Friend of the Family, A

I was expecting Chick lit, but what I got, was even better! Tony, Ned, and Sean have found different paths in life. Ned left his girlfriend and took off to Australia, only to come back to his girlfriend with the perfect life, and all of his friends gone. Sean was once a spoiled little brother, who hits it big with his first book, and he has the perfect girlfriend. Tony has done well with his greeting card business and a sweet girlfriend as well. They have wonderful parents who have always been supportive and loving.Ahhhhh... it looks so perfect. But, is it? Pull back the curtain and let the drama BEGIN! Someone will get pregnant, someone will be in love with his brother's girlfriend, and a "friend of the family" like a wandering angel, will be there to pick up the pieces, reflect their problems back at them, and teach them to grow up. I really enjoyed it! Quick read!

Three brothers, three unique sets of problems. Tony is divorced, overweight, and romancing a woman he thinks is "too happy." Sean is the middle child, a successful novelist with a "perfect" new girlfriend who throws him a curveball announcement he cannot deal with. Ned, the youngest, has just returned from three years in Australia and finds that his friends have all moved on to grown-up lives and careers and left him behind. Their parents, Bernie and Gerry, are happily married and the cornerstone of their sons' lives. Bernie takes in a mysterious lodger, Gervase, who seems to be able to get to the heart of the boys' troubles and helps the men to see things more clearly about themselves, but can he help them sort out their love lives?Lisa Jewell transcends the British chick lit genre by creating complex characters with problems many readers can relate to. Tony's struggles with weight and his role as oldest brother cause him to evaluate his life in multiple ways. Sean's weaknesses in his relationship with Millie, his girlfriend, particularly rang true for me. Ned's inability to figure out his goals or where he fits in mirror the crises of young people today. The dilemmas weren't solved immediately, nor in the most obvious way, but the solutions are ultimately satisfying and uplifting.I am impressed by the way Jewell tells a unique story with issues that are relevant to each of us. The male points of view were comically written and gave me an insight into just what a man might be thinking when he is deciding where a relationship is headed. The only criticism I have of A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, is that a bit of the information about pregnancy was slightly inaccurate (such as she states that the pregnant character was unable to take any medications, not even Tylenol or a cough lozenge). I highly recommend A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, I would encourage everyone to put this at the top of their summer reading list. I could not put this novel down! The characters are witty and real, their dilemmas are poignant, and Lisa Jewell ties the whole thing together with enough romance to satisfy even the most jaded reader.

I have to wonder if "Lisa Jewell" is the pen name for a very talented male writer. She so captures the thought processes of the men she portrays that it is downright spooky! I have read all of Ms. Jewell's previous books, and found this one to be the most satisfying. With this book she has left the realm of "chick lit" behind and this book should appeal to male and female readers alike.

Lisa Jewell has evolved into an amazing and wonderful writer. Her previous work has always been on my list of favorite "chick lit" - work such as "Ralph's Party", "Thirtynothing" and "One-Hit Wonder" are great British imports and each offer a new and amazing quality to Ms. Jewell's collection. But, with the release of her new work "A Friend of the Family", she goes beyond her previous talent and moves into the higher talent ranking of Helen Fielding and Marian Keyes.Brothers Tony, Sean and Ned have a great life and love their family. It's only when a new person walks in and stirs things up that you really see how 3 grown men handle life, love and family. This refreshing look into the inner workings of brothers is a huge leap forward and something I was thrilled to see. You don't usually get that man's point of view done very effectively - but Lisa Jewell nailed it. Perfectly done --- and might be the big deal of this summer. I loved it and think it's her best work to date. Can't wait for more!Cheers!

Lisa Jewell is the prime example of an author whose work has evolved through time. I loved Ralph's Party and Thirtysomething -- cute chick novels -- but her writing took some impressive proportions with One-Hit Wonder, and she has outdone herself with A Friend of the Family. Jewell is no chick-lit clone, she is a talented British writer who's here for the long haul.A Friend of the Family centers on the London family and the brothers Tony, Sean and Ned. Each has some serious issues to tackle and have no idea how to go about it. That is until an eccentric houseguest takes an abrupt turn into their lives...This is a great novel -- think Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, but from a male's viewpoint. Jewell writes male characters quite well, and the best part is that she doesn't resort to tired cliches to illustrate their personalities. Also, I love the way Jewell tackles the subject of sibling rivalry with such insight, wit and poignancy. This is a feel-good, you-won't-be-able-to-put-it-down novel... perfect for a cozy afternoon on the beach. Lisa Jewell is one of the best female British writers out there and I look forward to reading more work from this great author in the future.