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mrsjkamp's review
4.0
Full review with author interview and giveaway (that ends 8/6/2011) found here!!
Thanks to author Lisa Becker for a free ebook copy of this novel. Here is my honest review:
What a fun book! Composed entirely of emails back and forth among friends and an online dating service, this is the story of Renee and her journey to love. Even with the email theme, it didn't really felt forced, like details had to be thrown in there to help the reader make sense of the goings on. It flowed nicely, progressed smoothly, and the pace was just right. The story is fun and upbeat. The characters really have their own voices and are definitely different people. You can tell even through the email format. I laughed and felt for Renee! Very fun book!
Thanks to author Lisa Becker for a free ebook copy of this novel. Here is my honest review:
What a fun book! Composed entirely of emails back and forth among friends and an online dating service, this is the story of Renee and her journey to love. Even with the email theme, it didn't really felt forced, like details had to be thrown in there to help the reader make sense of the goings on. It flowed nicely, progressed smoothly, and the pace was just right. The story is fun and upbeat. The characters really have their own voices and are definitely different people. You can tell even through the email format. I laughed and felt for Renee! Very fun book!
shelleyrae's review
3.0
Click: An Online Love Story is a fun novel that charts twenty nine year old Renee Greene's search for love online. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee, her three closest friends and the men Renee meets through "Choose Jews".
I enjoyed the format of this novel, I have email conversations with my friends like this all the time (though not on the same subjects) so its familiarity is engaging and authentic.
Becker manages to establish distinct voices for her characters so that the email headers quickly become unnecessary. While it is Renee's online dating adventures we follow we are also privy to Mark's procrastination in his own search for love, Ashley's turbulent relationship and Shelley's lusty encounters with men she gives nicknames like The Cuddler and The Tongue. What I found particularly clever, especially given the format and subject of the novel, Becker's characters are shown to grow, Renee in particular becomes more self confident and assertive while Ashley finally manages to escape an unhealthy relationship. There is a nice twist at the end but as expected Renee finally finds someone she clicks with.
I was particularly entertained by the lighthearted humour as Renee corresponds and meets a variety of suitors whose inappropriate behaviour is a source of mirth. Becker plays out some of the stereotypes surrounding online dating with amusing commentary from Renee's friends. Shelley's risque adventures are also fun.
Click: An Online Love Story is a sharp modern take on dating in the 21st century. Funny, well written and entertaining this is a quick read for chicklit fans.
I enjoyed the format of this novel, I have email conversations with my friends like this all the time (though not on the same subjects) so its familiarity is engaging and authentic.
Becker manages to establish distinct voices for her characters so that the email headers quickly become unnecessary. While it is Renee's online dating adventures we follow we are also privy to Mark's procrastination in his own search for love, Ashley's turbulent relationship and Shelley's lusty encounters with men she gives nicknames like The Cuddler and The Tongue. What I found particularly clever, especially given the format and subject of the novel, Becker's characters are shown to grow, Renee in particular becomes more self confident and assertive while Ashley finally manages to escape an unhealthy relationship. There is a nice twist at the end but as expected Renee finally finds someone she clicks with.
I was particularly entertained by the lighthearted humour as Renee corresponds and meets a variety of suitors whose inappropriate behaviour is a source of mirth. Becker plays out some of the stereotypes surrounding online dating with amusing commentary from Renee's friends. Shelley's risque adventures are also fun.
Click: An Online Love Story is a sharp modern take on dating in the 21st century. Funny, well written and entertaining this is a quick read for chicklit fans.
enchantressofbooks's review
3.0
Literally, it’s a series of emails. It looks like this:
From: Character’s name here – date here – time here
To: Character’s name here
Subject: insert topic here
And of course the body of the email would be here. This is the first time I’ve seen such a format for a book. Interesting! The emails are not extremely long and get straight to the point in most cases (there are a few where you just want to know about the date or something and you first have to read through the “How was your day?” reply, but those are few). They are easy to follow the conversation and what is being discussed. Actually, there was one or two times that I wanted to go back to reread a section to get the gist of something better and it was easy to remember where the conversation was.
