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Love or Something Like It: A Novel
by
Deirdre Shaw (Goodreads Author)
A clear-eyed, emotionally honest debut about a thirtysomething woman forced to redefine her entire world after her young marriage falters, Love or Something Like It proves we can grow up at any age.
When Lacey Brennan meets Toby, a sweet and talented comedian, she impulsively moves across the country to be with him in Los Angeles. Lacey is unsure of what she is looking for...more
When Lacey Brennan meets Toby, a sweet and talented comedian, she impulsively moves across the country to be with him in Los Angeles. Lacey is unsure of what she is looking for...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
April 14th 2009
by Random House
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OK - full disclosure here... the author, Deirdre Shaw, is my wife. Which may make it seem like I can't really write an objective review. So I'll tell you about when I read the book for the first time, and you can take away what you will...
This is Deirdre's first novel, which she was completing just as we met. When I read the novel for the first time I didn't know Deirdre too well, and was a little nervous to read it... what if I didn't like it and had to find some way to be polite and say nice t
...more
I was nervous about this one after seeing that it takes place in Hollywood. I was afraid it was going to be a story about rich, stuck-up actors and actresses in the business. However, I was completely taken back by this fantastically written book. The characters were struggling writers and were trying to figure out in what direction their lives were going. This is a great first novel and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Just as wonderful as I thought it would be. Disclaimer: this book evolved out of a short story featured at the New Short Fiction Series Emerging Voices Group Show '05 - its even more wonderful than its beautiful source.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This is a nice, easy-to-read novel about a couple of formative years in a young woman's life. Lacey leaves NYC to be with her boyfriend Toby in Hollywood. Toby is nice, funny, loving, and the fact that he moves on the periphery of Hollywood's celebrity culture is a nice perk. Lacey herself, after a boring newspaper job, starts working as a writer's assistant on a sitcom. Then Toby loses his job. They get married anyway, but things start going downhill immediately, as Toby becomes passive and wit...more
Deirdre Shaw is my dear friend. I want to say she's my friend because she is thoughtful, witty and the sharpest of observers. She is these things, but she is my friend because she is INSANELY talented. Years ago, the first time I met Deirdre, I heard her read one of her stories, and I said to myself, that woman is going to be famous, so go make her your friend, ding-dong. And now, low and behold here is that book, that book that is going to make you all know her name!
If you have ever loved some...more
If you have ever loved some...more
May 26, 2009
Liz
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who has loved someone they had to let go
Recommended to Liz by:
people magazine
Lacey grows up in a rocky-split family. Her mother left at a young age, leaving their father to take care of lacey and her twin brother sam. Lacey decides to leave for a boarding school at 14 yrs old, and Sam decides he cant take it anymore and ventures out on his own. He gets caught up in skiing and drugs. The whole time Lacey feels she is at fault for leaving him behind.
Lacey ages and gets married to Toby. Their marriage doesnt even last one year. She feels she is once again is at fault. She h...more
Lacey ages and gets married to Toby. Their marriage doesnt even last one year. She feels she is once again is at fault. She h...more
This is a beautifully written first novel by my talented sister-in-law [full disclosure:] that I would love whether or not I knew the author. She writes about her characters with wit and care during difficult transitions in their lives - particularly the life of her main character, Lacey Brennan. The novel explores hazy LA, dysmorphic Hollywood-types, scars leftover from childhood wounds, and the malaise of heartbreak and uncertainty without becoming melancholy. It's moving and honest and I laug...more
I was pleasantly surprised at how well this story was told. After reading the synopsis, I was thinking it might just be another shallow chick lit book (which don't get me wrong--I do enjoy from time to time). Lacey, the main character is portrayed in a very real and touching way. Basically, the book is about a woman's short lived marriage and the aftermath as she picks herself up again while also doing it in a completely different place from where she had grown up.
A random library find. The title seemed to remind me of something - a review from a friend? but seeing how new the book is (the binding is still stiff!) I realized it hadn't been.
Love or something like it is a good weekend read. I think what I'm left with is the feeling that the book is believable. The characters, the relationships, the situations, and the process. And to borrow a quote from the book, it's about coming forward, straight and true.
Love or something like it is a good weekend read. I think what I'm left with is the feeling that the book is believable. The characters, the relationships, the situations, and the process. And to borrow a quote from the book, it's about coming forward, straight and true.
I loved it! Initially I wasn't sure - Lacey and Toby were both pretty whiny characters - but as the novel progressed I saw that Lacey's whininess was the point. We were supposed to witness her growth and maturation. We were supposed to experience her pain, and to see ugliness and the unflattering light that disappointed hopes shine on us all. As I finished the book I found myself anticipating Dierdre Shaw's next novel.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, because it's about a pretty woman from a wealthy family who bounces between interesting jobs and hot boyfriends and is still sort of unhappy. Man, if she led my boring life she would have hung herself at 32. Snap out of it, girl! But it was so well written, and the characters were so believable, that I gulped it down in two days and wanted it to be longer.
Shaw's book was beautifully written and very heartfelt - it seemed like she took one of her characters' advice and wrote about subjects she knew well - the disintegration of a marriage, and difficult, but well-meaning families. Shaw is also clearly a short story writer - almost every chapter would work on its own. The book was a little slow to start - by not beginning at the "beginning" not eveything worked, but it grows on you quickly.
