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183rd out of 1,229 books
—
3,051 voters
Seeing Me Naked
by
Liza Palmer (Goodreads Author)
Elisabeth Page is the daughter of Ben Page, yes, that's right, THE world famous novelist. And yes, she's also the sister of Rascal Page, world famous novelist in his own right. So what does Elisabeth do? Much to her family's disappointment, Elisabeth is a pastry chef. And a pretty damn good one, at Beverly, the hottest restaurant in LA.
The last relationship Elisabeth had...more
The last relationship Elisabeth had...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 8th 2008
by 5 Spot
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I liked this book. Nothing groundbreaking about the writing but I appreciated how the author went a different route with a love triangle situation and explored more of the internal struggle we all have about whether or not people will love us after they see us "naked", that is when we remove all the layers of self protection and allow them to see our true selves.
Moral Note: abundance of cursing, especially use of the f word. Premarital sex and accepted consumption of alcohol, coffee and tea.
Moral Note: abundance of cursing, especially use of the f word. Premarital sex and accepted consumption of alcohol, coffee and tea.
Much to her father's disappointment, Elisabeth Page deliberately selected a career as far removed from his own (Ben Page! The two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author!) as possible. She became a pastry chef. Despite Elisabeth's obvious success working at one of the hottest restaurants in LA and her brother Rascal's celebrated author status, the pair continually find themselves falling short of their father's ideal of success. But the strain is starting to wear and Elisabeth is ready for something...more
Transcends Chick-Lit (men will love it as much as women)
First off, Palmer can write. Not 'construct a sentence, give us a few laughs', write, but 'weave emotion and detail and character with such style you're amazed she isn't a household name', write. This isn't fluff. This isn't the 'lost girl searching for the right guy,' although there is a bit of that. This is a novel in which character dynamics with family and friends are vivid and real. The dialogue is crisp and full of subtext that most r...more
First off, Palmer can write. Not 'construct a sentence, give us a few laughs', write, but 'weave emotion and detail and character with such style you're amazed she isn't a household name', write. This isn't fluff. This isn't the 'lost girl searching for the right guy,' although there is a bit of that. This is a novel in which character dynamics with family and friends are vivid and real. The dialogue is crisp and full of subtext that most r...more
4 likes · like · see review
to be fair, it probably deserves an extra half-star. i just can't go with the two stars because goodreads says that means i think the book is "okay" & i don't think it's "okay". this was crummy chick lit that deserves the "crummy" assignation. the protagonist is elisabeth, a pastry chef in los angeles. her father is a famous novelist who has won two pulitzers & hung around with jack nicholson & warren beatty back in their good ol' slipping-roofies-to-teenagers days. her brother, rask...more
2 likes · like · see review
After coming off two really good reads in a row, this book was like the rebound boyfriend -- it never really had a chance! It was definitely entertaining, and I definitely enjoyed it. But it wasn't "all that and more." Elisabeth Page has sort of just been living her life through work as a pastry chef at a chi chi French L.A. restaurant. Her family is comprised of a famous author father and a possibly even more famous author brother, and they show their love for each other by trying to cut each o...more
Another enjoyable "chick lit/beach read" book. Second one Ive read by this author and I've enjoyed both of them. Her main characters (so far) are quite relatable - I think it's the inner dialogue that does it -- how many of us have not said something to an attractive guy and then had a rapid fire "OH GOD did I just say that? Im such a loser, I can't believe I said that" conversation with ourselves? This one is a take on the family outcast story - a woman who is confined by her father's, and then...more
Elizabeth Page is a 5 star chef. She works in a field that is completely oppisite of her famous father and brother who are writers. She is waiting for the man she thinks she loves to love her enough to stay and trying to figure out where her life is really going. Since her five/eleven year plan is failing her.
At one of her mother's charity auctions she meets a man she thought she would never fall for. It turns out that she fell in love with him anyway.
This book is a definition of dysfunctional...more
At one of her mother's charity auctions she meets a man she thought she would never fall for. It turns out that she fell in love with him anyway.
This book is a definition of dysfunctional...more
I knew when I picked this book up I wouldn't be able to put it down. This is a fantastic, quick read. I didn't want it to end. I loved the narrator, Elisabeth, and her disfunctional family and all the talk about pastries. The dialogue is rich and the characters are very well formed. I wish I had written this.
