Queen of Babble in the Big City

Queen of Babble #2

by Meg Cabot

Lizzie Nichols is back, pounding the New York City pavement and looking for a job, a place to live, and her proper place in the universe (not necessarily in that order).

When "Summer Fling" Luke uses the L word (Living Together), Lizzie is only too happy to give up her plan of being postgrad roomies with best friend, Shari, in a one-room walk-up in exchange for cohabitation with the love of her life in his mother's Fifth Avenue pied-à-terre, complete with doorman and resident Renoir.

But Lizzie's not as lucky in her employment search. As Shari finds the perfect job, Lizzie struggles through one humiliating interview after another, being judged overqualified for the jobs in her chosen field—vintage-gown rehab—and underqualified for everything else. It's Shari's boyfriend Chaz to the rescue when he recommends Lizzie for a receptionist's position at his father's posh law firm. The nonpaying gig at a local wedding-gown shop Lizzie manages to land all on her own.

But Lizzie's notoriously big mouth begins to get her into trouble at work and at home almost at once—first at the law firm, where she becomes too chummy with Jill Higgins, a New York society bride with a troublesome future mother-in-law, and then back on Fifth Avenue, when she makes the mistake of bringing up the M word (Marriage) with commitment-shy Luke.

Soon Lizzie finds herself jobless as well as homeless all over again. Can Lizzie save herself—and the hapless Jill—and find career security (not to mention a mutually satisfying committed relationship) at last?

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Humor

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.

She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.

Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.

Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.


Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book truly annoyed me!! The second book of the series completely ruins the story of the first. When an author writes the perfect romantic story, with a great happy ending, why do they have to go and destroy everything with a second and a third book?!
I really liked the utter romance of the first book, and I wish I left it there, as the author should have.
If you were swept away by the French romance of book number one my advice is not to read this one, it will just spoil the story.
And the third one is even worse.

[Alaina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating changes from 3 to 2 stars because of this review.

Queen of Babble in the Big City was meh. Lizzie moves to New York which kind of reminded me of shopaholic. She is jobless and apartmentless. But hey, her boyfriend and her best friends boyfriend solve those two problems real quick!

However, it’s not all sunshine and happiness for her. Why? Well the girl, just like everyone else, has lots and lots of doubts about her future, her goals and dreams, and don’t forget about her relationship with Luke.

I just don't like the MC, Lizzie. She just annoys me and her problems were insignificant to me. I seriously have no idea why I even wanted to finish this series.. but there's like.. what.. 3 books in it? I think I can manage to suffer in one more book. I hope. Please pray for me.

I feel like Mia (from the princess diaries) and Lizzie would be best friends because they both annoy the ever living shit out of me. This book was highly predictable, one hundred percent boring, and I would rather eat soap for the rest of my life than read this book ever again. HOWEVER, I simply can't start a series without finishing it.. so again, pray for me guys.

Overall, I hate myself for starting this series. I am going to be so freaking happy when I finish it.

[Melannie :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I'll be able to marry, attend a wedding, or listen to Taylor Swift's
'Speak Now', ever again without thinking of this book.

This book was fairly fantastic, like all by Meg,
what I loooooooove the most about her books is that the characters are always SO real,
like they could easily be you, or someone you know,
and this book's heroine, Lizzie, is pretty much every woman I've known,

Yeah, you might not admitt it, but we all have a Lizzie Nichols inside,
a girl that feels like she is not cute, funny, smart, or skinny enough to triumph in this world,
who is scared she might never find her prince charming,
and scared she might not make it to pay next month's rent.

I love Lizzie, although sometimes I want to shake her, because she just won't see
that she's going the wrong way (or guy) and I KNOW that she's going with the wrong guy (Meg, pleeeeeease make her realize that!)

Okay so, this book takes you in A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION that I didn't see coming,
if you thought you've figured all the story out in book 1,
get ready cause book 2 is full of surprices! I loooooooooved that,
I mean just read book 1 and then this one and tell me, how could someone have ever expected that?!?!
'cause usually in a book you never get to see what really happens after the girl has found prince (literally)
charming(?). Not everything is what's cracked up to be.

