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Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me?
A young couple, Camille "Honey" Shaughnessy and Don Shepard fall in love on the eve of World War II. As America enters the war, and Don is pressured into the service by his father, the two newlyweds struggle to maintain contact. Don becomes a hero, saving the lives of his comrades, but will he make it home alive?
"Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me?" is a novel based on the actual love letters exchanged between the author's grandparents.
"Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me?" is a novel based on the actual love letters exchanged between the author's grandparents.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 25, 2011
32 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Nyman
3 books19 followersI was raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs. I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis at 14, but managed to entertain myself by writing and watching classic movies during the days RA kept me from school.
I attended the University of Colorado - Boulder, and graduated cum laude in English Literature and Dance. My first novel was published in 2012 and, currently, I am a ghostwriter with Mark Graham Communications. I enjoy reading the work of Stephen King, Christopher Moore, Toni Morrison, George R. R. Martin, Wordsworth, Austen and the Brontës.
Though I can't dance anymore due to a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility), I try to keep up with my firefighting husband, crazy children, and our dogs Biggie and Puff Daddy.
Please visit my website carrienyman.com and my blog for more details on my work. Thank you so much for your interest. I am open to questions.
I attended the University of Colorado - Boulder, and graduated cum laude in English Literature and Dance. My first novel was published in 2012 and, currently, I am a ghostwriter with Mark Graham Communications. I enjoy reading the work of Stephen King, Christopher Moore, Toni Morrison, George R. R. Martin, Wordsworth, Austen and the Brontës.
Though I can't dance anymore due to a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility), I try to keep up with my firefighting husband, crazy children, and our dogs Biggie and Puff Daddy.
Please visit my website carrienyman.com and my blog for more details on my work. Thank you so much for your interest. I am open to questions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 14, 2012
The second book ever, to make me cry.
December 5, 2012
I often do not change my mind regarding a character once I have made it; guess there is a first for everything.
For the first half of this book, I despised the deuteragonist (he was not the antagonist) and wanted nothing more than for the protagonist to wake up, from the manipulative relationship, and run like hell in the other direction. The psychologist in me spent the first half of the book in turmoil wanting Honey to leave Don. Once someone shows their vile, manipulative and jealous side, they rarely change. But in Don's case, once he got what he desired most, instead of becoming worse, he actually improved. Whether this was maturity or just how the Army can change a person, Don's character truly grew over the course of the book. And by the end I found myself rooting for Don and Honey to live happily ever after instead of wishing for Don to jump off a cliff.
Technically speaking this book seemed a bit long and drawn out at times, especially during the first half. The writing and prose are average with only a couple of memorable lines worth highlighting. There were a few errors but I have come to think most of these likely happen when the book is haphazardly being converted into a digital format for Kindle/Nook.
Keep a tissue handy while you're reading. You never know, you might become as hooked as I did and start Goggling the characters afterward (since it is based on a true story).
For the first half of this book, I despised the deuteragonist (he was not the antagonist) and wanted nothing more than for the protagonist to wake up, from the manipulative relationship, and run like hell in the other direction. The psychologist in me spent the first half of the book in turmoil wanting Honey to leave Don. Once someone shows their vile, manipulative and jealous side, they rarely change. But in Don's case, once he got what he desired most, instead of becoming worse, he actually improved. Whether this was maturity or just how the Army can change a person, Don's character truly grew over the course of the book. And by the end I found myself rooting for Don and Honey to live happily ever after instead of wishing for Don to jump off a cliff.
Technically speaking this book seemed a bit long and drawn out at times, especially during the first half. The writing and prose are average with only a couple of memorable lines worth highlighting. There were a few errors but I have come to think most of these likely happen when the book is haphazardly being converted into a digital format for Kindle/Nook.
Keep a tissue handy while you're reading. You never know, you might become as hooked as I did and start Goggling the characters afterward (since it is based on a true story).
April 17, 2012
I am always skeptical of up-and-coming writers. It is not easy to get a book published, but there are many lesser-quality authors that slip into things (see Stephanie Meyer. Successful, yet doesn't know how to construct either a sentence, nor a healthy relationship). Carrie Nyman is not one of those.
