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Olivia's Sister
At 21, Olivia Martin has mastered the art of cynicism. Maybe that's inevitable because of her dysfunctional family - a desperately needy, alcoholic ex-model mother; a rich, ill-tempered father with an imperious new wife; and a spoiled half-sister. Olivia's modus operandi has been to ignore them all and just drift through life, tough and alone. However, just as she is in danger of falling in love - or at least in lust - for the first time, Olivia's familial responsibilities come crashing down about her. Her father and his second wife are killed in a car crash, and she is left to inherit both their considerable fortune and guardianship of her four-year old half-sister. Despite Olivia's view that 'If I'd wanted to be saddled with a kid at this point in my life, I'd have grown up in Oklahoma,', she has no choice but to do the right thing and try and raise a child she's only met on a handful of times. Tony Parsons meets Allison Pearson in this intensely moving debut novel, laced with bitter-sweet humour and with a surprising romantic heart.
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
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April 22, 2022
Outstanding example of witty, comedic chick lit
Olivia "Livvy" Martin is a 21-year-old college student who is the privileged offspring of a wealthy father. She has never had to hold down a job, and she is slowly meandering toward a BA degree. She has never been kissed because she has never been willing to date, due to a deep cynicism about not just men, but the whole human race--a distrust, it is made obvious early on in the book, that is rooted in her upbringing by her emotionally and ethically dysfunctional parents. The hallmarks of Livvy's self-identity are a huge chip on her shoulder, and an overriding alienation that is clearly connected to that shoulder chip as well as to her perpetual unwillingness to ever make herself vulnerable to anyone. This "rebel without a cause" attitude is outwardly manifested as a constant opposition to any form of authority, not in huge, destructive ways, such as drug or alcohol abuse or committing petty crime, but instead by an inability to talk to other people in any other way than via witty, sarcastic remarks. She is obviously as brilliant as her father, because even though she rarely shows up for class, she gets A's whenever she makes the least effort. And over time in the novel, it becomes clear that she is almost as attractive as her gorgeous mother, who is a classic "dumb, beautiful blonde."
Livvy's mother is a former top model, currently unemployed for many years, and full-time drinker who feels entitled to leech onto her daughter emotionally and her ex-husband financially--in other words, Livvy and her father both have maintained a codependent relationship with her mother, and both are driven mad by her mother's oblivious ignorance and blithe, unshakeable conviction that she is a sacrificial mother, while endlessly treating Livvy with selfish disregard.
Livvy's father is a narcissist, too, but of a different order. He is an arrogant, patronizing jerk who is a highly successful shark of an attorney. His second wife is a trust-fund baby from an elite family, and she is yet another of the significant narcissists populating Livvy's world. The stepmother is as beautiful as Livvy's mother, though much younger and not remotely as dim-witted.
To round out Livvy's family party, which we are exposed to as a group for the first time near the start of this book at the Thanksgiving celebration from hell at her father's mansion, there is Livvy's half-sister Celia, a three-almost-four-year-old, spoiled brat whom Livvy barely knows.
Since leaving home to go to college, as much as possible Livvy has attempted to ignore her family, and mostly succeeds, until the fateful day when her father and stepmother die in a fiery car crash, and she discovers to her horror that her father named her in his will as Celia's guardian.
This novel was published in 2003 and is Ms. LaZebnik's first book. If you are looking for romantic comedy, please be aware that though she has written several young adult (YA) romantic comedies, this book is not romantic comedy. It is, instead, "chick lit," that is, a subgenre within women's fiction that focuses primarily on a main female character's relationships with other women (whether friends or relatives), with children, and/or on her "dating disasters." In the early days of chick lit in the 90's, most were comedy-of-error stories in the vein of Bridget Jones's Diary, but this particular book is more light drama than comedy, or what one might call a "dramedy." Essentially all the humor in this book comes in the form of repartee between Livvy and three different male romantic interests who are all as intelligent as she is. As a slight spoiler--not really, though, because this is a common convention in most chick lit, and especially a pattern for the chick lit of this author--there is a happily-ever-after (HEA) romance subplot rounding out the novel. However, it is very much a minor part of the book as a whole, unlike an actual romance novel where the romance takes center stage.
I've recently had a kind of Clare LaZebnik reading festival, consuming four others of her chick lit novels in a row, including:
Knitting Under the Influence (2006)
The Smart One and the Pretty One (2008)
If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now (2010)
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts (2011)
These are the titles of her four YA romantic comedies, all of whom I've enjoyed:
Epic Fail (2011)
The Trouble with Flirting (2013)
The Last Best Kiss (2014)
Wrong About the Guy (2015)
A convention of chick lit, much like the recent subgenre of romance fiction, the "New Adult" (NA) novel, is that the protagonist is a 20-something struggling with adjusting to living a responsible, adult life. NA, however, focuses always on a main romance plot, and like most regular romance novels, is most often written in the point of view (POV) of both the male and female romantic protagonists. In contrast, chick lit is almost always written in first person POV, which is the case with this book. It is one of two aspects of the chick lit genre that mark it as very similar to YA fiction. The second one is a theme of "coming of age." The protagonist starts out in an emotionally immature, egocentric (often to the point of narcissistic) state and, over the course of the story, evolves through the conflict she faces in the story to a much greater maturity.