1 like · like · see review
Seeing Me Naked is an entertaining souffle about Elizabeth Page, a female pastry chef and her kooky L.A. relationships. As the daughter of a Norman Mailer-caliber novelist, and the sister of another famous writer, Elizabeth's family dynamic is loaded with pressure. Elizabeth's on-again-off-again, friends-with-whatever relationship with Will, a guy she grew up with, doesn't help. Just as her career starts to explode, Daniel, a down-to-earth basketball coach, enters Elizabeth's world. Torn between...more
I enjoyed this book, it stayed with me after I finished reading it.
I commented when I was on page 100 that it was going slowly, but on reflection it was right where it needed to be.
The back ground information and family dynamic - the dysfunctional relationships that have been Elisabeth’s example in life of how a relationship works are all important parts of this story.
Professional success with awards and recognition is the only measure of greatness in the eyes of her famous (infamous novelist fa...more
I commented when I was on page 100 that it was going slowly, but on reflection it was right where it needed to be.
The back ground information and family dynamic - the dysfunctional relationships that have been Elisabeth’s example in life of how a relationship works are all important parts of this story.
Professional success with awards and recognition is the only measure of greatness in the eyes of her famous (infamous novelist fa...more
I spent the last 2.5 hours finishing this book, when I couldn't fall back asleep. It had been a few days since I had read it and I didn't want to put it down until I knew what happened! Chick lit, fast read without too much depth, but entertaining and different. I was rooting for the heroine and wanted everything to work out in the end. It's always nice to mix in a quick read with the "heavier" stuff.
The story follows the life of a pastry chef and her "L.A." family, which has its own history. Sh...more
The story follows the life of a pastry chef and her "L.A." family, which has its own history. Sh...more
I absolutely LOVED this book. It was really great, funny at times and I loved the main character. She was trying to distinguish herself from her famous and wealthy family while dealing with the dysfunctional relationships they have with each other. She really opens up and allows people to "see her naked" and learns to do what she wants with her life. I also liked the love story that went along with it and the way the main character progressed from having a "fling" with her wealthy neighbor to ha...more
I think the snarky cruelties of talented, privileged people are just not my cup of tea. I rather liked the main character and narrator, Elisabeth, because she had flashes of self-understanding that were interesting and believable. No one else in the novel was likable, and they weren't terrifically believable either. This is probably because none of the characters, save Elisabeth, are developed beyond stereotype. The story is a predictable one. That in itself isn't a bad thing; sometimes one *wan...more
This was the first book I read that was recommended from GoodReads after some research. It didn't disappoint. The story was well-written, and I got close to each of the main characters it touched (except her Dad, who I really don't think we were meant to get close to).
At its heart, "Seeing Me naked" is about the people you love seeing who you really are, after all the layers and defenses are stripped away. Once we get real with people, we might be surprised to find out that they like us for who...more
At its heart, "Seeing Me naked" is about the people you love seeing who you really are, after all the layers and defenses are stripped away. Once we get real with people, we might be surprised to find out that they like us for who...more
I guess in all honesty, I don't do predictable, no-brainer, fluff, "chick" books!
I thought it would be better because of all the positive reviews I read. Elisabeth is privileged, snobby, and condescending of most people around her. Her father is the supreme narcissistic jackass who doesn't have a clue what the real world is. And her mother? She is so out of touch with reality with all her "charity work and galas" that her head is in a perpetual cloud. Her brother Rascal ~ well ~ he has a lot of...more
I thought it would be better because of all the positive reviews I read. Elisabeth is privileged, snobby, and condescending of most people around her. Her father is the supreme narcissistic jackass who doesn't have a clue what the real world is. And her mother? She is so out of touch with reality with all her "charity work and galas" that her head is in a perpetual cloud. Her brother Rascal ~ well ~ he has a lot of...more
Jun 22, 2011
Chachic
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chachic by:
Angie
Originally posted here.
Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer was a book recommended by Angie of Angieville and my copy was sent as a gift by Nomes of Inkcrush when I won her giveaway. I was craving for some contemporary romance reads along the lines of Unsticky by Sarra Manning and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty so I asked Angie for suggestions and this was one of the titles that she mentioned.
I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Seeing Me Naked is so much more than its flirty title a...more
Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer was a book recommended by Angie of Angieville and my copy was sent as a gift by Nomes of Inkcrush when I won her giveaway. I was craving for some contemporary romance reads along the lines of Unsticky by Sarra Manning and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty so I asked Angie for suggestions and this was one of the titles that she mentioned.
I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Seeing Me Naked is so much more than its flirty title a...more
This book interested me because it sounded as though the story told would be about a strong female character overcoming obstacles and creating her own expectations, rather than following those of society. What I found was a highly bland novel. Elisabeth is not a character I fell in love with. She was underdeveloped and just kind of "there". The storyline seemed too cliche, and the ending didn't develop enough for the reader to see the main character triumph and succeed.
Put simply, the book is 29...more
Put simply, the book is 29...more
I liked the book when I first finished it, but but the time I woke up the next morning I was less impressed. The characters were very trite but their actions were completely unbelievable. A dysfunctional family doesn't magically hit their stride and start behaving well. A bitchy co-worker doesn't suddenly get her just desserts. The end was too contrived and happy. Not that I don't like a happy ending, I just couldn't see that it could all wrap up so nicely, so fast. Additionally, I couldn't ever...more
Review originally posted here
The Premise: Elisabeth Page is the pastry chef for a fancy restaurant in L.A. Her five-year plan was to one day open her own patisserie, but after the five years come and go, and then another five, Elisabeth wonders if that will ever happen. With a father who is world renowned novelist Ben Page, and a brother who is a publishing wunderkind, Elisabeth feels the pressure of unfulfilled expectations of her intellectual family. Her romantic life is no better than her pro...more
The Premise: Elisabeth Page is the pastry chef for a fancy restaurant in L.A. Her five-year plan was to one day open her own patisserie, but after the five years come and go, and then another five, Elisabeth wonders if that will ever happen. With a father who is world renowned novelist Ben Page, and a brother who is a publishing wunderkind, Elisabeth feels the pressure of unfulfilled expectations of her intellectual family. Her romantic life is no better than her pro...more
This was a very quick read - started it this morning and just now finished it. The rush was related to the fact that it was due a week ago. Oops. Regardless, I'm not generally a speed reader and a read that quick means something was really short or I enjoyed it. While the book was about 300 pages, the fact is that I also liked it.
I'll admit, I nearly gave up on it earlier, mostly in part because I couldn't imagine I'd finish it and I thought it would be better to just wait until I could get it b...more
I'll admit, I nearly gave up on it earlier, mostly in part because I couldn't imagine I'd finish it and I thought it would be better to just wait until I could get it b...more
Originally published here.
Elisabeth Page is a pastry chef. Not the run-of-the-mill éclair and cheesecake chef, but the overachiever type who works at the hottest restaurant in LA. The Page family have their standards – her mother runs the Foster Family Foundation, her father is a Pulitzer prize-winning novelist and her brother Rascal is literature’s next big thing. Why her goal to own a patisserie is taking years longer than planned, Elisabeth’s father Ben has no idea, but he still has hope for...more
Elisabeth Page is a pastry chef. Not the run-of-the-mill éclair and cheesecake chef, but the overachiever type who works at the hottest restaurant in LA. The Page family have their standards – her mother runs the Foster Family Foundation, her father is a Pulitzer prize-winning novelist and her brother Rascal is literature’s next big thing. Why her goal to own a patisserie is taking years longer than planned, Elisabeth’s father Ben has no idea, but he still has hope for...more
Elizabeth Page is the under achiever in a family of over achievers. She's chosen to be a pastry chef, while her older brother, Rascal, and father Ben, are literary geniuses, each with award winning books under their belts. Ballard Foster, Elizabeth's mother, is from THE Foster family, and has inherited a fortune. Elizabeth is in a "relationship" with Will, a childhood friend who is an international reporter. At one of her mother's soirees benefiting charity, Elizabeth meets and goads Daniel Sull...more
I first heard Liza Palmer on a podcast and I was immediately drawn to her brash attitude and humor. She seemed down-to-earth, and I assumed that earnest world-weary wit would be reflected in her writing. I was severely let down by the completely uninteresting characters of SEEING ME NAKED, perhaps the blandest book with the most provocative title and cover I've seen. This amounts to lazy chick-lit, where the character is put-upon because she can't decide whether or not she was offered do a TV SH...more
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It's been a long time since I've enjoyed reading a book this much.
I'm not going to analyze it at all, I'm going to keep it simple, because I really, truly was engaged by the book in a way that I haven't been in awhile. It also made me realize that as I grow older, my enjoyment of novels has been declining, which worries me more than a little, but I digress.
The plot is simple yet incredibly complicated. She expands on the relationships between the Page family without going overboard, just as she...more
I'm not going to analyze it at all, I'm going to keep it simple, because I really, truly was engaged by the book in a way that I haven't been in awhile. It also made me realize that as I grow older, my enjoyment of novels has been declining, which worries me more than a little, but I digress.
The plot is simple yet incredibly complicated. She expands on the relationships between the Page family without going overboard, just as she...more
Another great Meg Cabot recommendation. Last time she led me to the funny and quirky novels in verse of Sonya Sones. Now I find myself completely immersed in Liza Palmer's second novel, laughing out loud, wiping tears from my eyes, as DH stares at me warily and scoots a bit closer to the far side of the bed. The title, cover, and marketing indicate your standard chick lit fare. But I found Seeing Me Naked to be a distinct cut above the rest.
Elisabeth Page is a pastry chef at the most exclusiv...more
Elisabeth Page is a pastry chef at the most exclusiv...more
The plot is simple enough – a pastry chef gets the job offer of a lifetime when she’s asked to host a TV food show. But how does this fit in with juggling an insane family and having found a new love interest? I’ve always been fascinated by professional cooking, so I decided to give it a shot.
And I'm glad I did, because it just goes to show that looks can be deceiving. Seeing Me Naked is a delightful novel about what's really important in life. Elisabeth Page never felt she lived up to the stand...more
And I'm glad I did, because it just goes to show that looks can be deceiving. Seeing Me Naked is a delightful novel about what's really important in life. Elisabeth Page never felt she lived up to the stand...more
When I started this novel, I was disappointed in the story's set-up. Liza Palmer's first book, Conversations with the Fat Girl, spoke to my core (as a fat girl myself) and I was completely enchanted with it. Seeing Me Naked, however, does not feature a fellow fattie in the starring role. Authors who write plus size fiction... tend to stick with plus size fiction. We are a pretty loyal audience of fluffy females who want to see our curvaceous heroines winning the day (and the boy).
So, Elisabeth's...more
So, Elisabeth's...more
Jul 05, 2009
Joy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
lovers of chick-lit
Recommended to Joy by:
Lauren
Shelves:
chick-lit,
books-i-loved
I loved this book! I thought it was witty. I loved that it didn't quite fit the formula of a typical "romance comedy" where girl meets boy, they hate each other at first, they get together, they have big fight/misunderstanding and break up, and get together finally in the end. I loved the concentration on the family as well, and the history of it all. There was only one person in the book whom I didn't like, but I wasn't supposed to like that character, so it all works out well. A definite nice,...more
I chose this book because it was recommended by Meg Cabot. Well, I must have read her reco on her blog before because I realized (after a few pages) that I had read this book before! I still re-read it because I am a sucker for chick lit and this is a pretty enjoyable light read. I found myself wishing that I could take a trip to LA and see all of the markets and little shops that Elizabeth frequents to find inspiration for her desserts. I have requested a few more of Liza Palmer's books from my...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chick Lit: new booke | 1 | 12 | Jun 06, 2013 08:59pm | |
| Seeing Me Naked | 1 | 22 | Jun 11, 2008 02:01pm |
Liza Palmer is the internationally bestselling author of Conversations with the Fat Girl , which has been optioned for series by HBO.
Library Journal said Palmer’s “blend of humor and sadness is realistic and gripping,..”
After earning two Emmy nominations writing for the first season of VH1’s Pop Up Video, she now knows far too much about Fergie.
Palmer’s fifth novel, Nowhere but Home, is about a f...more
More about Liza Palmer...
Library Journal said Palmer’s “blend of humor and sadness is realistic and gripping,..”
After earning two Emmy nominations writing for the first season of VH1’s Pop Up Video, she now knows far too much about Fergie.
Palmer’s fifth novel, Nowhere but Home, is about a f...more
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“. . . mixing defensiveness with anger - a wonderful mix, by the way.”
—
14 people liked it
“I stand back from him. I don't understand. You've seen parts of me that are not perfect, and you still love me?”
—
3 people liked it
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May 26, 2008 02:13pm