sad. I laughed out loud during many parts. All in all, a great read.
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Read in February, 2008
I thought this was an amazing debut novel. Lots of interesting, complex characters and relationships. At the beginning of the book, Emily makes a rash decision that she later realizes was terribly wrong, but she can't quickly make it right again - with the help of some good friends, relatives and therapy she learns to grow and make positive changes in all parts of her life. A great example of more serious chick lit that's touching and humorous at the same time.
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This chick-lit novel was well written with some really beautiful language. There were times I got angry with the lead character, though. I literally yelled at her in my car (I listened to part of this on audio and read the rest) because I could easily think of half-a-dozen better things to do than what she ended up doing. Anyway, it was a very well-written novel about defensive mechanisms and loss. There were laughs and tears, too. Overall, pretty decent read.
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Read in April, 2008
I loved this book! It was a fun read and I could relate to the main character: a woman who had lost her mom, was an attorney trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life, and who was mourning the decline of her beloved and elderly grandfather. I thought this book was about grief and longing and how people cope with loss told through the story of a broken engagement. I guess some would call this chick lit, but that doesn't do it justice.
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Read in February, 2008
I stayed up until 1 am on a week night reading this book. It's not great literature, for sure, but it has a compelling enough story with just the right amount of feel-good romance. The girl-gets-her-act-together storyline was really appealing to me at this point in my life, since I'm also sorting through (in a different way) what I should be spending my time on, be it at work or outside of work. I felt like I could really relate.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
women who are confused by life at any given moment.
What a beautiful story! I cried and laughed, many times, and as soon as I finished it I called my boyfriend to tell him I loved him. I think the main reason I really enjoyed this story was because I could relate to the main character, Emily. I felt like she was writing my story. One of the few other times this has happened was when I read Tom Wolfe's "I am Charlotte Simmons". Great Job! Can't wait to read the next one!
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.70 (227 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.69 (217 ratings) number of reviews: 88popular shelves
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quote
"Here's what I know: I eat mass quantities of red meat, curse religiously, sing out of tune but with conviction. I cry when it suits me, laugh when it's inopportune, read The New York Times obituaries and wedding announcements, out loud and in that order."
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