In Ms. LaZebnik's chick lit books, like most chick lit, the heroine is often self-centered at the beginning of the book to the point of being obnoxious, which is definitely the case in this book with Livvy. But she is saved from being outright unlikable by virtue of the fact that her frequent, witty zingers are often laugh-out-loud funny. In addition, the author subtly makes us aware, without hitting us over the head with it in a preachy way, that Livvy has come by her seeming coldness and cynicism via her disillusioning experiences of human nature in her own family. In short, in order to truly enjoy reading chick lit, you have to be willing to put up with the heroine's ditzy growing pains. For me, that is only bearable if the author is extraordinarily good at what she does. In the case of Ms. LaZebnik, she certainly is that good. In fact, she is outstanding. Another means she uses in this book to make Livvy sympathetic is a time-honored plotting device that, in all forms of women's fiction at least, never gets old--her caring attitude toward a vulnerable child.
In that regard, the core of this novel, above all, is Livvy's evolving relationship with her little sister, Celia. For the most part it is really well done. I do have one, big quibble, though, with the characterization of Celia: We are told she is three years old, not quite four. If you have ever spent time around children that age, even intellectually gifted ones, they tend to employ very simple sentences and have a limited vocabulary. Celia speaks, at least in my experience as a teacher and mother of two intellectually and verbally gifted children, like a very gifted child of about seven, at the youngest. For her to talk as well as she does, in my humble opinion, there should have been some mention in the book somewhere that the child has been noted by, at the very least, her preschool teachers as astoundingly verbally precocious. It would also not have taken more than a sentence to link this to the genetic factor that her father is so very intelligent, and Livvy herself is, as demonstrated by her amazing degree of wittiness, extremely verbally gifted.
I am personally not a big fan of chick lit and, over the past 20 years or so since the genre began, I have read less than a dozen chick lit novels because of that. For the most part I find them irritating because the heroines are so often portrayed as clueless and utterly superficial. The only reason I read this book and Ms. LaZebnik's other four chick lit novels is because I loved her YA romantic comedies, and I find her to be an exceptionally talented author. She is so good, in fact, that even when I have become irritated with her chick lit heroines, such as Livvy in this book, I could not put these books down. Or, as the saying goes, I found this book and her other chick lit novels to be "compulsively readable." I also admit freely that part of my instinctive prejudice is that I much prefer romance novels with a focus in the main plot of the book on romance, rather than women's fiction in general, including chick lit, where the main focus is on non-romance relationships, in particular caretaking relationships of one sort or another. There is also an innately oppositional perspective within chick lit, especially YA chick lit, to the outlook that determines the approach to story in romance. In chick lit, the message is essentially this: you should cynically distrust heterosexual, romantic relationships because decent, caring men are almost impossible to find. Instead, work on yourself, your own self-sufficiency and maturity, and stick most of the time to your female relationships if you want loyalty and stability (even if some of your female relationships include female relatives who are, much of the time, aggravatingly self-centered and often downright idiotic). The framework for romance is very different, stating: love relationships with a romantic partner, the ideal partner, can elevate both you and your partner and bring out the best in each of you. Admittedly, there is very often an HEA romance subplot in chick lit, but the vast majority of the book informs us that dating and courtship stinks because it involves kissing endless frogs with nary a prince in sight. Only when, at the very end of the chick lit novel, the heroine has become self-sufficient and mature enough to stop seeking fulfillment in a man is she rewarded with the ideal, mature man who matches her own, hard-earned maturity. This is very much the pattern that Ms. LaZebnik follows in her chick lit.
Speaking of an ideal man for the chick lit heroine, I must say that I adored the ultimate-HEA hero, in all his appearances, throughout this book. And I loathed, as we as readers were meant to, the "dating disaster" romantic interest every time he showed up.
I rate this book, for what it is, as chick lit, in the following manner:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars (grading down one star due to Celia's unacknowledged extreme, verbal precocity)
Coming-of-Age Plot: 5 stars
Dating Disasters Plot: 4 stars
Romance Subplot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Olivia "Livvy" Martin is a 21-year-old college student who is the privileged offspring of a wealthy father. She has never had to hold down a job, and she is slowly meandering toward a BA degree. She has never been kissed because she has never been willing to date, due to a deep cynicism about not just men, but the whole human race--a distrust, it is made obvious early on in the book, that is rooted in her upbringing by her emotionally and ethically dysfunctional parents. The hallmarks of Livvy's self-identity are a huge chip on her shoulder, and an overriding alienation that is clearly connected to that shoulder chip as well as to her perpetual unwillingness to ever make herself vulnerable to anyone. This "rebel without a cause" attitude is outwardly manifested as a constant opposition to any form of authority, not in huge, destructive ways, such as drug or alcohol abuse or committing petty crime, but instead by an inability to talk to other people in any other way than via witty, sarcastic remarks. She is obviously as brilliant as her father, because even though she rarely shows up for class, she gets A's whenever she makes the least effort. And over time in the novel, it becomes clear that she is almost as attractive as her gorgeous mother, who is a classic "dumb, beautiful blonde."
