On a Night Like This

by Ellen Sussman

Blair Clemens is a struggling single mother with a teenage daughter, a job as a chef, and a tragic secret that will test all of her emotional resources. Luke Bellingham has fulfilled his early promise and is one the country's most acclaimed screenwriters. Luke and Blair haven't laid eyes on each other for decades, but back in the 1960s, they went to the same West Coast high school.

Now, for a class reunion, Luke impulsively contacts a woman who has always intrigued him. And before she knows what hit her, Blair is faced with the decision of her lifetime: what to do when the right man comes along...but at the wrong time.

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

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ellen Sussman is the New York Times bestselling author of four novels, A Wedding in Provence, The Paradise Guest House, French Lessons, and On a Night Like This. She is the editor of two critically acclaimed anthologies, Bad Girls: 26 Writers Misbehave and Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex. She teaches through Stanford Continuing Studies and in private classes. www.ellensussman.com

Reviews

[Eric Klee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of unentertaining, poorly written books lately, so when I started reading ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS and found myself really enjoying it, I thought it was a fluke. I originally picked up this book because I read that it was about two people meeting up who went to high school together, but never really knew each other. This subject alone interested me. The more I read, though, the more twists and turns were added. The novel became so much more than I originally thought it would be. I became entranced with the story and was eager to see where it was going. I was surprised at the levels of detail and background that went into writing this book. I applaud Ellen Sussman for her character development and plotlines. I truly came to care about each of the main characters. They felt "real" to me, which is the highest accomplishment I can bestow upon a writer. I continued reading and it just got better and better until the very end when I was suddenly disappointed...because it ended. I wanted to continue reading about Sussman's engaging main characters (Luke and Blair) and even all the supporting characters like Blair's daughter, Amanda; Luke's wife, Emily; Blair's boss, Daniel; Blair's landlord; and even Sweetpea, Luke's faithful dog.

I look forward to reading future books by Ellen Sussman. She's definitely got talent and knows how to capture her readers' heads...and hearts.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tries and fails to be emotionally deep and moving. A soap opera plot, without any redeeming soap opera sexual frisson. Just utterly clueless--no actual person speaks like her characters (every single one of them!) do. Clumsy, shallow, terribly plotted, and the main character is a Mary Sue with terminal cancer. Just ridiculous. The one high point is that it's a short book.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

One word to describe this book implausible and unrealistic. Okay, that was two words, but they both fit. This is Ellen Sussman's first novel and the good news is she went on to write the Paris Wife, which I absolutely loved.

Two former high school class mates meet later in life: one was just diagnosed with terminal cancer, has an edgy 17 year old daughter and is banging anything with a heart beat; the other was a top hollywood actor but is now a hermit living in the woods who no longer shaves because his wife left him for reasons unknown.

They meet, fall in love, walk the dog, drink double scotches, and eat ham sandwiches. The wife comes back, is pregnant, then loses the baby, he shaves but the cancer remains.....

If this were made into a movie it would go straight to cable.

[Kathleen J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny. I got this book because I had a recommendation for the Freethy book by the same name and so happen to read the description of this one at the same time. If you're willing to read a romance that doesn't have a conventional happy ending but with a bittersweet ending, I recommend it. I read so many romance novels and this was a great break--not all the cliches, characters are complex---just a different sort of book. It is the story of a single mother discovering love right after she's been diagnosed with cancer. It's warm and there is happiness to be found in the pages.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un sujet difficile ! Aurait pu être encore plus émouvant !

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I read "French Lessons", which was a nice enough light read, and I saw "On a night like this" from the same author available in the library, I was in for this book. Oh yes, it's the same easy-to-read style, but for the rest this wasn't the book I expected. Too much drama, very unbelievable story and the main character is some sex-obsessed woman that I didn't like. I felt Luke was way too good for her. The theme is interesting: a man falls in love with a woman who has cancer and it's clear she's going to die. Could have be worked out to a nice story. But Sussman add too much to that: the woman is raped by a group of boys when she was young, the man used this as story in one of his movies (he's film maker), the man is married but his wife left him (and he doesn't know why, is obsessed by her), the wife comes back, pregnant, but probably not his... and more (I didn't even mention the daughter). Too much!

[Nancy Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the debut novel by Ellen Sussman, and it's been on this reader's shelves for years. Frankly, I picked it up during a large purchase from the local Friends of the Library's book sale so that it (and others) wouldn't be pulped by Goodwill, but knew I wanted to read it after reading the dust jacket.

Why did I wait so long? This was a marvelous read, a story about a single mother (Blair), her 16-year-old daughter (Amanda), and a man (Luke) from high school.

As the novel opens, Blair knows she is dying from malignant melanoma, and her biggest concern is for her daughter and what will happen to her after she is gone. With both of her parents gone and the father never in the picture, it's a valid concern.

Into this mess, Luke Bellingham re-enters her life when he is given the task of trying to re-connect with classmates with the a list known as "List of Lost Souls." Blair is one of them, and she always intrigued him and he impulsively calls her.

For Blair, she wants no treatment, but to live her life as fully as possible in the time she has. Sex, drink, and her job as a chef. Will she find a way to balance them all? Including helping her daughter? What about the effect Luke re-entering her life?

Luke, too, has had his issues over the years. He's been a successful screenwriter, but his wife Emily walked out on him three months ago, leaving him bereft. Will he get back together with her, or will his budding relationship with Blair change things for him?

As for Amanda, as an increasingly angsty teen, can she even tolerate Luke being in her mom's life? What next for Amanda as her mom gets sicker and sicker?

Touching story with a few twists for each of the protagonists. There are enough flaws in each of them that makes this story real and a fast read. So, so glad I finally read it, despite the emotional moments throughout (especially those at the end).

I'll be checking out to see in Sussman has written others since this debut in 2004. 4.5 stars

[anna newbold · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay i read this a few years ago on vacation but could not for the life of me remember the name!!!
glad i could add this to my list.
i remember thinking this was a nice easy read and i will admit i dont remember everything but here was a problem i remember having.
who in their RIGHT mind would leave their teenage daughter to not a complete stranger but to someone you just rekindled with?!!! i know she didnt have that much of a choice but i found that hard to believe. i also was triggered remembering some boys in hs who were stuck up as helllllll and thought they were the bees knees. i for one could not stomach becoming friends with people like that in my adult years. I just dont think the main character would have easily become so "swoon"

[Chy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I wasn't so behind on my reading challenge I would have long given up on this book. It was depressing and messy - not messy in the fun kind of way. None of the characters were likable nor did I care about any of them.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel in which a woman who was raped as a teenager meets and falls in love with a man who made a film about her experience without having ever talked with her

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star says it all

[Pam Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and had never read this author before. You definitely wanted to get to the end quickly and see what happens.

[Denise Gobble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Shelley Blanton-Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I really love about this novel is its focus on people who are no longer new as spring grass. They are adults, with histories and trouble they carry with them. Yet these characters, like all of Sussman’s are capable of sweetness, newness, hope.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A love story with complications. Good-through characters, my favorite kind. even the scum character does the right thing in the end.

[Charmaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not lnow why I read this. My daughter is fighting to survive health issues, while raising my only grand child, and struggling to divorce a man who almost killed her. Needless to say, I was in tears most of the time. But something in this story gave me hope and strength.

[Brianna Mann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The summary of this story starts with a woman named Blair Clemens, who is a single mother of a teenage daughter. She is a chef, and has a tragic secret that will test her emotionally. Luke Bellingham is one of the country's screenwriters. He hasn't laid eyes on Blair for many years after attending the same high school. When there class reunion comes around Luke contacts a woman who has always had interest in him. Before she knew it Blair was faced with a lifetime decision which is what to do when the right man comes along, but at the wrong time.
What I liked about this book was, that I found myself liking this book, but it seemed like there was a twist of fate. I really wanted to read this book because it was about two people coming together and meeting after many years of not seeing each other, after there high school career. This book really interested me and I realized the more I read I was noticing very many plot changes and many twists and turns. I was really liking the detail and background that was added.
What I didn't like about this book was that the beginning started out hopeless and was misleading. They were careless with their relationships and bodies. They really didn't care much about themselves as a person. Most of the events where unbelievable. Some situations were ridiculous and made me uncomfortable. Toward the end of the book I as a person felt a little insulted.

[Stephanie from Books Paradise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair erfährt, dass sie unheilbar an Krebs erkrankt ist. Wie soll sie das bloß ihrer Tochter erklären und wer kümmert sich um sie? Sie kann ihr Kind doch nicht einfach im Stich lassen?! Mit Liebesgeschichten will sie sich nicht mehr aufhalten und verliebt war sie eh nie. Sie kann sich nicht verlieben und das ist auch gut so. Alles was sie braucht ist ihre Tochter und ihr Leben. Und dann taucht Luke auf...

Luke ist jemand in dem sich sogar der Leser verlieben könnte. Er ist charmant und liebevoll - einfach Mr. Right, im Buch wird er oftmals Mr. Hollywood genannt. Er ist dort nämlich als Drehbuchautor berühmt geworden. An deiner Seite ist ein Buch, welches seine Leser völlig in seinen Bann zieht. Leidenschaft, Liebe, Eifersucht und die schmerzliche Erkenntnis, dass nichts für die Ewigkeit bleibt. Luke und Blair finden auf eine ganz besondere romantische Art und Weise zu einander. Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist bezaubernd und sehr poetisch. Es ist ein Erlebnis dieses Buch zu lesen, man denkt und fühlt wie Blair und man leidet mit ihr, ihrer Tochter und vor allem mit Luke. An deiner Seite ist eine tiefgreifende Geschichte über die Liebe, die das Leben überdauert.

[Sonny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark and hopeless from the beginning. The main characters wade through their problems with meaningless sex and booze. Such reckless care to their bodies and their relationships. Included are the typical teenager full of angst, tattooed, and wearing boots, hating the new man in her mother's life and the ever-present homosexuals found in so many novels of the 21st century. A bit cliche. Sussman writes concisely, sparing words and I would have enjoyed some introspection from the main characters. I had trouble with Blair left alone in the cabin when she was bedridden from cancer. Where was hospice? Where was the follow up for Emily who had miscarried? Several holes in the plot and I feel I never managed to really know Blair and Luke. I enjoyed Sweetpea (such a cute name!), Luke's dog, but I also have no mental picture of her. She was in the story but not of the story. Sweetpea was used to keep the main characters together.

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for a review of a new anthology Sussman edited. I guess it was good on its own terms. But those terms (I suspect) are likely those of a 30-40-year-old woman living in the Bay Area. In the first pages, the protagonist discovers she will die of cancer in two weeks, then falls in love with an Academy Award winning screenwriter whose wife has recently left him, who she happened to know in high school (and, dontchaknowit, he's got a *secret*). There's a lot of melodrama with sex in between. Or maybe it's the other way 'round.

[Ciera Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read. I enjoyed it, but found that Blair seemed so obsessed with sex. That turned me off a bit. Amanda's attitude annoyed me quite a bit but I guess that's what you expect from a teenager. The ending was ok, I would have liked to have had a little more to it then it just letting off on a normal day, having you fill in the blanks. But I have to remind myself I'm sure that's Sussman's purpose to make it as if life will go on. I'm definitely interested in reading Sussman's newest novel, French Lessons. Hope to get my hands on it soon.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a single woman with a teenage daughter. The mother has cancer and is living life like she doesn't really care about herself. During the course of time, she ends up falling in love. The story gets a bit complicated, and I wont share the details. This book discusses rape - and the damage that it does to women emotionally. There is language in it also. Both the mother and daughter end up learning what love really is.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character of Sussman's book discovers she has cancer and is going to die very soon. She is a mother of a teenager, and has no other family around. I kept thinking, "How can this story end well?" This is going to be maudlin and mushy and sad. It wasn't. While there were a few too many forays into discussions on love and dying, it was an interesting and meaningful read. One that will stay with me for a long time.

[Jill Lapin-Zell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became completely and utterly absorbed in the characters of this novel. It's a fast read with witty, edgy dialogue and unforgettable characters. The plot is simple and straightforward, but the characters are not. As the reader is taken through the story, the author carefully reveals complex layers which draw the reader further in. A haunting tale by a gifted writer....highly recommended!

[Lenn ♡ | anatomyofabooknerd (IG) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read the book because I kind of got bored in the first few pages. When I got in the middle, it thrilled me, wanting to know what will happen next to Luke and Emily, Blair and Amanda.

It's disappointing at the end though, because it ended without knowing if Blair tried to fight her illness or not, and what happened to Emily after Luke left.

[Hanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ms. Sussman's writing style. I was hooked from the first page. The characters seemed so real to me. The subject of this book was sad but uplifting as well. I highly recommend it, as well as her other book, French Lessons.

[Char]

just reading it.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

good local setting - SF.

[Pam]

06/30/08 rec via bookmooch

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading novels set in San Francisco.