Three Bedrooms in Chelsea

I read this book after "How I Stole Her Husband," and I was absoutely impressed. While the characters were not extremely deep, you can still get an idea of where they are coming from. Liz Ireland is fantastic because she really has the reader root for the underdog with foes who are, at best, foul individuals. Without spoiling the plot (hence the vagueness)... What I liked the best about this book is she took three females from totally different places and placed them in very realistic situations that I'm sure many readers have participated in or can at least relate to. You can almost see how Danielle will treat Wilson, due to the foreshadowing in the book, and many people have realized their love for somebody only after it is too late. The guy Danielle falls for, and the definiton Edie gives her to describe him, reminded me of a very similar situation. The books gets an "A" for creativity and being an overall fun read.

I was pleasntly suprised to pick up my second Liz Ireland book. The book started strong and stayed that way right through to the end. The three main characters were hysterical and all so offbeat that it lead to a plot which was anything but ordinary.

Can three very different young women live together and not end up driving each other insane? That's a question you will have answered in this hilarious, absorbing novel. There is: Danielle, a spoiled Texan who has just moved to the big Apple looking for adventure and independence from her overbearing family; Greta, a very tall, loud German woman who has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her with a woman half her size; and Edie, a struggling actress whose boyfriend has just deserted her for Uzbekistan. This book was very hard for me to put down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen to the three women. Would Danielle ever get on her feet and stop being so self-absorbed? Will Greta open up to her roommates and start being honest? Will Edie wise up to the fact that her boyfriend may not be coming back and get on with her life? The characters were truly what made this book such a delightful read - they were quirky and delightful. I highly recommend this book. Although the story is told from three viewpoints, Liz Ireland handles it like a pro and makes a clear distinction between the characters. This novel's only downfall is a tiny bit of predictability, but I have to say this is one of the only books that has ever made me burst out laughing on the very last page.

I consider this book a "find". The title was intriguing enough that I picked it up and hoped for the best. We've all probably read a number of "roommate" books - some better than others and some downright bad - this one was a departure from the norm - really good and enjoyable. The characters are a rather refreshingly odd combination of personalities and backgrounds. Each is different enough that it provides a nice variety of storylines, situations and perspectives. Overall, I thought the book was charmingly different and a totally enjoyable read. I was rather sorry to see the end of the book, as I felt as if I knew the characters and wanted to see what happened next in their lives. What better can you say about a book?

In Manhattan, reporter Douglas informs his live in girlfriend actress Edie Amos that the Times is sending him on permanent assignment to their office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Edie worries more over where she will stay as she cannot afford the rent of their Chelsea apartment than she is of the end of her relationship.German Greta Stolenbauer catches her boyfriend cheating on her with a "midget". The big woman knocks Frank out with one punch before leaving their shared apartment. Now she needs a place to stay that is big enough to store her furniture that travels with her.Texan Danielle Porter moves to the Big Apple because the wannabe author hopes that the relocation will provide her the material to write magazine articles. Her efforts from Amarillo have all been rejected. Upon arriving in the city, she suffers sticker shock as the cost of renting a dump is beyond her means; she still needs a place to stay.These three young females meet and share an apartment together though each is quite different than the others. Will they become friends sharing joys and disappointments or are they ships passing through the night?The three characters are intelligent intriguing individuals whose contrasts make for a fine character study. Fans will enjoy following the exploits, daring deeds, and flops as each of the stars navigate their respective life in the Big Apple. Often amusing and filled with angst, readers will appreciate Jill Ireland's homage to Manhattan, rent and all.Harriet Klausner