Using What You Got

I really enjoyed this fastpaced read. This is my second book by this author. She has a way of weaving a tale that makes you think you are watching a movie. Tiara was a trip with her "yeah I got it like that". The only thing that was wrong with Tiara was that she was spoiled. I read another review where the reviewer states that if Tiara was all that why was she in the projects still. Hello duhh her father was working very hard I might add to get them out of their situation and also living in the projects does not mean that you have to have low self esteem. Because before I grew up and bought my own house I realized it wasn't where I lived but how I choose to carry myself. I still have friends that are single moms living in the pj's that are doing the Dayuum thing. Anyway........I am anticipating Ida B. GO Karen,Go Karen and by no means listen to the haters.........Peace Topazzz

Using What You Got by Miller PLEASANTLY surprised me. (I don't usually read this type of genre ... it's my LEAST favorite as a matter of fact.) I was doing a little "required" reading. This book stirs up quite a few emotions. Reggie is the doting father of Tiara and JoJo. He as done his best to give his girls all they ever wanted in this world and as you read you will understand why he try to give them so much. Aunt Charlene is Reggie's sister and is quite a character. JoJo is Tiara's younger but much taller sister, with some issues of her own. The story essentially revolves around Tiara. Tiara thinks,"she's got it like that" (basically she's conceited), but unfortunately she soon gets more than she bargained for. In the end, however, BOTH Reggie and Tiara will learn a valuable lesson. Using What You Got was a quick and easy read, it made me angry, it made me laugh and it made me cry. How much I enjoyed this book, tears and all, pleasantly surprised me. I would definitely recommend Using What You Got by Karen E. Quinones Miller.

With her third book firmly under her belt, readers will learn that Karen Quinones Miller is absolutely here to stay! In "Using What You Got," Ms. Miller uses a much gritter style of writing than previously seen in her first two books. But the language and situations ring crystal clear and utterly true for who and where her characters are: where they live, how they live, and where they come from. In this book, we meet the overindulged, self-absorbed Tiara. Girlfriend is smooth as silk and fine as wine. A legion in her own mind. Just when you think this chick doesn't have one redeeming quality, we find that she is nothing short of a brainiac and sporatic bouts of random acts of kindness that has nothing to do with how it is going to benefit her. Like everything else in her life, learning comes as easilty to Tiara as the latest pair of designer jeans or whatever she can conjole out of her father. Men have also been easy for Tiara to acquire, whether she wanted them or not. That is, until she meets the one that doesn't seem to be that impressed with what she has to offer. Should she be satisfied with the man with the money, the car, the clothes and the style to give her the lifestyle she wants or will she throw it all away to get the one that got away? Also, while it seems that Tiara and her younger sister, Jo-Jo, who loves sports almost as much as irritating Tiara, have nothing in common, we learn that when push comes to shove, Tiara is more than ready to throw down to defend and protect her baby sister. Next, we also meet the handsome and very responsible Reggie, Jo-Jo and Tiara's father who has raised them almost entirely by himself when their mother runs off shortly after Jo-Jo's birth. Reggie is the kind of man any woman would love to get her hands on. He's an ex-boxer who is still fine and sexy as all get out. He is assisted by his seemingly forever cranky sister, Charlene, whom everyone calls Charlie. Charlie has her own substory and probably could carry her own book. There is a lot of unspoken, undealt with pain over an accident from when she was a teenager that forever changes how Charlie sees herself, and has clouded how she lives her life. However, through her own changes and disappointments in life, Charlie is right there to help Reggie with raising his beloved daughters.Using What You Got is about what it means to be a sibling, a family, a friend and a lover. Its about learning to love your family, even when you don't always necessarily like them, finding out who your true friends are as well as learning to be a friend, and everything that glitters is not gold. Quinones Miller covers all the bases with this one, and she covers them well!

This book deserves all the stars. It grabs you and doesn't let you go. Each character is so unique. In reading this book I thought I was going to smack Tiara right off the pages, but the books tells a story that you can both relate to and learn from. Tiara was definitely using what you had to get what she wanted, but is she wanted worth it???? To answer that question, pick up the book. You won't be disappoint!! And old saying is everything that glitters ain't gold. And everything that looks good to you ain't good for you. Just ask Tiara Bynum!! Karen Miller keep doing your thing. I look forward to more from you.

tiara bynum thinks she's got it like that. i've known some pretty conceited young girls in my life but miss tiara has them all beat. i sure wanted to jump in the book and slap her silly a couple of times because of the way she treated people. this book takes place in new york and i'm not from new york but i was sure able to relate to a lot of what was written. maybe because i know girls like tiara and because i wish i had a father like reggie. someone just ought to be spoiling me the way he was spoiling that child. i really liked aunt charlene because she tried to keep tiara in check, but couldn't nobody really do nothing with that child. some people have to learn things the hard way and tiara is just one of those people. sometimes you can be too pretty and too smart for your own good.i couldn't put this book down. it's my favorite so far this year.i got this book from a friend, but i think i'll buy the next book miss q-miller writes so i can keep it for myself.