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kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! A good mixture of romance, feminism, and plot. This was chosen by my book club, and I’m really glad as I might not have read it otherwise!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape, Grief, and Animal death
jentidders's review against another edition
4.0
This was not your average romance novel - as you might expect from the cover!
Audrey is a single department store manager who begins pondering her life on her 55th birthday. Although part of her would like a relationship with a man, she's not sure she *needs* one to be happy (after all, a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle) - but she's kept all people at a distance and is lacking in emotional connections. On a whim, she stops at a pet store to buy a kitten, but instead is drawn to and gets an iguana who she names Newton or Newt for short. As she bonds with and tends to Newt, she becomes more open and decides to allow others into her life.
Frank is Audrey's neighbour, a 60-something who has dealt with the grief of his wife's death by creating a new family, a flock of parakeets. He's sweet on Audrey but hasn't known how to start a conversation. When he notices her new pet, he realises they have something in common which might allow him to strike up a friendship, and maybe more.
This book was a real positive surprise for me. There's a lot of discussion about feminism and what it means to be a feminist; either through Audrey's internal dialogue or in her conversations with her friends Annabel and Vicky. The romance aspect portrays a healthy, sweet, non-problematic relationship with boundaries, and sex with enthusiastic consent.
But really romance isn't at the heart of this novel, rather this is a relationship novel, as Audrey figures out her life and relationships with Newt (who she sees as her main significant other), new friends and an old friend, as well as with Frank.
Kathie Georgio has written delightfully quirky but real characters - even the characterisation of Newt makes him hugely loveable and much more than 'just' an iguana. If You Tame Me is a beautifully narrated and charming read about mid-life, mature relationships gender politics.... and lizards.
Audrey is a single department store manager who begins pondering her life on her 55th birthday. Although part of her would like a relationship with a man, she's not sure she *needs* one to be happy (after all, a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle) - but she's kept all people at a distance and is lacking in emotional connections. On a whim, she stops at a pet store to buy a kitten, but instead is drawn to and gets an iguana who she names Newton or Newt for short. As she bonds with and tends to Newt, she becomes more open and decides to allow others into her life.
Frank is Audrey's neighbour, a 60-something who has dealt with the grief of his wife's death by creating a new family, a flock of parakeets. He's sweet on Audrey but hasn't known how to start a conversation. When he notices her new pet, he realises they have something in common which might allow him to strike up a friendship, and maybe more.
This book was a real positive surprise for me. There's a lot of discussion about feminism and what it means to be a feminist; either through Audrey's internal dialogue or in her conversations with her friends Annabel and Vicky. The romance aspect portrays a healthy, sweet, non-problematic relationship with boundaries, and sex with enthusiastic consent.
But really romance isn't at the heart of this novel, rather this is a relationship novel, as Audrey figures out her life and relationships with Newt (who she sees as her main significant other), new friends and an old friend, as well as with Frank.
Kathie Georgio has written delightfully quirky but real characters - even the characterisation of Newt makes him hugely loveable and much more than 'just' an iguana. If You Tame Me is a beautifully narrated and charming read about mid-life, mature relationships gender politics.... and lizards.
sbunyan's review against another edition
2.0
My main complaint about this book was that it was way too long. Clever concept of two looking for love neighbors who find each other. Both have strong attachments to their pets - she has an iguana, he has birds. Both struggle with loneliness.
There were too many angles for me and each was covered in excruciating detail. The ghost ex-wife and the imaginary conversations with Gloria Steinem were completely unnecessary. Much editing was needed.
There were too many angles for me and each was covered in excruciating detail. The ghost ex-wife and the imaginary conversations with Gloria Steinem were completely unnecessary. Much editing was needed.
awkwardreader13's review against another edition
4.0
4,5
I was really positively surprised by this book! I initially requested it because of the iguana on the cover. As a reptile-lover, I couldn't say no to it, and I wasn't disappointed.
I was afraid the iguana would only be a "prop" in the story, but he turned out to be his own, lovable character. Speaking of characters, I loved all of them. Especially Audrey.
I also liked how the book talked a lot about feminism, and what it means to be a feminist. These things came up as internal or external dialogue from Audrey, as she thought a lot about whether she could call herself a feminist or not. A few times throughout the story, however, the discussion seemed a little bit repetitive and or unnatural, especially when Audrey was discussing with Anabel and Vicky.
Hurray for a non-problematic, healthy, sweet, relationship! There was no point in the story where the two love interests had a falling out, and then a dramatic make-up arc... no, it was just sweet and natural and the relationship itself did not take up the main part of the story, and ultimately the story was mostly about Audrey figuring herself out. I was a big fan of this.
I didn't really like the way Frank and Bob talked about Audrey, about how she was "different than other women" because she isn't "boring" and chooses a cat or dog as a pet. Okay. I personally have a reptile, but I love dogs and cats and a million other animals too, that I wish I could keep. I just felt a little iffy when they made it seem like people who are into cats are somehow boring or unattractive or not interesting. You can't judge someones personality on whether they like cats or not. I'm sure the author did not mean for it to be understood like that (especially as I read she herself has a cat and a dog), but still it rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.
Anyways, I generally really enjoyed this book. It was a very relaxing read, not boring, not over the top or dramatic... just nice.
Extra:
- The research done around iguanas was really thorough, and that made me happy
- I wish the cover didn't look like it was made in paint. Many readers choose a book by its cover
I was really positively surprised by this book! I initially requested it because of the iguana on the cover. As a reptile-lover, I couldn't say no to it, and I wasn't disappointed.
I was afraid the iguana would only be a "prop" in the story, but he turned out to be his own, lovable character. Speaking of characters, I loved all of them. Especially Audrey.
I also liked how the book talked a lot about feminism, and what it means to be a feminist. These things came up as internal or external dialogue from Audrey, as she thought a lot about whether she could call herself a feminist or not. A few times throughout the story, however, the discussion seemed a little bit repetitive and or unnatural, especially when Audrey was discussing with Anabel and Vicky.
Hurray for a non-problematic, healthy, sweet, relationship! There was no point in the story where the two love interests had a falling out, and then a dramatic make-up arc... no, it was just sweet and natural and the relationship itself did not take up the main part of the story, and ultimately the story was mostly about Audrey figuring herself out. I was a big fan of this.
I didn't really like the way Frank and Bob talked about Audrey, about how she was "different than other women" because she isn't "boring" and chooses a cat or dog as a pet. Okay. I personally have a reptile, but I love dogs and cats and a million other animals too, that I wish I could keep. I just felt a little iffy when they made it seem like people who are into cats are somehow boring or unattractive or not interesting. You can't judge someones personality on whether they like cats or not. I'm sure the author did not mean for it to be understood like that (especially as I read she herself has a cat and a dog), but still it rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.
Anyways, I generally really enjoyed this book. It was a very relaxing read, not boring, not over the top or dramatic... just nice.
Extra:
- The research done around iguanas was really thorough, and that made me happy
- I wish the cover didn't look like it was made in paint. Many readers choose a book by its cover
karenika's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
"Frank remembered all the weird and constantly changing rules from both of his marriages. How sometimes it was okay to touch, sometimes not. Sometimes it was okay to tease, sometimes not. Sometimes it was okay to pressure on past “I’m too tired,” sometimes not. Apparently, the lack of clarity between men and women continued through all eternity."
What a sweet, lovely story. This is about the 55-year old Audrey who decides to buy an iguana on her birthday. She's tired of "nice" and wants to buy something that's not cute. So iguana it is. Her story from there unfolds as she makes new friends at the mall where she works and reconnects with an old college friend and gets to know her next door neighbor, Frank, who has a multitude of parakeets.
This story is about aging, life, love, loneliness, friendship, coming to one's own, politics and feminism. It's about Audrey's experience of life and her bravery at taking chances again and again with friendships, with pets, with love.
But she didn’t want to hide. Audrey hugged the surprise of that. And she hugged the exuberance of wanting to fling the blanket off, open her arms and her legs to Frank, and shout,"I'm here! You're here! Let's do that again!"
with gratitude to edelweiss and Black Rose Writing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Frank remembered all the weird and constantly changing rules from both of his marriages. How sometimes it was okay to touch, sometimes not. Sometimes it was okay to tease, sometimes not. Sometimes it was okay to pressure on past “I’m too tired,” sometimes not. Apparently, the lack of clarity between men and women continued through all eternity."
What a sweet, lovely story. This is about the 55-year old Audrey who decides to buy an iguana on her birthday. She's tired of "nice" and wants to buy something that's not cute. So iguana it is. Her story from there unfolds as she makes new friends at the mall where she works and reconnects with an old college friend and gets to know her next door neighbor, Frank, who has a multitude of parakeets.
This story is about aging, life, love, loneliness, friendship, coming to one's own, politics and feminism. It's about Audrey's experience of life and her bravery at taking chances again and again with friendships, with pets, with love.
But she didn’t want to hide. Audrey hugged the surprise of that. And she hugged the exuberance of wanting to fling the blanket off, open her arms and her legs to Frank, and shout,"I'm here! You're here! Let's do that again!"
with gratitude to edelweiss and Black Rose Writing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
timsprincess's review against another edition
4.0
Nice easy read
Fun cozy romance with touch of discussion about what it means to be a feminist.
Enjoyed thevlaid back pace of middle age romance.
Fun cozy romance with touch of discussion about what it means to be a feminist.
Enjoyed thevlaid back pace of middle age romance.
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