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Red Hat Club #2
The Red Hat Club Rides Again
Used, book, fiction
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 18, 2016
I loved the writing in this book, yet once again. My only drawback was the theme: avoiding 'looking old/your age' at any cost. I think what I particularly resented was that I felt unless I was doing all these things to stay 'looking younger,' there was no way I could be truly happy. (At least that is the way it felt to me!) I so disagree with that! I am simply proud of each day I have survived and hope to have thrived at least a little bit, too! Other than the theme, I loved this book as well!
June 1, 2008
Even more fun than the first one!
October 15, 2024
I just love these books. And it’s so cool reading a book that takes place where I’m from.. knowing exactly where she’s referring to haha. Now to start the final one.
April 27, 2019
Funny, sad, heartwarming. The bond between old friends who drop everything to help each other. Still hope to read the first issue.
April 11, 2014
Could not wait to finish. This was a book club book, so it wasn't normally my choice, but I thought I'd give it a try. I couldn't stand the story, however, and I think it was because of these two reasons.
1. I am 33, not past 50, and I just didn't identify with or understand the issues, preoccupations of the women in the story. I just couldn't identify with them because I'm not at that place in my life.
2. They were vain women and I didn't like that personality trait and plot. I am vehemently opposed to tanning beds, so you can imagine how i felt when they took a plastic surgery cruise and were crowing about all the things they were dying to have done. Really?
The one good thing I got out of this book was the addiction part. I have eating disorder struggles and hearing Pru and Susu struggle with their addictions and the statements they tell themselves was almost cleansing for me. I say 'almost' because I need to move to the place where I can fight like Pru to make lifestyle changes. But the phrase "I WANT it but I don't NEED it" needs to be my new thought mode. Thank you, Haywood Smith, for putting that in front of me in black and white.
I loved Susu because she reminded me of a friend of mine. But those positive things weren't enough to redeem this story for me. I'm not motivated to pick up more of these books.
1. I am 33, not past 50, and I just didn't identify with or understand the issues, preoccupations of the women in the story. I just couldn't identify with them because I'm not at that place in my life.
2. They were vain women and I didn't like that personality trait and plot. I am vehemently opposed to tanning beds, so you can imagine how i felt when they took a plastic surgery cruise and were crowing about all the things they were dying to have done. Really?
The one good thing I got out of this book was the addiction part. I have eating disorder struggles and hearing Pru and Susu struggle with their addictions and the statements they tell themselves was almost cleansing for me. I say 'almost' because I need to move to the place where I can fight like Pru to make lifestyle changes. But the phrase "I WANT it but I don't NEED it" needs to be my new thought mode. Thank you, Haywood Smith, for putting that in front of me in black and white.
I loved Susu because she reminded me of a friend of mine. But those positive things weren't enough to redeem this story for me. I'm not motivated to pick up more of these books.
March 3, 2021
Oh my goodness, if it’s possible for these ladies to get into anymore bizarre trouble, I just couldn’t say how! This adventure of the middle-aged red hat wearing Southern divas is more fast-paced and outrageous than the last one. Complete with all the ‘illicitudes’: of sex, drugs, rock and roll, crazy movie stars, strip bridge, and a Vegas scandal, it had me rolling on the floor laughing! Ever the proper Southern ladies, they can talk themselves in and out of more trouble than “Weird Al” Yankovic has made spoof songs. I love how the story flips back and forth from their younger days to present day, and we see each of the ladies grow, some for the better, others headed for the rough patches we find them in the present day. I love all the observations about friendship, women, and life in general, as narrated by Georgia – “30 plus years of friendship had taught us all to appreciate the cycles of distance to closeness at work in every relationship,” and isn’t that just true in life, the cycles within relationships? A fun and fast read for anyone who enjoys comedy and some Southern sass to go along with that!
April 10, 2019
I picked up this book partly because I was in the mood for a light read and I had enjoyed a previous book by Haywood Smith. Parts of it were entertaining and I like Smith's style of humor. Although I think the story can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I wish I had read the previous book The Red Hat Club before reading this one. I think it would have given me more of a feel for the characters.
The Red Hat Club Rides Again switches back and forth from 1967-1968 to 2003-2004. Although I often like these time shifts in books, it didn't work as well for me in this one. The story involves 6 women who have been friends since high school and have continued to stay in touch (for the most part) for approx 35 years through good and bad times. In this novel, they end up in some pretty drastic escapades but come out in the end doing well. Having lived in the South for many years, I especially appreciate Smith's humor regarding Southern attitudes and traditions.
However, there were parts of the plot which just did not appeal to me at all and seemed unrealistic.
This is definitely a book in the chick-lit genre which is not one of my favorite genres so I may be harsher with my judgement of it than those who love that genre would be.
The Red Hat Club Rides Again switches back and forth from 1967-1968 to 2003-2004. Although I often like these time shifts in books, it didn't work as well for me in this one. The story involves 6 women who have been friends since high school and have continued to stay in touch (for the most part) for approx 35 years through good and bad times. In this novel, they end up in some pretty drastic escapades but come out in the end doing well. Having lived in the South for many years, I especially appreciate Smith's humor regarding Southern attitudes and traditions.