And Lizzie is just so dazzled by her sudden streak of good luck,
that she doesn't stop to think she might be doing something wrong.
I think this has happen to all of us, you find someone 'so good' you try to
be who you think is good enough to be with him that you stop being yourself.

But she's always herself with this other guy...
I don't want to spoil but MAN! IS THIS GUY WAY BETTER THAN THE OTHER,
EVEN THOUGH HE SNORES, WEARS BASEBALLS CAPS EVERYWHERE AND GETS MAD ABOUT PEOPLE KILLING LAB RATS.

And the other guy is half french, an excellent cook, has greek-god's looks and oh! he's also a prince.
AND I'D STILL TAKE THE *OTHER* GUY, *ANYTIME*
That's how awesome he is.

I mean seriously?!?!?! you just go on and read him, and tell me
how am I supposed to go on my life knowing such men exists only in books? ):

I'm afraid that's everything I got,
I'm rushing right now so I can start the third book...

[Musiquedevie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely and extremely disappointed in this novel to say the least. For the majority of it I loved it and even was starting to prefer it to the original - which I loved!! This book is a fast read and one I was genuinely enjoying before the end of the book where Meg seems to take every character and demolishes anything likeable and enjoyable about them.

If I wanted to read crappy soap opera-like books, I'd read them. The ending definitely left a horrible, bad taste to this reader. After reviewing and skimming through the 3rd and last book of this series, it gets even worse. The whole tone of the original novel with its likeable characters that are great to read and follow just vanishes and changes, but not for the better. I definitely expected way better of Meg and as a faithful fan for the past decade, she writes better than this...whatever it is. I've never read a book before where the 4 main characters I all loved turned into such jerks. Shame.

[BookCupid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strangely, meeting prince charming and moving in to New York city with him, did not turn Lizzie's life into a fairy tale. The only job she can find in her field doesn't pay, her best friend Shari's behavior has become unbearable and to make matters worse, the prince does not want to commit.

Regardless of all the chaos, Cabot is able to kept up a humorist tone in the story and grant the reader a crazy cliffhanger. Loved it!!

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good to listen to in the car because yelling at all the idiots in this book kept me from yelling at all the idiots on the turnpike.

[Anne-Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm officially over Meg Cabot. I enjoyed a couple of books in one of her series, but now that I've read 4 books by her, I've found that they're all based on the same story, and they always have the same ending. By the time I got to this book I was able to predict the ending and storyline based on the other books I've read, and they're just not as much fun anymore.

This was the first time I "read" a book by listening to it on audio disc, and it was pretty boring. Maybe the last 45 minutes was finally fun, but totally predictable. I'm not sure if I didn't enjoy this because I was listening to it instead of reading it, but it seemed like several hours of the 8 hour disc could have easily been cut out. Way too much talking about nothing important was happening, but when the ending finally rolled around, it was sudden and abrupt with no explanation, and the story was done! I kept looking for another chapter, but nothing!

If you enjoy light, fun reads, I definitely recommend reading at least one of her books, but you may get bored if you pick up too many of them.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regina gafelor la New York –Meg Cabot
Cartea asta face parte dintr-o serie de trei volume, (aceasta este vol 2) si este ceva gen seria cumparaturilor scrisa de Kinsella, doar ca nu la fel de amuzanta. Sau asa am perceput-o eu. Lizzie si Becky mi s-au parut super asemanatoare. Amandoua traiesc in New York, amandoua sunt pasionate de moda, insa ce este putin diferit, e ca Lizzie stie sa croiasca si chiar isi face tinute singura.
Cum s-a intamplat si in primul vol, Lizzie nu prea stie sa-si tina gura si face gafe peste gafe la tot pasul. Nu spune mereu tot ceea ce gandeste, dar totusi ii e greu sa se abtina. :)))) (aici m-am regasit putin pentru ca sunt la fel de sloboda la gura cateodata)
Asadar proaspat reintoarsa din Franta, impreuna cu cea mai recenta cucerire a sa (Luke), Lizzie ajunge la New York , unde vrea sa-si croiasca un drum in moda. Stie sa restaureze rochii de mireasa vintage si chiar simte ca aceasta e vocatia ei.
Desi planul initial era ca ea sa locuiasca impreuna cu prietena ei, Lizzie ajunge sa stea in casa mamei lui Luke impreuna cu acesta, iar Shari (prietena) cu iubitul ei Chaz.
Cum la New York nu umbla cainii cu covrigi in coada si pentru ca nu isi gaseste de munca, Lizzie este fortata sa se angajeze ca secretara la firma de avocatura a tatalui lui Chaz. In paralel face munca voluntara la un magazin de rochii de mireasa unde spera sa aiba sansa sa se afirme in domeniul modei vintage.
Nu va povestesc mai departe pentru ca ar fi pacat sa va dezvalui tot haosul pe care Lizzie reuseste sa il creeze in jurul ei, dar pot sa va spun ca povestea nu m-a dat pe spate chiar daca in recomandarea celor de le editura scrie ca este "o carte incredibil de amuzanta". Eu nu am ras.
Actiunile lui Lizzie sunt destul de previzibile si as fi putut trece peste asta daca pataniile ei n-ar fi fost atat de fortate.
Imi plac cartie chiclit pt ca sunt genul de lecturi usoare, delicioase pe care le citesti dintr-un foc, chicotind si razand pe toata durata lecturarii lor, dar aceasta nu a fost deloc asa. Pai am ras la Poti sa tii un secret si Am numarul tau ale Kinsellei, de am trezit copilul din somn. La asta, maxim cred ca am schitat un zambet la un moment dat, si atunci nu Lizzie a fost cea care mi l-a provocat ci Henry, seful ei. Nu este de vina scriitura povestii, pentru ca este fix cum trebuie sa fie un chic lit- lejera, usoara, fara prea multa greutate si descrieri, dar intamplarile prin care Lizzie trece nu-s cine stie ce amuzante. Asta e tot. Recunosc ca mi s-a parut mai amuzanta prima carte a seriei, si chiar credeam ca ma voi distra citind noile situatii inedite pe care Lizzie le va trai, insa n-a fost sa fie.
E o lectura usurica, ce nu necesita multa bataie de cap, asa ca na, merge. 3/5 stele.

[Carol Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Meg Cabot because she's so full of fun and never takes herself too seriously. I thought VICTORIA AND THE ROGUE was the best YA Regency Romance ever written.

But this book was kind of a disappoint to me. I mean, Lizzie Nichols is a cute heroine, and the information on wedding dresses and fashion style in general was really interesting. But the story didn't really grab me because it was too many different things at once. If you're looking for a hot romance, most of the love scenes get glossed over with a wink and a smile, like, "and then he showed me just how fantastic he really was." That's cute but sort of frustrating! But if it's meant to be a real story about a career woman, the details are a little too fuzzy and fairy tale oriented. And if it's meant to be a real look at living in NYC, or at least Manhattan, then boy is it sentimentalized and overly enthusiastic.

Meg Cabot really fascinates me. I've read books of hers that were amazing, totally terrible, and just plain bland. I think she's the kind of author who needs a structure imposed on her from outside. Like VICTORIA AND THE ROGUE was incredible because she had a very clear idea what teen Regency readers would like, and she really came through. But this book is just sort of a vague kind of sort of thing. It's kind of romance, but never all that romantic. It's sort of about careers, but without much real detail about the work involved. And it's vaguely about NYC, but the cheer-leading for the city really is more based on picture postcards than anything you'd actually experience living there.

I wish Meg Cabot had been a romance writer, full stop, because she could have been one of the very best!

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book even though the first book in the series wasn’t that good. This one was a lot better, and I think I could relate more to the protagonist Lizzie. Lizzie has a bit of a hard time moving to New York and we get to follow her a couple of months. It’s like a feel-good book, easy and nice to read! Even though it doesn’t happen that much things I would definitely recommend it!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first Queen of Babble book...but ultimately, there is no where for chick lit to go but marriage and the rigors of planning a wedding. Having read it all before, I was a little frustrated and bored with Lizzie Nichols, the aforementioned Queen of Babble, a blabber-mouth and vintage fashion fiend.

The second book returns Lizzie to the States, after meeting Luke--a former investment banker and "prince" with a chateau and vineyard in France. Of course Lizzie encourages him to follow his med school dream and she restores his mothers wedding gown, thus reuniting his estranged parents.

Now in NYC, Lizzie wants to follow her own bliss...restoring and "rehabing" wedding gowns. It is only natural that someone in this path would have marriage on the brain, I suppose.

I guess, what I am saying is the last few Meg Cabot books I have read have ended in proposals/weddings. As much as I LOVE Meg, and I do, I guess I want to read something less fluffy and more realistic.

That being said, I have to admit, the last chapter was great and it ends on a rather interesting twist and cliffhanger. But with the third book being entitled "The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched"--I just don't know if I can do it :-(

[Ambs ❤❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you kidding me? That's how it's going to end!



Ok, so I liked this story, although it took me forever to read (no fault to Meg Cabot's writing/story). I was so happy that finally on page 296 what I was hoping and praying for finally happens. Only to have it potentially ripped away on page 307. Holy cliff-hanger Batman!

I'd recommend this book if you read Queen of Babble and enjoyed it. Otherwise I don't think you'd get the same feel for the characters.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Princess Diaries growing up, but unfortunately did not translate into loving this more adult book. Lizzy is not only pretty annoying, but also SO desperate to please her man that I lost all respect for her. It also ended very abruptly - I actually checked to make sure that the last pages weren't ripped out of my library copy. They weren't. That's the actual ending.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Does anyone want a rant review for these books? Because the main character is absolutely the worst dumbass. I have never hated anyone this much before. And the book is a joke. AN ACTUAL JOKE. At least side characters were cool in the first book, but here they just become comical.

[Desi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leído en Abril 2013

Me encantó esta saga!!

La protagonista es una loca pero en el buen sentido... y las cosas que le pasan jajajaja
pero en este libro se le ve un crecimiento con respecto al primer libro!!

De verdad que lo disfrute mucho....

Argumento:
Gran boca.
Gran corazón.
Gran ciudad.
Grandes problemas.
Lizzie Nichols ha vuelto, golpeando el pavimento de la ciudad de Nueva York, buscando un trabajo, un lugar para vivir y su lugar adecuado en el universo (no necesariamente en ese orden).
Cuando su romance de verano, Luke, usa la palabra con V (vivir juntos), Lizzie está demasiado feliz de renunciar a su plan de ser compañeras de habitación post graduadas con su mejor amiga Shari a cambio de convivir junto al amor de su vida en el refugio de su madre en la Quinta Avenida, que incluye un conserje y residentes.
Pero Lizzie no tiene tanta suerte en su búsqueda de empelo. Mientras Shari encuentra el trabajo perfecto, Lizzie lucha de una entrevista humillante tras otra, siendo juzgada como que está muy bien cualificada para trabajar en su campo escogido: rehabilitación de vestidos vintage, y muy poco cualificada para todo lo demás. Es el novio de Shari, Chaz, quien la rescata cuando recomienda a Lizzie para un puesto como recepcionista en la firma de abogados de su padre. Su trabajo sin paga en una tienda local de vestidos de novia hace que Lizzie se las arregle para desembarcar todo por sí misma.
Pero la notoriamente gran boca de Lizzie comienza a meterla en problemas en el trabajo y en casa casi al mismo tiempo: primero en la firma de abogados, en donde se vuelve demasiado amigable con Jill Higgins, una novia de la Sociedad de Nueva York con una problemática futura suegra y luego en la Quinta Avenida, cuando comete el error de decir la palabra con M (matrimonio) al reticente Luke.
Pronto, Lizzie se encuentra sin trabajo y sin casa otra vez. ¿Puede Lizzie salvarse a sí misma y a la desafortunada Jill y encontrar una carrera segura (sin mencionar una relación estable y satisfactoria) finalmente?

[Diệu Ngọc Thanh Tâm · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of three books in Queen of Babble series. I have just known that when finishing this book and searching immediately for the detail information about Lizzie Nichols Design and Meg Cabot on the Internet.
This story tells about the new life of Lizzie in New York, the girl with a big mouth when living with Luke, her France vacation-fling boyfriend in an extravagant apartment of his mother and struggling to make her dream of owning her business come true by doing two jobs at the same time (receptionist and unpaid job in a losing bridal shop). It seems a range of bad things coming to Lizzie all caused by her big mouth, but eventually, it turned out the advantages for her, especially her true dream job and the wholehearted proposal from Luke after their sudden broke-up by Lizzie's angry. Omg, I am so lazy to keep telling the whole plot :')
Besides the story plot, Meg Cabot also gave readers from the style advises how to choose the wedding gown right in each chapter to some useful tips in the big day.
P.s: I will find and read all the rest of the books of this series. And the next series I will choose must be The Princess Diaries (although I have already seen the motion pictures of it). One more thing, Luke in Queen of Babble seems to look like the type of boy will attract my attention in real life haha.

[Sara Hellström · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alltså jag var ju TVUNGEN att läsa denna efter att ha läst ettan, som bara var AMAZING. Och jag är inte jättebesviken. Det är jag inte. Meeeen jag är inte heller imponerad haha. Boken är lättläst som fan och det är hur mysigt som helst att drömma sig bort till ett liv i en lyxlägenhet på Fifth Avenue, och dessutom kunna koppla bort hjärnan eftersom det praktiskt taget är som att läsa en av alla chickflicks man sträckkollat i sina dar. Tyvärr blir det LITE too much with the cliches och det förutsägbara för att läsningen ska bli lika mycket blandvändning som ettan. Då var det förutsägbara liksom inte ett problem utan bara typ charmen (?!). Anyways - om du inte läst den - skippa denna och läs ettan (PÅ SOMMAREN). Jag lovar den är så fucking mysig.

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, basically, what I'm taking away from these books is that Lizzie is entirely too impulsive and dives into every relationship as if it's happily ever after forever and ever. She needs to take time to figure out herself. Lizzie already knows what she wants to do with her life, but now she needs to figure out how to make that happen. There was a lot of change in this book, and I was really enjoying where things were headed. Until I started reading the third book (in the right order this time!) and things were all crazy again.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this one was packed with a bunch of surprises. I didn't expect any of the things that happened, and I am interested to see how this all turns out.

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[Satomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew the story. I’ve read this one and forgot to mark it as read... just I could not remember how it ended, I read it again. Ah! The ending!! I need to read the 3rd book to find out what happens after this. Did I read the 3rd book already?! Cannot remember...

[Sarah Hadd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every year I have a moment when I think to myself, OK this is it, it’s happening. I have outgrown Meg Cabot. This is one of those times.
Thankfully, when I give her another try a few months later, I’m always happy to report I haven’t actually yet called quits on her for good yet.

[Canette Arille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book is ok. You can read it in a free time , or weekend in bed with cookies and hot chocolate with foam :)

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, just as I enjoyed the first one, but I was so happy and glad that Lizzy kissed Chaz and I wish she is going to get married in the next book, it would be Chaz not Luke, and the other thing I love is the fashion tips and informations, they are amazing! Looking forward for the next one!

[Sashana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won't give this book a long review. It wasn't a bad book, but it's not memorable either. Meg Cabot is a good writer but she really needs to start developing her characters more. Once again this book wasn't bad, just predictable and the characters showed no growth from book one to book two.

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lizzie is a fashion designer who refurbishes old vintage wedding gowns and gives it a modern, couture twist. She is with the perfect man she could ever dream of and wants to marry him only after well 6 months of dating but is he on the same page? Also she struggles with her career choice and tries to make ends meet just so she isn't penniless by the end of the month. While her friends try to navigate their own stressful relationship. It was an okay book, very easy to read but I definitely expected more from the author

[Elizabeth Nolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I love Lizzie and Luke's relationship. I enjoyed the first one but this one was even better. I love that Lizzie decided to follow her true passion. I can't wait to read the 3rd book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like has a major personality change in this book. He wasn’t as sweet or in tune with Lizzie. That being said, a lot of strange things happened in the book. Also it ended in a MAJOR cliffhanger! And the next book is a few weeks away from me being able to borrow at the library!

[Karen Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Cabot is such a fun read. I read this series when it first came out and I still enjoy it.

[MC Bianchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great second book of the series! Love the story lines! Feel bad for Chaz!

[Beatriz Paiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5