I really do "like it" for most books. There is generally something I like about each one that I finish. This character moves from NY to LA and works in Hollywood. It's a little dark about love & loss. Someone living in each of those areas would really appreciate it. I wouldn't recommend it really, but I was engaged enough to finish and interested enough to want to.
With a wry wit and great insight, Deirdre Shaw completely captures what it means to be a 30 (something)woman trying to make a good life for herself. Pardon the cliche, but it really IS laugh-out-loud funny, and yet so spot on that I found great comfort (and relief) in the universality of the story. Great LA scenes too.
Lacey thinks she has fallen in love. So, she quits her job and moves from NY to LA with her boyfriend. She risks everything and then her life falls apart.
What will she do? How can she rebound after she breaks up with her husband and has no job that she likes?
Will she ever be truly happy?
What will she do? How can she rebound after she breaks up with her husband and has no job that she likes?
Will she ever be truly happy?
"Raw, realistic...anyone who's ever had to deal with the death of a relationship (and isn't that pretty much everyone?) will appreciate Shaw's honest, vividly written take."
- People Magazine, 5/4/09, (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)
"A thoughtful, well-written story about a young woman prevailing over a difficult past...wryly funny, refreshingly honest...Shaw writes convincingly, with insight and wisdom."
- The Boston Globe, 4/12/09
"Piercingly insightful... Shaw's graceful prose and razor-sharp observation...more
- People Magazine, 5/4/09, (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)
"A thoughtful, well-written story about a young woman prevailing over a difficult past...wryly funny, refreshingly honest...Shaw writes convincingly, with insight and wisdom."
- The Boston Globe, 4/12/09
"Piercingly insightful... Shaw's graceful prose and razor-sharp observation...more
I'm not family nor am I a professional book reviewer, but my library was sent an advanced release copy of this book and it instantly caught my eye. The title is excellent. I wouldn't say it is one of my favorites, but it was really good. I loved the writing and will definitely read any forthcoming books by this author.
I enjoyed reading this book. The main character was very realistic and you wanted to shake her sometimes so she'd get her life on track. At times I worried that the book was going to go to far into the psychology side of the characters, but it didn't. The ending was just what I was hoping for too.
This is the story of a pretty bad breakup so naturally I was intrigued. (Is that a bad sign?) The story is well written and I blew through it in 3 days staying up until 2am each night because I couldn't bear the thought of putting it down.
Laura gave me this book for my birthday and I loved it. I'm biased, obviously, since it was so brilliantly edited - but I also really liked the story. It had really good pacing and there were some incredibly well-written moments. Thanks Laura!!!
I had a hard time connecting with the main characters. By the end of the book I liked them better. LA doesn't seem like a very attractive place to me, the entertainment part, that is. I did like the search for self interesting and the connections to her family.
I read a review of this book which got four stars out of five so thought I would try it. It was okay -- not great but better than fair. I thought it would make a great chick flick so maybe the movie industry will buy it and produce it.
one the few books i've read that was set in L.A. that actually captured some of the truths about the city (good & bad) and didn't gloss it over.
slow to start but the characters and story definitely gained depth and a purpose as the story went on.
slow to start but the characters and story definitely gained depth and a purpose as the story went on.
This novel seemed to take a very long road to tell a very basic story. Often wrote in 1st person than switching to 3rd it was a bizarre read. One I finished but not one I'm very likely to pick up and read again.
"Love or Something Like It" is a story about a single woman, alone in a big city (L.A.), sort of searching for love, but really Lacey is just plain searching, and she's no Bridget Jones. At times, this novel's chapters read like independent short stories rather than parts of a cohesive whole. By the end, you'll feel like Lacey is one of your friends, and you'll be proud of what she's accomplished over the course of these 250 pages.
I had seen this book in the library under the new novel section and went on a waiting list to read it. I was not disappointed by the wait.
Shaw gives us an insightful look at a 30 something newlywed trying to redefine her life as both her personal and professional life take an unfairytale like turn. What you get is vivid detailing and a no so rosey view of young Hollywood which unfurls into a smart storyline which one cannot stop reading!
This real story of LA is a promising debut from Shaw. If...more
Shaw gives us an insightful look at a 30 something newlywed trying to redefine her life as both her personal and professional life take an unfairytale like turn. What you get is vivid detailing and a no so rosey view of young Hollywood which unfurls into a smart storyline which one cannot stop reading!
This real story of LA is a promising debut from Shaw. If...more
I couldn't put this book down - I devoured it. The characters are so real (I'm pretty convinced I know some of them) and so universal that I had to know where their stories would take them.
Sure, write about what you know. But this book felt like a mashup of someone's diary and a storywriting class: tidbits of authenticity interspersed with a slightly distant and unattached narrative.
ugh. i mean the last 60 pages are uplifting . . . . and while she is a really talented writer, the story made me depressed. i can handle downer books, but there has to be more redemption along the way.
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Deirdre Shaw's first novel is LOVE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT (Random House, April 2009). She grew up in New York and now lives with her husband and young son in Los Angeles, where she writes for television.
More about Deirdre Shaw...
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“... I could feel a nostalgia for the evening already setting in, a longing for the existence of this night building before my eyes.”
—
4 people liked it
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Apr 30, 2009 06:15am