SUMMER BLOWOUT - BookWyrm

Hardcover, 256 pages

English language

Published June 3, 2008 by Hyperion.

ISBN:: 978-1-4013-2241-0

(2 reviews)

Bella Shaughnessy is the spitfire middle daughter in a large, noisy, faux Italian family (they're really Irish) of beauty salon owners (think Lucia, Lucia). She works as a hairdresser and makeup artist in her family’s salon, along with her four half-brothers and sisters, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her father, Lucky Shaughnessy, is a gregarious charmer with Donald Trump hair who is obsessed with all things Italian (even calling his salon Lucia’s and shouting out pat phrases like “Holy Cannoli!”). Married three times (and divorced three times), he still carries a torch for Bella’s mother (his first wife). After her half-sister steals Bella’s husband and Bella’s marriage flames out spectacularly Bella vows no more men. Then she meets cute, funny, entrepreneur Sean Ryan at a college fair. She thinks he must be like every other man in her life—a liar and a cheat—but she agrees to let him help …

Bella Shaughnessy is the spitfire middle daughter in a large, noisy, faux Italian family (they're really Irish) of beauty salon owners (think Lucia, Lucia). She works as a hairdresser and makeup artist in her family’s salon, along with her four half-brothers and sisters, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her father, Lucky Shaughnessy, is a gregarious charmer with Donald Trump hair who is obsessed with all things Italian (even calling his salon Lucia’s and shouting out pat phrases like “Holy Cannoli!”). Married three times (and divorced three times), he still carries a torch for Bella’s mother (his first wife). After her half-sister steals Bella’s husband and Bella’s marriage flames out spectacularly Bella vows no more men. Then she meets cute, funny, entrepreneur Sean Ryan at a college fair. She thinks he must be like every other man in her life—a liar and a cheat—but she agrees to let him help her with her new business venture—a makeup kit for everyone. In spite of their Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn-like sparring that will remind readers of Jeanne Ray's classic Julie and Romeo, Bella can’t deny their attraction. When the whole clan heads to Atlanta for a big Southern wedding, sparks fly for more than one Shaunnessy member, and Bella learns the importance of family—even if they drive her absolutely nuts.

3 editions

DainyBernstein reviewed SUMMER BLOWOUT by Claire Cook

Review of 'SUMMER BLOWOUT' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com

Bella is still trying to get over the fact that her husband ran off with her half-sister. Dealing with her big, messy family is never easy and she's sworn off men - at least for a while. But when she meets a cute guy giving away college application kits at the college fair where her family has a beauty booth, and that guy turns out to have an idea that might give her some independence from her family, Bella's resolution is sorely tested.

The cast of characters in this book is so great. From the despicable Craig to the almost-perfect Sean Ryan, every character is a full person, every character stands out from the page. And Bella - I loved her, for all her neurotic, sarcastic, zany personality! Even the dog gets to be a full character who in some ways helps the story …

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com

Bella is still trying to get over the fact that her husband ran off with her half-sister. Dealing with her big, messy family is never easy and she's sworn off men - at least for a while. But when she meets a cute guy giving away college application kits at the college fair where her family has a beauty booth, and that guy turns out to have an idea that might give her some independence from her family, Bella's resolution is sorely tested.

The cast of characters in this book is so great. From the despicable Craig to the almost-perfect Sean Ryan, every character is a full person, every character stands out from the page. And Bella - I loved her, for all her neurotic, sarcastic, zany personality! Even the dog gets to be a full character who in some ways helps the story along and plays a big part in the plot!

The plot of the story is really good. The reason I'm labeling this women's fiction/romance and not purely romance is because although the main point of the story is how Bella moves on from her betrayal and opens up to another man, the truth is that I read this as more of a woman-empowering story than a romance. Because the plot centers on how Bella moves on, how she takes charge of her own life and makes something of herself. I love that.

This is a good, fun read, with excellent characters and a wonderful story!

Maiakumaribree

rated it

Feb. 9, 2014

Subjects

Family Life
Humorous
Fiction / General
General
Fiction
Fiction - General