From the moment I stepped into Don and Honey's world, I was swept away. I cried with them, I laughed with them, I got angry at Don and equally as furious with Honey. Their life was described with such vivid imagery and words, I couldn't help but fall in love with them both. The book is incredibly captivating and I find myself, even now, wishing that I knew Honey personally.
Nyman is neither dry nor verbose. She does an excellent job of describing a scene without dragging anything down (something even experienced authors struggle with at times).
The dialogue is witty and refreshing, the personalities of the characters shining through with every sentence they utter.
I really cannot rave enough about this story. It is on my official list of favourite books and I can't wait to sit down and read it again. Go remove Suzanne Collins, Stephanie Meyer, and anyone else from your shopping cart. Instead, purchase this work of art from Carrie Nyman. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
From the moment I stepped into Don and Honey's world, I was swept away. I cried with them, I laughed with them, I got angry at Don and equally as furious with Honey. Their life was described with such vivid imagery and words, I couldn't help but fall in love with them both. The book is incredibly captivating and I find myself, even now, wishing that I knew Honey personally.
Nyman is neither dry nor verbose. She does an excellent job of describing a scene without dragging anything down (something even experienced authors struggle with at times).
The dialogue is witty and refreshing, the personalities of the characters shining through with every sentence they utter.
I really cannot rave enough about this story. It is on my official list of favourite books and I can't wait to sit down and read it again. Go remove Suzanne Collins, Stephanie Meyer, and anyone else from your shopping cart. Instead, purchase this work of art from Carrie Nyman. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
April 3, 2012
This is a fictionalized love story based on the lives of the author's grandparents, and the letters and telegrams they sent each other during World War 2.
Camille "Honey" Shaughnessy and Don Shepard fall in love on the eve of World World 2. Don is pressured by his father to enter the service, and the two newlyweds struggle to maintain contact. Don becomes a hero, saving the lives of his comrades, but will he make it home alive?
Even though this is a love story, it's not your typical romance story; it's very real, and I felt like I was reading someone's true life story and not fiction. It's told in chapters alternately by Honey and Don. It's a sweet story without being "mushy". I could tell the author really did her research on what life was like during the war, both here and in Europe, making the war very real without glorifying it.
I really enjoyed this book, and felt like I was right there in that place and time while I was reading. This is one of those books that makes you feel sad when it ends, because you have enjoyed being a part of their world.
Camille "Honey" Shaughnessy and Don Shepard fall in love on the eve of World World 2. Don is pressured by his father to enter the service, and the two newlyweds struggle to maintain contact. Don becomes a hero, saving the lives of his comrades, but will he make it home alive?
Even though this is a love story, it's not your typical romance story; it's very real, and I felt like I was reading someone's true life story and not fiction. It's told in chapters alternately by Honey and Don. It's a sweet story without being "mushy". I could tell the author really did her research on what life was like during the war, both here and in Europe, making the war very real without glorifying it.
I really enjoyed this book, and felt like I was right there in that place and time while I was reading. This is one of those books that makes you feel sad when it ends, because you have enjoyed being a part of their world.
April 16, 2012
Carrie Nyman has written a wonderful love story in the context of WWII, but enduring long after its time. I could not put the book down. The dialogue was interesting and compelling. The story was sweet, heartbreaking, uplifting, and nothing short of the human experience.
July 8, 2018
Oh my. I’m a sucker for a good World War II book, and this one did not disappoint. The prose was a bit rough in places, but the story was so beautiful and touching.
June 25, 2012
Carrie Nyman's novel is historical fiction based on letters her grandmother, Honey, received from her husband, Don Shepard. I enjoy historical fiction, especially that surrounding WWII, and I downloaded a copy of Nyman's first novel over Memorial Day weekend. Her publisher was doing a promotion and the book was free that week, so I figured, "Why not?" Honestly, I was not expecting much. I have read many novels by first-time "authors" and if I had to pay for the book, I would not have read it. But it was free so what did I have to lose?
I was shocked. From page one of Nyman's novel I was hooked and found myself unable to put the book down until the last page. Her ability to convey real human emotion is amazing and inspiring. I have carried on conversations with people who did not have as much tangible emotion as Nyman's characters, Honey and Don. It was incredible.
In the beginning, I was not a fan of Don Shepard. He was cold, manipulative and at some points he even seemed mentally ill. Many times, I found myself questioning his love for Honey while other times, it was clear that the sun rose and set on Honey. Yes, Don could be a jerk, but toward the end of the novel he redeems himself in a totally expected yet unexpected way. I did not see the event on the horizon, but when it happened, I was not all that shocked. It did cause me to see Don Shepard in a new light and not just for the snot he could be.
Honey, Nyman's grandmother, was an amazing voice throughout the novel. She came across as a woman ahead of her time. She did not want to get married immediately after high school. Instead, she went on to college in Saint Louis and became a medical technician. She wanted to be an independent woman and in the 1940s that was going against the grain. The ability Nyman has that allowed me to relate to Honey's emotions was mind blowing, never before have I felt a character's joy and pain so acutely in a novel.
The story Nyman has created from her grandmother's letters deserves five stars. However, I have read a lot of books and I can be a stickler. I started noticing many spelling and grammatical errors beginning at chapter 10. For me, this took away from the context of the book just a little because I found myself having to piece together what was meant on occasion. Also, I found some descriptions of places and things to be bit bit wordy. There was one point where the retelling where things were located on Honey's farm where I had to skip the someone painfully drawn out text. Nyman's description of Saint Louis, however, was fantastic (but I am biased as Saint Louis is my hometown). Overall, the book is a four-star masterpiece that will definitely get a higher rating from me if the second edition fixes these minor blemishes.
Nyman has a gift that is rare to find in a new author. Her writing is emotional, three dimensional, and human. I imagine there will be many more fantastic novels from Nyman in the future and the reading world will see great things from her.
I was shocked. From page one of Nyman's novel I was hooked and found myself unable to put the book down until the last page. Her ability to convey real human emotion is amazing and inspiring. I have carried on conversations with people who did not have as much tangible emotion as Nyman's characters, Honey and Don. It was incredible.
In the beginning, I was not a fan of Don Shepard. He was cold, manipulative and at some points he even seemed mentally ill. Many times, I found myself questioning his love for Honey while other times, it was clear that the sun rose and set on Honey. Yes, Don could be a jerk, but toward the end of the novel he redeems himself in a totally expected yet unexpected way. I did not see the event on the horizon, but when it happened, I was not all that shocked. It did cause me to see Don Shepard in a new light and not just for the snot he could be.
Honey, Nyman's grandmother, was an amazing voice throughout the novel. She came across as a woman ahead of her time. She did not want to get married immediately after high school. Instead, she went on to college in Saint Louis and became a medical technician. She wanted to be an independent woman and in the 1940s that was going against the grain. The ability Nyman has that allowed me to relate to Honey's emotions was mind blowing, never before have I felt a character's joy and pain so acutely in a novel.
The story Nyman has created from her grandmother's letters deserves five stars. However, I have read a lot of books and I can be a stickler. I started noticing many spelling and grammatical errors beginning at chapter 10. For me, this took away from the context of the book just a little because I found myself having to piece together what was meant on occasion. Also, I found some descriptions of places and things to be bit bit wordy. There was one point where the retelling where things were located on Honey's farm where I had to skip the someone painfully drawn out text. Nyman's description of Saint Louis, however, was fantastic (but I am biased as Saint Louis is my hometown). Overall, the book is a four-star masterpiece that will definitely get a higher rating from me if the second edition fixes these minor blemishes.
Nyman has a gift that is rare to find in a new author. Her writing is emotional, three dimensional, and human. I imagine there will be many more fantastic novels from Nyman in the future and the reading world will see great things from her.
June 22, 2012
A War Time Romance by Correspondence
This story follows the courtship of two young people before and during World War II. It begins when Camille (Honey) leaves home for the first time and goes off to university. It’s there that her friend introduces her to Don. After a somewhat whirlwind romance, Don is whisked off to war after having been pressured by his father to enlist and serve his country.