Livvy's mother is a former top model, currently unemployed for many years, and full-time drinker who feels entitled to leech onto her daughter emotionally and her ex-husband financially--in other words, Livvy and her father both have maintained a codependent relationship with her mother, and both are driven mad by her mother's oblivious ignorance and blithe, unshakeable conviction that she is a sacrificial mother, while endlessly treating Livvy with selfish disregard.
Livvy's father is a narcissist, too, but of a different order. He is an arrogant, patronizing jerk who is a highly successful shark of an attorney. His second wife is a trust-fund baby from an elite family, and she is yet another of the significant narcissists populating Livvy's world. The stepmother is as beautiful as Livvy's mother, though much younger and not remotely as dim-witted.
To round out Livvy's family party, which we are exposed to as a group for the first time near the start of this book at the Thanksgiving celebration from hell at her father's mansion, there is Livvy's half-sister Celia, a three-almost-four-year-old, spoiled brat whom Livvy barely knows.
Since leaving home to go to college, as much as possible Livvy has attempted to ignore her family, and mostly succeeds, until the fateful day when her father and stepmother die in a fiery car crash, and she discovers to her horror that her father named her in his will as Celia's guardian.
This novel was published in 2003 and is Ms. LaZebnik's first book. If you are looking for romantic comedy, please be aware that though she has written several young adult (YA) romantic comedies, this book is not romantic comedy. It is, instead, "chick lit," that is, a subgenre within women's fiction that focuses primarily on a main female character's relationships with other women (whether friends or relatives), with children, and/or on her "dating disasters." In the early days of chick lit in the 90's, most were comedy-of-error stories in the vein of Bridget Jones's Diary, but this particular book is more light drama than comedy, or what one might call a "dramedy." Essentially all the humor in this book comes in the form of repartee between Livvy and three different male romantic interests who are all as intelligent as she is. As a slight spoiler--not really, though, because this is a common convention in most chick lit, and especially a pattern for the chick lit of this author--there is a happily-ever-after (HEA) romance subplot rounding out the novel. However, it is very much a minor part of the book as a whole, unlike an actual romance novel where the romance takes center stage.
I've recently had a kind of Clare LaZebnik reading festival, consuming four others of her chick lit novels in a row, including:
Knitting Under the Influence (2006)
The Smart One and the Pretty One (2008)
If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now (2010)
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts (2011)
These are the titles of her four YA romantic comedies, all of whom I've enjoyed:
Epic Fail (2011)
The Trouble with Flirting (2013)
The Last Best Kiss (2014)
Wrong About the Guy (2015)
A convention of chick lit, much like the recent subgenre of romance fiction, the "New Adult" (NA) novel, is that the protagonist is a 20-something struggling with adjusting to living a responsible, adult life. NA, however, focuses always on a main romance plot, and like most regular romance novels, is most often written in the point of view (POV) of both the male and female romantic protagonists. In contrast, chick lit is almost always written in first person POV, which is the case with this book. It is one of two aspects of the chick lit genre that mark it as very similar to YA fiction. The second one is a theme of "coming of age." The protagonist starts out in an emotionally immature, egocentric (often to the point of narcissistic) state and, over the course of the story, evolves through the conflict she faces in the story to a much greater maturity.
In Ms. LaZebnik's chick lit books, like most chick lit, the heroine is often self-centered at the beginning of the book to the point of being obnoxious, which is definitely the case in this book with Livvy. But she is saved from being outright unlikable by virtue of the fact that her frequent, witty zingers are often laugh-out-loud funny. In addition, the author subtly makes us aware, without hitting us over the head with it in a preachy way, that Livvy has come by her seeming coldness and cynicism via her disillusioning experiences of human nature in her own family. In short, in order to truly enjoy reading chick lit, you have to be willing to put up with the heroine's ditzy growing pains. For me, that is only bearable if the author is extraordinarily good at what she does. In the case of Ms. LaZebnik, she certainly is that good. In fact, she is outstanding. Another means she uses in this book to make Livvy sympathetic is a time-honored plotting device that, in all forms of women's fiction at least, never gets old--her caring attitude toward a vulnerable child.
In that regard, the core of this novel, above all, is Livvy's evolving relationship with her little sister, Celia. For the most part it is really well done. I do have one, big quibble, though, with the characterization of Celia: We are told she is three years old, not quite four. If you have ever spent time around children that age, even intellectually gifted ones, they tend to employ very simple sentences and have a limited vocabulary. Celia speaks, at least in my experience as a teacher and mother of two intellectually and verbally gifted children, like a very gifted child of about seven, at the youngest. For her to talk as well as she does, in my humble opinion, there should have been some mention in the book somewhere that the child has been noted by, at the very least, her preschool teachers as astoundingly verbally precocious. It would also not have taken more than a sentence to link this to the genetic factor that her father is so very intelligent, and Livvy herself is, as demonstrated by her amazing degree of wittiness, extremely verbally gifted.
I am personally not a big fan of chick lit and, over the past 20 years or so since the genre began, I have read less than a dozen chick lit novels because of that. For the most part I find them irritating because the heroines are so often portrayed as clueless and utterly superficial. The only reason I read this book and Ms. LaZebnik's other four chick lit novels is because I loved her YA romantic comedies, and I find her to be an exceptionally talented author. She is so good, in fact, that even when I have become irritated with her chick lit heroines, such as Livvy in this book, I could not put these books down. Or, as the saying goes, I found this book and her other chick lit novels to be "compulsively readable." I also admit freely that part of my instinctive prejudice is that I much prefer romance novels with a focus in the main plot of the book on romance, rather than women's fiction in general, including chick lit, where the main focus is on non-romance relationships, in particular caretaking relationships of one sort or another. There is also an innately oppositional perspective within chick lit, especially YA chick lit, to the outlook that determines the approach to story in romance. In chick lit, the message is essentially this: you should cynically distrust heterosexual, romantic relationships because decent, caring men are almost impossible to find. Instead, work on yourself, your own self-sufficiency and maturity, and stick most of the time to your female relationships if you want loyalty and stability (even if some of your female relationships include female relatives who are, much of the time, aggravatingly self-centered and often downright idiotic). The framework for romance is very different, stating: love relationships with a romantic partner, the ideal partner, can elevate both you and your partner and bring out the best in each of you. Admittedly, there is very often an HEA romance subplot in chick lit, but the vast majority of the book informs us that dating and courtship stinks because it involves kissing endless frogs with nary a prince in sight. Only when, at the very end of the chick lit novel, the heroine has become self-sufficient and mature enough to stop seeking fulfillment in a man is she rewarded with the ideal, mature man who matches her own, hard-earned maturity. This is very much the pattern that Ms. LaZebnik follows in her chick lit.
Speaking of an ideal man for the chick lit heroine, I must say that I adored the ultimate-HEA hero, in all his appearances, throughout this book. And I loathed, as we as readers were meant to, the "dating disaster" romantic interest every time he showed up.
I rate this book, for what it is, as chick lit, in the following manner:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars (grading down one star due to Celia's unacknowledged extreme, verbal precocity)
Coming-of-Age Plot: 5 stars
Dating Disasters Plot: 4 stars
Romance Subplot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
July 22, 2008
With three minutes left until the library closed and nothing to read for weeks I picked this book because it had Barbies on the cover. Predictable and cynical though it was, I enjoyed it. I have no idea what type of book this is. I am pretty sure it is the closest I have ever gotten to chick lit, and the internet informs me it is "the number one beach bestseller." Whatever that means...
Mostly a brainless read, there was one particular passage that was interesting. The narrator went for ice cream with a mother from her sister/daughter's pre-school class. They were talking about parenthood and responsibility. The mom referenced that Talking Heads, quoting "This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful life." And talking about how it was sometimes so unbelievable. I thought that was a great point. I appreciated the fact that the author never tried to make it a more intelligent read then it was. Since the narrator was an English major she could have quoted all sorts of dusty novels. Keeping it simple was to her advantage. It is what it is I guess, an easy read that is perfect for the summer.
Mostly a brainless read, there was one particular passage that was interesting. The narrator went for ice cream with a mother from her sister/daughter's pre-school class. They were talking about parenthood and responsibility. The mom referenced that Talking Heads, quoting "This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful life." And talking about how it was sometimes so unbelievable. I thought that was a great point. I appreciated the fact that the author never tried to make it a more intelligent read then it was. Since the narrator was an English major she could have quoted all sorts of dusty novels. Keeping it simple was to her advantage. It is what it is I guess, an easy read that is perfect for the summer.
July 13, 2024
Olivia, une jeune universitaire, hérite de la fortune de son père, décédé avec sa nouvelle épouse dans un accident de voiture, et de la garde de sa jeune demi-sœur Célia, trois ans, qu’elle connait à peine.
Il s’agit de toute une aventure pour l’égoïste et la sarcastique qu’est Olivia. Malgré la tragédie qui donne naissance à l’intrigue, j’ai été emporté dans une histoire parfois émouvante, parfois enrageante (Barbara!!) et souvent rigolote. J’ai suivi Olivia qui s’est transformée doucement, mais surement en une jeune femme responsable et aimante.
Malgré qu’il s’agisse presque d’un pavé – le roman a 499 pages 😉, j’ai lu ce roman assez rapidement et avec beaucoup de plaisir. Un petit chick lit qui a fait du bien!
Il s’agit de toute une aventure pour l’égoïste et la sarcastique qu’est Olivia. Malgré la tragédie qui donne naissance à l’intrigue, j’ai été emporté dans une histoire parfois émouvante, parfois enrageante (Barbara!!) et souvent rigolote. J’ai suivi Olivia qui s’est transformée doucement, mais surement en une jeune femme responsable et aimante.
Malgré qu’il s’agisse presque d’un pavé – le roman a 499 pages 😉, j’ai lu ce roman assez rapidement et avec beaucoup de plaisir. Un petit chick lit qui a fait du bien!
February 27, 2015
This book is almost like a modern adaption of Jane Austen's Emma (I stress the ALMOST).
Olivia is like that character Daria
It's not a girly girl cliché formulaic romance or chick lit. It's an abrupt Coming-of-Age journey that's edgy, funny, with some angst, drama and loads of humour.
The protagonist Olivia, is a mealy mouthed, sarcastic, pretends-to-be-indifferent, bitter, DON'T-MESS-WITH-ME bada$$, but beneath that tough exterior it's pretty obvious she's extremely vulnerable and a product of her upbringing (ditzy mother, absent rich father etc).
She's also intelligent, funny and caring (albeit she grows into a caring older sister role gradually).
She reminds me of Jane Austen's Emma, who challenges and exasperates the older Mr Knightly.
PLOT: After her father and stepmother's death, Olivia must take care of her little half-sister who is completely different to her (she's sweet, girly and cute). She receives assistance from her (late) father's colleague (and executor of his will) Dennis, who is a well established lawyer. Dennis suffers Olivia's sarcasm and bad treatment patiently. And similar to Mr Knightly he endeavours to lookout for Olivia. He's protective without being overbearing or controlling.
The author also manifests Olivia's predicament far better than most author's who portray all young adults to be concerned only with clubbing, shopping, sexual exploration and drugs i.e a stereotype of student activity. In this novel we can feel Olivia's betrayal and understand where she's coming from when she explains its the “lies” rather than the actions which hurt her (regarding a certain person). And that such betrayal can obliterate attachment.
BADA$$ HEROINE. SARCASTIC. FUNNY.
I enjoyed how the author has a love triangle in the book without making the "other" (competing love interest) the ultimate BADDIE EVIL guy. Both "love interests" have their merits but one is clearly not ready to settle down with ONE female (if ever). Of course if the book followed the cliché - then the tall, dark handsome playboy would forsakes all for the fair heroine. Thankfully this is far more realistic.
Olivia is like that character Daria
It's not a girly girl cliché formulaic romance or chick lit. It's an abrupt Coming-of-Age journey that's edgy, funny, with some angst, drama and loads of humour.
The protagonist Olivia, is a mealy mouthed, sarcastic, pretends-to-be-indifferent, bitter, DON'T-MESS-WITH-ME bada$$, but beneath that tough exterior it's pretty obvious she's extremely vulnerable and a product of her upbringing (ditzy mother, absent rich father etc).
She's also intelligent, funny and caring (albeit she grows into a caring older sister role gradually).
She reminds me of Jane Austen's Emma, who challenges and exasperates the older Mr Knightly.
PLOT: After her father and stepmother's death, Olivia must take care of her little half-sister who is completely different to her (she's sweet, girly and cute). She receives assistance from her (late) father's colleague (and executor of his will) Dennis, who is a well established lawyer. Dennis suffers Olivia's sarcasm and bad treatment patiently. And similar to Mr Knightly he endeavours to lookout for Olivia. He's protective without being overbearing or controlling.
The author also manifests Olivia's predicament far better than most author's who portray all young adults to be concerned only with clubbing, shopping, sexual exploration and drugs i.e a stereotype of student activity. In this novel we can feel Olivia's betrayal and understand where she's coming from when she explains its the “lies” rather than the actions which hurt her (regarding a certain person). And that such betrayal can obliterate attachment.
BADA$$ HEROINE. SARCASTIC. FUNNY.
I enjoyed how the author has a love triangle in the book without making the "other" (competing love interest) the ultimate BADDIE EVIL guy. Both "love interests" have their merits but one is clearly not ready to settle down with ONE female (if ever). Of course if the book followed the cliché - then the tall, dark handsome playboy would forsakes all for the fair heroine. Thankfully this is far more realistic.
October 5, 2011
More like 3.5 stars. Like "If You Lived Here You'd be Home by Now", I really enjoyed the main character's "voice". This story just didn't feel as authentic as "If You Lived Here." I was a little creeped out by the love interest at the end of the book, only because of their ages. Claire LaZebnik has become one of my favorite authors.
October 14, 2025
❤️❤️Adorable histoire feel good !
Olivia "Livvy", 20 ans, est étudiante à l'université.
Elle est invitée, le jour de Thanksgiving, avec sa mère Barbara, à un dîner chez son père, sa nouvelle femme Alicia et leur petite fille de 3 ans et demi, l'adorable Célia.
Sur le chemin menant au domicile de son père, Olivia se perd dans ses nombreux souvenirs d'enfance et d'adolescence...
