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book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Only okay chick lit. Formulaic. Needs editing. A poor relation to "The Devil Wears Prada."
bertramal's review against another edition
2.0
For a book about an editor, it sure could have used some editing.
rinn4's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't get into it so I stopped I didn't like that the main character smoked or how the plot started in the middle.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 STARS
"In a New York minute, Claire Truman lands both a plum position at a top publishing house and the man she's wanted for ten years...then reality intervenes. Her new boss is Vivian Grant, a notoriously ruthless tyrant known for her tirades, traumatized assistants, and tabloid-inspired bestsellers. Soon Claire's job is stealing more and more of her time and her relationship with her fiancé begins to feel the strain. It doesn't help that she's working late nights with a brilliant-and handsome-first-time author. As Vivian's outrageous demands continue to escalate, Claire wonders if she likes where the fast track is taking her-and worries about what she might turn into..." (From Amazon)
I only made it halfway before giving up on this boring novel. Nothing spectacular about it at all.
"In a New York minute, Claire Truman lands both a plum position at a top publishing house and the man she's wanted for ten years...then reality intervenes. Her new boss is Vivian Grant, a notoriously ruthless tyrant known for her tirades, traumatized assistants, and tabloid-inspired bestsellers. Soon Claire's job is stealing more and more of her time and her relationship with her fiancé begins to feel the strain. It doesn't help that she's working late nights with a brilliant-and handsome-first-time author. As Vivian's outrageous demands continue to escalate, Claire wonders if she likes where the fast track is taking her-and worries about what she might turn into..." (From Amazon)
I only made it halfway before giving up on this boring novel. Nothing spectacular about it at all.
ntharpta1's review against another edition
3.0
When I think of classic chick lit novels, three things come to mind: men, career, and materialism. Bridie Clark's first novel Because She Can gives us at least two of those in a quick, entertaining, and, at times, stressful read. The story revolves around Claire Truman, your average New York editor trying to make it in the publishing world. After her beloved boss and mentor retires and her less-than-mediocre boyfriend dumps her, Claire's life takes a dramatic turn when she runs into non other than Pabst Blue Ribbon Randall Cox, her college crush and an absolute heartthrob. Not only do they hit it off right away, but Randall gets her an appointment with Vivian Grant, one of the best publishers in the business. While a certifiable lunatic, Grant gives Claire an offer she simply can't refuse. This nerve-racking and demanding job takes a toll on Claire's weight, sleep, and social life as the boss from hell gives her outrageous tasks and impossible deadlines, all leading up to a delightful yet predictable ending.
Those that have read this novel may thing, "Wait! Haven't I seen this plot before?" I agree at times the plot seems to be taken directly from Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. Both have romance, comedy, and the crazy boss no one wants to work for. Yet, found that the surface plot was all that these two novels shared. Bridie Clark has taken a well-known story and shaped it into a creation all her own.
One refreshing aspect of Because She Can is the non-materialistic protagonist. So many chick lit novels deal with shopping and spending exorbitant amounts of money on things the heroine not only doesn't need but can't afford. Claire Truman is the least materialistic character I have seen in the genre to date. She prefers small, personalized gifts rather than flashy expensive ones. Her clothes, bearing labels from more affordable designers, was plain, black, boring, and often wrinkled from a night spent in the office. While shopping related money troubles can be entertaining, Claire's absent fashion obsessions makes her a more relatable and likable character.
While only a minor aspect of this novel, I found Clark's use of classic novel titles as headings to her chapters a fun little additional to a novel set in the literary world. Love in the Time of Cholera, The Awakening, And The Sound and the Fury set the reader up for what to expect in each chapter while also reiterating the importance of books to the heroine.
As a whole, I would say that Bridie Clark's first novel was a success. There were some minor problems such as editing errors and characters too closely related to famous ones. However, Clark's style and her ability to tell a story more than make up for the novel's downfalls. Working as a former book and magazine editor herself, Clark writes about what she knows. If Clark develops a more unique story but keeps her wit and style, she is sure to have an amazing novel to follow her pleasant debut.
Those that have read this novel may thing, "Wait! Haven't I seen this plot before?" I agree at times the plot seems to be taken directly from Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. Both have romance, comedy, and the crazy boss no one wants to work for. Yet, found that the surface plot was all that these two novels shared. Bridie Clark has taken a well-known story and shaped it into a creation all her own.
One refreshing aspect of Because She Can is the non-materialistic protagonist. So many chick lit novels deal with shopping and spending exorbitant amounts of money on things the heroine not only doesn't need but can't afford. Claire Truman is the least materialistic character I have seen in the genre to date. She prefers small, personalized gifts rather than flashy expensive ones. Her clothes, bearing labels from more affordable designers, was plain, black, boring, and often wrinkled from a night spent in the office. While shopping related money troubles can be entertaining, Claire's absent fashion obsessions makes her a more relatable and likable character.
While only a minor aspect of this novel, I found Clark's use of classic novel titles as headings to her chapters a fun little additional to a novel set in the literary world. Love in the Time of Cholera, The Awakening, And The Sound and the Fury set the reader up for what to expect in each chapter while also reiterating the importance of books to the heroine.
As a whole, I would say that Bridie Clark's first novel was a success. There were some minor problems such as editing errors and characters too closely related to famous ones. However, Clark's style and her ability to tell a story more than make up for the novel's downfalls. Working as a former book and magazine editor herself, Clark writes about what she knows. If Clark develops a more unique story but keeps her wit and style, she is sure to have an amazing novel to follow her pleasant debut.
bibliobabe94's review against another edition
2.0
Devil Wears Prada meets the publishing world. A bit weak, no real surprises.
misscbingley's review against another edition
2.0
I've never had much patience for formulaic chick lit, but the ones that lure me in are always about naïve women who go to work for unreasonable, sadistic bosses despite their misgivings: Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries. It's like the opposite of escapist fantasy; it makes you feel enormously glad you aren't living their lives, even with the weekend trips to Paris and Louboutin heels. This book is exactly along those lines, and while it is undeniably cliché and unsurprising (you can guess the ending after reading the book jacket blurb), I still found it a quick, moderately enjoyable read, maybe a little more so after digging up details on the "real life" Vivian and learning that some of her exploits were just as outrageous.
canariovitoria's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
klara12's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0