The story continues with a mix of correspondence between the two; you get a real insight into the true turmoil and daily horrors Don goes through in the trenches and this part of the story is vibrantly told conjuring up exacting images.
The two main characters are not particularly likeable and at times you do wonder why they ended up together. Camille finally gets a chance to break free from the family home and experience independence but seems to full of herself to seek out opportunities; as a pretty girl she is popular and could take her pick and yet she chooses Don who is often cruel and verbally abusive. This was a period when women were moulded to be good wives and mothers; primed to find an eligible husband; one friend admits that the only reason she was at university was the sole purpose of finding a good husband.
The story is based on actual letters written by the author’s grandparents during the war and tells of the emotional roller coaster of life leading up to and during that period and you do feel like you have gone back in time along with them. It’s sympathetically told with the letters adding a true sense of reality by giving two very different perspectives from diverse parts of the world. It’s a good read for anyone who enjoys stories from this period.
This story follows the courtship of two young people before and during World War II. It begins when Camille (Honey) leaves home for the first time and goes off to university. It’s there that her friend introduces her to Don. After a somewhat whirlwind romance, Don is whisked off to war after having been pressured by his father to enlist and serve his country.
The story continues with a mix of correspondence between the two; you get a real insight into the true turmoil and daily horrors Don goes through in the trenches and this part of the story is vibrantly told conjuring up exacting images.
The two main characters are not particularly likeable and at times you do wonder why they ended up together. Camille finally gets a chance to break free from the family home and experience independence but seems to full of herself to seek out opportunities; as a pretty girl she is popular and could take her pick and yet she chooses Don who is often cruel and verbally abusive. This was a period when women were moulded to be good wives and mothers; primed to find an eligible husband; one friend admits that the only reason she was at university was the sole purpose of finding a good husband.
The story is based on actual letters written by the author’s grandparents during the war and tells of the emotional roller coaster of life leading up to and during that period and you do feel like you have gone back in time along with them. It’s sympathetically told with the letters adding a true sense of reality by giving two very different perspectives from diverse parts of the world. It’s a good read for anyone who enjoys stories from this period.
May 17, 2015
Well this was a pleasant surprise!
First let me speak of the story construction. It is imaginative in how it introduces and sets each of the main characters. We enter their lives and heads, and I must say that the author is astonishing gifted in creating well-rounded three-dimensional characters who truly differ from each other and who are flawed and strong in finely detailed, real-feeling ways. Both main characters drive me crazy in the consistently stupid and hurtful ways they treated each other--but this was done in such a fine way that it led to an excellent appreciation of them as real people.
The better part of the story arc that develops this wonderful, string, true relationship of people who can barely abide to be with each other in the beginning, and not with a treacle-y change of heart. The author shows slow true love and affection--in the most literal sense--growing in different ways with the two of them.
The surprise is not that this is a good book, but just how good it is. It is simply a wonderful story of people.
First let me speak of the story construction. It is imaginative in how it introduces and sets each of the main characters. We enter their lives and heads, and I must say that the author is astonishing gifted in creating well-rounded three-dimensional characters who truly differ from each other and who are flawed and strong in finely detailed, real-feeling ways. Both main characters drive me crazy in the consistently stupid and hurtful ways they treated each other--but this was done in such a fine way that it led to an excellent appreciation of them as real people.
The better part of the story arc that develops this wonderful, string, true relationship of people who can barely abide to be with each other in the beginning, and not with a treacle-y change of heart. The author shows slow true love and affection--in the most literal sense--growing in different ways with the two of them.
The surprise is not that this is a good book, but just how good it is. It is simply a wonderful story of people.
June 6, 2012
I thought this book was a wonderful blend of fact and fiction. Camille (known as "Honey"), was a young woman trying to gain autonomy, yet fell head-over-heels in love with Don, a confident, handsome, charming young man. They had a tumultuous relationship, but ended up married during WWII. It's a love story, but I must admit I was thoroughly disgusted with the main character, Honey, for actually ending up with Don - I felt he was verbally abusive and very controlling. But, they married, and this is the story of their life during WWII, as told through their real-life correspondence during this time. It sounds simple, but I think the story is well-woven with threads of love, family, selfishness, sacrifice, friendships, sadness, tragedy; I felt involved in the book and really didn't want to put it down until I knew how it ended. I think it was well worth the read. Nyman is a first time author, and I think I will look forward to more of her works.
