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jlaz's review against another edition
3.0
I've liked some of her other books better. I could see where the story was going to end before I was even halfway through.
doublearegee's review against another edition
4.0
Predictable, but a good, comforting read and some awesome food porn with recipes :^)
jeskaness's review against another edition
4.0
Food and sci-fi. My two guilty pleasures in one book! A few awkward areas but loved it all the same. Wayne really does grow on you.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
Just go back and read my review of Stacey Ballis's last book. Same book, same issues, same review. And yes, I read this one on vacation too. My only new comment is that I'm perplexed by the author bio on this one that states, "Stacey Ballis is the author of seven foodie novels." Oh really? Because I've read all if them and only the last three were "foodie." Bizarre.
dtrumps's review against another edition
4.0
Original review (and casting) on Gone Pecan
Jenna is not likeable, at least there were times when I really didn’t like her. Her running commentary makes her sound snobby and impatient. I understand that, at her age (though she’s not that old), she’s come to a point in her life that she just doesn’t want to have to do or put up with things that she finds irritating. Wayne has always been a sore subject between Jenna and Aimee because, for all Aimee’s elegance and grace, Jenna feels like Wayne is way beneath her best friend. Though she does eventually become likeable, it takes a while because I really felt for Wayne, who was completely out of his element with his love gone, and Jenna was relentless in her hatred of him. Jenna gives him no slack and is barely making an effort to control her vitriol around him.
The background characters, though, are fantastic. I loved them all. Jenna has a great group of friends. Wayne, too, was a lot of fun to read about, as well as his dorky friends, whom Jenna does evenutally need to spend time with. Jenna, though she is a grown up, was immature in a lot of ways. Her loneliness causes her to isolate herself, and we see that Aimee dying caused Jenna immeasurable pain, but also allows her to break out of her stagnating life and be less bitter and more open.
I did love this book and immediately wanted to go and read everything else Stacey Ballis has ever written. I love this genre because it is about grown up women making hard choices and is not necessarily focused on romantic love and gratuitous sex, though that does have it’s time and place. :) It was a very laid back book and Jenna’s lifestyle made me jealous. And the food talk, *thud,* the descriptions alone will make you gain wait, so beware. Also, there are a lot of recipes in the back of the book, many of which I saved.
Jenna is not likeable, at least there were times when I really didn’t like her. Her running commentary makes her sound snobby and impatient. I understand that, at her age (though she’s not that old), she’s come to a point in her life that she just doesn’t want to have to do or put up with things that she finds irritating. Wayne has always been a sore subject between Jenna and Aimee because, for all Aimee’s elegance and grace, Jenna feels like Wayne is way beneath her best friend. Though she does eventually become likeable, it takes a while because I really felt for Wayne, who was completely out of his element with his love gone, and Jenna was relentless in her hatred of him. Jenna gives him no slack and is barely making an effort to control her vitriol around him.
The background characters, though, are fantastic. I loved them all. Jenna has a great group of friends. Wayne, too, was a lot of fun to read about, as well as his dorky friends, whom Jenna does evenutally need to spend time with. Jenna, though she is a grown up, was immature in a lot of ways. Her loneliness causes her to isolate herself, and we see that Aimee dying caused Jenna immeasurable pain, but also allows her to break out of her stagnating life and be less bitter and more open.
I did love this book and immediately wanted to go and read everything else Stacey Ballis has ever written. I love this genre because it is about grown up women making hard choices and is not necessarily focused on romantic love and gratuitous sex, though that does have it’s time and place. :) It was a very laid back book and Jenna’s lifestyle made me jealous. And the food talk, *thud,* the descriptions alone will make you gain wait, so beware. Also, there are a lot of recipes in the back of the book, many of which I saved.
rachbreads's review against another edition
2.0
Weird/slightly unbelievable premise but I liked the geeky elements and all the foodie descriptions.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by Jane.
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sout%20to%20lunch%20ballis__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sout%20to%20lunch%20ballis__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
3.0
http://jennsbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/out-to-lunch-by-stacey-ballis.html
bfth23's review against another edition
4.0
I'd consider this chick lit at it's best. Meaning, yes it's female skewed, but it's a good story too. Some romance, but not that much. It may make you drool (since the main character is a chef/cook and food plays a big part in the story) and some yummy recipes are included. (I'm happy that there were several that I could try seeing that I have good allergies.)
This is the first novel that I've read by Stacey Ballis, but it certainly won't be the last. (Just hope she is able to live up to this one!)
This is the first novel that I've read by Stacey Ballis, but it certainly won't be the last. (Just hope she is able to live up to this one!)