------------------------
J'ai adoré ce roman "feel good" qui raconte une histoire simple mais pas banale du tout, dans laquelle la jeune femme qu'est Olivia sera obligée d'évoluer et de faire ce qui est juste, suite au décès de son père et d'Alicia. Elle "héritera" ainsi de sa petite soeur...
D'un drame terrible, naîtra une très belle histoire à dimension humaine : émouvante, touchante, parfois drôle ou triste...
J'ai tout aimé : l'histoire, les personnages attachants, la plume de l'auteure, et j'ai vraiment eu beaucoup de plaisir à lire ce roman, pratiquement d'une seule traite, tellement j'ai eu du mal à lâcher le livre.
De plus, j'ai été étonnée par la fin surprenante de l'histoire que je n'aurai jamais devinée...
Une très belle histoire à découvrir et dévorer !
Une perle littéraire qui vous touche le coeur et l'âme...
Olivia "Livvy", 20 ans, est étudiante à l'université.
Elle est invitée, le jour de Thanksgiving, avec sa mère Barbara, à un dîner chez son père, sa nouvelle femme Alicia et leur petite fille de 3 ans et demi, l'adorable Célia.
Sur le chemin menant au domicile de son père, Olivia se perd dans ses nombreux souvenirs d'enfance et d'adolescence...
------------------------
J'ai adoré ce roman "feel good" qui raconte une histoire simple mais pas banale du tout, dans laquelle la jeune femme qu'est Olivia sera obligée d'évoluer et de faire ce qui est juste, suite au décès de son père et d'Alicia. Elle "héritera" ainsi de sa petite soeur...
D'un drame terrible, naîtra une très belle histoire à dimension humaine : émouvante, touchante, parfois drôle ou triste...
J'ai tout aimé : l'histoire, les personnages attachants, la plume de l'auteure, et j'ai vraiment eu beaucoup de plaisir à lire ce roman, pratiquement d'une seule traite, tellement j'ai eu du mal à lâcher le livre.
De plus, j'ai été étonnée par la fin surprenante de l'histoire que je n'aurai jamais devinée...
Une très belle histoire à découvrir et dévorer !
Une perle littéraire qui vous touche le coeur et l'âme...
January 30, 2023
Grand!
Perhaps one of my favorite protagonist I have ever read about. She’s witty, smart, independent, funny, and cool. She is the “it” girl in my opinion. She is just so strong, as helpless as she felt at times she didn’t let it be seen.
And Dennis, just amazing. He was my first lawyer love, my second being Saul Goodman. I like to imagine he looks like Bob Odenkirk.
Dennis is such a lovely hidden love interest, I was so happy when I saw her come to terms with her feelings for this sweet lawyer.
Perhaps one of my favorite protagonist I have ever read about. She’s witty, smart, independent, funny, and cool. She is the “it” girl in my opinion. She is just so strong, as helpless as she felt at times she didn’t let it be seen.
And Dennis, just amazing. He was my first lawyer love, my second being Saul Goodman. I like to imagine he looks like Bob Odenkirk.
Dennis is such a lovely hidden love interest, I was so happy when I saw her come to terms with her feelings for this sweet lawyer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2026
I found this book at a thrift store in Florida and was intrigued by the cover. When I looked it up on Goodreads and it only had 48 reviews, I had to read it (a forgotten, long lost novel has to be read). I hated the narrator at the beginning but by the end she became lovable and relatable; character development at its finest. Although the love story was a bit predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed the relationship and how it came to be. I love a coming of age story and a found family trope and this just so happened to be both. It was an easy and enjoyable read.
August 4, 2024
The first novel I ever read by Claire LaZebnik. She writes about complex families better than almost any author I've ever read. Whether it's her YA fiction, or her genius Modern Love story in the New York Times, she's an impeccable writer. Treat yourself!
October 2, 2017
Une belle découverte :)))
January 29, 2018
Enjoyed the main character's voice - sarcasm and cynicism and still caring despite herself. Fluff read but with some originality. Love interest at the end a little weird.
May 17, 2019
J'ai vraiment adoré ce livre
April 17, 2026
Leger bien écrit
June 17, 2017
I read this book back in high school and fell in love with it. It was different than many of today's books and I felt a connection with the main character.
June 21, 2014
Spoilers
Same As It Never Was is an amazingly funny book. the characters are interesting, the description of toddlers amazingly realistic. but Olivia, the main character, doesn't GROW. She doesn't change. She doesn't even grieve for her father. The scene where she realizes the paper weight her dad kept on his desk wasn't made by her sister, but by her, and throws it away made me so angry. it was like she'd rather believe her father had no fatherly feelings for her than admit that he cared about her in some way. like she'd rather hate him. And to me, that was not very satisfying. I mean, she kept wondering how her sister could miss her parents when they were so horrible, but the ironic thing to me was that she was pretty horrible herself. At first. so she DOES grow, a little. But ow find it annoying that the thing that inspired her to care about anything was a guy. Really. Some guy. What a blow to women everywhere.
Yet, I gave this book a 4 out 5 because I liked the way it read. She was someone who you couldn't help but like. She did what she wanted, usually, said what she wanted, almost always, and didn't really care if it offended anyone. It wasn't that she didn't have a heart, it was just that she protected it. I think she didn't want to end up like her mother that she went to the other extreme of not caring too much about anything.
Her sister, Celia, was cute and also somewhat annoying, like most kids that age. Reading and watching Olivia grow to love her was nice. Dennis... It's not that I have anything against romances with age gaps likes like that, but it was strange. It was like, the authoress kept harping on age. so I had a hard time trying to figure out if the age difference was supposed to be important or not.
It isn't a must-read book to me, but if you like laughing, and I'll admit, at some parts I laughed so hard I cried, this is an awesome book.
Same As It Never Was is an amazingly funny book. the characters are interesting, the description of toddlers amazingly realistic. but Olivia, the main character, doesn't GROW. She doesn't change. She doesn't even grieve for her father. The scene where she realizes the paper weight her dad kept on his desk wasn't made by her sister, but by her, and throws it away made me so angry. it was like she'd rather believe her father had no fatherly feelings for her than admit that he cared about her in some way. like she'd rather hate him. And to me, that was not very satisfying. I mean, she kept wondering how her sister could miss her parents when they were so horrible, but the ironic thing to me was that she was pretty horrible herself. At first. so she DOES grow, a little. But ow find it annoying that the thing that inspired her to care about anything was a guy. Really. Some guy. What a blow to women everywhere.
Yet, I gave this book a 4 out 5 because I liked the way it read. She was someone who you couldn't help but like. She did what she wanted, usually, said what she wanted, almost always, and didn't really care if it offended anyone. It wasn't that she didn't have a heart, it was just that she protected it. I think she didn't want to end up like her mother that she went to the other extreme of not caring too much about anything.
Her sister, Celia, was cute and also somewhat annoying, like most kids that age. Reading and watching Olivia grow to love her was nice. Dennis... It's not that I have anything against romances with age gaps likes like that, but it was strange. It was like, the authoress kept harping on age. so I had a hard time trying to figure out if the age difference was supposed to be important or not.
It isn't a must-read book to me, but if you like laughing, and I'll admit, at some parts I laughed so hard I cried, this is an awesome book.
April 22, 2016
I picked this book up off the shelf as part of a reading challenge I am doing. I had to find an author with my initials, so I went to the L's, and just searched books until I found an author with the first letter of their first name beginning with C.
It worked out pretty well. This is a solid novel, well done and with excellent characters. I really enjoyed Liv's brashness, her brutal honesty, and overall rudeness. It was refreshing, and at times quite funny. I did not like the person she became with Joe, but that was part of her learning process and I don't think she did either. Celia is perfect as a well-to-do four year old starved for attention in the wake of her parents death, and Barbara (Liv's mother) is so awful it's funny (yet doesn't come off as caricature-like; it feels authentic).
After being thrown into a situation no 21-year old college junior wants to find herself in, Liv needs to grow up, and fast. Everything in her life is changing, and it isn't going to be easy. The theme of what "should" be is very prevalent throughout the novel, and it's handled in a way that eases the reader through the transition with Liv.
Overall, I rather enjoyed this one. I had figured out the plot and ending almost immediately - but didn't believe it would actually happen that way. I was very satisfied with the ending and am glad I found the title hidden among the shelves!
It worked out pretty well. This is a solid novel, well done and with excellent characters. I really enjoyed Liv's brashness, her brutal honesty, and overall rudeness. It was refreshing, and at times quite funny. I did not like the person she became with Joe, but that was part of her learning process and I don't think she did either. Celia is perfect as a well-to-do four year old starved for attention in the wake of her parents death, and Barbara (Liv's mother) is so awful it's funny (yet doesn't come off as caricature-like; it feels authentic).
After being thrown into a situation no 21-year old college junior wants to find herself in, Liv needs to grow up, and fast. Everything in her life is changing, and it isn't going to be easy. The theme of what "should" be is very prevalent throughout the novel, and it's handled in a way that eases the reader through the transition with Liv.
Overall, I rather enjoyed this one. I had figured out the plot and ending almost immediately - but didn't believe it would actually happen that way. I was very satisfied with the ending and am glad I found the title hidden among the shelves!
September 4, 2011
Olivia Martin has a wicked mouth! I loved how sarcastic she was. I wish I had her gift of gab. Olivia has to step in, at the age of 21, and take over the guardianship of her 3 1/2 year old half-sister, Celia, after her parents die in a car crash. Olivia can barely take care of herself and all of a sudden she has all these new responsibilities. Helping her or driving her crazy, depending on how you look at it, are her mother Barbara and the executor of her father's will, Dennis. Plus she's trying to figure out what to do with Celia, and manage school and her relationship with Joe, her first everything.
Seeing Olivia go from being your average college student to being a concerned parental figure was great. She learned a lot of lessons the hard way. It was hard not to connect with Olivia. You could completely understand why she used sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Her own childhood left her scarred and so her worries about Celia were justified. I think Olivia was a very strong character for just 21. Even when she messed up, she ended up showing maturity one doesn't expect from a 21-year old. Very admirable.
Seeing Olivia go from being your average college student to being a concerned parental figure was great. She learned a lot of lessons the hard way. It was hard not to connect with Olivia. You could completely understand why she used sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Her own childhood left her scarred and so her worries about Celia were justified. I think Olivia was a very strong character for just 21. Even when she messed up, she ended up showing maturity one doesn't expect from a 21-year old. Very admirable.
April 25, 2016
For The Library Reading Challenge here at Newport Library (in RI), I had to find a book written by an author with my initials - so I went to the shelves and just browsed until I found it!
I'm glad I picked this up. It was funny and sarcastic and pretty well written. I wasn't crazy about the barbie's on the front cover - that doesn't seem to fit Liv at all, though it does fit Celia. But the expressions are spot on!!
Recommended for a somewhat light read - there are definite themes around right vs. wrong, what one "should" do (over and over and over), but overall it's light and enjoyable.
I'm glad I picked this up. It was funny and sarcastic and pretty well written. I wasn't crazy about the barbie's on the front cover - that doesn't seem to fit Liv at all, though it does fit Celia. But the expressions are spot on!!
Recommended for a somewhat light read - there are definite themes around right vs. wrong, what one "should" do (over and over and over), but overall it's light and enjoyable.
April 25, 2016
Hello frds...I would like to share my reviews on this book...This novel has a very natural personal emotion involved between a kid and parent...A parent need is when a kid wants at certain age, they want freedom when they feel they r getting adult.. I agree with my own personal experience but they dnt realise the importance of their parent..it goes with the same with olivia...When parents are there she is not understanding the importance of their presence. She only realises when her parents are gone very far away from her. She realises her responsibilties and role of being freedom.
May 31, 2009
I never expected to like this book as much as I have - it is advertised as "beach fiction" which normally I will dismiss without a second thought. But this was much more than just a frivolous novel - the character of "Olivia" is one of the best I've read in a while and even though I knew how it would turn out by the second chapter, the ride was delicious. Apparently this is the author's first novel - I hope she doesn't stop here.
September 8, 2012
I'm surprised at how much I loved this book. In fact, I found it hard to put down. This was truly shocking after not enjoying the first chapter or two. I think it just started a little slow for my tastes. But after getting farther into it, I understood the build up. It was a great mixture of comedy, tragedy, boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, unrequited lust, etc. Included everything but science fiction and the paranormal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2012
Found this book on my bookshelf while cleaning out books. I'm sure I'd read it initially but I couldn't recall it, so I gave it another shot. Very good book, especially for the advanced YA and casual adult reader. Very cute, fairly well written though not the easiest style to follow along with. Some suspension of belief, of course, especially when remembering that this book was published in 2003! But still a nice 3-hour escape.
March 28, 2014
I read this book several years ago, and it was my introduction to Claire LaZebnik. I really, really loved Olivia even though at times I wanted to shake her. I loved her sarcasm and her take on the world. She stepped up to take care of Celia even though she really didn't want to and learned about life and love, and more about herself than anything. It was a fun, fast-paced read that I didn't have to think too deep to enjoy.
November 25, 2013
I keep this book under my bed and pull it out to re-read every once in a while. Olivia's arc as she tries to get through college, raise her orphaned half-sister, and deal with her unremittingly selfish mother is compelling every page of the way. The unexpected and intensely satisfying romance develops late in the story makes the ending an absolute delight. This book is JUST SO SATISFYING!!! On every level!!!!
August 13, 2008
This book was pretty stupid. The main character was incredibly bitchy and unlikeable and from page 10 (or whatever), it was obvious where it would end up. At least they address the squickyness a little bit but it's more of an afterthought than anything else. I guess for $2.99 I really shouldn't complain, but then would fun would I have?
January 9, 2009
I think that this was one of the first adult books I read as I progressed from teen to adult fiction. I LOVED this book when I first read it, but it probably wouldn't interest me much now, as an actual adult.
October 12, 2008
I thought this author had a fresh voice and a compelling story. After reading others' reviews I was surprised to find how lite this was considered -- maybe I threw too much of my own imagination into the novel, but I guess that means it lends itself to that.
Read
July 28, 2011I really enjoyed this book. I think the dysfunction in the family and the imperfect characters gave me a feeling of reality even though it still ends up sort of "happily ever after". I will definitely read more by Claire LaZebnik!
Read
August 17, 2012A fun read -- feels like you're reading a movie, perhaps an updating of Austen's Emma. Favorite line: "She was oblivious the way only someone who was an outcast in high school can be oblivious to the world's approval." A life philosophy, anyone?
November 3, 2013
A definite fun read. Olivia is whitty as the protagonist. She's realistic, but still matures during the book, which is great. She seems to shoulder her responsibility well, while having growing pains as she adjusts to her new life, not unlike other new parents despite their age.
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