April 26, 2012
I am a sucker for any historical novel - particularly ones that are set in the WWII era, so I knew I was going to pick this one up. I loved it. It was a great love story, set mainly on the home front during WWII. I usually get frustrated with authors who love to switch up perspective WAY too often (read: Jodi Picoult) and though Nyman does change perspective throughout the book, it was done in a way to tell the story. It wasn't distracting, didn't make the story seem 'jumpy' and, in the end, I appreciated seeing the story from multiple perspectives! The characters were lively, well developed and relatable; the story both light and entertaining, as well as sad, intriguing, frustrating and genuinely real. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story, or a well written historical novel.
June 13, 2012
Many thanks to Carrie Nyman and Goodreads for this first reads giveaway win.
This was such an interesting idea for a book and the book was that-interesting. How fascinating to read about somebody's life this way! At times I had to remind myself that this was real and it wasn't somebody's made up story. Because it was a real story, I also had to remind myself that things are not always perfect and people do not always act how we ideally want them to.
I could point out dumb mistakes made by either party in the relationship, but I won't because this was real! We live life to learn and grow and I felt honored to go on that journey with this couple. It's incredible to see what comes from a couple's love (the generations of family that follow).
It's definitely a bittersweet book, so if you're looking for a super happy, lovey, book this is probably not the book for you.
This was such an interesting idea for a book and the book was that-interesting. How fascinating to read about somebody's life this way! At times I had to remind myself that this was real and it wasn't somebody's made up story. Because it was a real story, I also had to remind myself that things are not always perfect and people do not always act how we ideally want them to.
I could point out dumb mistakes made by either party in the relationship, but I won't because this was real! We live life to learn and grow and I felt honored to go on that journey with this couple. It's incredible to see what comes from a couple's love (the generations of family that follow).
It's definitely a bittersweet book, so if you're looking for a super happy, lovey, book this is probably not the book for you.
May 4, 2013
I liked this World War II era novel because I love stories set during that time. I don't think this will be a best seller but it was enjoyable. It had somewhat of a bittersweet ending. I do have to make fun of the contradictory claims. It claims to be based on a true story, but then has that disclaimer in the front of the book about any person being similar to real persons is coincidental. I also did not enjoy the wedding aspect of the plot because I felt it was out of place/character for those during the war. It was also a southern wedding so it could very well be that it made sense to have a show of grandeur even during this time of practicality. The writer did well at portraying two voices as the novel switched narrators, especially because it also switched genders. I was entertained by this very typical WWII love story.
June 11, 2012
I got this book as a free Kindle version over Memorial weekend. It took me a while to get into the characters but once I got going it was hard to put down. In the background knowing that their story was based on a true couple during WWII made it so much more interesting. There love was very real and you could feel it in the letters that they wrote. This is the first book that I have cried reading since I was a little girl. The only a couple of problems I had reading it, one was the switching back and forth between perspectives. It took a while to get used to and sometimes I had to go back a page or two to see who was speaking. The second was there were quite a few editorial mistakes that broke up the flow. Really minor and overall the book was a great read that left you feeling good.
June 30, 2012
This book has a good story line..I love that it's based on a real life relationship. But I read this on my Kindle and I don't know if books on e-readers are not being edited as well as paper books, but there were a ton of typos in this book. That was very distracting to me. I cringed the couple of times that the Mayo Clinic was referred to as being in Rochester, Michigan!! I'm glad their marriage turned out so well but the story leading into it didn't indicate that it would. It doesn't say how he reigned in his jealous streak. It just disappeared! And the name of the book doesn't make sense to me, but maybe I'm being too picky. But, as I said, it was a sweet story.
June 19, 2012
The book was a slow start for me. At first, I didn't really care about the main characters at all. I decided to stick with it and finish the book simply because I don't like to not finish a book. (I guess that's my OCD nature coming out.) After I finally got into it, my feelings about the characters began to change. As they grew and their circumstances changed, I began to see their true nature.
This book does a great job of bringing to light the horrors of war without putting a political slant on the subject.
I'm glad I stuck with it to finish.
This book does a great job of bringing to light the horrors of war without putting a political slant on the subject.
I'm glad I stuck with it to finish.
November 2, 2012
I am giving this book the benefit of 2 stars- I didn't enjoy the majority of the book, and had a difficult time getting through most of it. However, I hate giving up on any piece of literature, so I made myself read it. The last hundred pages or so are a lot better than the rest. I feel like the bulk of the book is character development, wherein the two main characters are both acting like jerks, and I had a hard time enjoying myself at all. The fact that it is based on a true story, and the ending are the saving points to this book.
February 28, 2014
Nyman has taken the tale of her grandparents relationship and turned it into a bittersweet little novel that weaves it's way through love, war, distance and family. Switching between two first-person narrators, this could have easily gone wrong, especially with a story so personal to the author. Nyman isn't afraid to paint her characters with the brush of reality, leaving you with characters that are far from perfect, that make mistakes (often big ones) and have lists of regrets. The last third of the book made sticking through the slower parts worth it.
June 4, 2012
This book was precious. I loved the love story of Don and Honey and the historical backdrop. You know it's a good book when the story sits with you for day's after reading. It made me sad knowing the story was real and it didn't end the way I wished it would. But it's also very accurate for WW2 and the sacrifices so many young men made to protect our freedoms. Don't legacy lived on and this book is a great tribute and we should all be thankful for individuals like him.
Want to read
February 15, 2016200-300p A young couple, Camille "Honey" Shaughnessy and Don Shepard fall in love on the eve of World War II. As America enters the war, and Don is pressured into the service by his father, the two newlyweds struggle to maintain contact. Don becomes a hero, saving the lives of his comrades, but will he make it home alive? "Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me?" is a novel based on the actual love letters exchanged between the author's grandparents.
June 10, 2012
Not what I would call a love story for the ages. I had a hard time believing the two main characters even liked each other, let alone be madly in love with one another. I know this is based on letters between the authors grandparents, but the story was lacking any emotion. I probably would have loved this book, probably would have cried even if I had cared about either of the characters at all.
July 24, 2012
Ireally enjoyed this story of love and family during WWII. Some of the events were a little predictable, but the characters were interesting and the story was well developed. I only wish that the editing was better; spelling and grammar and punctuation errors are hard to overlook and took a lot away from the story itself.
August 5, 2012
This was such a slow read, I had to force myself to finish it. It was a nice love story, but there was nothing dramatic, or exciting, or anything to keep the reader's interest. I wasn't really drawn in until the last quarter of the book, when Don was finally sent to combat. Glad I made myself finish this, but probably won't ever re-read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2012
I got this one as a free kindle read. I wasn't sure if I would like it, but ended up quite enjoying it. Usually I have a hard time when the author changes perspectives, but it worked well in this book.
July 20, 2012
Despite the fact that most reviewers love this book, I didn't. It was okay. I found myself getting annoyed at Don with his attitude and jealousy. Though, on the other hand, he truly loved Honey. I liked what Honey said in the Epilogue.
September 11, 2012
I loved this book! I usally don't go for the war era love stories but this book wasn't just another love story. (Probably because it is based on a real life story, but still.)I loved it except the ending but thats what makes it real life (and thats all I will say about the ending!)
June 27, 2015
Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me
Good book but just ok. True story about a couple in love right before World War 2. I thought so much of my uncle who was a POW in Germany. He never talked about his service while in the Army.
Good book but just ok. True story about a couple in love right before World War 2. I thought so much of my uncle who was a POW in Germany. He never talked about his service while in the Army.
April 19, 2012
Excellent book. Well written, easy to follow with a captivating story line. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII or just a true love story.
June 2, 2012
I really liked this book. I like the historical story line. I wish the ending could have been different.
June 12, 2012
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews