Friday Night Cocktails

I've read one other Allison Rushby novel but this book really cements my status as a fan of hers. "Friday Night Cocktails" is a funny, light, interesting chick-lit novel. This was a really fast for me-I read the novel in a day and a half. Gemma is a woman who starts a list about all the men who have done her and her friends wrong on her website based on the list that her and her friend, Sarah and their roomates started in college. The list is of all the men that have done them wrong over the years. Gemma and Sarah think that other women will relate and soon the site is getting thousands of hits and tons of entries. Soon Gemma realizes she needs a PA to do her bidding once she's earning quite a bit of money from the advertisers on the site, so she hires Chris, a male, to help her. Soon Gemma finds that Chris is helping her more than she realizes. There is only a couple heavier things in the novel but it's certainly not "War and Peace" in tone and writing. But it's a pleasure to read and I found myself hooked. I'm now an Allison Rushby fan for sure and I can't wait to read her other works.

I came across this book while browsing at Border's. The back cover really grabbed my attention and I thought this is a funny way to cope with men. The book starts out typical, but quickly turns into self-reflection for the main characters. It's not your typical chick-lit book. I also liked the author's writing style. It was as though she was having a conversation with you. I definitely will read more from her.

When I had heard what this book was supposed to be about, I was intrigued. I quickly raced down to the bookstore and grabbed a copy. What better premise can you imagine - two women decide one night (after having a few drinks) to put a list of "bastards" on the internet, only to have the list become extremely popular and get out of hand? I knew it would be good. And I was right - it was really good. Gemma and Sarah have been friends forever. Along with their friendship, a list has survived over the years - a list they fondly call "the bastard list." This list is made up of a the names of guys that had earned the name in one way or another. One night after a few too many cocktails, they decide to put the list up on the internet. Gemma not only puts up the list, but gets the word out to the virtual world about it. Before they know it, people all over the world are viewing the list, adding their own names and stories. Gemma discovers that money could be made from it, and she decides to put the list on a new website and begin advertising. The new name she comes up with is www.allmenarebastards.com. She hires an assistant (a quiet, serious type of guy) and the revenues begin rolling in. Gemma's friends Sarah and Michael begin expressing their concern over the website. After all, the website was supposed to be based on a list of men who had acted like bastards, not state that all men were bastards, right? Gemma seems to be especially bitter about men lately, it seems. But she has pretty good reason to, or so she thinks. I absolutely adored "Friday Night Cocktails". It was outrageously fun to read, well-written and irresistable. I loved Gemma, the main character. Although she was flawed in many ways, somehow I still found myself rooting for her. Even when she went off on her "All men are bastards!" tangent. She was a woman to be reckoned with, and I really enjoy that in a main character. As for the plot, it moved along breathlessly and was well executed. And the novel was very funny! Overall, this book was a highly satisfying and fun read.