However, there were parts of the plot which just did not appeal to me at all and seemed unrealistic.
This is definitely a book in the chick-lit genre which is not one of my favorite genres so I may be harsher with my judgement of it than those who love that genre would be.
May 28, 2019
The second in the series, and it was a nice quick read. Perfect for our road trip to California. I liked the story, it moved quickly and was entertaining. The section on the boat, however, ** SPOILER **
was a little farfetched. Teeny must have spent a LOT of $$ on the girls to get them whatever they wanted. I get spending $ on a gift, but she is very generous with her friends. I myself would feel way too guilty to accept this level of a gift. A fun read though.
was a little farfetched. Teeny must have spent a LOT of $$ on the girls to get them whatever they wanted. I get spending $ on a gift, but she is very generous with her friends. I myself would feel way too guilty to accept this level of a gift. A fun read though.
December 14, 2017
Friendship
The perfect lite read with a great message: To have faith and true friends make for a good and rewarding life. Granted, some of the Red Hats adventures were a bit far fetched, but the group's rules and interaction are ones that many can relate to. I recommend this book to any woman who wants to just be entertained.
The perfect lite read with a great message: To have faith and true friends make for a good and rewarding life. Granted, some of the Red Hats adventures were a bit far fetched, but the group's rules and interaction are ones that many can relate to. I recommend this book to any woman who wants to just be entertained.
December 15, 2018
Listened to this on CD – and I chuckled, I laughed and at one point my jaw actually dropped !
A lighthearted story about friends who support, respect and have fun with each other, with a few serious topics addressed, but without all the drama and angst that friends’ books seem to have lately.
Suspend your belief a little and enjoy this zany and caring group of women.
A lighthearted story about friends who support, respect and have fun with each other, with a few serious topics addressed, but without all the drama and angst that friends’ books seem to have lately.
Suspend your belief a little and enjoy this zany and caring group of women.
October 10, 2022
I suppose it's a credit to the story concept--women of a certain age sticking together no matter what--that I kept with this book as long as I did--about two-thirds of the way through. But in the end it just got pointless for me with the makeover details, etc, and I only read the first page of the last several chapters having decided my time was best spent elsewhere.
March 18, 2025
Cutesy book.... A group of ladies meets periodically to get together - rehash old times and plan fun adventures together....
When one of the ladies falls off the wagon - the group plans a group intervention that involves retrieving the friend from Las Vegas and helping her get back to her previous life. This book expounds on the escapades of these ladies completing that task.
When one of the ladies falls off the wagon - the group plans a group intervention that involves retrieving the friend from Las Vegas and helping her get back to her previous life. This book expounds on the escapades of these ladies completing that task.
April 30, 2026
It's been a while since I read the first Red Hat book. I'd forgotten how much I like it.
Best friends of a lifetime with 12 rules of friendship. Meeting once a month wearing their red hats and purple clothes. Dealing with aging, with faithful and the faithless men, finding a way to help even if on the border of legality.
It makes me want to be a better friend.
Best friends of a lifetime with 12 rules of friendship. Meeting once a month wearing their red hats and purple clothes. Dealing with aging, with faithful and the faithless men, finding a way to help even if on the border of legality.
It makes me want to be a better friend.
January 28, 2020
It is not often a book will make me laugh out loud, but this one definitely has that quality. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the escapades these girls get into. Definitely on my "will read again" list.
July 7, 2020
Love this book. Love following the girls again. This time the girls are on a mission to save one of their own with love of course. Also big surprize from Teeny that will changd their livee forever.
I love the frienfship these fine ladies have and have kept for years.
I love the frienfship these fine ladies have and have kept for years.
December 31, 2024
This was much better than the first one. These characters are so so fun. They have such a fun dynamic together. They get into so much trouble but it’s so cute. I really enjoyed this one, much better than the first.
June 16, 2018
This was a really fun read and see these women grow up before your eyes.
September 15, 2018
This was a very fun bit of fluff. So good that sometimes I laughed out load.. Loved the writing and the characters. Can'r wait to read another similiar title.
August 18, 2019
Did it as an audio book as we monitored across Nebraska. Some parts caused a chuckle and some parts a guffaw and others were deeply sentimental. A delightful read....or listen.
June 13, 2021
Fun, fun, fun!
July 26, 2021
Wish I had friends like this!
February 3, 2022
Being from Atlanta this sequel does not disappoint.
June 10, 2022
If only I had a rich friend that could take me on a cruise! Again, I love these books - all set in my hometown of Atlanta.
April 13, 2023
Laugh out loud fun book to read.
November 10, 2023
I liked it. We should all have such friends and adventures.
February 5, 2025
Story about a Red Hat group that takes a trip to Vegas when one of their members falls off the wagon. The recovery adventures continue on a cruise.
January 24, 2026
Pretentious. Uppity. But the amount of laughing out loud I did redeemed it.
March 18, 2024
Very cute....a little far-fetched but still a fun read!
May 23, 2026
Growing older with friends
It was ok, getting older with friends and enjoying life. Was a slow read. Not my usual go to book.
It was ok, getting older with friends and enjoying life. Was a slow read. Not my usual go to book.
February 7, 2017
What i didn't like about the book it that it kept jumping back and forth in time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews