Anyone But You

Anyone But You is a hardcover release of the paperback version that Crusie published back in 1996. Nina is a newly divoriced woman at the age of 40. Finally with the freedom to be her own woman and do her own thing, she got a bit lonely. After some consideration, Nina decided to get herself the one thing her husband never wanted: a puppy. What she got instead was a basset hound - beagle mix with a depression problem. Alex is a 30 year old ER doctor who is certainly playing the field and is not looking to settle down. He wants someone to simply enjoy old time movies in the confort of home with no strings attached. As Fred works his match making magic, these slowly begin to realise that they could possible be just right for each other if they would only admit to the truth. Anyone but you is a fun, sexy read with the most adorable dog. Fred.

After reading Ms. Crusie's latest books, I've made it my business to search out her earlier books, and I'm glad that I've done so. I've found some gems, of which this is one. This time the twist on the romantic theme is that it involves a 40 year old woman and a 30 year old man.Nina used to be the perfect corporate executive's wife, but after 15 years she realized that she wasn't happy, got divorced and began to finally live her own life. Alex is her downstairs neighbor, an emergency room doctor, and a serial dater. However, once he meets her, his life plans change and he sets out trying to find a way to convince her that she belongs in his life. Add to this mix Alex' brother Max (a gynecologist), Nina's friend Charity (who's about to write a book on her 12-man string of failed romances), and Fred (a part manic-depressive stray dog who's got a severe Oreo jones) and there are more than enough opportunities for the humorous scenes that Ms. Crusie does so well.Nina and Alex are obviously a couple who are meant for each other, but before true love can triumph each must overcome their own personal obstacles - Nina's problem with dating someone so much younger, and Alex' family pressures and mistaken goals. But the story doesn't bog down with angst, and everything is leavened with humor. And, I was especially glad to see Nina's 40 year old self taking center stage, rather than being relegated to being a secondary character. It's so refreshing to read a romance that doesn't contain a dewy twenty-something . This is a fun book, and it's worth searching out and buying.

More so than "Manhunting" or "Getting Rid of Bradley", this book shows us how Crusie has developed into the writer of such great titles as "Crazy for You", "Tell Me Lies", "Welcome to Temptation", and "Fast Women". Although written in the short format of pulp romance, the humor, the wit, the passion (yeah, lots of that), the wonderful (and believable) dialog is all there. Crusie has such a knack for taking impossible situations (and let's face it, they are all really wacky, all of the books) and making them believable and highly enjoyable. To be frank, this is the kind of book that I would NEVER read, but since it was early Crusie I did. I am so very, very glad I did. Worth finding - it's terrific.

I laughed so hard while reading this book, I had people edging away from me on the bus. Nina, newly 40 and freshly divorced, adopts a basset hound, the very unperky Fred. Then she meets her sexy, younger neighbor and sparks fly. This is probably one of the most witty, enjoyable romances I've ever read. Highly recommended!

Have you ever been given dirty looks by elderly folks because you were laughing hysterically while reading a book at the county fair? No? Then you haven't read "Anyone But You"... Beyond funny, this wonderfully witty novel by the supreme Jennifer Crusie is one of her best. The unconventional love story of Nina and Alex is accented by a excellent cast of supporting characters. The most notable of these is the incorrigible Fred, who lives up to the standard set by his predecessor, Bob, the dog from one of Crusie's previous works, "What The Lady Wants". Perhaps a bit more 'adult' than her other novels, I would heartily recommend it to anyone that enjoys their romance stories with a large dose of side-splitting laughter. One warning: Do not eat potato chips while reading this book! I nearly choked to death halfway though Chapter 2...