I have to laugh and admit that this is exactly what my BFF and I do. We email each other while at work to catch up on our days, upcoming events and vent out our frustration and stresses. This is one of the reasons why I liked this book. It reminds me of my BFF and our almost 20 yrs relationship. The same goes for Renee and her friends. They have all known each other for years and Renee is their common thread.
With it being written as threads of emails back and forth, you’re definitely not getting your traditional information. It’s similar to the first person point of view in that you’re getting thoughts and the story from their perspective only. However, in this case, we’re getting some of the details, seeing Renee, our heroine; go through the emotional ups and downs of not only dating but “online” dating and having her BFFs providing her with pointers, advice and hilarious suggestions. I believe we can all relate to this to one extend or another.
The synopsis provides us with a glimpse of the relationship dynamic between Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley. As you read through their emails (yeah, you sort of feel like a voyeur, intruding in their world. But, you quickly begin to feel more like one of the fiends and that they are now sharing the emails and including you in the thread) you get the chance to see their true colors and like with any group of friends, there’s always a little bit of tension, a little bit of judging and even some jealousy.
For those that may not know how online dating services work, you select a service provider, create a profile (all about you) and its posted on a database that only member of the service provider have access to. If someone is interested in getting to know you based on your profile, they send you an email. I laughed out loud and giggled several times as I read. The emails sent to Renee by some of the guys were either funny, far fetch, so not her type (based off of what she was looking for in a relationship) and she even got a “Crazy” one! However, this book wasn’t just about emails, but it was about Renee putting herself out there and taking a chance. Some of the guys that wanted to get to know Renee were so much better on paper, while others lead to a 2nd and even a 3rd date.
Here’s a glimpse: Renee emails Shelley asking if she should go through with Mark’s idea of using an online dating service. Below is part of Shelley’s email reply:
“At the very least, you’ll have eligible men taking you to swank restaurants. Hmmm. A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking busy.”
Yes, my BFF and I have done the above. From the dating, to the chatting to the judging (don’t judge us, you know we all do it!) and yes, all awhile, looking busy at the office.
For those of us who are about to turn 30 or in our 30s will understand the following. Renee to Shelley:
“But you have to promise – I mean promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream – that you won’t tell anyone.”
I just laughed out loud. Never have I had someone promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream!! Hahahah. I so will now!!!
This is a quick read and with such a different format/perspective it’s definitely a “palate cleanser” if you’ve been sucked in by a particular genre and want a break for it.
Note: For this and other book reviews please visit Reading Between the Wines Book Club
From: Character’s name here – date here – time here
To: Character’s name here
Subject: insert topic here
And of course the body of the email would be here. This is the first time I’ve seen such a format for a book. Interesting! The emails are not extremely long and get straight to the point in most cases (there are a few where you just want to know about the date or something and you first have to read through the “How was your day?” reply, but those are few). They are easy to follow the conversation and what is being discussed. Actually, there was one or two times that I wanted to go back to reread a section to get the gist of something better and it was easy to remember where the conversation was.
I have to laugh and admit that this is exactly what my BFF and I do. We email each other while at work to catch up on our days, upcoming events and vent out our frustration and stresses. This is one of the reasons why I liked this book. It reminds me of my BFF and our almost 20 yrs relationship. The same goes for Renee and her friends. They have all known each other for years and Renee is their common thread.
With it being written as threads of emails back and forth, you’re definitely not getting your traditional information. It’s similar to the first person point of view in that you’re getting thoughts and the story from their perspective only. However, in this case, we’re getting some of the details, seeing Renee, our heroine; go through the emotional ups and downs of not only dating but “online” dating and having her BFFs providing her with pointers, advice and hilarious suggestions. I believe we can all relate to this to one extend or another.
The synopsis provides us with a glimpse of the relationship dynamic between Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley. As you read through their emails (yeah, you sort of feel like a voyeur, intruding in their world. But, you quickly begin to feel more like one of the fiends and that they are now sharing the emails and including you in the thread) you get the chance to see their true colors and like with any group of friends, there’s always a little bit of tension, a little bit of judging and even some jealousy.
For those that may not know how online dating services work, you select a service provider, create a profile (all about you) and its posted on a database that only member of the service provider have access to. If someone is interested in getting to know you based on your profile, they send you an email. I laughed out loud and giggled several times as I read. The emails sent to Renee by some of the guys were either funny, far fetch, so not her type (based off of what she was looking for in a relationship) and she even got a “Crazy” one! However, this book wasn’t just about emails, but it was about Renee putting herself out there and taking a chance. Some of the guys that wanted to get to know Renee were so much better on paper, while others lead to a 2nd and even a 3rd date.
Here’s a glimpse: Renee emails Shelley asking if she should go through with Mark’s idea of using an online dating service. Below is part of Shelley’s email reply:
“At the very least, you’ll have eligible men taking you to swank restaurants. Hmmm. A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking busy.”
Yes, my BFF and I have done the above. From the dating, to the chatting to the judging (don’t judge us, you know we all do it!) and yes, all awhile, looking busy at the office.
For those of us who are about to turn 30 or in our 30s will understand the following. Renee to Shelley:
“But you have to promise – I mean promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream – that you won’t tell anyone.”
I just laughed out loud. Never have I had someone promise on a box of cupcakes and a jar of anti-wrinkle cream!! Hahahah. I so will now!!!
This is a quick read and with such a different format/perspective it’s definitely a “palate cleanser” if you’ve been sucked in by a particular genre and want a break for it.
Note: For this and other book reviews please visit Reading Between the Wines Book Club
island_reader's review
4.0
~Quickie Review~
The Good: Characters (Shelley is a hoot!), pace (very fast! <3), engaging, fun, funny, entertaining, format (loved the emails! Although I would have loved to be privy to phone conversations and "dates" and such), Cute.
The Bad: Typos, conflict (
Spoiler
took several emails before I realized Renee wasn't dead or injured and she was just licking wounds because Ethan was Shelley's "Cuddler"…I think the Good/Bad sum up my feelings pretty well here. I L-O-V-E-D this book (almost read the whole thing in one sitting. Which is HUGE for me btw!) right up until the conflict and end. I was all set to tag this as a Favorite and give it 5+ stars, but the end was a little too abrupt for me. In fact, it was so abrupt that it took me a few tries to turn the page before I realized it was done (yes, I had a "Duh" moment. Sue me...).
Despite the cliffhanger ending, I enjoyed this book a lot. I can't wait to read the next installment. If you're looking for a fast-paced, fun little read with a unique twist, then this is an excellent option.
paddlefoot55's review
4.0
3.75 sweet stars
I really enjoyed the premise of Click, especially in this digital age and when we are getting more "time poor".
It took me a little while to get my head around the characters, as the whole story is written in email form. it took a bit for me to figure out whose pov the emails were coming from, but the characters all started to get their own voice and I could distinguish them all better.
This is a sweet, funny read that felt a little bit like You've Got Mail with ADHD!
I really enjoyed the premise of Click, especially in this digital age and when we are getting more "time poor".
It took me a little while to get my head around the characters, as the whole story is written in email form. it took a bit for me to figure out whose pov the emails were coming from, but the characters all started to get their own voice and I could distinguish them all better.
This is a sweet, funny read that felt a little bit like You've Got Mail with ADHD!
emilyhei's review
4.0
Romantic story told via online email, Renee Greene is rapidly approaching her thirtieth birthday and with it she is still single. When one of her closest friends suggests they join an online dating site, the results are hilariously charming. With the help of her friends, Renee manages to find Mr. Right, but there are a few ugly toads along the way.
I thought this was refreshingly different and realistic. I could easily imagine the different characters, don’t we all know someone that matches the personalities? You have Mark who likes to dot his I’s and cross his t’s, Shelley who doesn’t discriminate when it comes to the opposite sex, in fact she embraces it, Ashley who has an opinion on everything, and our lead Renee who is a bit unsure and treasures her friend’s opinions. Wonderfully original.
I thought this was refreshingly different and realistic. I could easily imagine the different characters, don’t we all know someone that matches the personalities? You have Mark who likes to dot his I’s and cross his t’s, Shelley who doesn’t discriminate when it comes to the opposite sex, in fact she embraces it, Ashley who has an opinion on everything, and our lead Renee who is a bit unsure and treasures her friend’s opinions. Wonderfully original.
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